The Bookshelf

Anjet Daanje's The Song of Stork and Dromedary, translated from the Dutch, explores the intimate work of death and care in the eighteenth century. Liane Moriarty returns to the world of Big Little Lies with Big Little Truths, reuniting readers with the coastal suburb of Pirriwee and her cast a decade on,  just with a little more menopausal rage, teenage angst, and a severed finger. Joining us are regular reviewer Beejay Silcox, along with Cheryl Akle from Better Reading. Plus, critic and publisher Geordie Williamson shares his Top 3 Australian books.
Books
The Song of Stork and Dromedary by Anjet Daanje, translated from Dutch by David McKay (Scribe)
Big Little Truths by Liane Moriarty (Macmillan)
Geordie Williamson's Top 3 Australian Books
Such is Life  by Joseph Furphy
Translations from the Natural World by Les Murray
The Eye of the Crocodile by Val Plumwood
Other books mentioned
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas
Mine by Adam Ousten
Dark Places by Kate Grenville
John Brown, Rose, and the Midnight Cat by Jenny Rose
Little Bear series by Maurice Sendak
Tell Me Something True by Michael Robotham 
Credits
Presenter, Kate Evans and Cassie McCullagh
Producer, Kate Evans and Sarah Corbett
Sound engineer, Craig Tilmouth and Micky Grossman
Arts editor, Rhiannon Brown

We review the latest in fiction for dedicated readers and for those who wish they read more.

Omar Musa joins us after winning the 2026 Miles Franklin Literary Award. Plus, Michael Robotham and Madeleine Gray review Djamel White's Booker Prize-longlisted debut All Them Dogs and Téa Obreht's sweeping new novel Sunrise.

From the nightclubs of 1930s Berlin to the heartache and awkwardness of high school, and into the green rooms and backstage spaces of writers' festivals.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead’s latest novel Cool Machine is a vivid portrait of Black New York in the 1980s. The book reunites readers with furniture salesman and part-time fence Ray Carney. Kate Evans and regular reviewer, critic and essayist Beejay Silcox discuss.
Also this week, Isabelle Li’s The Northern Tomb offers an intimate and richly textured portrait of life in Northeast China during the Covid pandemic, while Claire Berest’s Frida brings the passion, colour and complexity of artist Frida Kahlo vividly to the page. 
Plus, Kate speaks with Ashley Hay, novelist and interim editor of Meanjin, about the magazine's rich literary history and how its archive can help guide your vote in the ABC's Top 100 Australian Books countdown. (Ashley also shares her top three Australian picks).
Each week, a specially curated selection of archival material will be released at Meanjin:
Meanjin – The Finest New Writing in Australia
Books discussed
Cool Machine - Colson Whitehead (Fleet)
The Northern Tomb - Isabelle Li (Puncher & Wattmann)
Frida - Claire Berest, translated from French by Stephanie Smee (Mountain Leopard Press)
Also mentioned
But Won't I Miss Me - Tiffany Tsao (Harper Via)
Beejay Silcox's recommendations
Angel Down - Daniel Kraus
The Children - Melissa Albert
Their Brilliant Careers - Ryan O'Neill
Ashley Hay's Top 3 Australian picks
The Commandant - Jessica Anderson
Edenglassie - Melissa Lucashenko
The Great Fire - Shirley Hazzard
Credits
Presenter - Kate Evans
Producer - Kate Evans and Sarah Corbett
Sound - Tim Jenkins and Isabella Tropiano
Arts editor - Rhiannon Brown