Cassie McCullagh

He hasn't been there giving this moral guiding role or extending the hand of warmth into the family.

So, yes, I agree that there is something particularly nasty and vicious about it.

And that made me feel a sort of sympathy for the audience that will connect with this.

Like I say, the 20-somethings,

It must be quite a scary world out there for this to be behaviour that's drawn so sharply and it seems so accurately.

It is funny.

Yeah, she's got a real cutting wit, Bridie Jabbour, and I think it comes through.

Well, I think there are moments where you'll have a chuckle to yourself.

I think if it finds its audience, it will indeed take off and it may well be one of a beginning of a career.

I think this book might be an early work in a longer career.

On the bookshelf, I'm Cassie McCullough and I'm here with my trusty sidekick companion cowgirl, Kate Evans.

We're a bit obsessed with shelf support.

Literary and fashion specialist Madeline Sayes speaking there with Kate Evans.

You can find the details of those books that she talked about and all the books that we've mentioned on the program today at abc.net.au slash rn and just select the bookshelf.

Now, we've reached the edges of the bookshelf this week.

Something a little different.

Next week, we're going to be coming to you from on stage at the Sydney Writers Festival next week with Junot Diaz, Dominican-American writer, Drown, This Is How You Lose Her, The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, and Island Born, a new kids' book he's written.

And Jennifer Egan, who wrote Manhattan Beach and A Visit from the Goon Squad and many others.

How exciting is it?

Come down and see us if you're in Sydney on Friday the 4th of May or sit back and enjoy wherever you're listening to us.