Books On The Go

Best Books of 2025

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's our best books of the year episode!   Anna, Amanda and Annie reveal our favourite reads of 2025:   Always Home, Always Homesick by Hannah Kent ...

Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Geoff discuss their reaction to the 2025 Booker Prize winner, FLESH by David Szalay, and the winner of the Baillie Gifford prize for non-fic...

Flashlight by Susan Choi

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Geoff discuss their Booker Prize winner predictions. We haven't read enough of the shortlist to know who will win, but Geoff is tipping THE L...

Seed with Bri Lee

22 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Annie was lucky enough to catch Bri Lee on her book tour for her second novel, Seed. Set in Antarctica, Seed follows two scientists, Mitch and Frances...

I Make Envy On Your Disco with Eric Schnall

26 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode: Anna chats with author and Tony-award winning Broadway producer Eric Schnall about his debut novel I MAKE ENVY ON YOUR DISCO.   S...

Endling by Maria Reva

22 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the settlement offer by Anthropic to pay $1.5bn to settle a book piracy lawsuit and the 2025 National Book Awards fiction lon...

A Woman Talks to Her Tongue with Alison Gorman

15 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode: Anna chats with award-winning poet Alison Gorman about her debut poetry collection A WOMAN TALKS TO HER TONGUE.   These poems exa...

Flesh by David Szalay

30 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Geoff discuss Sally Rooney pledging royalties to Palestine Action and the Library of South Australia being second on the list of the world'...

Comfort Reading Recommendations for 2025

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the 2025 Booker Prize Longlist. We have many comfort reading recommendations!  Here are some of the books discussed: DEAD ...

Perfection by Vincent Latronico translated by Sophie Hughes

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Geoff discuss PERFECTION by Vincent Latronico translated by Sophie Hughes. PERFECTION is a short novel about Tom and Anna, digital nomads ...

The Director by Daniel Kehlmann translated by Ross Benjamin

26 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Geoff discuss THE DIRECTOR by best-selling author of MEASURING THE WORLD and TYLL Daniel Kehlmann, translated by Ross Benjamin. THE DIRECT...

Our Top 10 Books of the Year So Far

23 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss our 10 best books of 2025 so far. Books mentioned: A LITTLE TRICKERIE by Rosanna Pike THE NAMES by Florence Knapp THE H...

The Empusium by Olga Tokarczuk translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones

20 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Geoff discuss the 2025 Women's Prize winners and the new Data Bill regulating (or not) AI and creative work. Our book of the week is THE EMPU...

The Names by Florence Knapp

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the 2025 Women's Prize and try to predict the winner. Since we recorded this the winner has been announced: The Safe Keep by Y...

Small Rain by Garth Greenwell

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, JAMES by Percival Everett. Our book of the week is SMALL RAIN by Garth Greenw...

Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the cookbook controversy between Nagi Maehashi of RecipeTin Eats and Brooke Bellamy of Bake with Brooki and ask whether it is...

Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks

26 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the 2025 Women's Prize Shortlist. Our book of the week is MEMORIAL DAYS by Geraldine Brooks, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author...

Sea Green with Pink Shorts Press

17 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode! Anna is joined by Emily Hart and Margot Lloyd, founders of Pink Shorts Press. We discuss the exciting launch of this new publishe...

Somebody Down There Likes Me by Robert Lukins

13 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the 2025 Stella Prize longlist and some upcoming book-to-screen adaptations: THE LEOPARD, SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE, FOURTH WIN...

The Season by Helen Garner

07 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Shortlist for fiction, including WOO WOO by Ella Baxter and HIGHWAY 13 by Fiona McFarl...

The House of the Dead by Fyodor Dostoevsky

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Geoff and Anna discuss THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD by Fyodor Dostoevsky translated by David McDuff.   This is a fictionalised account of the four years D...

White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky translated by Ronald Meyer

18 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Geoff discuss WHITE NIGHTS by Fyodor Dostoevsky translated by Ronald Meyer.  A man meets a woman on the street in St Petersburg and falls...

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode: Anna chats with Kate Slotover of the Book Club Review podcast. Our book of the week is THE UNSELECTED JOURNALS OF EMMA M. LION b...

Ep 284: Patriot by Alexei Navalny with special guest John Wood

07 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode: Anna is joined by author and U-Go founder John Wood.  We discuss our reactions to the 2025 Women's Prize Longlist.  Our book o...

Ep 283: Eurotrash by Christian Kracht translated by Daniel Bowles

03 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Geoff react to the 2025 Booker International Longlist. Our book of the week is EUROTRASH by Christian Kracht translated by Daniel Bowles. A...

Ep 282: The Husbands with Holly Gramazio

23 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode: Anna chats with author Holly Gramazio about her debut novel THE HUSBANDS. When Lauren returns to her flat in London one night, sh...

Ep 281: Our Evenings by Alan Hollinghurst

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Geoff review OUR EVENINGS  the new novel by Booker Prize-winning author Alan Hollinghurst. Dave Win is a Burmese-British actor reminiscing ...

Ep 280: City of Destruction with Vaseem Khan

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode: Anna speaks with author Vaseem Khan about his new crime novel CITY OF DESTRUCTION. This is the fifth in the Malabar House series s...

Ep 279: Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan

04 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the success of Rebecca Yarros's new book ONYX STORM, the third in the Emperyean series.  Annie gives her views about why they...

Ep 278: Loose Lips with Kemper Donovan

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode! Anna chats with USA Today best-selling author Kemper Donovan about his new novel LOOSE LIPS, the second in the Ghostwriter series ...

Ep 277: Book Recommendations with Anthony Nocera

20 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode : Anna chats with author Anthony Nocera.  We discuss Anthony's brilliant essay WEDNESDAY BANG in the current issue of SPLINTER and ...

Ep 276: Best Books of 2024

14 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Anna, Annie and Amanda reveal our favourite reads of 2024! Books discussed: MAGIC PILL by Johann Hari ALL THE BEAUTY IN THE WORLD by Patrick Bring...

Ep 275: Australian Literature with Farrin Foster

09 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode: we chat with Farrin Foster about new literary journal SPLINTER and emerging Australian authors. We talk about authors who are also ...

Ep 274: Comfort Reading Recommendations

01 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the  2024 Booker Prize winner ORBITAL by Samantha Harvey. Our comfort reading recommendations are: ARGYLLE by Elly Conway ...

Ep 273: James by Percival Everett

15 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the 2024 Goldsmiths Prize winner, Parade by Rachel Cusk, and ghostwriters in crime writing. Our book of the week is JAMES by Pe...

Ep 272: All Fours by Miranda July

09 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss AI in publishing. Our book of the week is ALL FOURS by award-winning author and artist Miranda July. Described as July's 'per...

Ep 271: Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

01 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the 2024 Booker Prize Shortlist. Our book of the week is INTERMEZZO by award-winning author Sally Rooney. Intermezzo is a nove...

Ep 270: The Valley with Chris Hammer

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode! Anna chats with author Chris Hammer about his new crime novel THE VALLEY, the fourth in the Nell Buchanan and Ivan Lucic series. Ch...

Ep 269: Book Club recommendations with Kate Slotover

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode!  Kate Slotover from the Book Club Review Podcast joins Anna to discuss what makes a good book club book and our top recommendation...

Ep 268: Woo Woo by Ella Baxter

06 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the 2024 Booker Prize Longlist. Our book of the week is WOO WOO by Ella Baxter. The latest novel from the award-winning autho...

Ep 267: The Alternatives by Caoilinn Hughes

28 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the Booker Prize 2024 Longlist. Our book of the week is THE ALTERNATIVES by Caoilinn Hughes.  We loved this Irish novel about...

Ep 266: Best Books of the Year So Far

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the 2024 Women's Prize winners. We reveal our best books of 2024 so far.   Our favourite reads are: THE ALTERNATIVES by Caoi...

Ep 265: The Busy Body with Kemper Donovan

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode!  Anna chats with author Kemper Donovan about his new crime novel THE BUSY BODY, the first in the Ghostwriter series. A contemporar...

Ep 264: Thunderhead by Miranda Darling

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the 2024 Stella Prize winner and the Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist. Our book of the week is Thunderhead by Miranda Darli...

Ep 263: Question 7 by Richard Flanagan

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie find some book recommendations to read along with Taylor Swift's new album The Tortured Poets Department. Our book of the week is Que...

Ep 262: Butter by Asako Yuzuki translated by Polly Barton

18 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the 2024 Stella Prize shortlist. Our book of the week is Butter by Asako Yuzuki translated by Polly Barton. Described as 'a no...

Ep 261: Crime Book Recommendations

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the 2024 Stella Prize Shortlist.  We reveal our favourite recent crime reads.  Our recommendations are: The Many Lies of Ver...

Ep 260: Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead with Jenny Hollander

01 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode: we chat with author Jenny Hollander about her debut crime novel EVERYONE WHO CAN FORGIVE ME IS DEAD. Charlie Colbert is an editor a...

Ep 259: The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the inaugural Women's Prize for Non-Fiction longlist, including Anna Funder's Wifedom. Our book of the week is THE VULNERABLES...

Ep 258: Home Reading Service with Shawn Mooney

06 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's the Shawn and Anna Book Club! Our first book is Home Reading Service by Fabio Morábito translated by Curtis Bauer. Eduardo is sentenced to a ye...

Ep 257: Holiday Reading Recommendations

17 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie reveal our book recommendations for the holiday season. Our favourite holiday reads this year are: THE CLUB by Ellery Lloyd NOW YOU SE...

Ep 256: Best Books of 2023

07 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the Booker Prize 2023 winner, PROPHET SONG by Paul Lynch. We reveal the best books we read in 2023.  In no particular order, t...

Ep 255: Collected Works by Lydia Sandgren translated by Agnes Broomé

13 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss authors' concerns about Spotify streaming books and highlights from the 2024 Adelaide Writers Week lineup. Our book of the wee...

Ep 254: True Biz and Y/N Book Club with Shawn Mooney

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Special guest Shawn Mooney of Shawn the Book Maniac joins Anna for Book Club! We discuss TRUE BIZ by Sara Nović and Y/N by Esther Yi.  These books h...

Ep 253: Wifedom: Mrs Orwell's Invisible Life by Anna Funder

09 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the 2023 Booker Prize Shortlist and the authors taking action over the generative AI use of their work. Our book of the week i...

Ep 252: Chai Time At Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran

29 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Amanda discuss the Nero Book Awards which will commence in 2024. Our book of the week is CHAI TIME AT CINNAMON GARDENS by Shankari Chandran....

Ep 251: Book Club with Shawn Mooney

18 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode: Anna chats with Shawn Mooney of Shawn the Book Maniac. We recommend three books and each choose one to read for our next episode: t...

Ep 250: Women in Translation Recommendations

29 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss a recent study on reading to young children. We wrap up Women in Translation month.  The books we read (or Annie did at least...

Ep 249: The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor

14 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the 2023 Booker Prize Longlist.   Our book of the week is The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor. A novel about friends and lo...

Ep 248: This Other Eden by Paul Harding

03 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Amanda discuss Elizabeth Gilbert pulling her novel The Snow Forest from publication because of its Russia theme. Our book of the week is Th...

Ep 247: The Escape Artist by Jonathan Freedland

29 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Amanda discuss the Women's Prize winner Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Our book of the week is The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke...

Ep 246: Sadvertising with Ennis Ćehić

21 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode:  Anna chats with author Ennis Ćehić about his debut collection of short stories, Sadvertising. Ćehić is based in Melbourne an...

Ep 245: The Half Brother with Christine Keighery

14 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode: Anna chats with author Christine Keighery about her new novel The Half Brother. Christine Keighery has written over 35 novels for ...

Ep 244:The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard

29 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Amanda discuss The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard.  This novel set in Japan and Hong Kong in 1947 explores the colonial era with a forbidden...

Ep 243: Girl in a Pink Dress with Kylie Needham

16 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode: Anna chats with author Kylie Needham about her debut novel, Girl In A Pink Dress. Girl in a Pink Dress centres on Frances, an arti...

Ep 242: The New Life by Tom Crewe

11 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the Stella Prize shortlist (belatedly!) Our book of the week is The New Life by Tom Crewe.  A brilliant debut novel about two...

Ep 241: Women's Prize Shortlist

02 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anna, Annie and Amanda react to the 2023 Women's Prize Shortlist and give our winner predictions. And Annie has news! The shortlist is: Black Butte...

Ep 240: Stella Prize Shortlist and Winner Prediction

26 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Annie, Anna and Amanda discuss the shortlist for the 2023 Stella Prize and give their winner predictions. The shortlist is: We Come With This Place ...

Ep 239: All That's Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien

03 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the 2023 Dylan Thomas Prize Shortlist. Our book of the week is All That's Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien.  This debut novel tells...

Ep 238: Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

27 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the books they are keeping or culling, including Pure Colour by Sheila Heti The Invention of Medicine by Robin Lane Fox Tro...

Ep 237: I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai

20 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie react to the 2023 Women's Prize Longlist and the Booker International Longlist. Our book of the week is I Have Some Questions For Yo...

Ep 236: The Soulmate with Sally Hepworth

14 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode: Anna and Amanda chat with best-selling author Sally Hepworth about her new novel The Soulmate. The Soulmate is a gripping story abo...

Ep 235: Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Annie and Anna discuss the 2023 Stella Prize Longlist. Our book of the week is Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr, the follow-up to his best-selling ...

Ep 234: She Too with Eve Thomson

27 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode as we chat with Eve Thomson about her debut novel She Too. She Too is a legal thriller about a young lawyer who acts for a man accu...

Ep 233: Louise Adler, Adelaide Writers' Week Director

20 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode - our interview with Louise Adler, Director of Adelaide Writers' Week!  We discuss Louise's 'Director's Picks', some new authors to...

ep 232: Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel

13 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the 2023 Dublin Literary Award Longlist.  Our book of the week is Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel. Like Station 11 ...

Ep 231: Trespasses by Louise Kennedy

24 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the man arrested for stealing manuscripts and whether new AI technology ChatGPT can write novels.  Our book of the week is ...

Ep 230: The Master and Margarita

02 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss Jacob's Room by Virginia Woolf and Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka in our Keep or Cull segment. Our book of the week i...

Ep 229: Best Books of 2022

16 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna, Annie and Amanda discuss our best books of 2022. Our favourite reads were: The Comfort Book by Matt Haig Border by Kapka Kassabova Devotion b...

Ep 228: Holiday Reading Recommendations and TBR

12 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss how BookTok is helping young people discover a passion for reading. Our holiday reading recommendations are: Willowman by Ing...

Ep 227: Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Amanda discuss book shopping on TikTok.  Our book of the week is Crossroads by award-winning author Jonathan Franzen.  This is a family dr...

Ep 226: The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

27 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Amanda discuss the National Book Award winner for fiction, The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty. Our book of the week is The Marriage Portrait by...

Ep 225: The Trees by Percival Everett

20 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the court blocking the acquisition by Penguin Random House of Simon & Schuster. Our book of the week is The Trees by Percival ...

EP 224: Real Bad Things by Kelly J Ford

09 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the Readings Prize winner, Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au. Our book of the week is Real Bad Things by Kelly J. Ford.  Se...

Ep 223: Classic Crime books by Margery Allingham

02 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the Booker Prize winner, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka. In Keep or Cull, Anna culls Mrs March by Vir...

Ep 222: Limberlost by Robbie Arnott

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the latest book sales and our theories on TikTok or #BookTok .  We also preview our new segment Keep or Cull, as we will be r...

Ep 221: Booker Prize Special Episode

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the death of Hilary Mantel and the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Annie Ernaux. Our books of the week are Maps of...

Ep 220: Cold Enough for Snow and Small Books

01 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Amanda discuss our favourite small books. Our book of the week is Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au, the inaugural winner of the Novel Priz...

Ep 219: Bodies of Light by Jennifer Down

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the 2022 Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction shortlist. Our book of the week is Bodies of Light by award-winning author...

Ep 218: Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra

18 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the death of Queen Elizabeth II and recommend these books: An Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett The Queen by Ben Pimlott The P...

Ep 217: Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

04 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss their predictions for the 2022 Booker Prize Shortlist. Our book of the week is Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley.  This novel ab...

Ep 216: Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

29 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss literary scandals and the attack on Salman Rushdie.  Sales of his book The Satanic Verses have surged since the attack. Our b...

Ep 215: Violets by Kyung-Sook Shin translated by Anton Hur

17 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the mystery surrounding a killing in Zambia and Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads Sing. Our book of the week is Viole...

Ep 214: Women in Translation recommendations and TBR

09 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss their book recommendations for Women in Translation month.  There is also a #WITreadathon on BookTube hosted by Matthew Sciara...

Ep 213:Bolla by Pajtim Statovci translated by David Hackston

03 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the Miles Franklin Literary Award winner and react to the 2022 Booker Prize Longlist. Our book of the week is Bolla by Pajtim...

Ep 212: Best Books of the Year So Far

02 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the plagiarism allegations with The Dogs originally reported by The Guardian.  We love a literary scandal! Our best books of...

EP 211: Wild Abandon by Emily Bitto

27 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Amanda discuss the Women's Prize winner, The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki. Our book of the week is Wild Abandon by Emily Bitto,...

Ep 210: Comfort Reading Recommendations

13 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the 2022 Miles Franklin longlist. Annie's tip to win is Bodies of Light by Jennifer Down. Our comfort reading recommendations ...

Ep 209: Red Arrow by William Brewer

01 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Annie discuss the winner of the winner of the 2022 Dublin Literary Award, The Art of Losing by Alice Zeniter translated by Frank Wynne. Our b...

Ep 208: Stolen Focus by Johann Hari

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anna and Amanda discuss the Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction, The Netanyahus by Joshua Cohen. Our book of the week is Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pa...