

The Bookshelf
ABC Australia
What are you reading, loving or being challenged by? We review the latest in fiction for dedicated readers and for those who wish they read more.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 12, 2024 • 54min
A never before published novel from Charmian Clift
Cassie, Tom Wright and guests look at The End of the Morning, the never-before-published novel by the Australian writer Charmian Clift, who died in 1969. Plus, The Alternatives by Ireland’s Caoilinn Hughes, and Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange, about the consequences of colonisation and the forced assimilation of Native Americans, which is already generating high praise.BOOKSThe End of the Morning, Charmian Clift (New South)Wandering Stars, Tommy Orange (Penguin Random House)The Alternatives, Caoilinn Hughes (A&U)GUESTSNicole Abadee, Books writer, podcaster and festival moderator who regularly interviews at writers festivals and literary events. Contributor to Good Weekend magazine. Paul Daley, Walkley award-winning columnist for The Guardian who regularly writes on Indigenous affairs. He is also a novelist, short story writer, essayist and playwright. His latest novel is JesustownOTHER BOOKS MENTIONEDGeroge Johnston, Meredith TrilogyRandolph Stow, The Merry-Go-Round in the SeaHal Porter, The Watcher on the Cast-Iron Balcony Sumner Locke Elliott, Careful He Might Hear YouHazzard and Harrower (Edited by Brigitta Olubas, Susan Wyndham)Shankari Chandran, Safe Haven James Bradley, Deep WaterHenry Handel Richardson, Maurice GuestIvy Compton-Burnett, The Present and the PastCREDITSPresenter, Cassie McCullagh + Tom WrightProducer, Cassie McCullagh + Sarah CorbettSound engineer, Craig Tilmouth + Roi HubermanExecutive producer, Rhiannon Brown

Apr 5, 2024 • 54min
Bri Lee's The Work explores art, ambition, privilege and power
Michaela Kalowski and Cassie look at The Work by Bri Lee, plus new novels from Call Me By Your Name author Andre Aciman, and a work of speculative fiction by Mykaela Saunders.

Mar 28, 2024 • 54min
Andrew O'Hagan's Caledonian Road is "majestic"
Cassie and guest host Tom Wright take a look at the exceptional new novel from award-winning Scottish writer Andrew O'Hagan, plus, a genre bending mystery from Stuart Turton and a clever new thriller set in Edinburgh.

Mar 22, 2024 • 54min
Téa Obreht, Asako Yuzuki, Steven Carroll: dystopia, butter, murder
Cassie and Jonathan read Orange Prize winner Téa Obreht’s The Morningside, a dystopian coming-of-age story, plus, a Japanese bestseller and a new post-war literary crime series.

Mar 15, 2024 • 54min
Reimagining Huckleberry Finn, a talking fox, art and alienation
Reimagining Huckleberry Finn, alienation and a talking fox in this edition of The Bookshelf.

Mar 8, 2024 • 54min
Three new Australian novels! Iain Ryan, Amy Brown, Sharlene Allsopp
Cassie and Jonathan Green review three new Australian novels with guest star Claire Nichols and novelist Graham Akhurst.

Mar 1, 2024 • 54min
A Trans-Tasman edition: Myfanwy Jones, Anna Smaill and Sulari Gentill
Cassie and co-host Tom Wright review two new Australian novels, and from across the ‘Dutch',

Feb 23, 2024 • 54min
Meditations on writing: Gail Jones, Jennifer Croft and a new anthology edited by Margaret Atwood
Cassie McCullagh and Jonathan Green review a literary project edited by Margaret Atwood, and new work by Gail Jones and Jennifer Croft.

Feb 16, 2024 • 56min
Dreams and nightmares: Leo Vardiashvili, Teju Cole, Matthew Blake
Cassie and guest host (and playwright) Tom Wright review three new works of fiction.

Feb 9, 2024 • 54min
Mysteries and meta-physical thrillers: Kemper Donovan, Mike McCormack and Alex Michaelides
Mysteries and twists galore in new work by Kemper Donovan and best-selling British-Cypriot author Alex Michaelides; and award-winning Irish novelist Mike McCormack's follow up to Solar Bones.


