Books, Baby!

Books, Baby! continues its sixth season with a discussion of The Lost Daughter by Elena Ferrante, a novel that begins with a seemingly ordinary holiday and unfolds into a piercing examination of motherhood, desire, and identity. In this episode, we explore the novel’s unsettling honesty, its complex portrayal of maternal ambivalence, and the questions it raises about the versions of ourselves we l...

In the Season 6 premiere of Books, Baby! , we dive into Minor Black Figures by Brandon Taylor —a tender, searching novel set against the heat and loneliness of a New York summer. On the surface, this novel reads like a romance. But beneath the intimacy is a deeper meditation on art, race, ambition, and the quiet ache of wanting to be fully seen. In this episode, Ian, Bev and Alo unpack the emotion...

December brings our Season 5 finale , and what a way to wrap the year! In this final episode of Books, Baby! , Ian, Bev, and Alo look back at a year of reading, reflecting on the stories that stayed with us long after the last page. We chat about our favourite reads of the year , the books that surprised us when we least expected it, the ones that didn’t quite live up to the hype, and our standout...

It’s Books, Baby! Booker Prize episode and Bev, Ian and Alo dive into the 2025 winning novel Flesh by David Szalay. We explore its sharp examination of masculinity, emotional restraint, and the quiet turning points that shape István’s life from adolescence to middle age. This episode also features Sim, joining us for a second guest appearance this season. Books mentioned in this episode: Audition...

This month, Ian, Bev, and Alo dive into The Bee Sting by Paul Murray, joined by special guest Nell. The Bee Sting is a sweeping, tragicomic family saga that captured readers (and Booker Prize judges) alike. We unpack its unforgettable characters, explore Murray’s distinct writing style through each point of view, and debate that twist ending that left us reeling. But before we get stung by all tha...

September’s episode of Books, Baby! takes us into the world of Torrey Peters’ Stag Dance , a bold collection of stories about that doesn’t shy away from messiness, desire, and transformation. Across its pages, Peters gives us characters who are stumbling, reaching, and reinventing themselves in ways that feel both raw and achingly human. Join Alo, Bev and Ian as we dive into these stories—unpackin...

In this episode of Books, Baby! , Ian, Bev, and Alo dive into Saou Ichikawa’ s haunting novel Hunchback . With its fragmented storytelling and stark lyricism, the book offers an unflinching look at the intersections of embodiment, shame, desire, and intimacy. The hosts unpack how Ichikawa captures the vulnerability of inhabiting a body that exists outside of societal ideals, while also carving out...

In this special in-person recording, hosts Alo, Bev, and Ian come together at the stunning Narrm Ngarrgu Library in Melbourne to discuss Separate Rooms by Pier Vittorio Tondelli . Originally published in 1989, this poignant queer novel has been reprinted after more than 30 years and is soon to be adapted into a film by Luca Guadagnino. The episode delves into the book's meditation on grief, memory...

In the fourth episode of Season 5 of Books, Baby! , Ian, Bev & Alo are joined by returning guest host Simone (⁠⁠ @sims_solace ) discuss Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq , the winner of the 2025 International Booker Prize. This marks the first time a short story collection has taken home the award, and we dive into what makes it so powerful. We explore Mushtaq’s unforgettable characters and how her spoke...

The Books, Baby! is back after a short break. This month Ian, Bev and Alo are getting lost in the simmering tension of Yael van der Wouden’s debut, The Safekeep . Set in the Dutch countryside during the summer of 1961, this twisted tale of desire and obsession follows two women bound by secrets, suspicion, and the haunting legacy of WWII. Join us as we unravel the novel’s slow-burn intimacy, queer...

This month on Books, Baby! , Ian, Bev and Alo are diving into the world of Haruki Murakami , through his novel Kafka on the Shore . We unpack talking cats, Greek mythology influences, classical music, and other themes in Murakami’s storytelling. Along the way, we discuss some of Murakami’s other works, his signature themes, and the cultural impact of his writing. 📚 Other Murakami books we mention...

Books, Baby! – Season 5 is here! With Kylie Minogue’s Tension World Tour kicking off this month in Australia, we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the beginning of our new season than by diving into Spinning Around: The Kylie Playlist ! a dazzling anthology celebrating Australia's biggest Pop Icon! Created and edited by Kirsten Krauth and Angela Savage, this collection features an incred...

Start your 2025 with a literary bang! In this special year-in-review episode, Ian, Bev, and Alo unwrap the books that defined 2024. Released just in time to kick off the new year, we’re diving into the stories that made us laugh, cry, and rethink the world around us. From dazzling debuts to thought-provoking works by queer authors, women, and minorities, the team reflects on their favourite reads,...

It's Books, Baby! Booker Prize episode and Bev, Ian and Alo discuss the 2024 winner novel Orbital written by British author Samantha Harvey. CONTENT WARNING: This episode discuses spoilers from the book. Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - ⁠⁠⁠ @booksbabypod⁠⁠ Hosts: Ian - ⁠ @bookish_ian⁠ Bev - ⁠ @booksgonewilde⁠ Alo - ⁠ @books.swallows.universe

In this episode of Books, Baby! , Ian, Bev, and Alo dive into the ultimate holiday reading list, sharing their top recommendations for books that make the perfect travel companions. We explore perfect pairings for your next trip, like visiting St. Petersburg after reading Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment , wandering through Tuscany with Portrait of a Lady by Henry James, or discovering Vietnam wh...

For this episode of Books, Baby! Ian, Bev & Alo are joined by fellow bookstagrame Nell ( @nellreadsbooks ) to dive into Sally Rooney’s literary phenomenon. They explore the buzz surrounding her work, even daring to draw comparisons between Rooney and Taylor Swift, while discussing her latest novel, Intermezzo. Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! -...

In this episode, Ian, Bev, and Alo dive and dissect the novel A Language of Limbs described by Benjamin Law as "an instant queer classic". Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! -  ⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosts: Ian -  ⁠⁠⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bev -  ⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alo -  ⁠⁠⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe⁠

In the second episode of season 3 of Books, Baby! Ian, Bev & Alo are joined by fellow bookstagrame Simone (⁠ @booksolace ⁠) to discuss Bryan Washington's new novel: 'Family Meal'. Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - ⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠ Hosts: Ian - ⁠⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠⁠ Bev - ⁠⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠⁠ Alo - ⁠⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe⁠ Guest...

Welcome to season 4 of Books, Baby! Reading the rainbow and the ocasional straight white man. In the first episode of season 4 Ian, Bev & Alo deep discuss Kairos by German author Jenny Erpenbeck, and winner of the International Booker Prize 2024 Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - ⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠ Hosts: Ian - ⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠ Bev - ⁠⁠@booksgone...

It's the finale of season 3 of Books, Baby! and Ian, Bev & Alo are joined by fellow bookstagramer Sanch ( ⁠@sanchwrites ) to talk about books and their screen adaptations with a special focus on the Netflix series adaptation of Aussie best-seller book 'Boy Swallows Universe" by Trent Dalton. Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - ⁠⁠⁠@bo...

It's Books, Baby! Booker Prize episode and Bev, Ian and Alo discuss the 2023 winner novel Prophet Song written by Irish novelist Paul Lynch. CONTENT WARNING: This episode discuses spoilers from the book. Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - ⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠ Hosts: Ian - ⁠@bookish_ian⁠ Bev - ⁠@booksgonewilde⁠ Alo - ⁠@books.swallows.universe

As we bid farewell to 2023, Ian, Bev, and Alo come together for a special year-end episode to recap the literary journey of the past year. In this first-ever recorded session in person, we revisit the diverse landscape of books that shaped our 2023. From our page-turning favourites to those that didn't quite meet our expectations, we'll unpack the best, worst, and most surprising reads of...

In this episode of Books, Baby! Bev, Ian and Alo are dishing out their thoughts and feelings about 'The Late Americans,' the latest novel of one of their favourite authors, Brandon Taylor. Prepare for a thought-provoking discussion and heartfelt reflections on the themes, characters, and the brilliance of Taylor's writing. Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Insta...

In the second episode of season 3 of Books, Baby! Ian, Bev & Alo are joined by fellow bookstagrame Nell ( @nellreadsbooks ) to discuss Kazuo Ishiguro's iconic novel 'Never Let Me Go'. Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - ⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠ Hosts: Ian - ⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠ Bev - ⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠ Alo - ⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe Guest Hos...

It's season 3 of Books, Baby! Reading the rainbow and the ocasional straight white man. In the first episode of our third season Ian, Bev & Alo deep dive into the best-selling Chilean author Isabel Allende's latest novel: The Wind Knows My Name.  Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - ⁠@booksbabypod⁠ Hosts: Ian - ⁠@bookish_ian⁠ Bev - ⁠@books...