Books On The Go

Anna and Annie discuss the fallout from the Booker Prize and the winner of the Not the Booker, Last Supper by Lara Williams.

Our book of the week is The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa, translated by Stephen Snyder. Ogawa has won every major Japanese literary prize; this novel is a 2019 National Book Award finalist. Set on an unnamed island, objects are disappearing and people no longer remember them.  A young woman novelist hides her editor under the floorboards.  A restful dystopia, if there is such a thing? Annie loved this.

Next week, we are interviewing The Museum of Modern Love author Heather Rose about her new novel, Bruny.  

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Credits

Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz

Anna and Amanda discuss the shock Booker Prize annoucement:  Margaret Atwood's The Testaments (ep 88) and Bernardine Evaristo's Girl, Woman, Other were joint winners.  We have thoughts!  For starters, see this great article by Sam Jordison. Go behind the scenes at the awards dinner with Eric Karl Anderson here.

Our book of the week is The Pillars by Peter Polites. It's a fast-paced story of Panos, a gay man living in Western Sydney, Basil the property developer, a mosque development, gym junkies and narcissm. Fresh, honest and raw, but we had mixed feelings. Fans of Christian Tsiolkas will love it.

Next week, Anna and Annie will be reading The Memory Policy by Yoko Ogawa, translated by Stephen Snyder.

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Credits

Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz

Anna and Annie discuss Women in Translation Month, started by Meytal Radzinski and now a global event (yes, it was in August but we're celebrating it year-round ;) ). In keeping with our theme, Elena Ferrante has a new book coming out in November, translated by Ann Goldstein. 

Our book of the week is Our Life in the Forest by Marie Darrieussecq, translated by Penny Hueston.  Darrieussecq is hugely successful in France and we can see why.  We loved this short novel set in the near future, with a funny, blunt narrator, spare writing and much to think about.  Recommended!  

Next week, Anna and Amanda will be reading The Pillars by Peter Polites.

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Litsy: @abailliekaras , @mr_annie

Anna and Amanda discuss the National Book Awards Longlist for Fiction.

Our book of the week is Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout.  This was a best-seller, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2009 and was made into an Emmy award-winning mini-series. We loved it and cannot wait for the sequel, Olive, Again, due out in November. 

Next week, Anna and Annie will be reading Our Life in the Forest by Marie Darrieussecq, translated by Penny Hueston.

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Instagram: @abailliekaras and @amandalhayes99

Twitter: @abailliekaras

Litsy: @abailliekaras

A special episode: our interview with author Tracy Chevalier about her latest novel, A Single Thread.

Tracy is best known for Girl With the Pearl Earring, which was made into an Oscar-nominated film.  A Single Thread is a Most Anticipated Book of Fall (TIME, USA Today) and one of New York Post's Fall Novels Everyone's Talking About.  Set in 1932, it centres on Violet Speedwell, one of the 'surplus women' after the war, who joins a group of broderers in Winchester Cathedral. Described as 'deeply pleasurable' (The Times) and 'Bittersweet ... dazzling' (The Guardian), we loved this one and Tracy was such a delight to chat with.

Tracy recommends The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman and the podcast Ear Hustle.

Next week, Anna and Amanda are reading Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. 

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Instagram: @abailliekaras , @mr_annie and @tracychevalierwriter

Twitter: @abailliekaras , @mister_annie and @Tracy_Chevalier

Litsy: @abailliekaras and @mr_annie

Credits:

Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz

Our Booker Shortlist double-header!

Anna has read Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann. The story of an Ohio housewife who bakes cherry pies and worries about the state of the world, this 1,000 page novel has been described as 'breathlessly brilliant' (Irish Times), 'a jaw-dropping miracle' (Library Journal) and 'a wise-cracking, melancholy Mrs Dalloway for the internet age' (Financial Times). 

Amanda read An Orchestra of Minorities by Chigozie Obioma.  Obioma was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2015 for The Fishermen and has been named one of Foreign Policy magazine's 100 Leading Global Thinkers. This novel is set in Nigeria and Cyprus and features myth, spirits and a chicken farmer on an Odyssey-style quest. 

Next week, Anna and Annie are interviewing Tracy Chevalier to discuss her new novel A Single Thread.

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Twitter: @abailliekaras

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Credits

Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz

Anna, Annie and Amanda discuss the Testaments 'Winner' sticker gaffe. Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe has been chosen as the inaugural Parliamentary Book Club book.  And on the book club theme, Room to Read has started a new book club. We love their work!

Our book of the week is The Testaments by Margaret Atwood.  The hugely hyped sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, it answers many questions about what happens to Gilead, through the points of view of Aunt Lydia, Agnes and Daisy. It may help if you've watched the TV series (but we haven't).  'Dazzling' (The Guardian) and shortlisted for the 2019 Booker Prize.  But what did we think?

Next up, Anna and Amanda are reading Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann and An Orchestra of Minorities by Chigozie Obioma.

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Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @abailliekaras , @mr_annie , @amandalhayes99

Litsy: @abailliekaras and @mr_annie

Twitter: @abailliekaras and @mister_annie

Room to Read: www.roomtoread.org/bookclub

Credits

Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz

It's our Booker Shortlist Week!

Anna and Annie discuss the release of The Testaments and the embargo furore.

Our book of the week is 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak.  Set in Istanbul, it tells the story of Leila and her five best friends.  Described as a 'rich, sensual novel' (The Financial Times) and 'extraordinary' (The Guardian), it's a celebration of friendship and diversity.  Short-listed for the 2019 Booker Prize.

Next, Anna, Annie and Amanda will be reading The Testaments by Margaret Atwood.  Then Anna and Amanda will be back with Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann and An Orchestra of Minorities by Chigozie Obioma. 

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Facebook: Books On The Go

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @abailliekaras and @mr_annie

Twitter: @abailliekaras and @mister_annie

Litsy: @abailliekaras and @mr_annie

Credits

Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz.

Anna and Amanda discuss the 2019 Book Prize Shortlist.

Our book of the week is The Ditch by Herman Koch, translated by Sam Garrett.  Koch is best known for his hugely successful book The Dinner.  In a similar style, showing the reality beneath outwardly successful lives, The Ditch is the story of a mayor of Amsterdam who suspects his wife is having an affair. Fans of Herman Koch may like this, but Anna and Amanda are not convinced.

Next week we are reading the Booker Shortlist!  Anna and Annie will kick off with 10 Minutes, 38 Seconds in this Strange World by Elif Shafak.

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Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @abailliekaras and @amandalhayes99

Twitter: @abailliekaras

Litsy: @abailliekaras

Credits

Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz

Anna, Amanda and Annie discuss the Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction shortlist.  This is becoming widely followed and is a great way to discover new Aussie authors.

Our book of the week is Too Much Lip by Melissa Lucashenko, winner of the 2019 Miles Franklin Prize and short-listed for the Stella Prize.  We loved this - a cracking story, dazzling prose and lots to discuss. Highly recommended.

Next week, Anna and Amanda will be reading The Ditch by Herman Koch, translated by Sam Garrett.  Then we will be back with 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World by Elif Shafak and The Testaments by Margaret Atwood.

Follow us!

Facebook: Books On The Go

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @abailliekaras , @amandalhayes99 , @mr_annie

Twitter: @abailliekaras, @mister_annie

Litsy: @abailliekaras, @mr_annie

Credits

Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz