A podcast reading the rainbow and the occasional straight white man!
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 undercurrents, and one very unforgettable bathtub scene.CONTENT WARNING: This episode discuses spoilers from the book.Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram!Books, Baby! - @booksbabypodHosts: Ian - @bookish_ianBev - @booksgonewildeAlo - @books.swallows.universe
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.
Books, Baby! – Season 5 is here!With Kylie Minogue'sTension 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 intoSpinning 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 incredible lineup of writers, including Alice Pung, Ellen Van Neerven, Holden Sheppard, Chris Flynn, Carrie Tiffany, Lucy Treloar, Christos Tsiolkas, and more. With essays, poetry, and stories inspired by Kylie's music, this book is a love letter to the icon who shaped generations.Join Ian, Bev, and Alo as they break down the themes, highlight their favourite pieces, and explore how Kylie's influence extends beyond music into culture, identity, and storytelling.Listen to the playlist with the songs from the book!
Start your 2025 with a literary bang! In this special year-in-review episode, Ian, Bev, and Alounwrap 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, surprise hits, and unforgettable podcast moments. Books Discussed in This Episode: Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel The Season by Helen Garner Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood Less than zero by Bret Easton Ellis Intermezzo by Sally Rooney Question 7 by Richard Flanagan The work by Bri Lee Mushrooms at the end of the world by Anna Tsing A language of limbs by Dylin Hardcastle Kairos by Jenny Erpenbenk Private rites by Julia Armfield Wrong answers only by Tobias Madden What I'd rather not talk about by Jente Posthuma The In-between by Christos Tsiolkas Liliana's invencible summer by Cristina Rivera Garza Thank you for making 2024 another unforgettable chapter of Books, Baby! And for kicking off the new year with us! Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - @booksbabypod Hosts: Ian - @bookish_ian Bev - @booksgonewilde Alo - @books.swallows.universe
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 while immersed in Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai's The Mountain Sing. Whether you're seeking lighthearted rom-coms or gripping thrillers, we've got you covered with recommendations to make your journey unforgettable! Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - @booksbabypod Hosts: Ian - @bookish_ian Bev - @booksgonewilde Alo - @books.swallows.universe
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! - @booksbabypod Hosts: Ian - @bookish_ian Bev - @booksgonewilde Alo - @books.swallows.universe Guest Host: Nell - @nellreadsbooks
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 Host: Simone - @booksolace
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 - @booksgonewilde Alo - @books.swallows.universe Jenny Erpenbeck
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! - @booksbabypod Hosts: Ian - @bookish_ian Bev - @booksgonewilde Alo - @books.swallows.universe Guest Host: Sanch - @sanchwrites
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 the year. Join us as we reflect on the highs and lows of our reading adventures from the past year. For the complete list of our choices, connect with us on Instagram - Books, Baby! - @booksbabypod - where we will be posting the books that we discussed in this episode. Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - @booksbabypod Hosts: Ian - @bookish_ian Bev - @booksgonewilde Alo - @books.swallows.universe Thank you so much for listening to us during 2023 and we hope you continue listening us in 2024! Wishing you a 'Merry Chapter-mas' and a 'Booktastic New Year' filled with literary delights and captivating reads!"
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 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 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 Host: Nell - @nellreadsbooks
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 - @booksgonewilde Alo - @books.swallows.universe
In the final episode of season 2 of Books, Baby!, Ian, Bev, Alo, and Jaime engage in a conversation about the book 'The Boy from the Mish' written by Gary Lonesborough. This queer Indigenous YA novel follows the journey of seventeen-year-old Jackson as he embarks on a courageous exploration of his true identity. Connect with us! via email: booksbabypod@gmail.com Instagram: Books, Baby! - @booksbabypod Jaime - @jaime.reads Ian - @bookish_ian Bev - @booksgonewilde Alo - @books.swallows.universe Thank you for listening!
Join hosts Ian, Bev, Alo and Jaime as they explore Carmen Maria Machado's short-stories collection: "Her Body and other Parties." In this episode, we analyse Machado's innovative storytelling techniques, discussing themes of sexuality, domestic violence, and identity. From the blend of horror and feminism to the exploration of bodily autonomy, we unravel the complex layers beneath these stories. Connect with us! via email: booksbabypod@gmail.com Instagram: Books, Baby! - @booksbabypod Jaime - @jaime.reads Ian - @bookish_ian Bev - @booksgonewilde Alo - @books.swallows.universe Thank you for listening!
It's episode 4 of Books, Baby!'s season 2 and Alo, Ian, Bev and Jaime dive into Bernardine Evaristo's "Mr Loverman" and discuss themes of sexuality, family, and the coming out experience that are present throughout the book. Connect with us! via email: booksbabypod@gmail.com Instagram: Books, Baby! - @booksbabypod Jaime - @jaime.reads Ian - @bookish_ian Bev - @booksgonewilde Alo - @books.swallows.universe Thank you for listening!
In episode 3 of Books, Baby!'s second season Bev, Ian, Jaime and Alo talk discuss the Woman Prize for Fiction 2023 Longlist historical novel The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - @booksbabypod Jaime - @jaime.reads Ian - @bookish_ian Bev - @booksgonewilde Alo - @books.swallows.universe
In the second episode of seson 2 of Books, Baby! Bev, Ian, Jaime and Alo talk about award prize season, their favourite books from trans and non-binary author and what they do when they find out the author of a book is problematic. To join the #transrightsreadathon happening from March 20th - March 27th check @molsbymoonlight post in instagram and follow@sim_bookstagrams_badly Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - @booksbabypod Jaime - @jaime.reads Ian - @bookish_ian Bev - @booksgonewilde Alo - @books.swallows.universe
Welcome to season 2 of Books, Baby! Where we're reading the rainbow and the ocasional straight white man. In the first episode of the second season Jaime, Ian, Bev & Alo deep dive into the work of American author Elizabeth Strout and her famous character Lucy Barton. Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - @booksbabypod Jaime - @jaime.reads Ian - @bookish_ian Bev - @booksgonewilde Alo - @books.swallows.universe
It's the end of the year and also the end of our first season! To celebrate a year of books and the last episode of season 1 of Books, Baby! 1 Alo, Bev, Ian and Jaime review the books they loved, didn't like and those that surprised them. For the complete list of our choices, connect with us on Instagram - Books, Baby! - @booksbabypod - where we will be posting the books that we discussed in this episode. You can also connect with us individually: Jaime - @jaime.reads Ian - @bookish_ian Bev - @booksgonewilde Alo - @books.swallows.universe Thank you so much for listening to us this first season and we can't wait to be back with more book recommendations next year with Season 2!
For this episode of Books, Baby! Jaime, Ian, Bev & Alo discuss literary awards and the 2022 Booker Prize winner novel The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida written by Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka. CONTENT WARNING: This episode discuses spoilers from the book and themes such as graphic violence, death, suicide, murder and torture. In our next and final episode of season 1, we will be talking about our favourite (and not so favourite) books read this year! We'd love to hear what were your favourite books during 2022! So don't forget to connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - @booksbabypod Jaime - @jaime.reads Ian - @bookish_ian Bev - @booksgonewilde Alo - @books.swallows.universe
On this episode of Books, Baby! Jaime, Ian, Bev & Alo discuss the novel Paradais written by Mexican author Fernanda Melchor and translated to English by Sophie Hughes. CONTENT WARNING: This episode discuses spoilers from the book and themes such as porn, graphic rape, sexual assault, sexual violence, antigay slurs, incest, murder and torture. As promised in the episode, here are our favourite books translated to English: Ian - Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor Alonso - Lie with me by Philippe Besson Jaime - Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto Bev - Neapolitan novels by Elena Ferrante In our next episode we will be discussing the 2022 Booker Prize winner novel The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka. We'd love to hear what you think of this episode and your thoughts on Paradais! So don't forget to connect with us on Instagram! Books, Baby! - @booksbabypod Jaime - @jaime.reads Ian - @bookish_ian Bev - @booksgonewilde Alo - @books.swallows.universe
On the this episode of Books, Baby! Bev, Ian, Jaime & Alo discuss the graphic novel series Alice Osman by British author Alice Oseman, and its Netflix adaptation. WARNING: the episode's discussion may contain spoilers of the graphic novel series and discusses topics like mental health, eating disorders and sex. Connect with us on Instagram! Books, Baby! - @booksbabypod Jaime - @jaime.reads Ian - @bookish_ian Bev - @booksgonewilde Alo - @books.swallows.universe
On this episode of Books, Baby! Jaime and Alo talk about the novel The Guncle by Steven Rowley, and Bev and Ian discuss Louise Erdrich's novel The Sentence. WARNING: the episode contains some minor spoilers of the books discussed. Connect with us on Instagram! Books, Baby! - @booksbabypod Alo - @books.swallows.universe Bev - @booksgonewilde Ian - @bookish_ian Jaime - @jaime.reads
On the first ever episode of Books, Baby! Jaime, Ian, Bev & Alo discuss the novel Young Mungo written by Scottish-American writer Douglas Stuart. WARNING: the episode contains spoilers of the book. Connect with us on Instagram! Books, Baby! - @booksbabypod Jaime - @jaime.reads Ian - @bookish_ian Bev - @booksgonewilde Alo - @books.swallows.universe
We are 4 friends that love reading books and enjoy discussing the books we read. Join us in this podcast where we will be discussing a diverse range of books. Follow us in instagram: Books, Baby! - https://www.instagram.com/booksbabypod/ Hosts: Alo - @books.swallow.universe Bev - @booksgonewilde Ian - @bookish_ian Jaime - @jaime.reads
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