Elizabeth Strout, Daniel Kehlmann and a Genre‑Bending Debut

Elizabeth Strout, Daniel Kehlmann and a Genre‑Bending Debut

From The Bookshelf by ABC Australia

May 8, 2026 · 55 min

About this episode

This episode features reviews of new novels by Elizabeth Strout and Daniel Kehlmann, along with discussions on various literary themes.

This week’s Bookshelf features the latest from Elizabeth Strout, creator of Olive Kitteridge and Lucy Barton, returning with a stand‑alone novel called The Things We Never Say. We’re also reading an ambitious, genre‑bending novel that moves from 1980s gaming culture to far‑future space travel, and Daniel Kehlmann’s The Director, a German novel in translation that explores film, power and propaganda. Joining us to review are Geordie Williamson - critic, publisher and writer; and Robert Forster - singer‑songwriter, founding member of The Go‑Betweens, memoirist and brand new novelist with Songwriters on the Run . ~ REVIEWERS Robert Forster and Geordie Williamson ~ BOOKS Daniel Kehlmann, The Director (translated from the German by Ross Benjamin), Riverrun Elizabeth Strout, The Things We Never Say, Viking Penguin Portia Elan, Homebound, Chatto & Windus Caro Claire Burke, Yesteryear, Fourth Estate ~ OTHER BOOKS MENTIONED Daniel Kehlmann, works Elizabeth Strout, My Name is Lucy Barton The Boundless Deep, Richard Holmes Johnno, David Malouf Keeley Jobe, The Endling Ana Paula Maia, On Earth as It Is Beneath ~ CREDITS Presenter, Kate Evans and Cassie McCullagh Producer, Kate Evans and…

People in this episode

Hosts: Kate Evans, Cassie McCullagh

Guests: Geordie Williamson, Robert Forster

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Things We Never Say, The Director, Homebound, Yesteryear, My Name is Lucy Barton, The Boundless Deep, Johnno, On Earth as It Is Beneath, Songwriters on the Run

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