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 spoken-style prose builds such disconcerting emotional heights.

Books mentioned in this episode:

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• ​Reservoir Bitches - Dahlia de la Cerda
• ​
• ​Under the Eye of the Big Bird - Hiromi Kawakami
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• ​Perfection - Vicenzo Latronico
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• ​Hunchback - Saou Ichikawa
• ​On the Calculation of Volume 1 - Solvej Balle
• ​We do not part - Han Kang
• ​A Tail for the Time Being - Ruth Ozeki
• ​All the Violent Tiaras: Queering the Greek Myths - Jean Manzies
• ​The Hours - Michael Cunningham
• ​Before Night Falls - Reinaldo Arenas

Connect with us via email (⁠booksbabypod@gmail.com⁠) and on Instagram!

Books, Baby! – ⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hosts:Ian – ⁠⁠⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠⁠⁠Bev – ⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠⁠⁠Alo – ⁠⁠⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe⁠⁠

Guest Host:Simone – ⁠⁠⁠@sims_solace

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! - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hosts: Ian - ⁠⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠⁠

Bev - ⁠⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠⁠

Alo - ⁠⁠⁠@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.

📚 Other Murakami books we mention:

• Norwegian Wood

• • South of the border, west of the sun
  • Killing commendatore
  • The Wind-up bird chronicle

📖 Other books that come up in the chat:

• • The burrow by Melanie Cheng
  • Reservoir Bitches by Dahlia de la Cerda
  • Cursed bunny by Bora Chung
  • Toward eternity by Anton Hur
  • The Makioka Sisters by Jun’ichiro Tanizaki
  • Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
  • There’s not such thing as an easy job by Kikuko Tsukuba
  • Tokio Ueno Station by Yu Miri

  
  

Tune in for a deep dive filled with magical realism, metaphysical detours, and just the right amount of existential dread. Don't forget to rate and review!

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