<div>Anna and Geoff discuss the <a href= "https://womensprize.com/prizes/womens-prize-for-fiction/">2026 Women's Prize for Fiction longlist</a>, including <a href= "https://www.penguin.com.au/books/flashlight-9781529932515" data-outlook-id= "5f6952b0-6f24-47dc-ab87-3f44d42b7a95">Flashlight</a>, <a href= "https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-correspondent-9780241721261" data-outlook-id="3a6c1098-9dc2-4a33-9937-33c3f52ca5a2">The Correspondent</a> and <a href= "https://www.penguin.com.au/books/audition-9781911717324">Audition</a>.  Some of the other long-listed books feature writers as characters, which gets us talking about turn-offs in novels.</div> <div> </div> <div>Our book of the week is <a href= "https://www.penguin.com.au/books/departures-9781787335721">DEPARTURE(S)</a> by Julian Barnes. This is the final book by the Booker Prize-winning author. It is a novel about a couple who reunite later in life, with authobiographical elements from Barnes' own life, or it could be a memoir containing a short story.  There is also Proust, philosophy and some observations on memory. Described as 'elegant' (<em>The Times</em>) and 'unmistakably Barnes' (<em>Observer</em>), it got us thinking:</div> <div> </div> <div>Where is the line between memoir and novel?</div> <div>Is DEPARTURE(S) a love story?</div> <div>Are the memory bits too Oliver Sacksy?</div> <div> </div> <div>Coming up: SEASCRAPER by Benjamin Wood.</div> <div> </div> <div>Follow us:</div> <div> </div> <div>Email: <a href= "mailto:booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com">booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com</a></div> <div>Instagram: @abailliekaras</div> <div>Substack: Books On The Go</div> <div> </div> <div>Credits</div> <div> </div> <div>Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz</div> <div> </div>

Seascraper by Benjamin Wood

A podcast where we talk about our book of the week.  Read along with us!