Flesh by David Szalay: the 2025 Booker Prize Winner

It’s Books, Baby! Booker Prize episode and Bev, Ian and Alo dive into the 2025 winning novel Flesh by David Szalay. We explore its sharp examination of masculinity, emotional restraint, and the quiet turning points that shape István’s life from adolescence to middle age. This episode also features Sim, joining us for a second guest appearance this season.Books mentioned in this episode:Audition - Katie KitamuraSeascraper - Benjamin WoodFlashlight - Susan ChoiThe Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny - Kiran DesaiThe Rest of Our Lives - Ben MarkovitsThe Seven Moons of Maali Almeida - Shehan KarunatilakaGirl, Woman, Other - Bernardine EvaristoThe Bee Sting - Paul MurrayMy Friends - Hisham MatarA Little Life - Hanya YanagiharaOpen Water - Caleb Azumah NelsonBoy Friends - Michael PedersenSeán HewittSolvej BalleChloe Hooper, Helen Garner, and Sarah KrasnosteinSarah WatersSuzumi SuzukiBrandon TaylorConnect with us via email (⁠[email protected]⁠) and on Instagram!Books, Baby! – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hosts:Ian – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bev – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alo – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Host:Sim – ⁠⁠⁠@sims_solace