From Covid-era China to the world of Frida Kahlo and Colson Whitehead's latest

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead’s latest novel Cool Machine is a vivid portrait of Black New York in the 1980s. The book reunites readers with furniture salesman and part-time fence Ray Carney. Kate Evans and regular reviewer, critic and essayist Beejay Silcox discuss.

Also this week, Isabelle Li’s The Northern Tomb offers an intimate and richly textured portrait of life in Northeast China during the Covid pandemic, while Claire Berest’s Frida brings the passion, colour and complexity of artist Frida Kahlo vividly to the page. 

Plus, Kate speaks with Ashley Hay, novelist and interim editor of Meanjin, about the magazine's rich literary history and how its archive can help guide your vote in the ABC's Top 100 Australian Books countdown. (Ashley also shares her top three Australian picks).

Each week, a specially curated selection of archival material will be released at Meanjin:

• Meanjin – The Finest New Writing in Australia

Books discussed

• Cool Machine - Colson Whitehead (Fleet)
• The Northern Tomb - Isabelle Li (Puncher & Wattmann)
• Frida - Claire Berest, translated from French by Stephanie Smee (Mountain Leopard Press)

Also mentioned

• But Won't I Miss Me - Tiffany Tsao (Harper Via)

Beejay Silcox's recommendations

• Angel Down - Daniel Kraus
• The Children - Melissa Albert
• Their Brilliant Careers - Ryan O'Neill

Ashley Hay's Top 3 Australian picks

• The Commandant - Jessica Anderson
• Edenglassie - Melissa Lucashenko
• The Great Fire - Shirley Hazzard

Credits

• Presenter - Kate Evans
• Producer - Kate Evans and Sarah Corbett
• Sound - Tim Jenkins and Isabella Tropiano
• Arts editor - Rhiannon Brown