Copywriter, editor and novelist Isobel Beech – it’s safe to say she’s done it all when it comes to writing. Melbourne-based Beech is a true wordsmith who effortlessly combines innovation with elegance, creating compelling narratives that captivate and inspire. Her distinctive style makes her an important voice in the literary and creative landscape.

Her first novel will be published in 2022. SunbathingBeech presents an influential debut that explores life, death and the healing power of friendship under the summer sun of Abruzzo. Currently, one of her most relatable habits, which is in Beech’s words “stupid”, is that she starts a rotation of books and only reads half of them before starting another. Something I must say I am guilty of too. During the rotation of books that Beech has read, Rosemary’s baby, Giovanni’s room and Experience are considered her three favorite books of all time. Where Foreign soil by Maxine Beneba Clarke was a book that opened up a new world to her in her early twenties.

Below, we talk to Isobel Beech about everything from books that have had such a huge impact on her to a book you must read at least once in your lifetime.

The last book I read…

The last book I read in its entirety was either Undo, baby by Torrey Peters or I am a fan by Sheena Patel, both about nine months ago. Since then, I’ve just started reading books, read half of them, and then slowly tried to finish them (and failed) while alternating between starting other books. It’s stupid.

On my bedside table: I’m reading…

Open water by Caleb Azumah Nelson, On all fours by Miranda July, Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang, About writing by Stephen King and Sociopath by Patric Gagne. Because I’m a crazy person.

My favorite book of all time…

I don’t know if I have one! But my top 10 includes Rosemary’s Baby (Ira Levin), Giovanni’s room (James Baldwin) and Experience (Martin Amis).

The literary character I most identify with is …

Years ago I read The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante while I was living unhappily in London, and it affected me so deeply that I thought I was going to have a breakdown like its protagonist, if that counts.

The book that changed my life is …

Foreign soil by Maxine Beneba Clarke really opened the door to new horizons for me in my early twenties.

The best book I ever received is…

I have been given or borrowed many great books over the years, but the last great experience was borrowing “In the Dream House” by Carmen Maria Machado from my friend.

The book I would give away is …

Depends heavily on the recipient! And on the season! And on the occasion! Apart from that, I What I loved by Siri Hustvedt to a lot of people years ago just because I really liked it.

When I was growing up, the best book on my bookshelf was…

As a teenager, I wanted to be a punk so I read Lisa Crystal Carver’s Drugs are nice over and over and over again. Was also very overwhelmed by We need to talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver.

The Australian writers I admire most are…

Peter Carey, Bruce Pascoe, Maxine Beneba Clarke, Mahmood Fazal, Don Watson, Amy Thunig, Helen Garner.

My favorite living author is …

Oh God. I don’t know. There aren’t many of those I loved the most left. Don DeLillo?

A book that everyone should read at least once is …

Giovanni’s room. You simply have to.