Podcast: Brussels Naked and more book picks beyond the headlines

Published on 05/04/2026 - 9:00 GMT+2

Bulgarian writer Irina Papancheva started journaling astatine the property of 9 and is present the writer of 7 books, including Brussels Naked - an experimental caller made up of 12 interconnected stories, each named aft a neighbourhood successful Brussels.

In a peculiar Easter Sunday episode, Irina Papancheva and Stefan Grobe conscionable down the microphones of Brussels, My Love? to stock their speechmaking recommendations for the Catholic Easter vacation weekend.

Brussels, Naked by Irina Papancheva: A usher to navigating the EU bubble and Brussels

Brussels Naked is Papancheva’s latest book. It tells the communicative of Iris, a young Bulgarian writer who arrives successful the Belgian superior arsenic a trainee astatine the European Parliament.

From naturist spas to lavish cocktail parties, the page-turner depicts Brussels successful each its unpredictability: “Some of my characters person precise antithetic experiences. They amusement however Brussels tin beryllium cruel, but besides however it tin beryllium enchanting and magical,” Papancheva explains.

Lázár: A Novel by Nelio Biedermann: Discovering Hungary’s history

Written by Nelio Biedermann (born successful 2003), the publication tells the communicative of a noble dynasty successful Hungary passim the 20th century.

Family dynamics and past travel unneurotic successful the archetypal publication of the Swiss writer of Hungarian origins.

“That's a fascinating story, and 1 wonders however a feline of 23 years aged person that overmuch speechmaking acquisition that helium tin explicit himself the way. And it's wholly credible,” Grobe said.

The Enlargement by Robert Menasse: The aboriginal of the European idea

Friendship, powerfulness games, authorities and past intertwine successful the caller by the Austrian writer Menasse.

“Menasse is the maestro of Witteism, precise funny, precise ironic style,” Grobe said.

A caller that explores the deepest questions of European individuality and politics, which, according to Grobe, is simply a “must-read” for those who are portion of the EU bubble.

Zbig: The Life of Zbigniew Brzezinski, America's Cold War Prophet by Edward Luce: Understanding the United States

Stepping distant somewhat from the European Union and turning to the United States, this publication explores the beingness of Zbigniew Brzezinski, nationalist information advisor to US President Jimmy Carter.

The Iran hostage situation and the presumption of the United States successful the satellite astatine the extremity of the Cold War rise questions and analyses that are each excessively easy comparable to the present.

Listen to the podcast successful the subordinate supra oregon wherever ever you get your podcasts and fto america cognize what publication you are speechmaking by penning to america astatine [email protected]

Additional sources • Georgios Leivaditis, dependable editing and mixing.