No matter where you are, a meal can make you feel at home. Suresh Doss, host of CBC’s culinary show Locals Welcome, shares the cookbooks he keeps in his kitchen, which have helped fuel his lifelong passion. Plus, writer and journalist Phillip Dwight Morgan talks about his mission to read a new poem to his baby daughter everyday.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Handmade: Stories of Strength Shared Through Recipes from the Women of Sri Lanka  by Nesa and Roberts Liezer

Salt Fat Acid Heat” by Samin Nosrat

The Joy of Cooking” by Irma Rombauer

Donabe: Classic and Modern Japanese Clay Pot Cooking by Naoko Takei Moore and Kyle Connaughton

Wild Geese by Mary Oliver

Last month, Green Gables newcomer Antonio Michael Downing attended the inaugural Cavendish Literary Festival in Prince Edward Island. Along the way he met expert Kate Scarth, the chair of the L.M. Montgomery Institute at the University of P.E.I. After bonding over the classic Canadian tale, they decided to continue their conversation about the legacy of LM Montgomery and Anne Shirley on this week's episode.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery

CBC Books’ Ryan B. Patrick gives his take on Flesh, this year's Booker Prize winner. David Szalay’s buzzy book follows the life of man from adolescence in Hungary to his wealthy middle age in London. Plus, writer Rabindranath Maharaj shares the most influential books in his life.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Flesh by David Szalay

A Quiet Disappearance by Rabindranath Maharaj

Coral Island by R. M. Ballantyne

Watchmen by Alan Moore, illustrated by Dave Gibbons, coloured by John Higgins

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

A House for Mr Biswas by V.S. Naipaul

Margaret Atwood’s Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts offers a sharp and funny look at the multifaceted life that shaped one of the most influential Canadian literary voices of our time. Atwood's longtime friend and novelist Susan Swan, along with Margaret’s ‘heir apparent’ Mona Awad join the show to discuss the memoir with Antonio Michael Downing.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwood

Before he won the academy award for best actor, Brendan Fraser was a kid who loved reading captivating stories, the weirder the better. He joins The Next Chapter to share a first look at his new audio series The Downloaded 2: Ghosts in the Machine by Robert J. Sawyer, and talks about what childhood books ignited his creative spark. Plus, a CBC Books producer helps answer the question: what is a cozy read?

Books discussed on this week's show include:

The Downloaded 2: Ghosts in the Machine by Robert J. Sawyer

The Swan by Roald Dahl

The Quiet American by Graham Greene

It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard

A Little Holiday Fling by Farah Heron

A Season for Spies by Iona Whishaw

You can take the man out of Newfoundland, but you can’t take the Newfoundland out of Alan Doyle…and why would you want to? Fresh off a run of the musical he co-wrote Tell Tale Harbour, the beloved musician, actor and writer joins The Next Chapter to discuss his new book The Smiling Land: All Around the Circle in My Newfoundland and Labrador and the stories that have helped shape who he is today.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

In a Sunburned Country (Down Under) by Bill Bryson

The Game by Ken Dryden

Sweetland by Micheal Crummey 

The Story of Bobby O’Malley by Wayne Johnston

The Smiling Land: All Around the Circle in My Newfoundland and Labrador by Alan Doyle

Columnist Mirian Njoh shares what made her fall in love with Flirting Lessons by bestselling author Jasmine Guillory. The buzzy sapphic romance follows two contrasting characters' growing connection in Napa Valley. Plus, Fiona Sauder and Victor Pokinko talk about adapting The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis for the stage at Bad Hats Theatre this holiday season. 

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has become a cultural phenomenon. Pulling from his most embarrassing moments growing up paired with the fun house version of his own family, the journal inspired covers have become a cornerstone of young readers' bookshelves across the world. He talks about his early inspirations, and the 20th installment in the series titled Partypooper. Plus, Jake Charron from The East Pointers shares his fantasy book pick.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Partypooper by Jeff Kinney

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Kerry Clare is the first to admit that if her own book was selected for a prize her opinion would probably change. At least part of it. The writer and critic joins the show to shed light on a few of her favourite books that were left off the awards circuit this year. CBC Books producer Lucy Mann recommends one of the most popular, out of this world books of 2025. Plus, find out what musician Logan Richard reads to remind himself to be grateful. 

Books discussed on this week's show include:

The Seaside Cafe Metropolis by Antanas Sileika

Starry, Starry Night by Shani Mootoo

Property by Kate Cayley

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

In his 20th year in the music business, the rapper Shad has shown no signs of slowing down. The Juno-winning musician has also had an illustrious career as a broadcaster, hosting hit shows like the documentary series Hip-Hop Evolution on Netflix. His latest album is called Start Anew, and he joins the show to go back and talk about how he first discovered the power of words and shares some of the books that have shaped his life.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Black Noise by Tricia Rose

July, July by Tim O’Brien

A Confession and Other Religious Writings by Leo Tolstoy

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Before Raymond Ablack became a fan-favorite, playing Joe on Netflix’s Ginny and Georgia, he was a kid who enjoyed acting, reading and Christmas. He joins The Next Chapter to share some of his childhood memories, and what it’s like to play Sam Wilner in the Audibles Originals story, Mistletoe Murders. Plus, Madelaine Drohan on her book about Benjamin Franklin, the surprises and similarities in the history of Canada-US relations and two companion reads.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

He Did Not Conquer: Benjamin Franklin’s Failure to Annex Canada by Madelaine Drohan

Trading Fate: How a Little-known Company Stopped British Columbia from Becoming an American State by Graeme Menzies 

Elbows Up: Canadian Voices of Resilience and Resistance edited by Elamin Abdelmahmoud 

From a chicken channeling its inner dinosaur, to raising dragon eggs in P.E.I., to a teen fauxmance, The Next Chapter’s children’s book panel is back with a new holiday reading list. Writer and broadcaster Bee Quammie and CBC books producer Lucy Mann share six books to engage readers from pre-school to high school.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Lena the Chicken (But Really A Dinosaur!) by Linda Bailey, illustrated by K-Fai Steele

The One About the Blackbird by Melanie Florence, illustrated by Matt James

Fresh Start by Gale Galligan 

Kindred Dragons by Sarah Mensinga

You Started It by Jackie Khalilieh

Songs for Ghosts by Clara Kumagai 

When Jesse Wente was a kid, he was given a stuffed penguin as a gift. He decided to name his penguin Danger Eagle, the stunt performing stuffy. Decades later, Danger Eagle has taken center stage in Jesse's first ever children's book. Since wrapping up his term as chair of the Canada Council for the Arts and with a bestselling memoir under his belt, he joins the show to share the stories that have influenced his own life the most. Plus, musician Girl Ultra recommends A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Watership Down by Richard Adams

The Monster At the End of This Book by Jon Stone

Steering the Craft by Ursula K. Le Guin

Indian School Days by Basil H. Johnston

Danger Eagle by Jesse Wente

A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf

When director Jacob Tierney (Letterkenney) first DM’d Rachel Reid, she couldn’t believe that someone was interested in adapting her book. Since then, the series has become one of the most popular Canadian titles on Crave, and has been renewed for a second season. She pulls back the curtain on what it was like seeing her characters brought to life on screen, and even recommends other books to check out for when you’ve run out of episodes. Plus, the mystery panel continues the tradition of recommending some favourite titles for the holiday season. 

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

Crash Test by Amy James

Hockey Bois by A. L. Heard

A Place of Secrets by Shane Peacock

Tokyo Express by Seicho Matsumoto

Listen by Sacha Bronwasser

Carved in Blood: A Hana Westerman Thriller by Michael Bennet

6:40 to Montreal by Eva Jursyk

The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens

The Giller Prize is one of Canada's biggest literary awards. Before this year's winner was announced, all five finalists joined Antonio Michael Downing on stage at an event at Isabel Bader Theatre in Toronto to read from their shortlisted works and share the inspiration behind them. Featuring Mona Awad, Eddy Boudel Tan, Emma Donoghue, Emma Knight and Souvankham Thammavongsa.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad

The Tiger and the Cosmonaut by Eddy Boudel Tan

The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue

The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight

Pick a Colour by Souvankham Thammavongsa

Mark Critch is very funny. You've likely seen him do what he does best on 22 Minutes or his sitcom Son of a Critch. In addition to spreading laughs across the country, he is also a very proud Canadian. He brings his finely tuned sense of satire to his new book called Sorry, Not Sorry: An Unapologetic Look at What Makes Canada Worth Fighting For. He talks about the inspirations behind his latest work, and the books that have influenced who he is today. Plus, Canadian hit-making author Carley Fortune answers the Proust Questionnaire.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

My Autobiography by Charlie Chaplin

Naked by David Sedaris

Soldier Priest in the Killing Fields of Europe by Gary Browne and Darin Mcgrath

The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein

Sorry, Not Sorry: An Unapologetic Look at What Makes Canada Worth Fighting for by Mark Critch

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

One thing that Heather O’Neill’s ex-boyfriends had in common was Anna Karenina, the famous novel by Leo Tolstoy. To get to the bottom of this mysterious connection, she decided to re-read the classic novel to see how Anna’s story of a doomed love affair reads the second time around. Plus, the Juno-nominated musician Adrian Sutherland talks about writing his first book and how he fell in love with music.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

The Work of Our hands by Adrian Sutherland

Honest mom influencer Libby Ward never intended to blow up. She was mostly posting for herself, and whoever else needed to hear her message. But that might have been the exact recipe that led to her going viral. She talks about her new book, and other reads that encourage others to find their voice. Plus, CBC Books Senior Producer Ryan B. Patrick recommends this week’s staff pick.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Honest Motherhood: On Losing My Mind and Finding Myself by Libby Ward

Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved by Kate Bowler

Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age by Vauhini Vara

Natalie MacMaster first picked up the fiddle at nine years old. It was a family tradition for her growing up in Cape Breton, and over the course of her international career she’s brought Cape Breton fiddle music to the world. Two fiddling dynasties merged when she married Donnell Leahy and now the two of them, along with their seven children regularly perform. She stops by the studio for an installment of my life in books.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Beautiful Scars by Tom Wilson

The Music Lesson by Victor Wooten

The Possibility Mom by Lisa Canning 

A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving

I Have a Love Story by Natalie MacMaster

Elin Hilderbrand is known as the Queen of the Beach Read. She’s sold millions of novels that transport readers to sun, sand and wishes fulfilled. Nantucket was the backdrop for most of her novels, until now. She’s left the island behind in her latest book title The Academy, which she co-wrote with her daughter, Shelby Cunningham. She'll talk about what it was like working with her daughter, and share some of the most influential books in her life.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Franny & Zooey by JD Salinger

English Patient by Michael Ondaatje

Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood

Luster by Raven Leilani

The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham

Celina Myers is an internet star to the tune of around 30 million followers. She spikes the spooky paranormal stuff with her signature brand of humour all over social media. She’ll talk about her new book and other inspiring dark tales. Plus, actor and writer Keegan Connor Tracy recommends two small books that pack a big punch.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith

White Oleander by Janet Finch

Hollow by Celina Myers

Orbital by Samantha Harvey

The Lost Garden by Helen Humphreys

Andria Petrillo has a very busy couple of weeks coming up. She’ll be hosting CBC’s Winter Olympic games coverage and the women’s hockey broadcasts. For Andi it’s a labour of love. Sports is her life long passion. She'll talk about her book, how she found sportscasting and share some of the other stories that have shaped who she is today. Plus, find out what these Canadian athletes heading to Italy have been reading.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

How Not to Die by Michael Greger

Just Call Me Andi: Sports Stories from a Trailblazer by Andi Petrillo

Older protagonists are having a moment. They’re starring in all kinds of novels, from mysteries to love stories to end-of-life reckonings. Our columnist Alicia Cox Thomson has noticed this ageing-up trend in books and she’s here now to recommend some titles that stood out for her. Plus, Daphné Santos-Vieira recommends Motherness: A Memoir of Generational Autism, Parenthood and Radical Acceptance as her staff pick.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Norma by Sarah Mintz

Palm Meridian by Grace Flahive

Motherness: A Memoir of Generational Autism, Parenthood and Radical Acceptance written by Julie M.Green

It was a childhood love of magical stories of dragons, wizards and fantasy that ignited the idea for K.J. Aiello’s book, The Monster and the Mirror: Mental Illness, Magic, and the Stories We Tell. In the book K.J. tells their story of trying to understand their life and mental illness, and how that world of magic and fantasy helped shape who they are. Plus, Nova Scotia musician Maggie Andrew recommends The Mountain is You by Brianna Wiest.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, illustrated by Jim Kay

The Monster and the Mirror: Mental Illness, Magic, and the Stories We Tell by KJ Aiello

The Mountain is You by Brianna Wiest

Lisa Bailey says this latest chapter of her life is like the plot of a rom com. Daughter leaves the big city to return to her hometown to help run her Dad’s used bookstore. Now, Bailey Books in St. Albert has caught the internet’s attention with videos showcasing their rare used books and knack for book binding and repair. Plus, Terese Mason Pierre shares the black speculative fiction novels that made her fall in love with the genre. 

Books discussed on this week's show include:

The Bachman Books collection by Stephen King

Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson

Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

River Mumma by Zalika Reid-Benta

Having fun isn’t hard, when you’ve got a library card. That’s a mantra Mychal Threets, or Mychal the Librarian, has practiced since childhood. He’s a librarian and literacy advocate who brings his library love to life on TikTok and Instagram. Millions of views later, he was named the new host of the recently rebooted Reading Rainbow on PBS. Plus, Ontario musician Evan Redsky on the book that provided him with two years of inspiration.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy, illustrated by Lorraine Nam

One Native Life by Richard Wagamese

The last few years have seen lots of books removed from schools, libraries and bookstores. Last fall, Alberta scaled back its proposed book ban after public pushback, and in the U.S., thousands of books have been removed from schools and dropped from curriculums. Kudakwashe Rutendo and Mirian Njoh weigh in on the topic and discuss influential challenged titles from their own lives. Plus, get to know author Madeleine Thien through the Proust Questionnaire.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Steven Chbosky

The Book of Records by Madelein Thein

For many years Amil Niazi burned with professional ambition, she reached for it every day and was determined to find success. But even in moments of external success, she began to fall out of love with the corporate rat race. She began looking inward, and began to question if she would ever find fulfillment in the world of promotions and job titles. This is the journey she reflects on in her new book Life After Ambition. Plus, musician Sarah Kae shares what she’s been reading.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell

Daughter by Claudia Dey

A Ballet of Lepers by Leonard Cohen

Kim Holderness and her husband won over the internet making funny family videos. Now they have millions of followers, have written children's books together and won the Amazing Race. Last year, Kim set another goal for herself, to read 50 books by the time she turns 50. Plus, Ryan B. Patrick recommends two modern classics by Black Canadian writers and predicts a future classic.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Awake by Jen Hatmaker

Super Agers by Eric Topol

What We All Long For by Dionne Brand

Fifteen Dogs by Andre Alexis

You’ve Changed by Ian Williams

The countdown has begun leading up to Canada Reads. The books have been picked, the panelists are strategizing and, every week, The Next Chapter will help you get to know the new author and panelist pairs. The first powerhouse team includes popular BookToker and podcaster Morgann Book, and debut romance author Joss Richard. Morgann will champion Joss’s book, It’s Different This Time. Plus, former Canada Reads author Samantha M. Bailey answers the Proust Questionnaire.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard

Hello, Juliet by Samantha M. Bailey

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

The new Wuthering Heights adaptation is stirring up a lot of opinions. It’s a story of burning passion and intensity against the backdrop of the Yorkshire moors. Our columnist Mirian Njoh and romance reading expert joins the show to give us her opinion on its transition from page to screen. Plus, author and UNICEF ambassador Tara Moss talks about her latest book and recommends two companion reads.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis

Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood

The Italian Secret by Tara Moss

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

The last Saturday of April is Independent Bookstore Day. This week Carmela Vedar, the owner of The Book Wardrobe, joins the show to talk about her store in Streetsville, Mississauga and how it came to be. Plus, scholar David Williams discusses the everlasting impact of the great Irish poet, Seamus Heaney.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Wintering Out by Seamus Heaney

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Kim Echlin doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. She's an author, translator and teacher who has written about political unrest and violence, and, in her reading life, is inspired by the writers who do the same. Her favourite writers bear witness to the world’s darkness and make meaning from these difficult stories. Kim’s latest book of essays pays tribute to her favourites, and it’s called Tell Others: Storytelling for a World in Turmoil. Plus, Toronto musician Lia Pappas-Kemps talks about her undying love for Zadie Smith.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Tell Others: Storytelling for a World in Turmoil by Kim Echlin

Intimations by Zadie Smith

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Chart-topping musician Tegan Quin has joined the table for Canada Reads 2026. She is the second member from the duo Tegan and Sara to participate in Canada Reads, and will defend Loghan Paylor's novel The Cure for Drowning. The team will discuss the upcoming debates and make their case for why this historical queer love story is the one book all of Canada should read.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

The Cure for Drowning by Loghan Paylor

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Every month across the country in federal prisons, inmates get together for bookclubs. It may not look like the typical club, but the connection, community and stimulation are all there. It’s a program that’s been running for almost 20 years. Tom Best, the Executive Director of Bookclubs for Inmates, drops by to talk about the program and Antonio Michael's experience as a guest author. Plus, Bridget Raymundo recommends a staff pick and explains its mysterious tie to Heated Rivalry.

The next Canada Reads panellist and author pairing has joined the table. Actor and TV host Josh Dela Cruz will defend Iain Reid’s novel, Foe. It’s a psychological thriller set against a science fiction backdrop, and examines the nature of a domestic relationship in a climate-change-ravaged country. The eerie familiarity stuck with Dela Cruz well after he finished reading, and will make his case for why it's must-read material for Canadians during the debates in April. Plus, Juno-nominated musician Siibii shares the book they think should be required in classrooms.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Foe by Iain Reid

Mind's Eye: Stories from Whapmagoostui edited by Emily Masty & Susan Marshall

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Gill Deacon is a writer, musician and a familiar voice on CBC. A few years ago she developed a debilitating illness that defied diagnosis for many months. In those long months of not knowing, she was forced to adjust to her relationship with uncertainty. Her new book is called A Love Affair with the Unknown: Leaning into the Uncertainty of Modern Life. She’ll talk about her journey, and recommend two similar titles. Plus, Karma Brown answers The Next Chapter’s version of the Proust Questionnaire.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

A Love Affair with the Unknown: Leaning into the Uncertainty of Modern Life

Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May

Hope in the Dark: Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities by Rebecca Solnit

Mother is Watching by Karma Brown

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Filmmaker and actor Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers and author Billy-Ray Belcourt are bringing rural Alberta authenticity to Canada Reads. Tailfeathers will be defending Belcourt’s novel A Minor Chorus. It follows a queer Indigenous doctoral student who steps away from his dissertation to write a novel, feeling caught between his childhood on the reservation, and the newest chapter of his life. They'll get into the upcoming debates, and why Tailfeathers believes this is the story Canada needs now more than ever.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

A Minor Chorus by Billy-Ray Belcourt

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

I am Woman by Lee Maracle 

Kiss of the Fur Queen by Tomson Highway

In Search of April Raintree by Beatrice Mosionier

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Toronto Sceptres players Claire Dalton and Raygan Kirk share a love of reading, so they decided to start a team book club. They join the show to discuss how the club works, balancing meetings with a busy PWHL schedule and what they're currently reading. Plus, writer and critic Jason Guriel on what makes the perfect book blurb and Canadian legend Fefe Dobson shares which book has been inspiring her lately.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

The Secret Lives of Murderer's Wives by Elizabeth Arnott

God of the Woods by Liz Moore

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews

Gone Before Goodbye by Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon

Linda McCartney: Life in Photographs by Annie Leibovitz and Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Hockey internet personality Steve "Dangle" Glynn says that Tyler Hellard's Searching for Terry Punchout picked him. The pair meets for the first time to discuss Tyler's book, which follows a lost sportswriter's journey home to reluctantly rekindle his relationship with his estranged father, a legendary retired NHL enforcer. They'll talk about Canada's relationship to the game, applesauce, and the invisible string that brought them together for Canada Reads.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Searching for Terry Punchout by Tyler Hellard

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Graham Wright is a musician who spent almost twenty years playing keyboards in the band Tokyo Police Club, and has also done solo projects. Even before he developed his love for music, he had a passion for books. He joins the show this week to recommend three of his recent reads, all of which riff on the idea of home or at least finding your place in a hard to pin down world. Plus, CBC Books producer Daphné Santos-Vieira on the CBC Poetry Prize, and recommends a poetry collection that hit home.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Pay as You Go by David Eskor Johnson

How Much of These Hills is Gold by C. Pam Zhang

Julius, Julius by Aurora Steward de Pena

Yield by Jaime Forsythe

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Vampires not only don’t die, they never seem to go away. From ancient myths to modern stories, books and movies, the vampire sucks our attention. On a recent visit to New Orleans, Antonio Michael Downing saw the home of Anne Rice and immersed himself in her life and work. He dives into the classic with vampire novel aficionado Bridget Raymundo, who also recommends a more recent vampire read she loved. Plus, Juno-nominee Sacha recommends a book that stokes her creativity.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Pay as You Go by David Eskor Johnson

How Much of These Hills is Gold by C. Pam Zhang

Julius, Julius by Aurora Steward de Pena

Yield by Jaime Forsythe

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Lately it’s started to feel like tech, big, small and in between has taken more from us than it’s given. For sane, humane takes on tech we call on Vass Bednar. She’s a public policy expert and the director of The Canadian Shield Institute. She joins the show to talk about two books that focus on life, tech and the future. Plus, CBC Books producer Lisa Mathews recommends The Correspondent by Virginia Evans.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Girlfriend on Mars by Deborah Willis

Agency by William Gibson

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Few authors have impacted young readers' lives as much as Judy Blume. Her beloved books are frank about puberty, sex and the messiness of growing up. Alicia Cox Thomson and Brian Francis, two lifelong Judy Blume fans join the show to talk about their recent reading of Judy Blume: A Life by Mark Oppenheimer, and the impact Judy Blume has had on their reading lives. Plus, author Janie Chang answers The Next Chapter’s Proust questionnaire. 

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Judy Blume: A Life by Mark Oppenheimer

The Fourth Princess by Janie Chang

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Project Hail Mary is BookToker and Canada Reads panellist Morgann Book’s favourite novel of all time. So she had high expectations going into the film adaptation. Three viewings later, she’s convinced they got it right. Plus, Antonio Michael sits down with the host of Canada Reads, Ali Hassan for a warm up chat before the debates, and learns the hardest part of hosting the competition.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard

A Minor Chorus by Billy-Ray Belcourt

Foe by Iain Reid

The Cure for Drowning by Loghan Paylor

Searching for Terry Punchout by Tyler Hellard

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Amanda Brugel is an award-winning actor and former Canada Reads champion. In a career full of iconic characters Amanda is best known for playing Rita in The Handmaid’s Tale. She was first drawn to the character at the age of 15, before portraying her on the screen 20 years later. She shares her life in books. Plus, author Ray Robertson answers The Next Chapter’s version of the Proust Questionnaire.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

21 Lessons For the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari 

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

The Right to Be Wrong by Ray Robertson

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Caroline Bicks grew up reading and loving Stephen King's work. She never would have imagined that one day she'd be working alongside the King of Horror himself. After teaching and writing about Shakespeare for many years, she changed direction and took the inaugural Stephen E. King Chair in Literature at the University of Maine. Eventually she had the opportunity to explore the archives and original manuscripts of some of King's most iconic work. She compiled her findings into her new book Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King by Caroline Bicks

Carrie by Stephen King

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

The actor Malia Baker was the youngest person ever to compete on Canada Reads. Back then Malia was starring in The Babysitter’s Club on Netflix, and from there joined the Disney universe. She joins the show for a reading check-in. Plus, CBC Books' Talia Kliot talks about her venture into stand-up comedy and recommends two books about comedians. 

Books discussed on this week's show include:

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

Remembered Rapture by Bell Hooks

All About Love by Bell Hooks

Good Material by Dolly Alderton

Nobody Asked for This by Georgia Toews

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Gen Z has found a new favourite way to improve their outfit while simultaneously looking more intellectual. Add a book. Books have become one of the hottest trends in the fashion world, serving as accessories, objects and status signifiers. Fashion houses have signed on in a big way, creating everything from book bags to readable charms. CBC Books' very own “lit girl” and eagle eyed trend spotter Bridget Raymundo joins the show to talk about what happens when fashion cozies up to the book world. Plus, Toronto musician Meagan De Lima recommends a book to reignite your childlike creativity. 

Books discussed on this week's show include:

The Creative Act by Rick Rubin

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Iona Whishaw dreamed of being a writer since she was a child. It may have taken longer than she had expected, but by her mid sixties she had fulfilled that childhood dream. Inspired by the true stories of her family's connection to secret intelligence services such as MI6, she’s written a fan favourite mystery series set in B.C. just after the Second World War. Plus, book content creator Ainara Alleyne drops by to talk about her journey as a youth reading advocate, and talk about the upcoming Forest of Reading Festival. 

Books discussed on this week's show include:

A False and Fatal Claim: A Lane Winslow Mystery by Iona Whishaw

The Chambermaid’s Key by Genevieve Graham

I, Medusa by Ayana Gray

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks