Book bans are back in the spotlight after The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill was pulled from the London, Ontario Catholic School Board. The novel, which confronts the history of slavery and racial injustice, has faced controversy over its unflinching portrayal of difficult themes. Kelly MacDonald is here to explore the censorship debate, the role of literature in education, and what it means for authors, educators, and readers.

What happens when Joline, a complicated character with a penchant for self-destruction, gains access to everyone's emails at work? From the presentation of petty office drama to complex relationships, Aamer Khan and Sharon Johnston help Jacob figure out if this book truly delivers on its clever premise.

We examine Éric Chacour’s What I Know About You, a powerful Canadian LGBTQ+ novel originally published in French, set in late 20th-century Egypt. The story follows a father, his son, and the complexities of identity and belonging. Our conversation moves from poetic to searching, with thoughts from CELA’s Karen McKay and Theresa Power.

We welcome back Andy Frank, Manager of AMI-audio, for a deeper than usual Rapid Fire Review. Andy shares five intriguing memoirs and biographies, and gives us his impressions of Nick Drake’s haunting journey, to Matthew McConaughey’s unconventional wisdom, and Dave Grohl’s storytelling charm.

The five books discussed in this episode are…
Nick Drake: The Life by Richard Morton Jack
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Open: An autobiography by Andre Agassi
Miracle and Wonder: conversations with Paul Simon by Malcolm Gladwell and Bruce Headlam
The Storyteller Expanded: ...Because There's More to the Story by Dave Grohl

We uncover the untold stories of Vietnam with Kristin Hannah's The Women. Sara Hillis shares perspectives on the novel’s intricate look at female friendships, PTSD, and the sacrifices of women in wartime. From unforgettable settings to emotional highs and lows, this episode is a tribute to those stories in the shadows that deserve to be heard.

We welcome back a friend of AMI who lets us in on her latest reads. She joins us for Rapid Fire Review: Kathrine Vatcher

Books discussed in this episode…

Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris

The Tide Between Us by Olive Collins

The Dressmakers of Auschwitz by Lucy Adlington

Captivity of The Oatman Girls by R.B. Stratton

Carleys Voice: Breaking Through Autism by Arthur Fleischman 

We dive into Kathryn Cole’s life in authoring, illustrating, editing, and much more of her fascinating career in Canadian Lliterature. Kathryn has a lot to say about the changes in the publishing process, her experience editing other peoples works versus her own writing adventures, and a whole lot on what it was like adopting children as a young, single mother.

Danielle McLaughlin lets us in on her love for swimming, and ties the hobby right back in with her love for literature. With books like Swell: A Waterbiography by Jenny Landreth, there is much to talk about around the world of water. Danielle takes us on a literary plunge, and it’s nothing less than fascinating.

Karoline Bourdeau introduces us to BetaBooks, a platform where authors open up their writing for crowd-sourced consultation. Plus, we ponder about our own 2025 reading goals, and consider how Spotify is changing the competition for audiobook consumption.

Here’s our Year in Reading, one-hour special episode, featuring your top lit picks of 2024. From page-turning thrillers to memorable memoirs, and even the unforgettable guilty pleasures, you have us covered. AMI’s Dave Brown helps us crank out the list of your best book experiences of the year.

Karoline Bourdeau

• But You Don't Look Arab: And Other Tales of Unbelonging by Hala Gorani

• The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters by Susan Page

• This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

• The Women by Kristin Hannah

• Dancing in Small Spaces: One Couple’s Journey with Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia by Leslie A. Davidson

Greg David

• Closer by Sea by Perry Chafe

Terry Bray

• The Wandering Inn (Book 1 of The Wandering Inn series) by Pirate Aba

Julie Martin

• The Woman in the White Kimono by Ana Johns

Danielle McLaughlin

• The Anthropologists by Aysegul Savas

Kamini Rodhan

• Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Aamer Khan

• Vox by Christina Dalcher

• Will Trent Series by Karin Slaughter

• The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim

Carole Yaple

• Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice by David S. Tatel

• Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

Kelly MacDonald

• Tuesdays at Mori’s by Mitch Albom

Paul Daniel

1. As Long As the Lemon Trees by Zoufa Katouh

2. The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters by Tom Nichols

3. Consent: A Memoir by Jill Ciment

4. Sandwich: A Novel by Catherine Newman

5. Hope for Cynics: The Science Behind Human Goodness by Jamil Shaki

Sehdeen Lowe

• Every book by Anastasia Wilde

• A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole

• A Thousand Broken Pieces (Sequel)