The Next Chapter with Antonio Michael Downing

When writer and creative Arizona O'Neill read the satirical novel Fruit Fly by Josh Silver, it got her thinking about the publishing industry and the popularity of gay romance written by women. It's about a straight female author with a bad case of writer’s block who decides to write a novel about a young gay man battling addiction. Arizona makes her case for why it might be time to resume the conversation on who has the right to tell what stories. Plus, author Grant Ginder talks about his real-life heroes and his love for good produce while answering The Next Chapter’s version of The Proust Questionnaire. 

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Fruit Fly by Josh Silver

So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder

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Dealing with family drama? These novels prove it could always be worse

How to avoid getting locked in an echo chamber

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What are the best books published this month? Questions and titles like this led to writer and teacher Thea Lim’s article “Abolish the Top Ten List,” for the Walrus magazine. She noticed how rankings and lists dominate how we speak about books, narrowing the number of titles that reach the surface. Is this a healthy way to interact with art? She joins the show to talk about it. Plus, author Don Gillmor talks about his venture into crime thriller writing with Cherry Beach and recommends a read-alike. 

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane

Cherry Beach by Don Gillmor

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Are literary prizes a scam?

Why Ann Patchett thinks the secret to success might be lowering people's expectations

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With four Netflix specials and a late-night show to her name, Taylor Tomlinson has comedy figured out. But something she had never done before, was write a book. The comedian just released an essay collection called Actually, Nevermind, all about how people are allowed to change their minds. In the book, she lets us into her brain, discussing everything from love to religion, personal stories and mental health. She takes us back to a time when she thought she was destined to be a writer, and when Junie B. Jones taught her to be funny. A lifelong reader, she joins The Next Chapter to talk about her favourite books and what it meant to write her own.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

The Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Bossypants by Tina Fey

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The books that made Andrew Phung fall in love with storytelling

What books drew Brendan Fraser to storytelling?

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Chelsea Vowel is a lawyer, teacher and writer. 10 years ago, she published her influential book Indigenous Writes: A Guide to First Nations, Metis and Inuit issues in Canada. Chelsea joins the show to talk about the newly released 10th anniversary edition, which continues the groundbreaking conversation. Plus, novelist and playwright Anosh Irani talks about the process of adapting Rohinton Mistry’s novel A Fine Balance for the stage at Crow's Theatre in Toronto.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Indigenous Writes: A Guide to First Nations, Metis and Inuit issues in Canada by Chelsea Vowel

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry 

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Why books serve a vital role in Truth and Reconciliation

What does it mean to be a Bad Indian?

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For our team of producers at CBC Books, fall reading starts in spring when publisher catalogues and look-aheads arrive at the office. Ailey Yamamoto, Ashly July and Lisa Mathews have been reading fall books for months, and join the show to recommend the title they think should make the top of your reading list. Plus, Polaris Prize nominated musician Charlotte Cornfield talks about her musical journey and what she’s been reading. 

Books discussed on this week's show include:

We Are Underlings by Doretta Lau

Opioids and Organs by Arizona O'Neill

The Wild Beneath by Kelly Anderson

These Songs I Know by Heart by Erin Brubacher

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Fall book recs? Take it from us

What might surprise you about Margaret Atwood’s new memoir

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After cleaning up at the Canadian Screen Awards in May, North of North returns for season two with nine awards under its belt including Best Comedy Series. In this episode, co-stars Anna Lambe and Maika Harper join the show to talk about the series, the stories it tells and the role books and reading play in their busy lives. Plus, author Ashley Audrain opens up about her novel The Push being named by the New York Times as one of the top 50 thriller novels of the 21st century. 

Books discussed on this week's show include:

A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James

The First Peoples by Maika Harper

Thou Shalt Do No Murder by Kenn Harper

The Jakarta Method by Vincent Bevins

A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

The Death of Us by Abigail Dean

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How Amanda Brugel manifested her role in The Handmaid’s Tale

The books that made Andrew Phung fall in love with storytelling

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The Odyssey, both the movie and Homer’s epic poem, was at the top of the pop culture zeitgeist this summer. The sudden resurgence leads to the question: What is it about the Greeks, their myths and their philosophies that sticks with us? To dive into this topic, we sit down with writer, actor and classic enthusiast Kudakwashe Rutendo to discuss the staying power of these stories, and share her less than warm review of The Odyssey. Plus, Montreal-based musician Edwin Raphael talks about his music and why he wants to read more this year.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

The Odyssey by Homer

The Odyssey by Emily Wilson

Son of Nobody by Yann Martel

The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh

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Are book bans actually effective in a digital age?

The youngest Canada Reads contestant is now a Disney star: Here’s what she’s reading now

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You may know Kia Nurse from the WNBA, Team Canada or her basketball coverage on TSN. She also scored the first points recorded in Toronto Tempo history. Today she joins the show to talk about the team’s book club, and what they’ve been reading as of late. And later, CBC Books producer Bridget Raymundo talks about the hit graphic novel series Hearstopper, and why it holds such a special place in her heart. 

Books discussed on this week's show include:

It Should Have Been You by Andrea Mara

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman 

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Inside the Toronto Sceptres’ team book club

Get to know CBC’s Winter Olympics host

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Celebrity book clubs have shown their staying power. From Reese Witherspoon to Dua Lipa, everyone’s curious about what actors and artists are reading. When Heated Rivalry’s Nadine Bhabha shared that she’s in a book club with five of her actor friends the last time she was on the show, we knew we had to see what this club was all about. Nadine and her colleagues Clark Backo and Jess Salgueiro join the show to peel back the curtain on this star-studded book club, share what they’ve been reading and how their love of books brought them all together.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

The Witch by Marie Ndiaye

Half His Age by Jeannette McCurdy 

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Heated Rivalry’s Nadine Bhabha’s It Girl book club

How Amanda Brugel manifested her role in The Handmaid’s Tale

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Will Ferguson began his career as a travel writer. Since then he's written more than a dozen books and won some of the biggest literary prizes a Canadian writer can win. Along the way, he never gave up travel writing, and still uses it to inform his fiction. His books stretch across genres, allowing his work to follow wherever his interests take him, always with an underpinning thread of humour. Growing up in a small town in Northern Alberta, books were his first ticket to seeing the outside world. He'll break down which books have influenced his life and career the most in a segment of My Life in Books.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Meanwhile, Back in Nokomis by Will Ferguson

Red Sky at Morning by Richard Bradford

The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz by Mordecai Richler

The Quiet American by Graham Greene

Satellite Love by Genki Ferguson

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Terry Fallis proves you have to live before you can write

The books that made Andrew Phung fall in love with storytelling

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