The Next Chapter with Antonio Michael Downing

For most of her writing life Patricia Finn wrote and polished other people’s stories. But this spring she stepped out of the shadows with the publication of her debut novel. It’s called The Golden Boy and it follows a television executive who, after losing his job, inherits the grandchildren of his deceased friend. Patricia joins the show to tell us about The Golden Boy and recommend a companion read. Plus, author Uzma Jalaluddin shares what Gen Z slang she's picked up from her kids while answering The Next Chapter's version of the Proust Questionnaire.

Books discussed on this week's show include:
No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai
Moonlight Murder by Uzma Jalaluddin

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The author behind Lucky reveals how she helped cast Anya Taylor-Joy
The book that inspired Carley Fortune's writing career

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In April, two Canada Reads nominated authors took the stage in Whitehorse to discuss their books in front of a packed live audience. The evening featured a conversation between Loghan Paylor, author of The Cure for Drowning, and Billy-Ray Belcourt, the author of A Minor Chorus. Both novels explore what it means to find a sense of home, and how that quest can impact who we become. The event was called Homecoming, and with the help of CBC host Leonard Linklater, the authors sat down to discuss the themes of home, identity and belonging in their characters' lives, and in their own.

Books discussed on this week's show include:
The Cure for Drowning by Loghan Paylor
A Minor Chorus by Billy-Ray Belcourt

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How iconic musician Tegan Quin plans to tackle Canada Reads
Why Elle-Maija Tailfeathers says A Minor Chorus is the story Canada needs to hear right now

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Ten years ago, more than 11 million Canadians tuned in to CBC for the live airing of The Tragically Hip’s final concert of their Man Machine Poem tour in Kingston, Ontario. Since then, this performance has held a special place in the minds of many Canadians and more. Michael Barclay is a writer and long time fan of the band. He wanted to make sure that the iconic Canadian band’s history was being documented, so he wrote a book. It’s called The Never Ending Present: The Story of Gord Downie and the Tragically Hip. It guides readers through the history of the band, their music and offers a window into the music scene at that time. He talks about the band's legacy and what made the Hip Canada's band.

Books discussed on this week's show include:
The Never Ending Present: The Story of Gord Downie and the Tragically Hip by Michael Barclay
Rough Description by Don Pyle

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Canadian fiddle legend Natalie MacMaster shares her life in books
What is the greatest Canadian novel of all time?

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Some books change your mind. Others simply reinforce what you already know. The Next Chapter's columnist Nathan Maharaj joins the show to talk about two books that challenged his assumptions and altered his perspective. Nathan is a lifelong bookseller and the director of content marketing at Rakuten Kobo. He'll discuss why challenging your beliefs is important and how it can lead to a broader worldview. Plus, Toronto artist Mah Moud stops by to talk about a mysterious book from his parents bookshelf, and how the impact of a good novel can last for generations.

Books discussed on this week's show include:
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez
How Great Things Happen by George Newman

Liked this conversation? Keep listening:
Can reading be the first step to making real change?
What is the greatest Canadian novel of all time?

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A few years ago Marissa Stapley heard a radio story about an unclaimed winning lottery ticket, which planted the seed for her novel, Lucky. Since then, the book has become a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick and was recently adapted into a star-studded Apple TV series starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Drew Starkey. Lucky is the novel that changed Marissa Stapley’s life, and today she joins the show to talk about it, her time in Hollywood and where she plans to take her beloved character next. Marissa will also share a few titles she’s reading this Summer. Plus, Nick Frosst, lead singer from the Toronto band Good Kid stops by to recommend a book that has changed his perspective on human pre-history.

Books discussed on this week's show include:
Lucky by Marissa Stapley
Definitely Thriving by Kerry Clare
Strangers in the Villa by Robyn Harding
The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow

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The book that inspired Carley Fortune's writing career
Why does Nita Prose call herself an accidental writer?

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks