The Next Chapter with Antonio Michael Downing

In his decades of making music, writing and running a newspaper, Dave Bidini has interpreted and celebrated the things that make this country unique. Last year, that meant teaming up with Nobel laureate Anne Carson and other notable Canadian writers on his band's album The Great Lakes Suites. Plus, CBC Books producer Daphné Santos-Vieira talks about her love for Jane of Lantern Hill by Lucy Maud Montgomery and why she re-reads it every year.

Books discussed on this week's show include:
Jane of Lantern Hill by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Liked this conversation? Keep listening:
Why Anne of Green Gables is a superstar in Japan
Bigger than The Game: Remembering Canadian hero Ken Dryden

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Since writing his first book at the age of twelve, it's hard to imagine a more prolific writer than Gordon Korman. In nearly five decades of writing for kids and young adults, he's published 107 books, and sold around 35 million copies. He's beloved by readers spanning multiple generations and has become one of the most recognizable names in the middle grade genre. He stops by the studio to discuss how writing for young people has changed over his 50 years in the industry, what makes a character and story memorable and which books have helped shape his life and career.

Books discussed on this week's show include:
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

Liked this conversation? Keep listening:
Who is the wimpy kid behind Jeff Kinney’s iconic series?
Inside the Toronto Sceptres’ team book club

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At the age of 27, Sam Demma just published his third book. His latest is called Return on Goodwill: Do good. Expect nothing. Watch life surprise you. He talks about how a trip to Value Village changed his perspective on everyday interactions, and shares the book that helped get him there. Sam is a bestselling author, an international speaker and someone who's been spreading his message of kindness and respect since he was a teenager. Plus, Talia Kliot joins the show after watching and reading Ali Hazelwood’s breakout rom-com The Love Hypothesis. She’ll share her thoughts and talk about the film's familiar backdrop.

Books discussed on this week's show include:
Return on Goodwill by Sam Demma
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Liked this conversation? Keep listening:
Has hustle culture been lying to you?
The hidden connection between basketball and book nerds

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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

Liked this conversation? Keep listening:
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

Liked this conversation? Keep listening:
Are literary prizes a scam?
Why Ann Patchett thinks the secret to success might be lowering people's expectations

Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks