There’s no easy answer to that question — and Vijay Khurana’s debut novel, The Passenger Seat, takes a closer look at how complicated it really is. Drawing on aspects of a real string of murders that took place in British Columbia in 2019, the story follows two high school boys as they set off on a road trip that turns violent. It examines male friendships and masculinity with nuance and complexity, asking difficult questions about what we can learn from men who commit violence … and what separates a killer from the rest of us. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes:Rumaan Alam: How would you spend a billion dollars? What if your dreams could land you in jail?
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Music, sex and finding the soundtrack to queer joy
Growing up in the midst of the HIV/AIDS epidemic left Pete Crighton with a huge fear of sex … and he threw himself into music as a way to cope with his anxieties. Decades later, he realized that he needed to face his fears and live his queer life to the fullest. Pete writes about this journey in his new memoir, The Vinyl Diaries, where he uses his favourite songs, albums and artists as the backdrop to his story. He tells Mattea Roach about his later-in-life exploration of sex and why music was so formative to his queer experience. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes:Kate Bush spins a magical story on her album Hounds of LoveZoe Whittall: Why heartbreak is a valid form of grief
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Weightlifting made Casey Johnston stronger — in muscle and mind
For years, Casey Johnston thought fitness was all about shrinking down. She was terrified of weightlifting and what it would do to her body. Now, she’s a writer and fitness advocate with a massive following of fellow lifters. Her latest book, A Physical Education, tells the story of how stepping into the weight room changed her life — body, mind and heart. Speaking with Mattea Roach, she shares how training for strength helped her take a closer look at her upbringing, body image and the way she approaches every day.If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes:Kate Gies: Reclaiming her body after years of medical traumaWhy growing up is so hard — and why Canadians are so funny
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Fans asked for another happy ending — Carley Fortune delivered
During the pandemic, journalist Carley Fortune turned to romance writing as an outlet … and her debut novel, Every Summer After, was a life-changing success. The nostalgic summer love story was a massive hit, launching her into the world of book lists, devoted fans and screen rights. This spring Carley is back with One Golden Summer, the much-anticipated sequel to her debut novel. Carley joins Mattea to talk about revisiting old characters, her love of the lake and sharing the beauty of rural Ontario with the world. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes:Casey McQuiston: Celebrating queer love and joy and navigating the future of romanceEmma Knight: 'Bad' mothers make good stories — and are more true-to-life
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Bookends Introduces | Understood: Who Broke the Internet
It's not you — the internet really does suck. Novelist, blogger and noted internet commentator Cory Doctorow explains what happened to the internet and why you're tormented by ads, bots, algorithms, AI slop and so many pop-ups. Spoiler alert: it wasn't an accident.In Understood: Who Broke the Internet, Doctorow gets into the decisions made by powerful people that got us here, and most importantly, how we fix it. More episodes of Who Broke the Internet are available at: https://link.mgln.ai/4HbHJ8
When the book ends, the conversation begins. Mattea Roach speaks with writers who have something to say about their work, the world and our place in it. You’ll always walk away with big questions to ponder and new books to read.
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