Episodes

  • Must-read books to take on your trip this summer, the former First Lady of Iceland shares her life in books, and more
    Jun 21 2025

    Nathan Maharaj and Christine Estima join The Next Chapter’s summer book panel to start the season with some reading recommendations; Eliza Reid shares the most influential books in her life; and acclaimed writer Michelle Good answers the Proust Questionnaire on this episode of The Next Chapter.

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    54 mins
  • How to keep your kids reading this summer, the books that shaped Katherine Ashenburg's life, and more
    Jun 14 2025

    Bee Quammie and Lucy Mann join the kids’ book panel to give some of their hottest summer recommendations for young readers; the acclaimed Canadian writer and journalist reflects on the books that have left a lasting imprint on her mind and heart; and why music is medicine to country singer Ashley Ghostkeeper on this episode of The Next Chapter.


    Books discussed on this week's show include:

    Bob the Boo-Boo by Mélina Schoenborn, illustrated by Sandra Dumais

    Meet Me on Love Street by Farah Heron

    Mallory and the Trouble with Twins by Ann M. Martin, illustrated by Arley Nopra

    Raven's Ribbons by Tasha Spillett, illustrated by Daniel Ramirez

    Free Piano (Not Haunted) by Whitney Gardner

    The Forest King's Daughter by Elly Blake

    Margaret’s New Look by Katherine Ashenburg

    Christian Dior: History and Modernity, 1947 - 1957 by Alexandra Palmer

    Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

    A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

    Swamp Angel by Ethel Wilson

    The Beginning of Spring by Penelope Fitzgerald

    River East, River West by Aube Rey Lescure

    You Are the Medicine by Asha Frost

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    52 mins
  • Kate Beaton’s Life in Books, suspenseful summer reads you can’t miss, and more
    Jun 7 2025

    The Cape Breton author and illustrator shares what books have been the most influential to in her life as a person and creative; Angel Misri and Sam Wiebe join the mystery panel to give their recommendations; how Flara K finds songwriting inspiration in novels; and the romance writer who runs a cake shop on this episode of The Next Chapter.


    Books discussed on this week's show include:

    Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton

    The Making of the English Working Class by E.P. Thompson

    The Lost Salt Gift of Blood by Alistair MacLeod

    1066 And All That by R.J. Yeatman and W.C. Sellar

    Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

    Bluenose Ghosts by Helen Creighton

    The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

    Contemplation of a Crime by Susan Juby

    Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalaluddin

    The Silent Film Star Murders by Melodie Campbell

    Been Wrong So Long It Feels Like Right by Walter Mosley

    Fair Play by Louise Hegart

    Dirty Little War by Dietrich Kalteis

    Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

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    53 mins
  • ‘80s slashers, reality TV and other guilty pleasures, Mirian Njoh reflects on ‘From the Rez to the Runway’, her own fashion journey, and more
    May 31 2025

    Brian Francis answers the question of what is a guilty pleasure and gives a book pick to match a few of his favourites; Mirian Njoh talks about Christian Allaire’s book and his journey from Nipissing First Nation to the pages of Vogue; Susan Swan, author of Big Girls Don’t Cry, answers the Proust Questionnaire; and Amanda Leduc on why her protagonists are talking coyotes on this episode of The Next Chapter.


    Books discussed on this week's show include:

    Big Girls Don’t Cry by Susan Swan

    Paperbacks from Hell by Grady Hendrix

    The Donut: A Canadian History by Steve Penfold

    Cue the Sun! by Emily Nussbaum

    From the Rez to the Runway by Christian Allaire

    Wild Life by Amanda Leduc

    And Then She Fell by Alicia Eliott

    Not Wanted on the Voyage by Timothy Findely

    The White Bone by Barbara Gowdy

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    54 mins
  • Arkells’ Max Kerman isn’t afraid to be a try-hard, Arizona O'Neill recommends 3 feminist horror books, and more
    May 24 2025

    The Juno Award-winning musician thought he could write a book, so he did. In Try Hard, Max Kerman gets into the nuts and bolts of building a musical career; from a “Victorian Psycho” to a family of cannibals, Montreal-based multidisciplinary artist Arizona O’Neill shares her favourite horror titles; and three “must-read” historical novels about women artists on this episode of The Next Chapter.

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    53 mins
  • David A. Robertson on the books that changed his life, Talia Kliot recommends 3 Must-Read historical fiction novels, and more
    May 17 2025

    Prolific Winnipeg-based author, editorial director and hockey dad David A. Robertson breaks down the books that have left a permanent mark on his life; CBC Books’ historical fiction savant Talia Kliot recommends three novels that transport you to another time; musician Matt Holubowski on finding stillness through Silence in the Age of Noise; what’s the first book Sarah Leavitt remembers reading; and CBC Books producer and former book seller Bridget Raymundo recommends a staff pick on this episode of The Next Chapter.


    Books discussed on this week's show include:

    All the Little Monsters by David A. Robertson

    Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger

    How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

    Swing Low by Miriam Toews

    Tom's Midnight Garden by Phillippa Pearce

    An Anthology of Monsters by Cherie Dimaline

    Silence in the Age of Noise by Erling Kagge

    The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue

    Finding Flora by Elinor Florence

    The Immortal Woman by Su Chang

    The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar

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    51 mins
  • Why does Nita Prose call herself an accidental writer, Bee Quammie on why she’s not a role model, and more
    May 10 2025

    How the creator of the bestselling Molly the Maid series went from publisher to author; Bee Quammie talks about feeling stuck in life to writing The Book of Possibilities; Reading while on The Road with Customer Services’ Matt Chevery; and what perfect happiness means to writer Curtis Sittenfeld on this episode of The Next Chapter.



    Books discussed on this week's show include:

    The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose

    Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

    Where I Belong by Alan Doyle

    Emancipation Day by Wayne Grady

    Little Cruelties by Liz Nugent

    The Road by Cormac Mccarthy

    The Book of Possibilities by Bee Quammie

    Falling Back in Love with Being Human by Kai Cheng Thom

    A Letter to My Daughter by Maya Angelou

    Show Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld


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    53 mins
  • The hockey coach who writes thriller novels recommends 3 mysteries, former Toronto Raptor Jerome “Junkyard Dog” Williams on the importance of understanding your role, and more
    May 3 2025

    Author and ultimate hockey mom Amy Stuart recommends three mystery reads she couldn't put down; The former NBA player and fan favourite talks about his debut memoir; author Scaachi Koul reflects on calling people ‘dog’ too much; and Talia Kliot gives her CBC Books staff pick on this episode of The Next Chapter.


    Books discussed on this week's show include:

    The Treasure Hunters Club by Tom Ryan

    Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke

    The Hunter by Tana French

    Sucker Punch by Scaachi Koul

    R.O.L.E. Player by Jerome Williams

    The Soccer of Success by Ciarán McArdle

    The Science of Self-Discipline by Peter Hollins

    Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang

    Home and Away by Amy Stuart and Mats Sundin

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    54 mins