Looking for your next great read? The Next Chapter’s got you covered! Book lovers join host Antonio Michael Downing to dive deep into great books. Big feelings, hot takes, enlightening conversations — you’ve never been in a book club like this before. It’s Canada’s book club, and everyone’s invited. So pull up a chair and join the conversation. New episodes every Saturday and Monday.
Looking for your next great read? The Next Chapter’s got you covered! Book lovers join host Antonio Michael Downing to dive deep into great books. Big feelings, hot takes, enlightening conversations — you’ve never been in a book club like this before. It’s Canada’s book club, and everyone’s invited. So pull up a chair and join the conversation. New episodes every Saturday and Monday.
From a chicken channeling its inner dinosaur, to raising dragon eggs in P.E.I., to a teen fauxmance, The Next Chapter’s children’s book panel is back with a new holiday reading list. Writer and broadcaster Bee Quammie and CBC books producer Lucy Mann share six books to engage readers from pre-school to high school.
Books discussed on this week's show include:
Lena the Chicken (But Really A Dinosaur!) by Linda Bailey, illustrated by K-Fai Steele
The One About the Blackbird by Melanie Florence, illustrated by Matt James
Fresh Start by Gale Galligan
Kindred Dragons by Sarah Mensinga
You Started It by Jackie Khalilieh
Songs for Ghosts by Clara Kumagai
Kerry Clare is the first to admit that if her own book was selected for a prize her opinion would probably change. At least part of it. The writer and critic joins the show to shed light on a few of her favourite books that were left off the awards circuit this year. CBC Books producer Lucy Mann recommends one of the most popular, out of this world books of 2025. Plus, find out what musician Logan Richard reads to remind himself to be grateful.
Books discussed on this week's show include:
The Seaside Cafe Metropolis by Antanas Sileika
Starry, Starry Night by Shani Mootoo
Property by Kate Cayley
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
In his 20th year in the music business, the rapper Shad has shown no signs of slowing down. The Juno-winning musician has also had an illustrious career as a broadcaster, hosting hit shows like the documentary series Hip-Hop Evolution on Netflix. His latest album is called Start Anew, and he joins the show to go back and talk about how he first discovered the power of words and shares some of the books that have shaped his life.
Books discussed on this week's show include:
Black Noise by Tricia Rose
July, July by Tim O’Brien
A Confession and Other Religious Writings by Leo Tolstoy
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Columnist Mirian Njoh shares what made her fall in love with Flirting Lessons by bestselling author Jasmine Guillory. The buzzy sapphic romance follows two contrasting characters' growing connection in Napa Valley. Plus, Fiona Sauder and Victor Pokinko talk about adapting The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis for the stage at Bad Hats Theatre this holiday season.
Books discussed on this week's show include:
Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has become a cultural phenomenon. Pulling from his most embarrassing moments growing up paired with the fun house version of his own family, the journal inspired covers have become a cornerstone of young readers' bookshelves across the world. He talks about his early inspirations, and the 20th installment in the series titled Partypooper. Plus, Jake Charron from The East Pointers shares his fantasy book pick.
Books discussed on this week's show include:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Partypooper by Jeff Kinney
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Before he won the academy award for best actor, Brendan Fraser was a kid who loved reading captivating stories, the weirder the better. He joins The Next Chapter to share a first look at his new audio series The Downloaded 2: Ghosts in the Machine by Robert J. Sawyer, and talks about what childhood books ignited his creative spark. Plus, a CBC Books producer helps answer the question: what is a cozy read?
Books discussed on this week's show include:
The Downloaded 2: Ghosts in the Machine by Robert J. Sawyer
The Swan by Roald Dahl
The Quiet American by Graham Greene
It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard
A Little Holiday Fling by Farah Heron
A Season for Spies by Iona Whishaw
You can take the man out of Newfoundland, but you can’t take the Newfoundland out of Alan Doyle…and why would you want to? Fresh off a run of the musical he co-wrote Tell Tale Harbour, the beloved musician, actor and writer joins The Next Chapter to discuss his new book The Smiling Land: All Around the Circle in My Newfoundland and Labrador and the stories that have helped shape who he is today.
Books discussed on this week's show include:
In a Sunburned Country (Down Under) by Bill Bryson
The Game by Ken Dryden
Sweetland by Micheal Crummey
The Story of Bobby O’Malley by Wayne Johnston
The Smiling Land: All Around the Circle in My Newfoundland and Labrador by Alan Doyle
CBC Books’ Ryan B. Patrick gives his take on Flesh, this year's Booker Prize winner. David Szalay’s buzzy book follows the life of man from adolescence in Hungary to his wealthy middle age in London. Plus, writer Rabindranath Maharaj shares the most influential books in his life.
Books discussed on this week's show include:
Flesh by David Szalay
A Quiet Disappearance by Rabindranath Maharaj
Coral Island by R. M. Ballantyne
Watchmen by Alan Moore, illustrated by Dave Gibbons, coloured by John Higgins
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
A House for Mr Biswas by V.S. Naipaul
Margaret Atwood’s Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts offers a sharp and funny look at the multifaceted life that shaped one of the most influential Canadian literary voices of our time. Atwood's longtime friend and novelist Susan Swan, along with Margaret’s ‘heir apparent’ Mona Awad join the show to discuss the memoir with Antonio Michael Downing.
Books discussed on this week's show include:
Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwood
No matter where you are, a meal can make you feel at home. Suresh Doss, host of CBC’s culinary show Locals Welcome, shares the cookbooks he keeps in his kitchen, which have helped fuel his lifelong passion. Plus, writer and journalist Phillip Dwight Morgan talks about his mission to read a new poem to his baby daughter everyday.
Books discussed on this week's show include:
Handmade: Stories of Strength Shared Through Recipes from the Women of Sri Lanka by Nesa and Roberts Liezer
Salt Fat Acid Heat” by Samin Nosrat
The Joy of Cooking” by Irma Rombauer
Donabe: Classic and Modern Japanese Clay Pot Cooking by Naoko Takei Moore and Kyle Connaughton
Wild Geese by Mary Oliver
Last month, Green Gables newcomer Antonio Michael Downing attended the inaugural Cavendish Literary Festival in Prince Edward Island. Along the way he met expert Kate Scarth, the chair of the L.M. Montgomery Institute at the University of P.E.I. After bonding over the classic Canadian tale, they decided to continue their conversation about the legacy of LM Montgomery and Anne Shirley on this week's episode.
Books discussed on this week's show include:
Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery
A self-driving mini-van collides with an oncoming car and a couple is killed. Behind the wheel is a seventeen-year-old with his family on board. That’s the opening premise of the novel Culpability by Bruce Holsinger, which was an Oprah bookclub pick last summer. Nathan Maharaj, Vass Bednar and Antonio Michael Downing convene to discuss who is responsible. Plus, author Wally Lamb answers the Proust Questionnaire.
Books discussed on this week's show include:
Culpability by Bruce Holsinger
The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb
Canadian television personality and influencer Jillian Harris describes herself as the “quintessential busy bee”. Since first appearing on The Bachelor she's created her own brand focused on fashion, family and design. She talks about co-writing her children’s book Just Another Perfect Day with her husband Justin Pasutto. Plus, CBC Books' Trevor Carter talks Blue Jays and recommends The Franchise by Keegan Matheson.
Books discussed on this week's show include:
Just Another Perfect Day by Jillian Harris and Justin Pasutto, Illustrated by Morgan Goble
The Franchise: The Toronto Blue Jays: A Curated History of the Jays by Keegan Matheson
Antonio Michael Downing teaches our expert panel how to “maco," the Trini term for minding other people's business. Talia Kliot, Kudakwashe Rutendo and Nathan Maharaj convene to recommend their favourite Canadian memoirs. Plus, Winnipeg-based musician and emerging star Leith Ross talks about growing up as an avid reader and recommends a book that had a massive impact on their latest record.
Books discussed on this week's show include:
How to Share an Egg by Bonnie Reichert
All the Little Monsters by David A Robertson
Soft as Bones by Chyana Marie Sage
Elseship: An Unrequited Affair by Tree Abraham
How to Survive a Bear Attack by Claire Cameron
It Must Be Beautiful to Be Finished: A Memoir of My Body by Kate Gies
The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
For many years Linden Macintyre hosted the iconic investigative program The Fifth Estate. During his time there he wrote The Bishop’s Man, which went on to win the Giller prize. Through his books and journalism, he has captivated Canadian audiences for decades. His most recent book is An Accidental Villain: A Soldier’s Tale of War, Deceit and Exile. He joins the show to talk about the books that have shaped and influenced him into the storyteller he is today.
Books discussed on this week's show include:
Ulysses by James Joyce
That They May Face the Rising Sun by John McGahern
Ill Fares the Land by Tony Judt
The Great War and Modern Memory by Paul Fussell
An Accidental Villain: A Soldier’s Tale of War, Deceit and Exile by Linden MacIntyre
Both Horror and Hallowe’en are having a moment. To celebrate the arrival of “spooky season” our columnist JJ Lee shares a couple of horror adjacent novels that will let you in on the fun, without the sleepless nights. Plus, author Matthew R. Morris joins the show to recommend books that celebrate the lost art of conversation and language.
Books discussed on this week's show include:
Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World by Mark Waddell
Leave Our Bones Where They Lay by Aviaq Johnston
What I Mean to Say by Ian Williams
Linguaphile by Julie Sedivy
Malala Yousafzai came of age in the public eye. The brutal attack she endured from the Taliban, her advocacy for girls' education and the Nobel Prize she received has kept her in the spotlight since she was a young girl. Her new memoir Finding My Way reveals the messy business of growing up, navigating university life in a new country and fitting in as an international icon. Plus, CBC Books Producer Ashly July gives us his staff pick.
Books discussed on this week's show include:
Finding My Way by Malala Yousefzai
The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard
Family gatherings have a way of bringing out the dysfunction in all of us. Our columnist and writer Alicia Cox Thomson recommends two wild family dramas to read this fall. Also, CBC Books producer Daphné Santos-Vieira talks about feeling the love at the Toronto Public Library event BookCrush and recommends a romance novel to an apprehensive Antonio Michael Downing.
Books discussed on this week's show include:
Favourite Daughter by Morgan Dick
Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker
Revolve by Bal Khabra
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston
Before he was a fixture in the Canadian literary community, Terry Fallis worked as an engineer and in politics before writing his first book at the age of 45. He just launched his new novel, The Marionette and joins the show for an installment of My Life in Books to break down some of the most influential books in his life. Plus, Saskatoon-based musician Katie Tupper talks about her biggest inspirations, songwriting and recommends a book about maximizing creativity.
Books discussed on this week's show include:
Pilot Jack Knight by A.M. Anderson and R.E. Johnson
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Catching the Big Fish by David Lynch
Antonio Michael Downing checks in with the owner of Variant Edition Graphic Novels and Comics in Edmonton, Brandon Schatz who recommends some local favourites. CBC Producer Amelia Eqbal joins Antonio Michael to share three graphic novels that she holds close to her heart, starring young women coming-of-age.
Books discussed on this week's show include:
Ducks by Kate Beaton
Pass Me By: Gone Fishin' by Kat Simmers and Ryan Danny Owen
Full of Myself by Siobhan Gallagher
Give Me Space But Don't Go Far by Haley Weaver
Halfway There by Christine Mari