Audiobook Café

Buckle up! Karen Magee is back for another Rapid-Fire Review, where she races against the clock to give us the gist of her five most recent reads, which range from mysteries, memoir, and cerebral descriptions from space. The books discussed in this episode are: Don't you Cry by Mary Kubica How to Save a Life by Lynette Rice Every Last List by Mary Kubica Orbital by Samantha Harvey The Friday After...

Sara Hillis explores John Lee’s fascinating journey from working odd jobs across Europe (like picking fruits in France) to becoming an Audie Award-winning voice behind some of the best-loved books in fiction and nonfiction. Plus, Sara shares her fresh thoughts on Paula Hawkins's latest thriller “The Blue Hour” with all its winding plot and character complexities. Audiobook Café is broadcast on AMI...

Vikas Adam has narrated over 500 audiobooks, earned 25 Earphones Awards, and was an inaugural inductee into the Audible Narrator Hall of Fame. He shares insights on how he prepares to step into the studio, from warm teas to prep reading, and intrigues us on what he believes it takes to truly bring a story to life. Audiobook Café is broadcast on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two new podcast epi...

Sadie by Courtney Summers is a young adult thriller told in alternating perspectives—a documentary maker following a missing girl’s story and Sadie’s own journey. With immersive sound design meeting audiobook narration, Jacob and Aamer unpack their thoughts on the success of this true crime audiobook. Plus, Aamer Khan runs a “just for fun” Literary Guessing Game; seven questions featuring seven bo...

Karoline Bordeau unpacks Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, where Indigenous wisdom meet scientific exploration.  Kimmerer’s reflections on traditional teachings and ecological science offer a transformative perspective on the gifts of the land, the power of gratitude, and the importance of reciprocity. Jacob is struck by the idea that protecting nature is a response to the earth’s love f...

Jacob Shymanski and Red Szell unravel their impressions of what it means to experience a short story in all its intended brilliance. From gothic tales by Poe, to 20th-century icons like Fitzgerald and contemporary voices like Munro and Atwood, they explore the gamut of authors who’ve left lasting impact in this genre, sometimes with prose that take only twenty minutes of our time. Short stories me...

Long time friend and avid reader Paul Daniel takes us on a journey through three of his most recent reads: Imminent by Luis Elizondo, Ringmaster by Abraham Josephine Reisman, and Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. Paul has a few choice words, some bold opinions, and a lot of literary sass. Audiobook Café is broadcast on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two new podcast episodes a week on Fridays and...

During Part 2 of Jacob’s chat with Alina (of According to Alina), they explore the effects of BookTok on book consumption habits, particularly the trend of overconsumption and its impact on the publishing industry. They discuss the resurgence of bookstores like Barnes & Noble, and speculate on the future of BookTok amid potential platform bans. Is it all doom and gloom? They reflect on positive tr...

We explore Wild Life, the newest novel by Canadian Author and disability advocate Amanda Leduc. Wild Life follows two hyenas, Barbara and Kendrith, who, through their interactions with humans over decades, reveal what is possible when the barriers between human and animal are broken. Amanda Leduc shares how she pitched such an unconventional idea to publishers, and why she leans into the weird and...

Is it better when rockstars tell their own stories? Celebrity memoirs are supposed to capture the highs and lows of fame, creativity, and personal struggles, but is that enough for the reader? Greg David gives us his reviews of:  Brothers by Alex Van Halen  The Storyteller by Dave Grohl  Face the Music by Paul Stanley  Kiss and Make-Up by Gene Simmons  The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx We share per...

The Audies’ 30th anniversary was a mix of celebration and chaos. Sara Hillis recaps the major winners, highlights moments from the nostalgia-filled ceremony, and questions why accessibility considerations were missing from the world’s biggest audiobook award event. Plus, Stephen King writes about nightmares, but in Insomnia, he also writes about love, grief, and sacrifice. In her Solo Review, Sara...

In every great story, there’s an outsider. The Other has been a defining theme in literature for centuries, shaping everything from Gothic horror to modern fantasy. Red Széll of My Life in Books explores the role of The Other in fiction, why it captivates us, and how it continues to evolve in storytelling today. Audiobook Café is broadcast on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two new podcast episo...

We meet Robin Whitten, founder and editor of AudioFile Magazine. She traces the magazine's inception in 1992, its dedication to reviewing and celebrating audiobooks, and the introduction of awards like the Golden Voices and Earphones Awards. Robin discusses the magazine's podcast, "Behind The Mic," and shares her perspective on the evolving audiobook industry, including the rise of AI narration. A...

Jacob is joined by UK-based YouTuber Alina (of According to Alina) to delve into the phenomenon of the BookTok  community on TikTok. What is typical content found on BookTok, and how does it contribute to the cyclical nature of creator engagement? We hear Alina’s concerns regarding anti-intellectualism within the community, and her opinions on the potential negative implications of endless romance...

Dictatorships, book bans, and doublespeak—just dystopian fiction, or a reflection of the world today? Danielle McLaughlin dives into Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, and The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. These classic novels explore power, control, and free thought—ideas that still resonate in 2025. Are we living out the futures t...

Review 1: The Wager by David Grann is a meticulously researched narrative immersing readers in the harsh realities of 18th-century sailing, offering a vivid portrayal of maritime life. Aamer and Jacob sift through why it’s difficult connecting to characters in this book, and explain the emotional toll of its intense, male-dominated atmosphere. Review 2: Set in the deep south, All-American Muslim G...

Paul Hough is the writer of The Creepy School Bus viral YouTube series, and newly released Audiobook of the same name. He explains the thought process behind including non-stereotypical disabled characters in the creation of this eerie world, what it’s like to write the psyche of child characters, and shares excitement about the full cast approach of bringing this drama to life. Audiobook Café is...

Red Széll reminds us exactly how books hold the power to provoke, challenge, and inspire. He tributes John Steinbeck’s remarkable literary influence in The Grapes of Wrath, explains how Of Mice and Men still resonates today, and credits the role of fiction in shaping our understanding of humanity. Plus, Jacob Shymanski sifts through the noise and gives us the goods on this week’s AMI Audiobook Rev...

Karoline Bourdeau has never missed a year of the Canada Reads debates. She breaks down this year’s shortlisted top five books, focusing on the one that left her with the biggest impression, Dandelion by Jamie Chai Yun Liew. She shares how immigrant stories reflect her own journey, feeling like a lost teen soul navigating a new country, balancing the perspectives of other immigrants and their chall...

Fifty Shades of Grey and the Twilight saga—are they loved because they’re great, or just because they’re everywhere? Jacob Shymanski and Theresa Power break down the psychology of popular books, featuring responses from our book club community on what makes a book worth (or not worth) the mass buy-in. Audiobook Café is broadcast on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two new podcast episodes a week...

Are you frustrated when authors can’t justify their own logic in the worlds they’ve built? Jacob and Ramya discuss some of the biggest logic gaps in popular books (Harry Potter and A Song of Ice and Fire make the list). Some dialogue is too good to believe. Time travel is a beast to master and no reader is ever satisfied. And what happens when hard magic is flimsy? Here are hot takes on why intern...

Sara Hillis and Jacob Shymanski review The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, a slow-burn story weaving together a rich tapestry of characters, over a decade of time. Part mystery, part thriller, part family drama—we unpack the eerie summer camp setting, the tangled secrets of the Van Laar family, and the masterful narration by Saskia Maarleveld. Audiobook Café is broadcast on AMI-audio in Canada and...

Danielle McLaughlin reviews We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida, a unique narrative of a transient clinic offering cats as solutions to personal dilemmas. We also examine the portrayal of cats in other literary works, namely Japanese literature, highlighting the animals’ metaphorical roles. Audiobook Café is broadcast on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two new podcast episodes a week on Fri...

Métis history, generational pain, and the lies of reconciliation—Avenue of Champions doesn’t hold back. Jacob breaks down Connor Kerr’s powerful reality checks on Indigenous truths, before Ramya dives into Greenlights, where Matthew McConaughey’s larger-than-life personality takes us on a ride through Hollywood games, questionable family ties, and McConaughey’s over-the-top poetic philosophy of “c...

Audiobook narration: is it pure performance or a faithful reading of the text? We get into it with Simon Mattacks, a narrator who’s voiced more than 100 books (including some for Ann Cleeves fans). He shares how he approaches characters and accents, whether it’s just a performance or if there’s more to connecting with the listener, and of course we get into his own takes on the listening experienc...