The Next Chapter with Antonio Michael Downing

One thing that Heather O’Neill’s ex-boyfriends had in common was Anna Karenina, the famous novel by Leo Tolstoy. To get to the bottom of this mysterious connection, she decided to re-read the classic novel to see how Anna’s story of a doomed love affair reads the second time around. Plus, the Juno-nominated musician Adrian Sutherland talks about writing his first book and how he fell in love with...

Mark Critch is very funny. You've likely seen him do what he does best on 22 Minutes or his sitcom Son of a Critch. In addition to spreading laughs across the country, he is also a very proud Canadian. He brings his finely tuned sense of satire to his new book called Sorry, Not Sorry: An Unapologetic Look at What Makes Canada Worth Fighting For. He talks about the inspirations behind his latest wo...

The Giller Prize is one of Canada's biggest literary awards. Before this year's winner was announced, all five finalists joined Antonio Michael Downing on stage at an event at Isabel Bader Theatre in Toronto to read from their shortlisted works and share the inspiration behind them. Featuring Mona Awad, Eddy Boudel Tan, Emma Donoghue, Emma Knight and Souvankham Thammavongsa. Books discussed on thi...

When director Jacob Tierney (Letterkenney) first DM’d Rachel Reid, she couldn’t believe that someone was interested in adapting her book. Since then, the series has become one of the most popular Canadian titles on Crave, and has been renewed for a second season. She pulls back the curtain on what it was like seeing her characters brought to life on screen, and even recommends other books to check...

When Jesse Wente was a kid, he was given a stuffed penguin as a gift. He decided to name his penguin Danger Eagle, the stunt performing stuffy. Decades later, Danger Eagle has taken center stage in Jesse's first ever children's book. Since wrapping up his term as chair of the Canada Council for the Arts and with a bestselling memoir under his belt, he joins the show to share the stories that have...

Before Raymond Ablack became a fan-favorite, playing Joe on Netflix’s Ginny and Georgia, he was a kid who enjoyed acting, reading and Christmas. He joins The Next Chapter to share some of his childhood memories, and what it’s like to play Sam Wilner in the Audibles Originals story, Mistletoe Murders. Plus, Madelaine Drohan on her book about Benjamin Franklin, the surprises and similarities in the...

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 Dinosau...

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...

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...

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 wee...

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 Charro...

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 co...

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. B...

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...

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...

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 Str...

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'...