Bookends with Mattea Roach

The phrase "unprecedented times” was repeated over and over again during the pandemic … and Malavika Kannan’s debut novel, Unprecedented Times , dives into university life during that period. The story follows Rishi, an Indian American student who’s ready to start fresh at Stanford after her strict Florida upbringing. She has big plans to shed her old skin and finally meet people just like her, but that journey is cut short by the arrival of COVID-19. As Rishi and her peers struggle with disillusionment, political unrest and good old university drama, she starts to think more closely about her story and the shared experience that’s shaping her generation. Liked this conversation? Keep listening: Here’s what you have wrong about teen moms Would a tradwife influencer survive in 1855? Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

How many of your friends are over 30 years older than you? When Marc Bendavid was 12, he met a teacher that changed his life. His debut novel, The Sapling , is about their generation-defying bond … and living in those memories in the wake of her death. So how can a meaningful friendship between a 12 year-old and a 44 year-old defy what we think about the gap between generations? And how does someone live and change through our memories of them? This week, Marc joins Mattea Roach to talk about the real teacher that inspired the book, the beauty of aging and what you can gain from connecting with people older and younger than you. Liked this conversation? Keep listening: Can our friendships age with us? Ocean Vuong finds beauty in a fast food shift Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Imagine you walk into your bedroom one day … and there’s a horse going on a rampage. Better yet, it’s a horse from a childhood story that has haunted you ever since you first heard it. Who’s the first person you call? In Ali Smith’s new novel, Glyph , estranged sisters Petra and Patch are brought back together when a story from their childhood comes to life in an incredible way. But what makes a ghost story real? And what can it tell us about the world we live in now? This week, Ali joins Mattea Roach to talk about her connection to horses, the power and wonder of words and whether or not she believes in ghosts. Liked this conversation? Keep listening: For Jeanette Winterson, stories are essential to survival How do we restore our sense of wonder in media? Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

For cheating couples who are sneaking around, it’s paradise … but how long until the cracks start to show? Sophie Mackintosh’s new novel, Permanence , follows secret lovers Clara and Francis. Francis is married, and they’ve been stealing brief moments with each other for months. When they wake up one day in a dreamy city where they don’t have to hide, everything seems perfect … until things take a sinister turn and Clara and Francis realize they can’t escape the real world forever. This week, Sophie joins Mattea Roach to talk about the new era of infidelity literature, writing about unsavoury love and where passion and desire can take you. Liked this conversation? Keep listening: Life of Pi author Yann Martel on the wars in your everyday Why you can’t forget your first love Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

You might be used to moving around … but you've probably never ended up in a town full of zombies, aliens and sad clowns. Jon Claytor’s new graphic novel, Nowhere , is about a young boy named Joel whose family is constantly moving. He’s trying to adjust to life in a new small town, but things get complicated when a giant, otherworldly cube appears and people start mysteriously disappearing. Jon drew from his own nomadic childhood to craft the story, and his rich visuals tell a spooky but moving story about growing up. This week, Jon joins Mattea Roach to talk about how his upbringing inspired the book, his background in oil painting and referencing the real-life Sackville cube. Liked this conversation? Keep listening: Charles Burns: Why the comics icon keeps returning to teenage angst Why this comics legend is just getting started Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Bad men, bee warned. Imani Thompson’s buzzy debut novel, Honey , follows a jaded PhD student named Yrsa. She’s bored with her work and frustrated with the culture at Cambridge … but when she accidentally kills a shady professor using a bee, she realizes that she may have found her calling. As Yrsa murders more men in the name of justice, she feels a greater sense of purpose in her violent mission. But can Yrsa really justify the blood on her hands? And what happens when the killings come back to sting her? This week, Imani joins Mattea Roach to talk about how her background in sociology informed the story, getting into the mind of a killer and her mother’s impact on the novel. Liked this conversation? Keep listening: Justice for Murder Bimbo! A raunchy workplace satire ... about deradicalizing ISIS brides? Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

David Baerwald is a famous songwriter who’s worked with artists like Joni Mitchell and Sheryl Crow. But when he uncovered a family history filled with spies, music, and wartime secrets … David went from notes to novels and wrote a sweeping historical debut. The Fire Agent fictionalizes the story of Ernst Baerwald, David’s real grandfather. In 1900, Ernst was recruited to become a spy. His work took him across two continents and through two world wars, and his life became an adventure involving Japanese gangsters, the fight against fascism and numerous pivotal moments in history. This week, David tells Mattea Roach about espionage in the 1900s, his love of Japan and how the novel brought his family back together. Liked this conversation? Keep listening: Anarchists have bigger hearts than you think Emma Donoghue boards a train destined for disaster Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

If you just let go of everything that’s out of your control … can you truly be happy? Maria Semple tests that philosophy in her new novel, Go Gentle . The story follows Adora Hazzard, a Stoic philosopher in her 50s who lives a calm, mostly happy life with her teen daughter and a coven of women friends. If you think a book about Stoicism might bore you, don’t speak too soon. This one also has art heists, divorce, a toxic Hollywood comedy scene … and the philosophy stuff might be more relatable than you think. This week, Maria tells Mattea Roach about her interest in Stoicism, her long career in TV writing and how her daughter inspired a character in the story. Liked this conversation? Keep listening: Curtis Sittenfeld is fascinated by fame Would a tradwife influencer survive in 1855? Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Maggie O’Farrell brought Shakespeare’s son out of the footnotes of history with her 2020 novel Hamnet . Its hugely successful movie adaptation made a splash at the Oscars and Maggie herself earned a nomination for the screenplay. Maggie’s new novel, Land , continues to pull from the shadows of history ... while also drawing on her own family myths. It's a sweeping epic that begins with a father-son mapmaking duo in 19th century Ireland. This week, Maggie joins Mattea Roach to talk about taking Hamnet from page to screen, writing about lesser known histories and her new novel’s surprising Canadian connection. Liked this conversation? Keep listening: Douglas Stuart was a fashion exec — now he designs stories Jack Wang: Reimagining the lost stories of Chinese Canadians during WWII Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Imagine your entire family … immediate and extended … living in one apartment complex together. Karan Mahajan’s latest novel, The Complex , follows four generations of a family across India and America in the 1970s. In Delhi, most of the family lives in a crumbling residential compound. They’re the descendants of a political legend, and the family longs to return to their era of greatness. These family tensions mirror the country of India itself, which is changing politically, economically and socially as the Hindu nationalist movement begins to take shape. This week, Karan tells Mattea Roach about the real history behind the book, writing an organic political story and his complicated relationship with home. Liked this conversation? Keep listening: Kiran Desai’s novel is worth the 20-year wait Rage and love at the end of apartheid Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

If an asteroid was hurtling towards Earth, and you had no other choice … would you upload your mind to a computer to survive? Robert J. Sawyer explores that dilemma in his new novel, The Downloaded 2: Ghosts in the Machine . The Canadian sci-fi legend’s latest is all about technology and identity at the end of the world … and as someone who has thought a lot about mortality, Robert has a unique perspective on how technology, humanity and death align. Robert tells Mattea Roach about why he likes to write about cheating death, the harmony of science and religion and a personal experience he’s sharing for the first time. Liked this conversation? Keep listening: In a world run by AI, what makes us human? Getting to know Canada's king of suspense Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Coast to coast, province to province, soccer pitch to hockey rink … there’s no one Canadian experience, and no one Canadian story. This week, Bookends is highlighting four Canadian writers we’ve featured on the show so far. From a hockey drama in the maritimes, to Canadian soldiers in the Second World War, to a long journey North, these stories about Canada might surprise you … or they might remind you of home. In this special Canada Day edition of the show, we’re revisiting Mattea Roach’s conversations with Jack Wang, Tyler Hellard, Alison McCreesh and Conor Kerr. Hear the full conversations here: Jack Wang: Reimagining the lost stories of Chinese Canadians during WWII Meet hockey’s greatest (fictional) goon Alison McCreesh: Exploring the magic and nuance of life in the North in her latest graphic novel Capitalism, dating apps and why we love Edmonton Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

When Marjane Satrapi died earlier this month, we lost an acclaimed graphic novelist and filmmaker … and a voice that explored Iranian society in a wholly unique way. You might know Marjane from her celebrated graphic memoirs Persepolis and Persepolis II. They’re about her experience growing up in an unconventional household during Iran’s Islamic revolution, and the screen adaptation was nominated for an Academy Award. This week, we’re revisiting Eleanor Wachtel’s 2011 conversation with Marjane about her book Chicken with Plums . They spoke about Marjane’s relationship to her home country, how her family influences her work and appreciating the beauty of life’s small moments. Check out the rest of the Writers & Company archive: https://digital.lib.sfu.ca/writers-company Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Fatherhood isn’t easy. It might be hard to put the experience into words … but Jordan Abel’s new poetry collection does just that. Dad Era is addressed to Jordan’s daughter Phoenix. Through free verse, pictures and a mix of ideas both personal and universal, the collection explores the nuances of fatherhood, Indigenous parenting and what it’s like to raise a child in a world that gets more uncertain by the day. Like his previous work, Dad Era showcases Jordan’s ability to be a literary DJ — he loops, cuts and fades together words, artwork, and documents, giving readers fresh perspectives on fatherhood and Indigenous joy, past and present. Liked this conversation? Keep listening: David A. Robertson puts stories at the heart of reconciliation What would it take to become the first Cherokee astronaut? Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

What would you do if you were stuck reliving the same day on loop? Splurge with your ever-replenishing bank account? Travel, so you can experience more than one season? Would it feel freeing, or lonely? In Solvej Balle's series On the Calculation of Volume, Tara Selter is stuck reliving the same November 18th. Nearly 40 years after the idea first came to Solvej, her time loop tale is speaking to readers around the world with its explorations of love, hope, despair and isolation. Solvej tells Mattea about why she initially resisted writing this story, the upside of aloneness, and what she really thought of the movie Groundhog Day. Liked this conversation? Keep listening: Is it magic ... or is it Siri? R.F. Kuang raises a little hell Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

When Nussaibah Younis decided to write a book about ISIS brides, everyone expected it to be an academic tome. Instead, she wrote a raunchy satire about a woman who takes a job in a warzone to get over a recent heartbreak. Nussaibah's debut novel, Fundamentally , sees protagonist Nadia in over her head working for the UN in Baghdad. But her sense of purpose renews when she connects deeply with Sara, a young ISIS bride who Nadia becomes intent on saving. Drawing on her own professional experience, Nussaibah tells Mattea Roach why the UN's work culture is ripe for satire, why the conversation about ISIS brides needs nuance and what it really takes to deradicalize someone. Liked this conversation? Keep listening: Exploring the shady side of charity organizations Need cash fast? Become a corpse bride today Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Fran Lebowitz is a legendary writer and critic. She’s made a career of sharing hot takes without apology, and she didn’t hold back when she joined Mattea Roach for a special on-stage event in Toronto. You might know Fran from her books Metropolitan Life and Social Studies or her appearances in two Martin Scorsese documentaries. Fran is perhaps most famous for sharp social commentary — from airplane fashion, to the silly questions asked by educated youth, to the return of smoking ... Fran had plenty to share with the Toronto crowd. Photo credits to Brigitte Lacombe. Liked this conversation? Keep listening: Scaachi Koul calls herself a professional ex-wife For Louise Penny, stories come from hurt Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

It’s easy to glamorize small town life … but Kevin Hardcastle’s new novel, County Road Six , is all about the darkness lurking in rural Canada. When Arthur O’Hare dies, his three daughters return to the family farm to sort through what he left behind. But what they inherit is more than land — it’s a shadowy history they never knew existed. County Road Six is a dramatic thriller about economic decline, family secrets and the lengths people will go to survive. It’s a compelling and unsettling story that pulls from Kevin’s own background growing up as a working class kid in rural Ontario. This week, Kevin tells Mattea Roach about exploring the rural Canadian experience, adding elements of horror to his stories and why towns can be more dangerous than cities. Liked this conversation? Keep listening: The beauty and despair of Appalachia Buffoon or genius? What makes a cult leader? Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

A glamorous life and career in New York’s fashion industry was everything Douglas Stuart worked for. So why did he walk away from it all? And how did he go from fashion designer to Booker Prize winning author? Douglas’s first two novels, Shuggie Bain and Young Mungo , were critically acclaimed hits. He continues the streak with John of John , a moving novel about a young man returning home to a remote Scottish island steeped in religion and tradition. It’s one of the hottest books of spring and an Oprah’s Book Club pick. This week, Douglas joins Mattea Roach to talk about his major career change, diving into Hebridean culture and drawing on his own upbringing for the novel. Liked this conversation? Keep listening: For Jeanette Winterson, stories are essential to survival Why you can’t forget your first love Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Anne Kim has it all. She’s a high-powered tax lawyer, lives in a beautiful apartment in New York and has the perfect boyfriend to boot. She’s the pride of her parents, Korean immigrants in small-town Alberta who worked day and night to keep the family afloat. But Jane Park’s debut novel, Inheritance , is all about the hidden costs of Anne’s immigrant success story — the hurt, trauma and stifling expectations that tore her family apart. When her father’s death sends her back to Alberta, Anne is forced to confront the reality of her upbringing and the truths behind a violent act that changed her family forever. This week, Jane tells Mattea Roach about the nuances of Korean resilience, how her own experiences factor into the book and what it’s like to be an Asian woman today. Liked this conversation? Keep listening: Where do North Korean spies go for dinner? Emma Knight: 'Bad' mothers make good stories — and are more true-to-life Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks