Bestselling thriller author Linwood Barclay is set to champion Wayne Johnston’s Jennie’s Boy in Canada Reads 2025; Influencer and former Canada Reads contender Mirian Njoh recommends memoirs by Black authors; and leaving ketchup chips and Canada’s Wonderland behind in the graphic memoir Uprooted on this episode of The Next Chapter.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Monster: The Autobiography Of An L.A. Gang Member by Sanyika Shakur

Shame On Me by Tessa McWatt

Jennie’s Boy by Wayne Johnston

Uprooted by Ruth Chan

Author and psychotherapist Farzana Doctor shares the books that helped shape her as a person and as a writer; Danzy Senna opens up about her novel and GMA Book Club pick Colored Television; Nashlyn Lloyd on taking inspiration from The Creative Act by Rick Rubin; how not to be a bad husband with Ravi Singh; and the one book Jean Mills loves to re-read on this episode of The Next Chapter.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Aurat Durbar: Writings by Women of South Asian Origin edited by Fauzia Rafique

God Loves Hair by Vivek Shraya

Mullahs on the Mainframe: Islam and Modernity among the Daudi Bohras by Jonah Blank

The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

Infinite Audition by Charlie Petch

The Creative Act by Rick Ruben

The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher

Autopsy of a Boring Wife by Marie-Renee Lavoie

Three by DA Mishani

See Now Then by Jamaica Kinkaid

The Vancouver author and radio host’s memoir May It Have a Happy Ending discusses her journey of love, grief and radio; the CBC Books senior producer recommends hopeful books to inspire us in the New Year; musician Julian Taylor talks about his favourite parenting book; a sneak peek at what authors are coming to Bookends with Mattea Roach this winter; and why patience was key for Amanda Peters in writing her first novel on this episode of The Next Chapter.

Books discussed in this episode include:

Great Expectations by Vinson Cunningham

The Capital of Dreams by Heather O'Neill

Unearthing by Kyo Maclear

Acme Novelty Datebook Volume Three by Chris Ware

I Might Be in Trouble by Daniel Aleman

Hum by Helen Phillips