Our Saturday 26th episode features Karen Solie, author of the book Pigeon, in conversation with Shelagh Rogers.

You can also hear the item right here. (It begins with Karen reading "The World of Plants"):

Posted by Tom Howell at 10:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Shelagh Rogers hears from Wayson Choy about the experience of almost dying, twice. The author suffered a combination heart attack and asthma attack, and then on a later occasion had a major heart attack. Both times took him to the brink, but he recovered, and he's written a memoir about still being alive. It's called Not Yet. In the interview, Wayson explains why, even though he's not religious and doesn't believe in ghosts, he reads the signs and omens around him, and talks to ghosts constantly.

Also on the show, mathematician Jason Brown talks with Shelagh about his book Our Days Are Numbered. And Tony Dekker from The Great Lake Swimmers talks about the literary side of his songwriting. The author of Hard Core Logo and A Pornographer's Poem visits the show: Michael Turner has a new book out called 8 x 10. Michael answers personal questions in our Questionnaire segment, and his book gets the going-over by in-house reviewer Tom Howell. Tom's on a new literary adventure - last season it was poetry; this season he's looking for the front lines, the avant-garde, of Canadian writing.

The podcast version (some music and content removed):

Posted by Tom Howell at 09:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Looking for the front lines of Canadian writing, I met Michael Turner's new book, 8 x 10. Shelagh asks me about it on The Next Chapter on Monday 28th (and Saturday Oct 3). To get ready to talk to her, I tried to straighten out my thoughts in writing, so, in case any Michael Turner fans drift by this website after the show, I'm posting that review here. It's short and attempts to be honest.

Tom's written review of 8 x 10

Posted by Tom Howell at 04:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hal Niedzviecki's book is called Peep Diaries: How We're Learning to Love Watching Ourselves and Our Neighbours. [website]

Carlo Rota is a TV actor on 24 and Little Mosque on the Prairie. He's reading Mike Leigh on Mike Leigh and Transform Your Life, by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.

Leonard Cohen's most recent book of poetry is Book of Longing.

Sara O'Leary talks about the Stephen Leacock mini-biography from the Extraordinary Canadians series, and the late Val Ross's biography of Robertson Davies, A Portrait in Mosaic.

Posted by Tom Howell at 04:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Margaret Atwood is prodding at society with more speculation about where we might be heading. This week, Shelagh Rogers speaks with Atwood about the author’s new work, The Year of the Flood. It’s a companion to her previous novel, Oryx & Crake. It comes complete with hymns for a fictional religious group known as God’s Gardeners.

Also on the show:
Itah Sadu recommends books written by Canadians of African descent.
Lecturer Robert Adams explains his return to the stage.
Jeanne Beker recommends February by Lisa Moore.

The podcast version (some music and content removed):

Posted by Tom Howell at 09:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you're near Toronto or Montreal, try to get tickets to see Robert Adams deliver one of his extraordinary on-stage book reviews. He'll be on The Next Chapter next week too, speaking with Shelagh about returning from semi-retirement.

Toronto tickets are here (Sept 14 & 15). Montreal tickets available through Oscar Peterson Concert Hall (Sept 23 at 2 p.m. & Sept 24 at 7 p.m) or call (514) 488 1152.

Hear Shelagh's interview with Robert Adams:

Posted by Tom Howell at 10:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Shelagh speaks with Michael Crummey, author of Galore, at the Writers at Woody Point festival in Bonne Bay, Newfoundland.

Also on the show:

Robert Sawyer, author of Flashforward.
Pasha Malla, author of The Withdrawal Method.
Joy Fielding, author of Still Life.
The Gruff, with their song "Band and Country", from the album A Trail of Missing Thoughts.

The podcast version (some music and content removed):

Posted by Tom Howell at 09:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)