Bookends with Mattea Roach

4.6 (762)
BOOKS
UPDATED WEEKLY

When the book ends, the conversation begins. Mattea Roach speaks with writers who have something to say about their work, the world and our place in it. You’ll always walk away with big questions to ponder and new books to read.

5 HRS AGO

Pitbull, Scarface and a whale walk into a book

A famous rapper, an Al Pacino movie and a captive whale named Lolita seemingly don’t have much in common. But in Jennine Capó Crucet’s latest novel, Say Hello to My Little Friend, she manages to bring them all together in an ode to the magic of Miami. Jennine joins Mattea Roach to talk about the wild ride of writing the book and how her own experiences as a Cuban American are reflected in the story. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: Teresa Wong: Illustrating her family's past — in all its ordinary and epic momentsKaveh Akbar: Finding meaning in sobriety and writing his bestseller, Martyr!

40 min
4 DAYS AGO

Emily Austin: Would life be easier as a rat? And other ways to escape adulthood

For Emily Austin, living like a rat means embracing the small joys and avoiding societal expectations — and that idea is at the centre of her new novel, We Could Be Rats. The book follows two sisters as they reckon with mental health struggles, their relationship to each other and the difficulties of growing up in a small town. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: Zoe Whittall: Why heartbreak is a valid form of grief Fawn Parker: Blending her own grief with fiction in new novel Hi, It’s Me

38 min
FEB 23

Nnedi Okorafor: Bringing a writer to life in Death of the Author

Nnedi Okorafor’s latest book is about a writer whose new science fiction novel brings her unexpected literary fame — and it asks a lot of questions about what it means to be a storyteller today. Nnedi joins Mattea Roach to talk about metafiction, the crossroads of disability and technology and how her experiences as a Nigerian American shaped her story. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: Nalo Hopkinson: How Caribbean folktales inspired her fantastical novel, Blackheart ManHelen Phillips: In a world run by AI, what makes us human?

29 min
FEB 19

Jack Wang: Reimagining the lost stories of Chinese Canadians during WWII

In The Riveter, Jack Wang explores the untold stories of Asian Canadians during the Second World War. The novel follows Josiah Chang, a Chinese Canadian soldier navigating the horrors of war while facing discrimination at home. Jack joins Mattea Roach to talk about the historical context of the novel, the complexities of writing about war and the value of diverse perspectives. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: V.V. Ganeshananthan: Exploring the complexity of Sri Lanka's civil war in her prize-winning novel, Brotherless NightTeresa Wong: Illustrating her family's past — in all its ordinary and epic moments

35 min
FEB 16

Helen Phillips: In a world run by AI, what makes us human?

If you feel like your phone is tracking your every move, or that AI is getting a little too advanced for comfort… You’re not the only one. Helen Phillips’ latest dystopian thriller, Hum, is set in a near future where climate change has devastated life as we know it — and superintelligent robots have become an irreplaceable part of society. Helen talks to Mattea Roach about her complicated relationship with technology, parenting in the digital age and reclaiming our humanity through the little joys. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: Jeff VanderMeer: How his blockbuster Southern Reach series reflects our own fight against climate changeNalo Hopkinson: How Caribbean folktales inspired her fantastical novel, Blackheart Man

29 min
FEB 12

Daniel Aleman: Loneliness inspired a novel about a Grindr date gone fatally wrong

In I Might Be in Trouble, a struggling writer wakes up to find last night’s date dead in his bed — and it only gets worse from there. The novel is YA writer Daniel Aleman’s first foray into adult fiction and it touches on themes of loneliness, the trials of modern dating and the lengths we go to find connection in a fragmented world. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: Rumaan Alam: How would you spend a billion dollars? Pasha Malla: Parodying a wellness resort with horror and humour

32 min
FEB 9

Kate Gies: Reclaiming her body after years of medical trauma

When Kate Gies was born without an ear on one side, a plastic surgeon told her parents that he could “fix” her. In her new memoir, It Must Be Beautiful to Be Finished, Kate recounts her harrowing journey through numerous surgeries, many of which failed — and questions what it really means to “fix” a body. Kate joins Mattea Roach to talk about blurry medical boundaries, growing up with a congenital difference and pushing back against oppressive beauty standards. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: Amy Lin: Widowed at 31, she looks for the beauty in griefJenny Heijun Wills: Sharing her journey of transracial adoption and self-discovery in her moving essay collection

34 min
FEB 5

Emma Knight: 'Bad' mothers make good stories — and are more true-to-life

You might be surprised to learn that Emma Knight’s new book, The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus, isn’t about marine life at all. The novel follows two Canadian students finding their way in Scotland as they navigate family secrets and first love. Emma joins Mattea Roach to talk about coming of age abroad, the freedom of the pre-smartphone age, and her interest in imperfect mothers. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: Fawn Parker: Blending her own grief with fiction in new novel Hi, It’s Me Alan Hollinghurst: Coming of age in Britain and writing through the gay gaze

36 min

See All (50)

TRAILER

Introducing Bookends with Mattea Roach

When the book ends, the conversation begins. Mattea Roach speaks with writers who have something to say about their work, the world and our place in it. You'll always walk away with big questions to ponder and new books to read. Beginning Sept. 8 on CBC.

2024-09-06

•

2 min

Mattea Roach

Host

4.6

out of 5

762 Ratings

The best

2024-10-14

Lime.leaf

When Eleanor retired, I was so happy that they played From the Archives for over a year. She is my favourite host ever on cbc, no one else compares. Now, the time slot is being filled by one of their worst programs that I shall not mention. Why CBC, couldn’t we hear the archived interviews for ever? There are 33 years of them! Happy for her to move on to other things, sad for us who rely on her company while battling traffic. Please make Eleanor’s work available as a separate podcast. We need her.
Bookends

2024-11-04

B C Daisy

I love Mattea and am so proud of her accomplishments. But, unfortunately I cannot listen to her podcasts. I feel that she is so focussed on what she is going to next ask her guest that she doesn’t actually listen to the guest’s response. She is young and may, in time, learn to take the time to actually listen and respond to the guest’s response. I have high hopes and will try to listen again in the future.
Thank you!

2024-09-29

Shar from Canada

Bookends is a wonderful podcast. I like the down-to-earth style of interviewing that captures every day living experience in writing. I especially enjoyed your interview with Alison McCreesh, a fellow northerner.
The best

2024-08-28

Canada Canoeist

I could listen to this podcast forever. Even if I have no previous knowledge of the author, I always learn something and feel like I need to read every book they have ever written! Truly fantastic show.

When the book ends, the conversation begins. Mattea Roach speaks with writers who have something to say about their work, the world and our place in it. You’ll always walk away with big questions to ponder and new books to read.