
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.
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 173 | Founded | 20 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | BooksArts | |||

How does a nation convince its children that death is more valuable than life? That’s the haunting question at the heart of The Small Ones, a new novel by Nazanine Hozar. Following her acclaimed debut novel Aria, Nazanine draws on her own childhood m... more
Amanda Peters’ debut novel, The Berry Pickers, was a massive hit about a young Indigenous girl who goes missing as her family picks blueberries in Maine. Now Amanda is back with The Birthing Tree, a moving novel about family secrets, midwifery and re... more
Bonnie Garmus says she came to poetry “kicking and screaming,” but her new novel is about why we need it more than ever. Peck & Peck follows a young man named Batter Gray who starts working at a prestigious poetry magazine. Batter is consumed by poet... more
Jenna Timmons-Oikawa is the winner of the 2026 CBC Nonfiction Prize. Her piece, Wawa Indian, was inspired by the discovery that her mother was taken in the Sixties Scoop. This was a government practice in Canada from the 1960s to 1980s that removed I... more
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Great guests; lots of inspiration for what to read. Also agree with several other reviewers on how the show host has improved: by letting the guests talk without too many interruptions/personal anecdotes.
The podcast is great and Mattea is brilliant. The variety of books and authors is refreshing. Keep it coming.
Mattea is an excellent host and interviewer! They always ask such interesting questions. My favourite podcast by far!
Congratulations on the great questions that fuelled a fascinating conversation with the master novelist of our time,Ian McEwan. I just finished his latest novel and found the interview enhanced my reading experience. Keep it up!
I live in the US as do many many of your readers, Louise. I didnt appreciate your negativity re the US or the tone of your remarks. I didn’t listen all the way through. I enjoy your books. I will keep reading them but I’d rather think of you as what I have imagined and not what I just heard. Very disappointing. I detected the same attitude with Mattea as well. We as citizens of our great country the USA aren’t graced with the options that our leaders choose to make.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #232 | |
Apple Podcasts | #4 | |
Apple Podcasts | #16 | |
Apple Podcasts | #150 | |
Apple Podcasts | #57 | |
Apple Podcasts | #59 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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Author interviews connect new books with the experiences, histories and ideas that shape them. Mattea Roach speaks with novelists, poets and graphic novelists about creative choices, literary craft and the worlds their work reflects, from family memory and migration to identity, power, desire and belonging. Conversations are usually centered on a guest's recent book, but often widen into personal history, cultural context and the questions a story leaves open. The mix spans contemporary fiction, poetry and graphic novels, with both established writers and emerging authors. The format is an in-depth, one-on-one interview, sometimes recorded before a live audience, and archival conversations with writers also appear. It suits readers who enjo... more
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Bookends launched 20 years ago and published 173 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Bookends include:
1. Bonnie Garmus
2. Jenna Timmons-Oikawa
3. R. F. Kuang
4. Marlon James
5. Anne Carson
6. Anita Rau Badami
7. Yasmine Abdel-Magied
8. Téa Mutonji
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