
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 | 171 | Founded | 19 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | BooksArts | |||

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 adju... more
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 realiz... more
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... more
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 ... 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.
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Apple Podcasts | #79 | |
Apple Podcasts | #140 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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Listeners can expect deeply literary conversations that thread through history, culture, and contemporary society. Episodes feature authors and writers who scrutinize identity, memory, and place, often tying personal experiences to broader social themes, from diaspora and colonial history to gender, power, and technology. The discussions frequently blend rigorous literary analysis with intimate storytelling, offering behind-the-scenes writing processes, archival discoveries, and philosophical reflections that help potential readers decide what to read next. A notable strength is the host's ability to balance scholarly inquiry with approachable storytelling, drawing out nuanced insights without getting bogged down in jargon. Occasionally, gu... more
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Bookends launched 19 years ago and published 171 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. Imani Thompson
2. David Baerwald
3. Maria Semple
4. Maggie O'Farrell
5. Karan Mahajan
6. Robert J. Sawyer
7. Conor Kerr
8. Marjane Satrapi
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