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Artwork for Bookends

Bookends with Mattea Roach

CBC
Philip Roth
Goodbye, Columbus
Portnoy's Complaint
Mothers and Sons
Anita Desai
Colm Toibin
The Plot Against America
Nemesis
Hisham Matar
Libya
Literary Influence
Psychological Damage
Jewish Identity
American Politics
Johann Sebastian Bach
Emotional Alienation
Divorce
Irish Mother
Identity
Aging

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.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes127Founded19 years ago
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ArtsBooks

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Artwork for Bookends

Latest Episodes

Tamara Jong grew up going door-to-door for the Jehovah’s Witnesses … and her new memoir, Worldly Girls, is all about breaking away from the faith. For much of her life, the strict religious movement was Tamara’s only way of making sense of the world.... more

Murder Bimbo is a new book about a sex worker-turned assassin … and it’s the debut novel by Rebecca Novack, a former priest-in-training. The story follows a sex worker nicknamed Murder Bimbo who is hired by the government to kill a right-wing politic... more

If you’re worried about being lonely in the afterlife, don’t worry. Just hire a corpse bride to keep you company in the coffin! In Lindsay Wong’s new novel, Villain Hitting for Vicious Little Nobodies, a university dropout is desperate to pay off her... more

Carla Ciccone was 39 years old when she was diagnosed with ADHD. That diagnosis changed everything for her ... and she shares her experience in her new memoir, Nowhere Girl: Life as a Member of ADHD’s Lost Generation. Over the past few years, the rat... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Rebecca Novack
Author of the debut novel 'Murder Bimbo'
Episode: Justice for Murder Bimbo!
Lindsay Wong
Author of 'Villain Hitting for Vicious Little Nobodies'
Episode: Need cash fast? Become a corpse bride today
Carla Ciccone
Author and ADHD advocate
Author of Nowhere Girl
Episode: Why an ADHD diagnosis had this author rethinking everything
Conor Kerr
Author of Beaver Hills Forever, a Métis poetic novella
Episode: Capitalism, dating apps and why we love Edmonton
Jordan Redekop-Jones
Poet based in Vancouver, winner of the CBC Poetry Prize
CBC Poetry Prize
Episode: This poem is straight out of a dream
Megha Majumdar
Author of A Guardian and a Thief
Episode: How far would you go for your family?
Rob Benvie
Author of The Damagers
Episode: Buffoon or genius? What makes a cult leader?
Louise Penny
A bestselling mystery author known for her Armand Gamache series
Author of The Armand Gamache series
Episode: For Louise Penny, stories come from hurt
Carol Shields
A Canadian writer and Jane Austen biographer
Episode: Revisiting Writers & Company: Happy 250th, Jane Austen!

Host

Mattea Roach
Host of discussions with authors about their work, life, and cultural implications.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Love the thoughtful conversation!

    Mattea is an excellent host and interviewer! They always ask such interesting questions. My favourite podcast by far!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WilliamFrancis
    Canadaa month ago
  • Ian McEwan

    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!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Connie49
    Canadaa month ago
  • Terrible

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Kirkieblue
    United Statesa month ago
  • Excellent

    I’ve always enjoyed listening to programs like this where the authors are interviewed ..it provides tremendous insight into the kind of writing that they do. I really really like Mattea Roach’s interview style. It’s intelligent. It’s easy to listen to. I think she’s doing a marvellous job ….you can tell she’s a very bright person. Gratifying to hear one of the authors that she’s interviewed compliment her on her questions and her style. I think that’s super.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pametc
    Canada4 months ago
  • Getting better over time

    Initially I couldn’t stand this podcast as the interviewer Mattea Roach kept inserting her own experiences and opinions often seeming to compete with the interviewee. She seems to have improved a lot and today’s interview with Ian McEwan was well done. I’ll continue to listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    WonderPrep
    Canada4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Overall enthusiasm for the variety of literary genres covered in the episodes.
Listeners appreciate the thoughtful and intelligent dialogues she fosters.
Some feedback suggests that the host occasionally inserts personal narratives, which divides opinions among the audience.
Exceptional interviewing style from Mattea, providing deep insights into the authors' thoughts and works.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#137
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#2
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#7
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#122
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#224
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#19
Ireland/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Need cash fast? Become a corpse bride today
Q: Can you talk about how the concept of the face shows up throughout this novel?
She explained that in Chinese culture, saving face is crucial, and she wanted to explore this concept both literally and metaphorically in her novel.
Need cash fast? Become a corpse bride today
Q: What parallels did you want to draw between this imaginary and grotesque space and the world, I guess, above?
Wong aimed to critique the obsession with beauty standards in Chinese culture through the lens of her characters' experiences in the underground economy.
Need cash fast? Become a corpse bride today
Q: When did you first learn about corpse marriage, and how did it become the seed for this novel?
Lindsay Wong discussed her early encounters with the tradition and how family warnings about marriage in Hong Kong sparked her interest in writing about it.
Why an ADHD diagnosis had this author rethinking everything
Q: How did it show up for you growing up?
Carla experienced a combined type of ADHD, with both hyperactive and inattentive symptoms, feeling like an outsider and often daydreaming.
Why an ADHD diagnosis had this author rethinking everything
Q: What was it that brought about this diagnosis for you?
Carla received her ADHD diagnosis after struggling with feelings of anxiety and overwhelm during the pandemic, which led her therapist to suggest the possibility of ADHD after a careful assessment process.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Bookends

What is Bookends about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Conversations center around literature and the creative process, inviting listeners to explore the insights and complexities of various authors' works. Each episode showcases engaging discussions with authors, reflecting on themes including identity, cultural critique, and societal norms. The host's style fosters an atmosphere of thoughtful inquiry, encouraging exploration beyond the text and into personal narratives and broader societal issues, making it ideal for book enthusiasts and those interested in the intersection of literature and life.

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Bookends:

1. Ideas
2. The Sunday Magazine
3. Q with Tom Power
4. The Current
5. White Coat, Black Art

How many episodes of Bookends are there?

Bookends launched 19 years ago and published 127 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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What guests have appeared on Bookends?

Recent guests on Bookends include:

1. Rebecca Novack
2. Lindsay Wong
3. Carla Ciccone
4. Conor Kerr
5. Jordan Redekop-Jones
6. Megha Majumdar
7. Rob Benvie
8. Louise Penny

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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