Audiobook Café

The Audies’ 30th anniversary was a mix of celebration and chaos. Sara Hillis recaps the major winners, highlights moments from the nostalgia-filled ceremony, and questions why accessibility considera…

In every great story, there’s an outsider. The Other has been a defining theme in literature for centuries, shaping everything from Gothic horror to modern fantasy. Red Széll of My Life in Books expl…

We meet Robin Whitten, founder and editor of AudioFile Magazine. She traces the magazine's inception in 1992, its dedication to reviewing and celebrating audiobooks, and the introduction of awards li…

Jacob is joined by UK-based YouTuber Alina (of According to Alina) to delve into the phenomenon of the BookTok  community on TikTok. What is typical content found on BookTok, and how does it contribu…

Dictatorships, book bans, and doublespeak—just dystopian fiction, or a reflection of the world today? Danielle McLaughlin dives into Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, Brave New W…

Review 1: The Wager by David Grann is a meticulously researched narrative immersing readers in the harsh realities of 18th-century sailing, offering a vivid portrayal of maritime life. Aamer and Jaco…

Paul Hough is the writer of The Creepy School Bus viral YouTube series, and newly released Audiobook of the same name. He explains the thought process behind including non-stereotypical disabled char…

Red Széll reminds us exactly how books hold the power to provoke, challenge, and inspire. He tributes John Steinbeck’s remarkable literary influence in The Grapes of Wrath, explains how Of Mice and M…

Karoline Bourdeau has never missed a year of the Canada Reads debates. She breaks down this year’s shortlisted top five books, focusing on the one that left her with the biggest impression, Dandelion…

Fifty Shades of Grey and the Twilight saga—are they loved because they’re great, or just because they’re everywhere? Jacob Shymanski and Theresa Power break down the psychology of popular books, feat…

Are you frustrated when authors can’t justify their own logic in the worlds they’ve built? Jacob and Ramya discuss some of the biggest logic gaps in popular books (Harry Potter and A Song of Ice and …

Sara Hillis and Jacob Shymanski review The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, a slow-burn story weaving together a rich tapestry of characters, over a decade of time. Part mystery, part thriller, part fa…

Métis history, generational pain, and the lies of reconciliation—Avenue of Champions doesn’t hold back. Jacob breaks down Connor Kerr’s powerful reality checks on Indigenous truths, before Ramya dive…

Audiobook narration: is it pure performance or a faithful reading of the text? We get into it with Simon Mattacks, a narrator who’s voiced more than 100 books (including some for Ann Cleeves fans). H…

Book bans are back in the spotlight after The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill was pulled from the London, Ontario Catholic School Board. The novel, which confronts the history of slavery and racial …

What happens when Joline, a complicated character with a penchant for self-destruction, gains access to everyone's emails at work? From the presentation of petty office drama to complex relationships…

We examine Éric Chacour’s What I Know About You, a powerful Canadian LGBTQ+ novel originally published in French, set in late 20th-century Egypt. The story follows a father, his son, and the complexi…

We welcome back Andy Frank, Manager of AMI-audio, for a deeper than usual Rapid Fire Review. Andy shares five intriguing memoirs and biographies, and gives us his impressions of Nick Drake’s haunting…

We uncover the untold stories of Vietnam with Kristin Hannah's The Women. Sara Hillis shares perspectives on the novel’s intricate look at female friendships, PTSD, and the sacrifices of women in war…