Audiobook Café

Podcast Update: We’ll Be Back on Jan. 10!

27 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Thank you for listening this year! New episodes of Audiobook Café will resume on January 10, 2026. In the meantime, enjoy our extensive archive of ep...

Audiobook Café’s Best of 2025

21 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this year-end special, host Jacob Shymanski and Red Széll reflect on the best interviews of the show from the past year!  Past episodes mentioned...

Year-end Special: Favourite Books of 2025!

20 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this year-end special, Jacob Shymanski hosts a roundtable discussion with three friends of the program: Ramya Amuthan, Aamer Khar and Sara Hillis. ...

Local Heavens: In Conversation with K.M. Fajardo

14 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“Local Heavens” is K.M. Fajardo’s reimagining of the classic novel “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The book was a readers’ favo...

Proposed Changes to the 'Literature for the Blind' Program

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode was recorded on December 10, 2025, and is published early to address a recently proposed change in Bill C-15 which would repeal the free ...

Fiction vs. Non-fiction: The Literary Divide Part 2

07 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Host Jacob Shymanski and Red Széll, host of the My Life in Books podcast, continue their discussion on the dividing issues between fiction and nonfic...

Julie Chan is Dead: In Conversation with Liann Zhang

06 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Liann Zhang’s debut novel “Julie Chan is Dead” was an instant international bestseller.  The diabolical thriller follows a young woman who step...

Swimming Up Niagara Falls: In Conversation with David Lepofksy

30 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In recognition of the upcoming International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we dive into a new memoir by lawyer and disability rights advocate Davi...

Being Heumann: In Conversation with Kristen Joiner

29 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In recognition of the upcoming International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we look back on an incredible memoir of the late Judith Heumann titled ...

Fiction vs. Non-fiction: The Literary Divide

23 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How are non-fiction and fictional books perceived and valued in literature?  Host Jacob Shymanski and Red Széll, host of the My Life in Books podcas...

Wayback Playback: “Wicked” by Gregory Maguire

22 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“Wicked: For Good” is out in theatres! The film is loosely based on the classic 1995 novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of th...

AI Narration for Indie Audiobooks

16 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Indie author Evan Tomos recently released a full-cast audiobook version of his young adult book “Rupert Blacklock and the Prophecy of Whimsy Fickle....

Hockey Romance: In Conversation with Author Rachel Reid

15 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This month, Crave is launching “Heated Rivalry,” a new hockey romance show based on the best-selling book series “Game Changers” by Rachel Rei...

Wayback Playback: “The Woman in Cabin 10” by Ruth Ware

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Netflix’s recent adaptation of “The Woman in Cabin 10” by Ruth Ware has inspired host Jacob Shymanski to review the original book with audiobook...

Adaptations: Books vs. Movies

08 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” has host Jacob Shymanski thinking about book adaptations.He chats with Red Sz...

Flesh: In Conversation with David Szalay

02 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

David Szalay’s novel “Flesh” is shortlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize!  Host Jacob Shymanski chats with David about the intricacies of the nove...

We Survived the Night: In Conversation with Julian Brave NoiseCat

01 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Oscar-nominated filmmaker Julian Brave NoiseCat debuted his very first book this month, a memoir entitled “We Survived the Night.”  Host Jacob Sh...

Books That Make You Think

26 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What are some books that introduce thought-provoking concepts and ideas that make you ponder?  Jacob Shymanski explores this question with Red Széll...

Self Help Me: In Conversation with Dena Jackson

25 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Comedian and professional speaker Dena Jackson chats with host Jacob Shymanski about her new book “Self Help Me.”  She reflects on the holistic w...

Conspiracy Theories: Paul Daniel’s Top 5 Recommendations

19 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you ready to dive into some conspiracy theories? Avid book reader Paul Daniel describes his top five recommended titles for the genre, everything ...

A Two-Spirit Journey: In Conversation with Ma-nee Chacaby

18 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Author Ma-nee Chacaby is the 2025 winner of the Canada Reads competition for her 2016 book “A Two-Spirit Journey: The Autobiography of a Lesbian Oji...

The Power of Character Development

12 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How important is character development in a story?  Host Jacob Shymanski and Red Széll explore the importance of having characters who evolve in a b...

Banned Books Week: Issues of Literary Censorship

11 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In recognition of Banned Books Week, host Jacob Shymanski discusses issues of censorship and discrimination with Canadian author Robin Stevenson.  Ro...

AI in Storytelling: In Conversation with Tim Boucher

05 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tim Boucher has been defending his use of generative AI to write books. Host Jacob Shymanski chats with Tim about his “AI Lore Books” collection a...

Remembering John Candy: In Conversation with Author Paul Myers

04 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Paul Myer’s highly anticipated biography about the late comedian John Candy comes out this month! Host Jacob Shymanski chats with Paul about the mak...

Wayback Playback: In Conversation with Author Waubgeshig Rice

28 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Waubgeshig Rice’s 2018 post-apocalyptic novel “Moon of the Crusted Snow” is still going strong. It is one of the bestselling Canadian titles of ...

Unseen: In Conversation with Author Molly Burke

27 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Molly Burke’s highly anticipated memoir “Unseen: How I Lost My Vision but Found My Voice” is set to hit bookstore shelves this October 14!Host J...

Review of “Bury Your Gays” & Valerie D. Maidment’s Memoir

21 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The USA Today bestseller “Bury Your Gays” by Chuck Tingle explores what it takes to succeed in a world that wants you dead. Jacob Shymanski and Aa...

Rosy Retrospection: The Cultural Impact of Literature

20 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What makes a book a classic? Does a bestselling book mean that it will stand the test of time? Are bestselling books as good as we remember them to be...

Eerie Page Turners: Horror Settings in Books

14 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How does the setting of a book add to your perception of the story? Jacob Shymanski and Red Széll chat about the importance of story settings in horr...

The Art of Narration: In Conversation with Simon Mattacks

13 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Can you tell the difference between real voices and AI narration? What differentiates a bad narrator from a good one? Jacob Shymanski explores these q...

Rejecting Perfectionism in Parenting: In Conversation with Jessica Slice

07 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jacob Shymanski chats with author Jessica Slice about her 2025 non-fiction book “Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges an Inaccessible World.”...

Fair Pay, Fair Play: Royalty Issues at Audible

06 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Author advocate Robin Sullivan and YouTuber Daniel Greene discuss the issues surrounding Audible’s new royalty model for authors, as well as the pet...

Show Trailer - New Name!

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We have some news! "AMI Audiobook Review" is changing its name to "Audiobook Café."Starting this month, you can stay up to date with the latest audio...

Best of AMI Audiobook Review

31 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jacob Shymanski shares an exciting announcement for the show and takes a trip down memory lane.  Audiobook Café is broadcast on AMI-audio in Canada ...

The Audiobook Debate: Is Listening the Same as Reading?

30 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What is your reaction when people are dismissive of audiobooks as a medium for reading? Jacob Shymanski and Ramya Amuthan pose this question to the bo...

Book Review: “Not Quite Dead Yet” by Holly Jackson

24 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Holly Jackson, a New York Times bestselling author, is back with a twisty thriller about a young woman trying to solve her own murder. While this is J...

Disability Portrayal in Literature Part Two: In Conversation with Red Széll

23 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jacob Shymanski and Red Széll continue their conversation on authentic portrayals of disability in fictional literature. They explore issues of stere...

From Baseball to Politics: Rapid Fire Review with Jeff Rainey

17 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this rapid-fire review, Jacob Shymanski and Jeff Rainey explore five titles that have an eclectic blend from baseball to politics and biographies. ...

Classic Book Review: "A Song of Ice and Fire"

16 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this classic throwback, Jacob Shymanski and Aamer Khan review George R. R. Martin’s 1996 fantasy novel series “A Song of Ice and Fire” which ...

A Tale of Biological Marvels: Review of “The Ocean's Menagerie” by Drew Harvell

10 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"The Ocean's Menagerie” is a science and nature book by marine ecologist Dr. Drew Harvell. The book explores the science of the world’s most remar...

Disability Portrayal in Literature: In Conversation with Red Széll

09 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When was the last time you encountered a character with a disability in a book? Were they accurately portrayed?  Jacob Shymanski chats with Red Szél...

Self-control: A Review of “The Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins

01 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You can’t control others, but you can control how you respond. This is the concept behind Mel Robbins’ New York Times bestseller “The Let Them T...

Suburban Thriller: A Review of Megan Abbott’s “El Dorado Drive”

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Megan Abbott’s “El Dorado Drive” follows three once-wealthy sisters in suburban Detroit who become entangled in “The Wheel,” a secretive wom...

The 7 A’s of Vision Loss: Victoria Nolan Discusses Her New Book “Refocus”

25 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Refocus is an essential guide designed to empower people experiencing vision loss to live happy and successful lives through the seven A’s.Co-author...

Memorable Characters: The Best & Worst with Red Szell

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Does plot propel characters or do characters propel the plot? Jacob Shymanski and Red Szell discuss the most memorable characters in books and describ...

Far-fetched: A Review of “The Retirement Plan” by Sue Hincenbergs

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Hincenbergs’s number one bestselling novel “The Retirement Plan” has garnered generally positive reviews. But Jacob Shymanski and Danielle M...

Plot Twists: The Best & Worst Examples with Red Szell

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Plot twists, with all their glory and goodness, can be a mixed bag. Jacob Shymanski and Red Szell share their picks for the best and worst plot twists...

Narrator Kimberly Farr is a Golden Voice + The High Standard of Modern Audiobook Narration

04 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Every June, during audiobook month, Audiophile magazine releases it’s latest inductees into their golden voice list: the hall-of-fame for audiobook ...

This One’s For the Stephen King Fanatics

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There’s nothing like sitting down for a Stephen King chat with his Number One fan, AMI’s Greg David. He talks favourites, flops, adaptations, and ...

Another Canadian Romance Hit: Reviewing One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Carley Fortune’s One Golden Summer is topping charts, filling drugstore shelves, and giving Canadian romance a sun-kissed moment. Karoline Bordeau a...

Who Are You When You're Away: Far-from-home Stories with Red Széll

23 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

True change begins when characters leave everything familiar behind and move away to new places. Red Széll and Jacob Shymanski explore how group dyna...

2025 Golden Voices & The Soul of Story with Robin Whitten of AudioFile Magazine

20 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Robin Whitten, Founder of AudioFile Magazine, returns for Audiobook month to celebrate their 2025 Golden Voice honours. Vikas Adam, Kimberly Farr, and...

Justice, Jane Eyre, and The Count: Rapid Fire Review with Julia Bonnett

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Old friend of the show Julia Bonnett races through five reviews under the 15-second clock, from secret plots and slow burns to revenge epics and stoic...

Rapid Fire Review with Marcia Yale

13 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Marcia Yale reviews five books under the 15-second timer, on another edition of Rapid Fire Review. From romcoms to rock memoirs and a whole lot of Haw...

Grammar is Magic: Reviewing The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar is a novella that’s turning heads for its lyrical prose and spellbinding narration, blurring the line between ...

Salt Water & Storylines: Naval Literature with Red Széll

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some of our favourite literature makes beauty and sense of the sea, so let’s explore it. Red Széll unpack the storytelling power of ships. From the...

Triple the Solo Reviews: Books that unpack inner belief, outer space, and inner circles

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jacob Shymanski and Ramya Amuthan unpack Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey, The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers, and Too Much and ...

Kiss My Foot: The Humor and Heart of Eudora Welty

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Danielle McLaughlin brings us into the witty, richly drawn world of U.S. writer Eudora Welty. With her unmistakable Southern voice and razor-sharp cha...

Don’t Judge a Book by Its Binding: Unexpected Page Turners

30 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever changed your mind about a book’s title, synopsis, or other first impression? Jacob Shymanski and Ramya Amuthan dive into books that surprised t...

Audible Adds AI Voices: Our Reactions

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As Audible makes its AI narration tools available to traditional publishers, Jacob Shymanski and Ramya Amuthan break down the impact on authors, narra...

Trust No One: Our Top Unreliable-Narrator Reads

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Bold authors have been lying to their readers for years and somehow, we love every moment of it.The unreliable narrator is a tricky narrative device f...

Our 8 favorite teachings from The Prophet by Kahlil Jibran

23 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet has been quoted at weddings, funerals, and spiritual retreats for over a century, but how does it hold up for today’s ...

Inside the Vatican’s Walls: A Review of Conclave by Robert Harris

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

118 cardinals, one locked room, one global secret. Karoline Bordeau helps us review Conclave by Robert Harris, a suspenseful insider imagining of a mo...

Resilience and Purpose: Anne Moc’s Memoir on Perseverance

16 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When vision loss and all its realities disrupted her life, Anne Moc turned to social media, storytelling, and eventually writing her experiences down ...

Writing Coach Becca Syme on Finding Success as an Author

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Becca Syme has coached thousands of writers, hosts the QuitCast channel, and believes the best advice is personalized, not packaged. She has an idea o...

Still Hooked: More of What We Want From Authors

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From footnote gags and dramatic time jumps to unreliable narrators and human writing, Ramya Amuthan and Jacob Shymanski dive deeper into what readers ...

I’m Hooked: What Readers Want More From Authors

09 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We asked the book club: What do you love when authors do? From time-jumping stories to snarky all-knowing narrators, moving settings, and psycho-analy...

Books, Bots, and Blurred Realities: Reviewing Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Zelu’s life is already chaotic, until she writes a sci-fi novel that truly changes everything. Nnedi Okorafor’s Death of the Author is a mind-bend...

Crime, Fiction, and the Ethics of Storytelling

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When novelists borrow from real horror… Red Széll joins us to trace the tangled line between actual crime and literary fiction. From 19th-century m...

Adaptations: The Wheel of Time's Journey from Books to Audiobooks to TV

02 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sara Hillis and Jacob Shymanski, two enduring fans of the 14-book Wheel of Time series, explore its growth over the last 35 years. From Robert Jordan’...

Inside Publishing with Author Mark Leslie Lefebvre

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The book industry has changed dramatically since the 90s, and Writer, editor, self-proclaimed book nerd Mark Leslie Lefebvre has seen it all.He breaks...

Poetry Revisited with Danielle McLaughlin: Dub Rhythms & Disaster Rhymes

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In a second celebration of Poetry Month, Danielle McLaughlin continues to school us on what makes poetry. We explore the structure and spirit of poems...

Hooked on the Story, Tripped by the App: A Pocket FM Deep Dive

25 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when an ad pulls you into a 2,000-episode audiobook? Aamer Khan shares how he stumbled onto Pocket FM—and why the platform might be bri...

The Worst Opening Lines Ever Written: A Tribute and Farewell to the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the contest that turned bad writing into comical, witty, creative art. We explore the spectacularly awful and oddly brilliant world of the Bulw...

From Moby Dick to Monte Cristo: A Case for Lengthy Listens

21 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Long audiobooks are a commitment, and we’re here to defend why that commitment is worth our while. Red Széll makes the case for expansive storytell...

Carney Vs. Poilievre: Political Audiobooks Before Canadian Election Day

18 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s politics on paper. With the Canadian federal election just around the corner, Karoline Bordeau and Jacob Shymanski explore two popular books th...

From Flow to Feeling: Exploring Beautiful Prose - Wednesday April 16th, 2025

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What makes beautiful writing beautiful? CELA’s Karen McKay and Theresa Power join us to unpack the essence of great prose. Flow, rhythm, emotion, cl...

Haikus, Rhymes, and Timeless Lines: April is Poetry Month with Danielle McLaughlin - Monday April 14th, 2025

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Danielle McLaughlin leads us through a poetic journey through memory and meaning. We reflect on the poems we carry from childhood to adulthood, from D...

The Culture of Story: Author J.M. Frey on Worldbuilding That Lasts - Friday April 11th, 2025

11 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Impressive worlds like Westeros or the USS Enterprise didn’t just spring from a map—they were shaped by values, power structures, and human histor...

Fallosophy by Ardra Shephard: Talking Through Living with MS - Wednesday April 9th, 2025

09 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ardra Shephard, creator of the Tripping on Air blog and host of Fashion Dis, reflects on her freshly released memoir, Fallosophy. She reveals the trut...

Laughing Through the Madness: A Journey into Satirical Fiction - Monday April 7th, 2025

07 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the biting irony of Swift’s A Modest Proposal to the bureaucratic absurdity of Heller’s Catch-22, satire has long been a tool for exposing so...

From Grey’s Anatomy Tell-All to The International Space Station: Karen Magee’s Rapid Fire Book Blitz

04 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Buckle up! Karen Magee is back for another Rapid-Fire Review, where she races against the clock to give us the gist of her five most recent reads, whi...

Know Your Narrator: The Golden Voice of John Lee

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sara Hillis explores John Lee’s fascinating journey from working odd jobs across Europe (like picking fruits in France) to becoming an Audie Award-w...

Mastering the Audiobook Performance: Narrator Vikas Adam’s Studio Secrets

31 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Vikas Adam has narrated over 500 audiobooks, earned 25 Earphones Awards, and was an inaugural inductee into the Audible Narrator Hall of Fame. He shar...

Review of Sadie by Courtney Summers: Audiobook Meets Podcast

28 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sadie by Courtney Summers is a young adult thriller told in alternating perspectives—a documentary maker following a missing girl’s story and Sadi...

Review of Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer: A Journey Through Indigenous Wisdom

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Karoline Bordeau unpacks Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, where Indigenous wisdom meet scientific exploration.  Kimmerer’s reflections o...

The Art of Short Stories with Red Széll: Classics, Surprises, and Modern Gems

24 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jacob Shymanski and Red Szell unravel their impressions of what it means to experience a short story in all its intended brilliance. From gothic tales...

From UFOs to Vince McMahon: Paul Daniel’s Most Recent Must-Reads

21 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Long time friend and avid reader Paul Daniel takes us on a journey through three of his most recent reads: Imminent by Luis Elizondo, Ringmaster by Ab...

BookTok and the Future of Digital Literature Consumption

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

During Part 2 of Jacob’s chat with Alina (of According to Alina), they explore the effects of BookTok on book consumption habits, particularly the t...

When Animals Speak: Chat with Author Amanda Leduc on Wild Life

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We explore Wild Life, the newest novel by Canadian Author and disability advocate Amanda Leduc. Wild Life follows two hyenas, Barbara and Kendrith, wh...

Rockstar Biographies & Music Memoirs with Greg David

14 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is it better when rockstars tell their own stories? Celebrity memoirs are supposed to capture the highs and lows of fame, creativity, and personal str...

Highlights from the 2025 Audies + Sara Hillis’s Case for Stephen King

12 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

Monsters or Creatures: How Fiction Explores The Other

10 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

33 Years of Audiobook Engagement with Robin Whitten of AudioFile Magazine

07 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We meet Robin Whitten, founder and editor of AudioFile Magazine. She traces the magazine's inception in 1992, its dedication to reviewing and celebrat...

Romance Tropes and Short-form Book Talk: Breaking Down BookTok’s Influence

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Talking Pigs & Thought Police: Political Literature with Danielle McLaughlin

03 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dictatorships, book bans, and doublespeak—just dystopian fiction, or a reflection of the world today? Danielle McLaughlin dives into Animal Farm and...

Reviews of The Wager by David Grann and All-American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney

28 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Review 1: The Wager by David Grann is a meticulously researched narrative immersing readers in the harsh realities of 18th-century sailing, offering a...

Full Cast Horror: Inside The Creepy School Bus Audiobook with Author Paul Hough

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

John Steinbeck’s Influence: Hard Truths of the Human Condition

24 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Red Széll reminds us exactly how books hold the power to provoke, challenge, and inspire. He tributes John Steinbeck’s remarkable literary influenc...