Jacob Shymanski shares in-depth conversations with authors, narrators and industry experts! Tune in for the latest audiobook releases, curated recommendations and literary news.
Kenan Orhan’s “The Renovation” was longlisted the 2026 Booker Prize.
The book follows a woman who discovers that her bathroom has been remodeled into a prison cell where she is an unlikely inmate.
Host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Kenan to explore the book’s themes of exile, grief, memory, migration and the meaning of home.
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
9 Oct 2026
The Attraction to Heartbreak
Host Jacob Shymanski and guest Red Széll ask the question: why do readers enjoy heartbreaking stories?
They share their thoughts on how sad fiction helps build empathy and why the most powerful tragedies reflect the complexity of real life.
Books mentioned in this episode include:
Erich Maria Remarque’s “All Quiet on the Western Front”
Amor Towles’ “A Gentleman in Moscow”
Éric Chacour’s “What I Know About You”
Erich Segal’s “Love Story”
John Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars”
John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”, “The Grapes of Wrath” and East of Eden”
Patrick Ness and Siobhan Dowd’s “A Monster Calls”
Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
9 Oct 2026
Helen of Nowhere: In Conversation with Makenna Goodman
Makenna Goodman’s novel “Helen of Nowhere” was longlisted for the 2026 Booker Prize.
The book follows a disgraced professor as he visits a country house with a realtor who tells him about its mysterious former owner, Helen. As he becomes increasingly fascinated by Helen's alternative way of life, the ordinary house viewing turns into something much stranger and more psychologically charged.
Host Jacob Shymanski chats with Makenna about the novel’s themes and why the book is open to interpretation.
Spoiler alert at the 25:12 mark.
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
Who has been a guest on AMI Audiobook Review
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
David Szalay
Julian Brave NoiseCat
Red Széll
Dena Jackson
Paul Daniel
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
18,311
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
3.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
4.2 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 71 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
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