Thursday, November 24, 2011

Canada Reads 2012

The top five Canada Reads 2012 books were revealed yesterday, as well as the five Canadians who will advocate on their behalf.

Despite my frustrations with how things went down last year and my initial resistance to an all non-fiction Canada Reads, I'm excited. 

The books look interesting and their defenders seem passionate. And almost as diverse as Canadians can be.

I really enjoyed reading last year's book choices. It was the actual debates that set my teeth on edge. If I had been one of the authors of last year's books, I would have been very disappointed in the quality of discussion (except for Sara Quin defending Essex County - she was wonderful). The conversations were generally at the level of a school yard taunts ("Oh yeah! Well I'm going to vote against your book because you didn't like mine!" "I didn't even finish reading your book but I'm going to tear it down anyway!"). There was so little discussion about the actual content of any of the books. How is it that the Canada Reads debates made me less interested in novels I had already read and enjoyed?

But that was last year.

The best part of Canada Reads in any year is reading the books. It's also the biggest commitment. And I've decided to do it.

Will you join me?


The Game by Ken Dryden (defended by Allan Thicke)

On a Cold Road by Dave Bidini (defended by Stacey McKenzie)

Prisoner of Tehran by Marina Nemat (defended by Arlene Dickenson)

Something Fierce by Carmen Aguirre (defended by Shad)

The Tiger by John Vaillant (defended by Anne-France Goldwater)


5 comments:

Ken Craft said...

The only one I have read to date is The Game. I had the pleasure of meeting Dryden a few years ago and getting an autographed copy of In School.

laurie said...

This is the thing that I love about Canada Reads and my book club - I read books I would never choose on my own and am very often pleased and surprised!

Lene Andersen said...

My library has all of them, but only The Tiger in audiobook (or ebook). I've put a hold on it. This wil be my first Canada Rads experience and I'm kinda excited!

laurie said...

I just got the Prisoner of Tehran out of the library. Can't wait to start it!

Leanne said...

Hi Laurie. I discovered your blog by googling Canada Reads. And then in reading further, I see you're also in Ottawa, and a knitter. I'm toknitisdivine on Ravelry :-)

I agree with your comments on last year's Canada Reads. I hope the discussion is better this year.

This is the first year I've read all of the books. In the past I've had good intentions, but never did get around to them. I have read the past few winners.

Of this year's selection, only two are the type of books I would normally read (Something Fierce and Prisoner of Tehran). I enjoyed them both. Of the other three, the only one I finished was The Game, which surprised me. I made an effort with the other two, but gave up after getting about half way through - they just weren't my cup of tea.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the books, and I look forward to the debates in Feb.