Canada Reads, the annual ‘Battle of the Books’ hosted by our national broadcaster, is getting ready to pick their book of the year. In a twist on their usual celebrity-picked shortlist, they are seeking input from viewers this year. They have posted a top 40 list on their website and the deadline for voting is midnight Sunday. The top ten books will be announced on November 12 and the winning book will be picked subsequently.
The top 40 list is heavily oriented to hyped-about literary fiction (for instance, [easyazon-link asin=”0385350732″ locale=”us”]The Orenda[/easyazon-link] by Joseph Boyden and [easyazon-link asin=”B006JJTB0G” locale=”us”]Half-Blood Blues[/easyazon-link] by Esi Edugyan) and well-loved favourites by ‘classic’ Canadian authors (for instance, Findley, Ondaatje, Davies).
Of the 40, I have read just six, and they all fall into that latter category. No offense to Robertson Davies, but I think we can find something a little more contemporary than Fifth Business, and if we were going to do Findley, I would pick [easyazon-link asin=”0140241175″ locale=”us”]Not Wanted on the Voyage[/easyazon-link] over The Headhunter, but overall, it could be a worse list!
