The longlist has finally been announced! The theme this year is: One Book to Open Your Eyes.
“These books challenge readers to look differently at themselves, their neighbours and the world around them. ” – CBC Books, Jan 2018
What’s Canada Reads you ask?
“Five books, five champions, one winner: CBC’s annual Battle of the Books has been getting people listening, watching and, of course, reading, for the past 16 years.
Canada Reads is a “literary Survivor,” with celebrities championing books. Books are voted “off the bookshelf,” one each day, until one book is chosen as the title the whole country should read this year.” – CBC Books, About
So without further ado, here they are:
- Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali
- The Boat People by Sharon Bala
- Suzanne by Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette, translated by Rhonda Mullins
- Brother by David Chariandy
- Tomboy Survival Guide by Ivan Coyote
- Precious Cargo by Craig Davidson
- The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
- American War by Omar El Akkad
- Scarborough by Catherine Hernandez
- The Measure of a Man by JJ Lee
- Out Standing in the Field by Sandra Perron
- The Clothesline Swing by Ahmad Danny Ramadan
- Forgiveness by Mark Sakamoto
- Dance, Gladys, Dance by Cassie Stocks
- Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga
I am the most excited for Mark Sakamoto’s novel which is the true story of his grandpa’s capture and imprisonment as a POW in Japan during the Second World War. I hope that it makes the short list!
The panellists and the final five books will be announced Jan. 30, 2018. The debates will take place March 26-29, 2018. I will hope to have all five final books read and reviewed before the upcoming debates so stay tuned for all the Canada Reads action.
The Pluviophile Writer 