As most of you know, this year the CBC is mixing it up with Canada Reads this year by soliciting reader suggestions for books all of Canada should read. The books with the highest number of recommendations and poll votes will make a top 40 list of “essential” titles of the last ten years.
When the CBC asked for my KIRBC recommendation, I agreed of course, but in the days that followed I found myself agonizing over what that choice would be. A lot of people think this crowd-sourcing will just lead to big name titles being chosen, putting us back in last year’s boat, but I have faith that some interesting choices will make it in with the obligatory Atwood. And while I do love Peggy, I wanted my choice to be one of those less predictable picks.
But it’s difficult because, admittedly, many of my all-time favourite Canadian novels that would make for Canada Reads heavy-hitters are big name books (and many of them have been former contenders): books like Not Wanted on the Voyage, Barney’s Version, Fall on Your Knees, Unless, The Handmaid’s Tale, A Complicated Kindness and A Fine Balance. I think they are essential Canadian reads, but [...]
