Canada Reads 2022 - Short-List and General Commentary

[Allison]

New spot for shortlist discussion. https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/...

[Susan]

My ratings and some thoughts on the ones I've read:

Five Little Indians - 3 stars - I thought the story had merit but the writing (particularly the dialogue) was amateurish. I did say at the time, though, that I could see this as a Canada Reads title.

Scarborough - 3 stars - I forget why I was so-so on this one.

What Strange Paradise - 3.5 stars - I will probably reread this one, as I read it right after Hurricane Ida hit us last year and I was beyond frazzled at the time.

Washington Black - 4 stars

[❀ Susan]

Thanks for starting the conversation:

I am happy to see Tarek Hadhad as a defendant. When we were in NS, we stopped in Antigonish specifically to buy chocolate from this amazing family!! As a swim mom, it is nice to see Mark Tewksbury participating. My daughter has been on a book chat for her university program with Suzanne Simard relating to her book Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest. The other two defenders are unknown to me.

I have read:
What Strange Paradise and look forward to more conversation about this important book
Five Little Indians is a book that every Canadians need to read and brought a different perspective to residential school relating to what happens when students "graduated"
Washington Black - I enjoyed this book when I read it during the Giller's

Scarborough - I have a signed copy from attending the FOLD festival and have been meaning to read this forever!!

Life in the City of Dirty Water: A Memoir of Healing is a new one for me.

so exciting to have the short-list announced!!

[Allison]

The only defender I have much familiarity is is Suzanne Simard, and I'm excited for her optimism. I hope the debates remain positive throughout - with some competitive spirit thrown in of course. :)

[Wanda]

A good variety of books this year, I listened to an audio of Five Little Indians last year, it was a impactful book for me. Read Washington Black several years ago for book club and truly was taken in with this book. I've just checked Scarborough out yesterday from thelibrary, I tried to read it in past and didn't get very far. I got halfway through Life In The City of Dirty Water a few months back before I had to return it to the library. I actually know a few people referenced in the book as it's local to me, so I want to get back at reading it. I hope to follow Canada Reads this time around, as alas, I was not very engaged the last few years.

[Wanda]

Forgot to add that I finished What Strange Paradise earlier this month. It was a page turner too!

[❀ Susan]

I am having some technical difficulty and will post the other 2 book conversations when I can :)

[Connie]

Read What Strange Paradise and Five little Indians last year. Have both Washington Black and Scarborough but Life in the City of Dirty Water has a very long waiting list at library. Does anyone know if it would be a good audible

[Joanna G]

I thought this started today and was sad I hadn't got through all 5 (only have one to go - Washington Black). Delighted to see I have another week to get to it!

[Heather(Gibby)]

I just looked up when they were on yesterday to make sure i didn't miss it

[Kathleen]

I have Scarborough left to read, and thanks to

[Kathleen]

Thanks to my Secret Sender, I will have it read by or before Monday!

[Allison]

Check this out! CBC Canada Reads looking for audience engagement! I think that's very cool: https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/...

[Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺]

Neat! Thanks for sharing.

[Kathleen]

Thank you so very much for sharing the link, Allison.

[Susan]

I think today's decision was the right one. It's interesting that only one book didn't get a vote to eliminate it. I didn't love that one book but I think it could be hard to beat.

[Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺]

I am happy with today's result too.

[Lisa]

I am happy at the choice of champions again this year. Very diverse group. Other than the little I knew of Tariq, I did not know any of the others. I am also happy with today's result.

[Kathleen]

I enjoyed watching Canada Reads today, and was pleased by the respectful language used by the debaters.

[Joanna G]

I just finished my reading of the nominees today, managed to get through Washington Black over the weekend and finished it this morning. So, woo!

I also think this was probably the right result for Day 1, but I have no idea where it goes from here!

I was surprised though by the spread of votes. I think maybe it was that the discussion questions were more focused on the positives, so there wasn't a real sense of a pile-on, and it wasn't so clear who the candidates should vote for if they wanted to be strategic. But overall, I like a more positive focus to the debates - it's become a little uncomfortable in the past, so hopefully this year's panelists keep it up!

[Allison]

I have to start by saying that it was VERY difficult to avoid looking at anything that would be a spoiler all day long! I saw all the notices in my phone that people were commenting here, but I resisted looking at anything online to give away what happened today!

I had a long day at work, then driving kids around, etc, etc, meant I didn't get online until 9pm. My 11 year old is keen to watch this year with me, because Malia is an actor from the Babysitter's Club, which she watches. So we stayed up and just finished now.

I have to say that I agree that the right book was voted off on Day 1. For a long, long, long time I've been saying that I wish the debates were 5 days long, with none voted off on Day 1. All that work for the defender, just gone! Did you see the sticky notes on Suzanne's copy of City of Dirty Water!?

But agree - it was the right book. However, we lost Suzanne Simard's passionate defense, which is a shame. She is awesome. I really think she could have been amazing with a better environmentally-focused Canadian book. (Can anyone suggest one??)

Mark Tewksbury was fantastic! Didn't you love his energy, his emotion, his passion, his focus!? With, in my opinion, the best book on the list, I'm strongly rooting for him.

However, how can you not also root for Malia Baker? So young, so brave to come on national television in a debate-style conversation like this. Good for her! I'm proud of her.

Christian and Tareq are good too - agree, Kathleen & Joanna, that the language was respectful and kind. I haven't enjoyed the acrimonious years of Canada Reads, and much prefer this. So far so good, at least for me!

[❀ Susan]

Lol - I hear you Allison. I too had to watch after work today so was avoiding social media.

What a thoughtful debate. It is nice to see the respect and hear the insightful comments from the defenders.

I haven’t quite finished in the city of dirty water but the next 3 debates should be interesting as I truly support any of them to win. It is nice to battle it out with all fiction remaining!

[Susan]

I know anything can happen tomorrow, but to me it seems clear which two books will make it to the finals and which will win.

[Joanna G]

Allison wrote: "I have to say that I agree that the right book was voted off on Day 1. For a long, long, long time I've been saying that I wish the debates were 5 days long, with none voted off on Day 1. All that work for the defender, just gone! Did you see the sticky notes on Suzanne's copy of City of Dirty Water!?

But agree - it was the right book. However, we lost Suzanne Simard's passionate defense, which is a shame. She is awesome. I really think she could have been amazing with a better environmentally-focused Canadian book. (Can anyone suggest one??)"

Yeah, she had that book tabbed all the way through! I guess the one flip side of the debate being positive is it's too bad that she didn't really have a chance to answer critiques of the book before it went. I really like the idea of adding a day to let them defend their books and get the lay of the land without anyone being booted.

Good question re another book. The first one that came to mind in answer to your question was Greenwood. It does have that bent, but is also fictional which avoids the tough choice of comparing fiction to non-fiction. However, it may not be strong enough with respect to that messaging - it wasn't quite as urgent / direct at saying something must be done.

[❀ Susan]

I LOVED Greenwood and just heard the author speak for a Canopy event last week. That would be an excellent Canada Reads book!

I just caught the end of today and will go back and watch the whole thing later. What stood out was Tareq’s comment “love is the answer, hate is the cancer”. So insightful and a message this world needs right now.

[Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺]

❀ Susan wrote: "I just caught the end of today and will go back and watch the whole thing later. What stood out was Tareq’s comment “love is the answer, hate is the cancer”. So insightful and a message this world needs right now."

I loved that too! I was also in favour of today's elimination. The two books I liked least are now eliminated. I think we are being teased with the likely winner, based on the comments and voting so far, but anything can happen in the next couple of days.

[Allison]

I'm in full agreement - my two bottom choices are now gone too. (Did you notice how Suzanne's tabs were all missing from her copy of City of Dirty Water!?)

Today was again respectful debate. I couldn't believe Tareq's comments about Washington Black! Artless!? Huh!? My jaw dropped like Mark's did! Haha. But this is the subjective nature of art and writing, I guess, which is why we all love this stuff.

I don't feel confident that I know what is going to happen! Canada Reads is strange sometimes! To me it's looking like 5 Little Indians and Washington Black will make a run for it at the end, but sometimes people strategize, you know? Get the strongest one out??

Excited for tomorrow! On Thurs evening I'm having two friends over for a sushi platter and the finale!

[Allison]

Allison & Susan - I thought of Greenwood! I haven't read it, but it came to mind. I am struggling to think of another book for Suzanne that would address the environmental fight from a Canadian author.

Remember The Right To Be Cold: One Woman's Story of Protecting Her Culture, the Arctic and the Whole Planet? That didn't pull it off either. Is there nothing else? Fiction or non-fiction?

Has anyone read Eating Dirt?

Or here's one I found seeking books that were similar to Greenwood, via GoodReads: Heart of the Raincoast: A Life Story

[Heather(Gibby)]

I was a little disappointed that Life in the City of Dirty Water: A Memoir of Healing was eliminated before Suzanne got a chance to highlight some of the great quotes in the book, but understand why it was voted off first.

I am now rooting for Five Little Indians

[Allison]

Well! Gotta say, I am a touch disappointed in today's result! I think Washington Black was by far the "best" book on the list - meaning I enjoyed the ride, got sucked right into the story (even stayed up way past bedtime to read, which isn't often for me), thought it was the most creative, was impressed by the writing itself, and thought the characters were by far the most developed and dug deepest into my head and heart.

However... I get it. Suzanne Simard's comment was enlightening at the end. She said that Five Little Indians and Scarborough are two topical, current and accessible books for right now (I'm paraphrasing) and I think she's right. They're digestible and their issues are front-facing - no digging required - and they're of course timely. So I understand at least Suzanne's decision to vote off Washington Black. It was pretty clear right from the start that Tareq would! He didn't love it and he made that known!

Mark Tewksbury did a valiant job. Good for him. At this point I'm comfortable with either book winning. They're pretty equal in my mind, really. Five Little Indians has had more press and recognition than Scarborough, so maybe I'd put my weight behind the underdog and vote for Malia Baker. Plus - she's 15!! Look at her go! It's amazing!

[❀ Susan]

Just finished watching and am on board with the vote. It was a dramatic ending with the tie.

I did not realize she was only 15…. Amazing! My youngest son is 15 and I cannot imagine him defending a book (my book worm daughter maybe)!

I am rooting for Scarborough tomorrow. I enjoyed both stories but found the writing stronger in Scarborough.

Am sad that we are nearing the end for another year!!

[Kathleen]

I am sad that today is the final day of Canada Reads 2022.

[Allison]

Oh, me too Kathleen! I feel your pain. It's so great and always flies by so fast.

[Lisa]

I was very happy to see Five Little Indians win today. Scarborough is the only book I had not read, but still plan to read it.

I totally loved this years defenders. They were for the most part thoughtful, respectful, articulate and intelligent. I can't believe Melia is only 15! I look forward to seeing what she accomplishes in her future.

[Allison]

I agree, Lisa! It was a nice group, intelligent, kind-hearted, respectful.

Did anyone watch the pre-show each day? Unlike other years, it was pretty silent and even awkward! Ha! Not sure there was a lot of magic between debaters, but that's okay. It's a debate. On-air they were great and engaged. Yes, Malia is a super star!!

I'm good with Five Little Indians winning. I hope people read it. It's a digestible opening to the residential school system and its aftermath. Good for Michelle good and Christian Allaire - well done and great for the content to find a new audience maybe.

I've read some pretty impactful books about residential schools, the most memorable for me being Up Ghost River: A Chief's Journey Through the Turbulent Waters of Native History, but some of them are really, really hard, and I know people turn away. What Five Little Indians does really well is take a new perspective and make it manageable. I think that approach will make it more widely read and that's a very good thing.

Another great year of Canada Reads. I LOVED this short list!! Thank you CBC!!

[Joanna G]

So I was busy this week and didn't manage to watch after Day 2. I knew it would happen, but did in fact get spoiled - in a number of ways as to the result.

So now I feel comfortable coming into this thread though I still have to watch the last two debates.

Sounds like a good year all round, though so I think I'll still enjoy the shows even knowing what's coming.

In part with hindsight though, I see Christian Allaire was voting for Scarborough from the start. I wonder if that was strategic, because he felt it was the biggest competitor for him!

Other than the Greenwood / environmental discussion, anyone else have any books they would love to see on the show? For me it's Moon of the Crusted Snow. I really love the book but think it could also spark some great discussion. Also, my book club recently read and generally loved Rose's Run, though for some reason, I think that one might have a bit of a tougher time.

[✿✿✿May]

Sadly, life has been too hectic for me to watch the debates. I am planning to binge watch from Day 1, LOL!

[Kathleen]

Joanna, I agree that Moon of the Crusted Snow was an excellent book. Another one that could spark great discussion is Unreconciled: Family, Truth, and Indigenous Resistance by Jesse Wente.