Everyone knows that I LOVE Canada Reads!! It is a fabulous way to connect, share a love of reading and read new genres, new authors and new styles of writing. Each of these 5 books was new to me because of Canada Reads and have stretched my mind, bringing me into discomfort at times, causing me to think and reflect and helped me to learn more about the experiences of Canadians. The 4 day event, hosted by the CBC, is a cross between a book awards show and a game show and explodes 5 books into the public domain and onto best-seller lists!

This year’s theme is: One Book to Carry Us Forward

Prior to the show, I was reflecting that the best book does not always win, the panelists and audience need to have open minds and open hearts, that strategy and communication counts and that I am really missing the opportunity to attend the finale in person. Canada Reads had been recorded with a live studio audience and I had attended with kindred book friends prior to the pandemic.

A few thoughts from today:

I loved the comments of Shut Up You’re Pretty being a “mosaic of a life we can all contribute to”, that Bad Cree can help “right the wrongs of the past“, that Meet me at the Lake was a “promise of hope and eventual happy endings” , that The Future “enables us to see what is ugly as beautiful” and that Dennison Avenue required us to “put down the book and reflect on the beauty”.

I appreciated that Dallas Soonias shared that the books were accessible in audio which helped him read the books as he struggles with dyslexia and that Heather connected with The Future after her experience as a runaway and child who experienced abuse. It was interesting to learn that 25% of Canadian book sales are romance novels which speaks to encouraging readers of this genre to join the Canada Reads discussion. It was great to identify the similarities, in that all books dealt with the importance of community and had themes of the experience of seniors and what they have to offer.

As always, the first show sped by and a book was chosen to be voted off the panel. This year 4 votes were for Meet Me at the Lake and one for The Future. Was this a surprise? No, this would have been my vote as well but I am glad that there was a diversity of book genres. I thought Mirian Njoh provided a very thoughtful defence to her novel and although I personally did not care for the book, think some of the themes identified in the questions at the end could have strengthened the novel if they had been incorporated.

Here is my Goodreads review of Meet Me at the Lake:

This was my last of the 5 short-listed books and I should note that I LOVE that Canada Reads introduces books that I might not normally read and books that others enjoy. it is wonderful to be introduced to a variety of new authors, writing styles and genres. Although romance is not my favourite, I am looking forward to the discussion.

As for this book, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at some of the descriptions, Stephen King in his book On Writing would definitely be cringing (perhaps that is not the point and I should have just got into the flow of the beach type read and suspended my critical eye…) but really??? here are some examples:

“how dark his eyes are, black as a crows wing”
or
“the air tasted of vending machine sandwiches, diesel fumes and misery”…. what??
or
“she had a round face with hazel doe eyes and a tiny cherry of a nose that under most circumstances made her seem deceptively innocent”
or 
“bottom lashes were an exaggerated curve, as black as the lake at midnight”

I think I might have liked the story if the writers notes at the end, were more incorporated into the story, dealing with more of the serious issues on PPD and anxiety.

I am looking forward to the debates… I know that the best book does not always win but the defenders are always interesting and it always gets more Canadians interested in reading!! Let the games begin!!!

goodreads 2024

Today was a great start to Canada Reads 2024 and I look forward to what I will learn and reflect tomorrow!!