Hello again, dear readers! It’s Emily back again on Book Beat to share some literary news. This week, I’m sharing the latest YA book drama, an update on Canada Reads, and some news from across the pond.
Book Beat: Canada Reads Winner, Reading Without Walls, and Young Black Female Poets
Hi, book lovers! It’s me, Ashley! My friend Stephanie took over for a while, because my life was consumed with stress and grief over the loss of someone in my field of work. I am back though, still a bit stressed, still grieving a bit, but feeling better. I am reading all my favourite, weepy…
Canada Reads 2017: The Defence
It’s that time of year again! Canada Reads is back with five new books and the Canadian celebrities who plan to defend them. Every year, Canada tunes into CBC to watch four days of painstaking debate on the book that Canadians should be reading right now. We’ve assembled three of our Canadian book lovers to…
Book Beat: Muslim Ban Lit & Canada Reads 2017
Hi book lovers! This week was hard in a multitude of ways, the Muslim Ban, the complete ignorance of the DAPL protests, and what they were for, added fuel to my fiery hate of Cheeto POTUS. So when I went to grab a book this weekend, I found myself turning to non-fiction, a genre I…
Starting Over: Canada Reads 2016
Launched in 2002, Canada Reads is an annual battle of the books hosted by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Each year five books are chosen, and five designated champions advocate for their title. A book is eliminated at the end of every day until there is only one left standing – the book every Canadian should…
Showdown In the North: This Year’s Canada Reads Contenders!
Every year the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has its Canada Reads debates where five Canadian panelists defend five titles chosen that year until one is declared victorious. It’s like a literary Hunger Games. It’s goal is to spotlight Canadian literature and past winners have been Joseph Boyden’s The Orenda, Lisa Moore’s February, Lawrence Hill’s The…
Canada Reads: In Defence of Saleema Nawaz’s Bone & Bread
Bone & Bread was first published in 2012, but four years later it still feels timely. It opens with Beena coping with the death of her younger sister, Sadhana, but as it goes on it tells the story of their lives, from when they were children to when Beena’s own child is getting ready to…
Canada Reads: In Defence of Birdie by Tracey Lindberg
This year the theme of Canada Reads is “starting over.” Some of our writers decided to join in and defend some of the short-listed titles, including Tracey Lindberg’s Birdie. Tracey Lindberg introduces Birdie and her story to readers not in a prologue, nor on page one of chapter one, but instead in her dedication. We read…
Canada Reads: In Defence of Lawrence Hill’s The Illegal
This year the theme of Canada Reads is “starting over.” Some of our writers decided to join in and defend some of the short-listed titles. My siblings are second generation Canadians, but I, along with my parents, am first generation. My father came ahead of us to set up, while little me (at a year-and-a-half) and my mother…
Breaking Down Canada Reads’ 2015 Barrier Breaking Debate
Update: Ru by Kim Thúy has won Canada Reads 2015. Congratulations to the author and the book’s defender, Cameron Bailey. I, like the panelists, must preface this by saying that all five books featured on Canada Reads 2015 belong on the show. That’s not up for debate. What’s up…
Canada Reads: And The Birds Rained Down
This year the theme of Canada Reads is “What is the one book to break barriers?” Some of our writers decided to join in and defend some of the short listed titles. And The Birds Rained Down Jocelyne Saucier Translated by Rhonda Mullins Coach House Books
Canada Reads: A Persistent Memory, In Defense of Ru by Kim Thuy
This year the theme of Canada Reads is “What is the one book to break barriers?” Some of our writers decided to join in and defend some of the short listed titles. Ru Kim Thuy Random House Canada “When I left this country 18 years ago, I didn’t know how strangely departure would obliterate return:…