CBC Canada Reads 2007

Here are the selections and the defenders for the 2007 Canada Reads Debate, which will be held Feb. 26 to March 2 (2007) at 11:30 am and 7:30 pm on CBC Radio.

Below is the basic info about books, authors and defenders. This is always a fun and informative program and many of the selections have gone on to win or be nominated for other major literary prizes. If you can get CBC Radio where you live, these debates are always enjoyable and entertaining.

Children of my Heart by Gabriel Roy will be defended by Denise Bombardier (journalist and author)
Natasha and Other Stories by David Bezmozgis will be defended by Steven Page (singer/songwriter from the group Barenaked Ladies)
Stanley Park by Timothy Taylor will be defended by Jim Cuddy (singer/songwriter from the band Blue Rodeo)
The Song of Kahunsha by Anosh Irani will be defended by Donna Morrisey (author)
Lullabies for Little Criminals: A Novel P.S. by Heather O'Neill will be defended by John Samson (singer/songwriter/poet)

More details can be found at:
http://www.cbc.ca/canadareads/index.html

edited to correct the error with Jim Cuddy and Steven Page. I had the name of their groups reversed - sorry everyone!! Thanks for pointing this out sqdancer

The only one that I've read is Children of My Heart. I guess I'll have to get going on reading the others.

I've read them all and my hands-down favourite is "Song of Kahunsha".

Thanks for starting this strand and message board, Connie. I haven't participated in or listened to Canada Reads since I last lived in a big Canadian city and so could turn on the radio while driving. I'm putting Jim Cuddy's selection, Stanley Park, on top of my list of books to order. Now I'll check if I can catch some of the program through the CBC Radio website. -Christine

Well, I'm afraid that I've missed any discussions that have happened so far. I need to do the same thing and listen to the broadcasts online. Ordinarily, I follow the radio in my car. But I haven't been in my car when the broadcast is on. I don't know if they record the broadcasts so you can hear them later, but I need to go there right now and find out. I forgot about listening online and thought I was out of luck. I'll let you know what I find out.

I've listened to the first two debates, and they have yet to vote a book back to the shelf! While I appreciate that this gives a little more time to consider the merits of each book, it is detracting from the excitement.

And the winner is: Lullabies for Little Criminals. Should have been Song of Kahunsha which was voted off for not being set in Canada! I enjoyed the debates as always.

Thanks Lynn,
I only caught a very small part of one discussion after being an avid follower in previous years. They were discussing whether a volume of short stories should qualify or some such conversation. I'm sorry I missed out because the discussions always made me aware of details and themes in the chosen books that I had never considered. There are so many ways to experience and interpret literature, that we can all learn so much from discussing these works with one another. In another vein, I'm always surprised and impressed with a few people that I snobbishly dismissed as "literary lightweights". We owe it to ourselves to have the cobwebs blown out of our brains once in a while. At least I do!! I'm so sorry I missed the whole thing. Shoot!!

Dear Warbrideslass: you can still listen to the debates on line. Go to cbc.ca and follow the links.