Canada Reads 2022 Contenders

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Canada Reads 2022 Contenders

1LynnB
tammikuu 26, 2022, 11:33 am

https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/meet-the-canada-reads-2022-contenders-1.632...

The champions and their chosen books are:

Ojibway author and Vogue fashion writer Christian Allaire champions Five Little Indians by Michelle Good
Actor and activist Malia Baker champions Scarborough by Catherine Hernandez
Entrepreneur and former Syrian refugee Tareq Hadhad champions What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad
Forest ecologist and author Suzanne Simard champions Life In the City of Dirty Water by Clayton Thomas-Müller
Olympian and LGBTQ2+ advocate Mark Tewksbury champions Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

The debates will take place March 28-31, 2022.

2Yells
tammikuu 26, 2022, 12:14 pm

Only two to read before the debate! That NEVER happens. I have a few of the longlisted books out from the library and will try to get to them shortly. Should be an interesting one this year!

3torontoc
tammikuu 27, 2022, 4:28 pm

I saw the film that was based on Scarborough- it was very good!

4gypsysmom
tammikuu 30, 2022, 3:14 pm

I have actually read two of these: What Strange Paradise because it won the Giller last year
and Washington Black because it won the Giller in 2018 (and it's by Esi Edugyan who is amazing).

I am definitely reading Five Little Indians before the debates. I've been meaning to read it for some time now so this has spurred me on. There are tons of holds on the library copy but a friend has a copy she is willing to lend me so I don't have to try to buy one. I would also like to read Life in the City of Dirty Water before the debates but it will depend whether my library hold will come through.

5Nickelini
helmikuu 18, 2022, 1:19 am

I won't get to any of these before the big show, but I rather like going in without a horse in the race

6Dorothy2012
helmikuu 26, 2022, 2:52 pm

I just finished reading the 5th of the 5 Canada Reads Shortlist books. They were quite diverse in writing styles, and my reactions to them. Here are my ranked preferences:
#1 - Five Little Indians - beautifully told, well-written, and very engaging characters that I was still thinking about after the book was done.
#2 - What Strange Paradise - I was so engaged in the story of the little boy that I read it in one sitting! Well-written, and even though it alternated present and past, it was done so well that I was never lost.
#3 - Scarborough - I had to abandon this book after Part 1. It is very strong and, for me, very triggering. I am told things end well and it is a hopeful story.
#4 - Washington Black - I know this is a Giller Finalist, but I'm not sure I see what the fuss is about. It is well written, and beautifully descriptive of the environments he finds himself in. I found the ending very odd and abrupt.
#5 - Life in the City of Dirty Water - this is the only non-fiction, and it is an autobiography/memoir. While the topic was of great interest, I felt the style of presentation really didn't do it justice. Some facts were repeated several times, other times, there were great gaps in information that I was keen to know more about. Not my cup of tea, I guess.

Now I am going to skim-read-cull some of my own books from my shelves since the libraries are opening up for donations again!

Happy reading!

7LibraryCin
helmikuu 26, 2022, 3:19 pm

>5 Nickelini: I do, too. I won't necessarily read them all, either. I will decide based on what I hear about each of them during the debates.

8vancouverdeb
maaliskuu 2, 2022, 7:38 pm

I had already read Five Little Indians and Washington Black and I enjoyed them both and recommend them. I'm rooting for Five Little Indians since it is so Canadian in content.

9LynnB
maaliskuu 18, 2022, 8:25 am

I'm reading all five contenders before the debates start. I had read Five Little Indians and Washington Black already. Now, I'm reading Life in the City of Dirty Water by Clayton Thomas-Muller.

10Yells
maaliskuu 18, 2022, 10:05 am

>9 LynnB: I've read all but Life in the City of Dirty Water. I was on hold at the library but it doesn't look like I will get a copy before the debates so I broke down and bought a copy. I always mean to have them read in advance and this year I might succeed!

>8 vancouverdeb: Five Little Indians is my pick as well, at least so far.

11LynnB
maaliskuu 21, 2022, 1:31 pm

Just finished Life in the City of Dirty Water. It's interesting but I still think Five Little Indians will win. I've got two left to read, so I might change my mind.

Next up: What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad.

12Yells
maaliskuu 21, 2022, 2:04 pm

>11 LynnB: I just finished that one too. I liked it, but I think it could use a good editor. Five Little Indians is still my fave as well.

13LynnB
maaliskuu 27, 2022, 11:35 am

I've read all five now, and What Strange Paradise is my favourite. I still think Five Little Indians will win.

14gypsysmom
maaliskuu 27, 2022, 4:14 pm

I've read Five Little Indians, What Strange Paradise and Washington Black and I am listening to Life in the City of Dirty Water and reading Scarborough. Given that the theme this year is One Book to Connect Us I think it will be between Five Little Indians and Scarborough. I think both What Strange Paradise and Washington Black are excellent books but I don't think their stories are ones that connect Canadians. However, the themes of residential school abuse and poverty are both something we hear about over and over. As much as I would like Life in the City of Dirty Water to win since the author is from Manitoba, I'm not finding it particularly compelling.