What are you doing next April? December 13, 2005
The Canada Reads list has been announced. It’s not going to to be until next April, but that gives us all enough time to read the books, doesn’t it?
Deafening - Francis Itani (defended by Maureen McTeer, aka Joe Clark’s wife)
Cocksure - Mordecai Richler (defended by Scott Thompson, former Kid in the Hall)
Three Day Road - Josesh Boyden (defended by Nelofer Pazira, star of Kandahar)
Rooms for Rent in the Outer Planets: Selected Poems, 1962-1996 - Al Purdy (defended by Susan Musgrave, author and poet)
A Complicated Kindness - Miriam Toews (defended by John K. Samson, of the band The Weakerthans)
Happily, this is the first year I’ve read more than one book on the list, Complicated Kindness and Three Day Road, which were both very good. I recieved Deafening last Christmas, so I can read that one, too. I’m not much of a poetry fan, but one of my English teachers back in high school was a huge Purdy fan, so maybe I’ll give it a try.
If you would recommend a book for the Canada Reads program, what would it be? The only criteria is that it has to be Canadian.
I recently read “A Complicated Kindness”. It had its moments, but its style bored me after awhile. It was amusing and interesting for the first third, then I started not to care.
I have a 2 foot stack of books I’ve read beside my computer as a reminder to post about them on my site. I think I need an excuse, like your entry.
I finsihed Clara Callan a month or so ago, and that was brilliant. Memorable, sad, funny… I’m want to read all his work now.
In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje … except that one was already selected a few years ago (by Steven Page of BNL if I’m not mistaken) and it won.
Another good book: Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels really surprised me - a beautiful, simple and very moving book.
Happiness (TM) by Will Ferguson is entertaining and a book I recommend to nearly everyone, but oddly enough, not a book I would suggest for Canada Reads. La Guerre, Yes Sir by Roch Carrier was good, though not accessible to everyone. (Though that doesn’t seem to be a key Canada Reads criteria - witness the Hubert Aquin Prochain Episode win a few years ago.
If we’re going to go into poetry, then anything by George Elliott Clarke should be in the running, though my top pick would be Whylah Falls.
And please, keep the David Adams Richards hubbub to a minimum. Thanks.
Maybe I should set up a website with book reviews - I love this kind of thing! (natch)
Julie - Whylah Falls was also a contender in the first season, but it did okay, I think. I wasn’t as fond of Happiness ™ as you hoped I’d be, and I’m going to hold onto it and see if I like it anymore in a year or two.
Jody - Now I really want to read Clara Callan! Have you seen that he’s got a new book coming out soon? (Or is it out already?)
Clara Callan was excellent — and his new book is out. Adultery.
I’d recommend Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson, Sylvanus Now by Donna Morrissey, and The Stone Carvers by Jane Urquhart.
Each one would be an excellent Canada Reads selection.
Rebecca, I don’t think you’ll like Clara Callan as much as you think you will. I found it dragged by the end. The rest of it was good, but the ending was too slow..
And also, to respond to a past post, I can’t believe that you like Keanu Reeves. His deadpan delivery is because he’s monotone and a horrible actor. Jeesh.
rachelle
Okay, I know I’m responding to an old post. But I’m interested in your thoughts on Deafening (if you’ve finished it). I’m currently blogging about this book (and some of the other Canada Reads books). If you want to check out my site it’s http://www.bookmineset.blogspot.com
Hi John - actually, I haven’t started reading it yet. I might save it for my March book club, which gives us enough time to read it before Canada Reads. But I am interested in your analysis of the book.