Canada Reads 2014 virtual book club

Once again, the Canada Reads web site gives you everything you’re going to need to know about the recently announced finalist books for Canada Reads 2014, the book defenders, what everyone else thinks about the books and the debaters and what their strategies should be … all ramping up to the actual debates, which will take place in early March, 2014. (The debates are scheduled a little later this year because of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, which run from February 7th to 23rd, 2014.)

Between now and March, many of us will be enthusiastically reading and re-reading these fine books in preparation for some lively, heated and surprising discussions. To help everyone get up to speed on the books, we’re offering again a compendium of reviews and articles. (Please note that while most are positive, some are critical and perhaps even provocative. The idea here is to share how others have reacted to the finalist books, in whatever fashion, as long as it’s thoughtfully expressed.) If you have or know of any pieces that should be part of this collection, contact me via @bookgaga or add a comment below to get the relevant link added. Thanks!

Canada Reads Twitter book club

On November 28, 2013, last year’s champion Canada Reads defender Trent McClellan (@Trent_McClellan) will kick off the discussions with a #canlit Twitter chat. CBC Books will host additional weekly Twitter chat to discuss each of the Canada Reads finalist books in the new year.

 

The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood

The Year of the Flood

by Margaret Atwood (@MargaretAtwood)

(McClelland & Stewart)

championed by Stephen Lewis

Reviews and articles:

 

The Orenda by Joseph Boyden

The Orenda

by Joseph Boyden (@JosephBoyden)

(Hamish Hamilton Canada)

championed by Wab Kinew (@WabKinew)

Reviews and articles:

 

Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan

Half-Blood Blues

by Esi Edugyan

(Thomas Allen Publishers)

championed by Donovan Bailey (@DonovanBailey)

Reviews and articles:

 

Cockroach by Rawi Hage

Cockroach

by Rawi Hage

(House of Anansi Press)

championed by Samantha Bee (@iamsambee)

Reviews and articles:

 

Annabel by Kathleen Winter

Annabel

by Kathleen Winter (@supremetronic)

(House of Anansi Press)

championed by Sarah Gadon (@SarahGadon)

Reviews and articles:

8 thoughts on “Canada Reads 2014 virtual book club

  1. Pingback: Canada Reads – how I’m approaching it in 2014 | bookgaga

  2. Vicki Thomas

    Thanks so much for including me on your list of reviewers of Annabel. Such a tremendous novel. I’m slowly but surely making my way through the Canada Reads Top 40 list.
    I did start reading The Orenda but had to put it down – I’ll be giving it a complete read when I get to it. I’m very much looking forward to reading Cockroach and to rereading The Year of the Flood. Admittedly Half Blood Blues is not a book I would normally choose to read, but thanks to my decision to read all the novels on the Top 40 list, I’ll be reading it.
    I’ll have to get my reading done before the Olympics since I have a tendency to become glued to televisions and monitors during the Olympics…

    cheers,
    vicki

    Reply
  3. Shirley

    I am wondering if there are any reviews of The Orenda written by First Nations reviewers? I have seen a few negative comments about the book on Twitter by members of the First Nations community . e.g @redindiangirl and would like to hear about the book from their perspective.

    Reply
    1. Vicki Ziegler

      I’ve found one such review (from @redindiangirl, as you suggested) and invite and will be on the lookout for others.

      Reply
  4. Steph

    Thanks for including my review for Half-Blood Blues! Boy, do I love that book. I look forward to following the debates and participating if I can. I also very much enjoyed Annabel, but have to reread The Flood. I don’t have The Orenda or Cockroach yet. (I thought I had bought Cockroach a while ago but I must’ve just dreamed it or something!!)

    Steph

    Reply

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