Books(in140) & Other Things

So…some interesting things were said about the importance of place and the importance of Canadianness on the third Day of Canada Reads, but overall, things were relatively tame. Rollie took being eliminated like a champ, but after two days of getting slaughtered, he had time to prepare a graceful exit. The Jade Peony ducked any serious criticism for the second day in a row, Nikolski solidified its status as dark horse that could take it all, Good to a Fault had some harsh marks made at its expense and Fall on Your Knees lumbered along as the CanLit giant it is. Let’s see how they fared today.

Perdita Felicien and Fall on Your Knees: The double Os (Oprah and Olympian) didn’t make up much ground today, but it didn’t lose any. I think all the panelists liked the book, which is why it’s getting off easy these early rounds. I expect the David v. Goliath argument to come into play when it’s down to the final three and two, especially if it’s up against Nikolski.. This book scored points for having a strong sense of place, but Perdita’s argument that it best represented the sense of poverty all these books shared didn’t score any points. Score: +/- 0 (Rocky IV)

Simi Sara and Good to a Fault: Simi tried to make some arguments about the timelessness and placelessness of GTAF, but no panelists were biting. The anytime, anywhere, anyone sense this book offers just didn’t resonate when it had chaotic Montreal, exotic South America and (let’s face it) a better representation of the prairies to contend with–all in the same book. Throw in Choy’s Chinatown and McDonald’s craggy Cape Breton cliffs and GTAF was a goner from the second this question was asked. No hard punches were thrown at any one book today, but GTAF took more than its share of left hooks. Score: -5 (Rocky V)

Michel Vézina and Nikolski: Nikolski is trudging along and today’s topics–geography and identity–helped a lot. Everyone agreed Nikolski took you into the heart of Montreal, then ripped you out and sent you flying down the Albertan highways. The reluctance the panelists has for this book early on is waning and, if they aren’t fans, they at least respect what I’d argue is the most original book on this year’s panel. I’m not ready to call this a top two finisher yet (it depends on how the next few days go) but it’s looking good. Score: +2 (Rocky I)

Samantha Nutt andThe Jade Peony: The same dilemma that faced The Jade Peony yesterday faced it today: no seems to care. Flying under the radar will get you halfway, but it won’t carry you to the end (se: Amber Bkrich, Survivor: Australian Outback). You need to be in it to win it at any cost (see: Boston Rob, Survivor: All-Stars) or be universally adored (see: Ethan Zohn, Survivor: Africa). Rollie thew this book some love today, but if I were a betting gal, he’d keep 1980s Montreal over 1940s Vancouver Chinatown. Score: -2 (Rocky II)

Prediction: Good to a Fault will be KOed tomorrow. I’m sensing a Civilians Read redux, but we’ll see.

So, um, did anyone see that complete evisceration of Generation X coming? Anyone? ‘Cause I sure as hell didn’t. I don’t want the book to win, and, quite frankly, don’t think it belongs on the Canada Reads list, but I don’t think it deserves that much beating. Rolli was eloquent and gracious in this rapture, despite being clearly uncomfortable, but he didn’t put up much of a fight. If I was 80% sure it was going to be the first one out yesterday, I’m 100% sure now.

Let’s look at how it went down, shall we?

Perdita Felicien and Fall on Your Knees: This gal came out swinging. After bashing Gen X, Good to a Fault got quite the beating as well. Maybe my prediction won’t come true (aw, drat!). Perdita did a great job defending her book (and the other panelists seemed to enjoy it as well). This is a top two contender for sure, especially considering how quickly all the panelists shot down the “bestsellers shouldn’t be here argument” What may take it down is Perdita’s interesting take: she focused on the father/daughter relationships instead of the sisters’. These are interesting, definitely, but not necessarily the book’s strength. I don’t know if Perdita is enough of a heavyweight to carry this thread through to the end. Score: +10 (Front Runner)

Cadence Weapon and Gen X: Rollie is going down. His points are commendable and he’s very thoughtful. But in a tag team world when you’re the target, you need more fire in your fight. Plus, everyone hated it. Even if he dazzled, he’d still be a goner. Score: -10 (Death Watch)

Simi Sara and Good to a Fault: I was on your side, Simi, but you’re losing me. Positioning GTAF as a post-9/11 book is kind of strange. Maybe if this were an American competition, that angle would grab audiences better, but I just don’t see it. Am I missing something? Plus, there’s a million far more interesting things to say about GTAF than how messy life can be. I didn’t love this book, but it has layers and is fun to deconstruct. You didn’t peel the onion, Simi. Peel the fucking onion. You can do it and still say profound things about the state of the world. And while you suffered only minor injuries yesterday, you bled a little today. While I disagree with both Rolli and Perdita’s attacks on this book (Did we even read the same book?!) the fact they didn’t like it is a bad sign for you. Score: -5 (Open Wound)

Michel Vézina and Nikolski: That’s it, I’m in the Nikolski corner. Vézina spoke to the readers, toned down his language and picked two very interesting, very relevant themes: humanity and garbage. This is a smart move. The garbage aspect of Nikolski is cool and fairly accessible. Who hasn’t found someone else’s trash fascinating? This book took a bit of a beating yesterday, but seemed to take a back seat to the GTAF attack. My guess? Vézina’s approach is making the panelists rethink how they thought about the book, whereas Simi’s approach is just solidifying what they didn’t like about her book.That, or, it’s just more fun to talk about garbage. Score: +5 (Comeback Kid)

Samantha Nutt and The Jade Peony: The Jade Peony is going to do well. No one loves it, but no one hates it. And Samantha McNutt may love her adjectives, but she hits all the right buttons when it comes to defending her chosen title. She got heavy handed and preachy at times, but, hey, people eat that crap up. It made it through unscatched and right now, I’m calling a Peony/Knees showdown if the debates don’t take a sharp turn in a different direction. Score: +/- 0 (Holding Steady)

Prediction: Generation X is still outta here. But it’s now Fall on Your Knees‘ competition to lose.

Before the Canada Reads got underway this morning, I had my money on Good to a Fault. Journalists traditionally do well in the Canada Reads format–I think it’s simply having the experience of talking on the air–and Good to a Fault, thanks to it’s Giller nom last year–is familiar to many people without many of them actually having read it. My back-up choice? The Jade Peony. Samantha Nutt is articulate and used to fighting for a cause she believes in. Yes, The Jade Peony has heaps of accolades, but that was fifteen years ago. And again, I don’t think as many people had read it as they claim.

That leaves Generation X, Nikolski and Fall on Your Knees. Gen X doesn’t have a hope in hell. It’s a love it or hate it book that shouldn’t be on this list. And I doubt Cadence Weapon will come ready to battle. Perdita Felicien? I love the gal, but as an Olympian, her media experience is limited to the basic athlete sound bites we hear all Olympics-long. With the right panelist, Fall on Your Knees overcome the Oprah sticker, but I don’t think she’s it.

Then there’s Nikolski. It was by far my favorite read on this years’ Canada Reads list. I know I defended The Jade Peony. (Politics, I tell you. Politics.) Michel Vézina is a journalist, but I think the combination of lesser known pick with lesser known media personality (not to mention the language issue) is going to kill Nikolski early.

After listening to the first day, some of my predictions were right. Some were wrong. Here’s how they went down:

Simi Sara and Good to a Fault: Simi’s articulate, but her debate fell pretty flat. The “it’s a lesser known book” argument is not going to fly. You need to get behind the plot and characters a bit more if you want to raise GTAF up. Otherwise, I’m expected this to go third, after Nikolski and Generation X.

Samantha Nutt and The Jade Peony: While Samantha tugged at the national identity argument a bit too hard, she came out fighting and well-armed. I’m betting on a top two landing for this pair.

Perdita Felicien and Fall on Your Knees: This was the pair that surprised me the most. Perdita came out fighting and ready to win. I was especially concerned after her Canada Reads library showing a fews weeks ago, but she’s used her Olympain background to her advantage and came out fighting. A book I once thought was toast is looking like a top two selection. We’ll see how it holds up.

Cadence Weapon and Generation X: As a panelist, Cadence was fine. Not stellar, not terrible. What surprised me was how much the other panelists hated the book. It’s going down just for that. And soon.

Michel Vézina and Nikolski: Michel was the panelist that proved me most right: his arguments were great, but his accent is going to kill him. This, simply put, sucks, especially in a country that prides itself on being bilingual. Language issues aside, Vézina simply isn’t strong enough to overcome how much the rest of the panelists were resistant to Nikolski.

Prediction: Generation X is outta here.

Image via CBC Canada Reads website.

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I chatted with (then got jealous of) the folks at Invisible Publishing.

I profiled Ontario: Read It Here for Torontoist.

My conversation with the lovely Bronwyn Kienapple from A Certain Bent Appeal.

So Civilian Reads, the ripped-off inspired derivation of Canada Reads commenced today. I got stuck with had the pleasure of defending Wayson Choy’s The Jade Peony. Other panelists included ACP’s Sarah Labrie and Nic Boshart, Dundurn Press’s Ashleigh Gardner, and Natalie St. Pierre.

(You can listen to the first round of debates here. In the photo, I’m the one that looks the most like a fucking hipster. Although Nic Boshart is a pretty close second.)

There were highs and lows, good times and bad, but basically if you want to hear how inarticulate I am in real life (and how much Natalie St. Pierre deserves to be on the radio), then this is the competition for you! A podcast will air every day this week until the winner is revealed!

And, if you want to hear pros show us how it’s done, check out the real Canada Reads debates next week on CBC.

Photo by Geoff Thomlinson

I profiled the Keepin’ It Real Book Club blog for Torontoist.

I’m defending Wayson Choy’s The Jade Peony for Civilians Read. It may end in violence.