Wow. The vote, initially, was shocking. But after mulling over it for a few hours, it isn’t. Fall on Your Knees went down in a 2-1-1-1 vote, with all the remaining books racking up one vote each. While FOYK hasn’t received any major hits over the past three days, let’s look at the facts: it was an Oprah book. Everyone liked it. How do you beat a universally loved book? Beat it down early. My guess? The two panelists who voted for it–Simi and Michel–voted strategically. I’m surprised Samantha McNutt swapped her FOYK vote for Nikolski today, but maybe she though no one else wanted to slay the giant. I, like Rollie, was surprised he was the only one to vote for Good to a Fault. I’d peg that book as the next one to go, but it got a lot of love from Nutt. It’s a toss up between that and The Jade Peony for the next victim.

Anyway, with FOYK out of the running, let’s see how today played down:

Simi Sara and Good to a Fault: GTAF picked up steam today, with Samantha pointing out how it changes your perceptions as you read it. She’s right. I felt a little guilty after the plot turned itself on it’s head. However, Perdita and Rollie aren’t fans. I think they’ve developed a begrudging respect for it over the past few debates. But in the end, it’s not going to win. There isn’t enough love. Score: +/-0 (Butterscotch Chip)

Michel Vézina and Nikolski: So, where did this come from? Nikolski is becoming the book to beat. Vézina’s defense is spot on and intruguing. His comparison of the book’s polyphonic to contemporary society was interesting as well as eye-opening. And Rollie is clearly and out-and-out Nikolski supporter. However, Vézina’s fighting tactics–anyone else hear the line “You should be able to read”?–might not win him any friends in a pool that looks to be a strategic one. Score: +5 (Chocolate Chip)

Samantha Nutt and The Jade Peony: Samantha Nutt is boring. The Jade Peony (while a decent book) is boring. Nutt is sitting idlely aside, and as a result, is making friends or enemies. Her admission of this strategy today probably weakened her case, but, frankly, I don’t care. I liked this book better than GTAF, but GTAF inspires conversation. Id these panels are any indication of the way the Canada Reads conversations are going to go down once the final vote is tallied, I don’t want The Jade Peony to be the book everyone is talking about. Besides, today’s conversation about what makes a family positioned GTAF and Nikolski as much more interesting reads. Score: -5 (Rainbow Chip–who likes that shit?)

So, Simi gets props for being the most disappointing panelist, Vézina gets props for being the most original, Nutt gets props for being the quietest and Perdita gets props for being the feistiest. This surprises me and not at all how I expected the panel to play out. That being said, I want Nikolski to win now. The book is the most original and interesting read on the panel and Vézina is doing a hell of a job defending it.

Prediction: The Jade Peony loses out. GTAF is less liked, but the panelists actually want to talk about it.

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.