CBC Radio Announces Canada Reads

Laura writes \”
CANADA READS is a new project of CBC Radio that will choose one book for the
nation to read together.


During the week of April 15th on CBC Radio, host Mary Walsh will lead five
panelists on a competitive quest. They are former prime minister Kim Campbell,
actor Megan Follows, musician Steven Page of the Barenaked Ladies and writers
Leon Rooke and Nalo Hopkinson. Each will defend their choice of one work of
Canadian fiction as the title all Canadians should read. Day by day they will
vote a book off the list until only one remains. The winning title will be
unveiled on April 23rd, Canada Book Day. That will be the book CANADA READS.

\”The one book idea comes from projects based in a single city,\” says senior
producer Peter Kavanagh. \”But this, as far as we know, is the first time it\’s
been tried for an entire country. Of course, the biggest question is the one we
can\’t answer yet: \’What\’s the book?\’ Well, there isn\’t a perfect book and
there isn\’t a perfect way to pick the right book, but we\’ve come up with a plan
that is fun, engaging and more than a little bit surprising.\”



The shortlist of books is:



The Handmaid\’s Tale by Margaret Atwood – chosen by Kim Campbell



Whylah Falls by George Elliott Clarke – chosen by Nalo Hopkinson


The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence – chosen by Leon Rooke



A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry – chosen by Megan Follows



In The Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje – chosen by Steven Page



CBC Radio will broadcast the panel discussion twice daily from April 15th to
19th. On Radio One, it will be heard during the first half-hour of THIS
MORNING, 9 a.m. (9:30 NT), and the last half-hour of AS IT HAPPENS, 7:30 p.m. (8
NT).



For more details, go to www.cbc.ca/canadareads. Special features of the Web site
include a \’People\’s Choice\’ vote and profiles of each book and author.
\”