CanadianContent discussion

A place to discuss the long-list which we are all looking forward to soon!!!

Early morning. I thought this thread was because they announced long list! Must drink more coffee

Wishful thinking!!! Just getting prepared and hoping the list comes out soon!

Ok fine, I cracked. I emailed CBC Books today to ask when the long list will be out. I'll let you know if I hear back!

LOL!

That is awesome @Allison!!! we are all waiting eagerly.

Let the shopping begin!

Oh no!! It seems to get later and later every year, leaving very little time to get the shortlist read in time. Blah. Here's the response I got today:

Thank you for your message and your interest in Canada Reads! We are currently working towards a longlist announcement early in the new year. In the meantime, we've got lots of gift guides available at cbcbooks.ca and will be publishing our best book lists next week. But please do stay tuned to cbcbooks.ca in January for more on the 2018 Canada Reads contenders.

That is disappointing! I was googling that today. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the update, Allison.

Thanks as well Allison. Am not surprised at the response, and am happy they got back to you so quickly.

A late December announcement probably gets lost at this time of year. Everyone is so busy. It's also kind of a nice way to kick off the New Year and get a lot more attention from the press outside of CBC. The book lovers on this website are atypical of who Canada Reads is trying to reach. I believe they're trying to engage the general public, some of whom may read only 1-5 books a year. An announcement in early 2018 when everything slows down hopefully will attract more of the general public's attention.

As avid readers are we disappointed? Yes. :( But it seems to make a lot of strategic marketing sense. Hopefully, the overall audience following Canada reads on computers, on television etc. will increase. ;). Hopefully this will ensure its ongoing success and return each year.

Thanks again for watching out for the Canada Reads announcements.

@Mj well said
personally, I need the break!

I do like the announcement coming after the holidays (isn't it usually end of January?) but what I would like to see is more time in between the announcement of the short list, and the actual debates. Give us time to get the books and read them. 2 months minimum. 3 would be better.

As Allison mentioned, last year's long list was announced in December - specifically December 19th, so this year with a January long list announcement we will have even less time to read all 15 books before the short list announcement. There will likely be 2 months between the long list and the winner announcement but not much more.

I make a game of it for myself and find it fun to read the long list books that interest me and also specifically the books I "think" will make the top 5 short list hoping I have most covered before the short list announcement. That way chances are with dedicated reading and more importantly book availability I'm able to read the top 5 books in the final Canada Reads before the "real games begin" - literal emphasis on the "games" - recognizing it is marketing, competition, great defenders and pageantry rather than the best book that wins - book preferences being so diverse and personally specific. Whatever book wins, I think it's terrific that so many Canadians get engaged in reading Canadian books!! Let the games begin!!

I only read the CR short list, those that will debated on the show and that's because I want to follow the debates. The long list is a fairly new thing and really all it is is 15 random Canadian books. I personally don't think it's needed. It's not a literary prize where the books are put up by literary merit for that particular year.

I approach it like @MJ does. I use the long list to try to get a head start on the short list, so that I have more time per book between short list announcement and debates. Last year I got two right from the long list, meaning I could get all 5 read.

I picked absolutely the wrong books to read, and ended up questioning the theme and how loosely (and invisibly, in some cases, in my experience, the theme had been applied.

Natasha wrote: "I picked absolutely the wrong books to read, and ended up questioning the theme and how loosely (and invisibly, in some cases, in my experience, the theme had been applied."

Oh I agree -- the theme really has nothing to do with the debates. I don't know why they bother. I think that every year.

Allison wrote: "Natasha wrote: "I picked absolutely the wrong books to read, and ended up questioning the theme and how loosely (and invisibly, in some cases, in my experience, the theme had been applied."

Oh I a..."

It was so strange. Like others, I try and guess from the short list what will be on the long list. But for me, the success of the entire campaign rests on the debates. I hadn't chosen Nostalgiaas my favourite last year, but Humble the Poet won me over. And I remain thrilled that Company Town was so well defended.

So I will try again to pick, and perhaps I'll have some luck.

Ah I can't believe they are waiting until the new year to release it! I'm starting to get desperate for the long list! I'm usually terrible at picking (2/5 has been my best pick rate over the last 3 years, and one of those I had read long before the long list was released), but I love reading them while reflecting on the theme and formulating arguments in my head, then the short list is usually released right before my birthday, which is an awesome gift.

Sorry. Typos! Ugh. I meant I guess what's going to be on the short list from the long list. Some years are easier than others.

That would be a terrific gift Anne! I'm okay with the later release. I likely wouldn't have tackled any of the books before the new year anyway.

As some of you may recall, I hated Company Town and so what I'm most curious about now is how all those people all across Canada found it.
imo, The Break would have been a far better choice.

I was not a big fan of Company Town either and think The Break would have been the strongest candidate but I think of CR as a cross between book awards and a game show so anything can happen! Regardless of the results, the whole week is so much fun and I had such an amazing time at CR with @May, @Allison, @Kristin and @Kim - it was the highlight of my book year!!!

Magdelanye wrote: "As some of you may recall, I hated Company Town and so what I'm most curious about now is how all those people all across Canada found it.
imo, The Break would have been a far better choice."

I couldn't even finish Company Town. I think of Canada Reads as a platform for important books, books that Canadians should read and Company Town just didn't fit that bill.

I thought I would put in my two cents because I liked Company Town quite a bit. My particular take away from it was a warning about allowing the BIG Corporations take over government, and at the time I read it, this was becoming a real issue. I did not particularly like how the book ended, but I did think it had quite a few strengths. In general though, I am a fan of dystopia.
I don't try to tackle the Canada Reads long list, but usually will try and get all the five contenders read before the debate start.

I too liked Company Town. I have started to become a fan of dystopia.

I generally dont try to tackle the long list but just try to read those on the short list.

@Rainey and Heather
Hope you have been following last fridays spinecrackers where a discussion has evolved on this very subject.

Personally, I have been reading dystopian before it was an official sub-genre. Russell Hoban and the definitive Riddley Walker and Pilgerman, for starters. Engine Summer by John Crowley]You could even say I am a fan. So part of my extremely negative reaction is disappointment, because we need good books exploring these subjects and I so loved the character of Hui in the beginning.

It would have gone a lot better for me if it wernt for the unnecessary serial killer thread. I feel like it almost trivialized the issues.

One of the books given to me by my Secret Santa was a dystopia mystery The Eyre Affair.

Someone in my book club highly recommended Dominion - its on my massive TBR list.

For Christmas 2016 and 2017 the long list was out in time and the books were under my tree. One would think the authors would appreciate the list out in time for gift giving. My husband is very disappointed not to have his shopping made just a little easier. Hurry Canada Reads!!

Magdelanye wrote: "As some of you may recall, I hated Company Town and so what I'm most curious about now is how all those people all across Canada found it.
imo, The Break would have been a far better choice."

The Break is actually the CR shortlist book in a few years that I haven't read because I couldn't get my hands on it. Then it got voted off first and it kind of dropped off my TBR. I was an advocate for Nostalgia that year, but I really enjoyed Company Town too.

We have a date for the long list: January 8.

I don't suppose you know when the short list will be announced?

No. I'm only getting this date from an Instagram post.

https://instagram.com/p/Bc-IskcD96l/

It's on the CBC Books site now too, but no mention of a short list date.

http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/t...

Thanks for the update!

I'm quite disappointed and frustrated with the lack of organization that is coming from the Canada Reads program. I can't figure out why they are not posting dates for the short list and for the event. It almost seems like they are making this up as they go. They are definitely not leaving enough room for people to be able to read the long list which indicates there won't be enough time to read the short list. Considering that the goal is to get Canadians reading these books, they aren't making it easy for book stores and libraries to secure a supply of the books on such short notice or to arrange promotion. It has sort of dampened my enthusiasm for the program.

Anna wrote: "I'm quite disappointed and frustrated with the lack of organization that is coming from the Canada Reads program. I can't figure out why they are not posting dates for the short list and for the ev..."

I kinda feel that way every year... Why not get people buying books for Christmas from the longlist!?

Anyway, thanks, @Allison! Jan 8 -- I'll be in my new job and unable to look! AH! I knew this "outside the home" job business would get in the way of what really matters.... Ugh.

Anna wrote: "I'm quite disappointed and frustrated with the lack of organization that is coming from the Canada Reads program. I can't figure out why they are not posting dates for the short list and for the ev..."

I got that distinct impression last year, too.

I suspect the biggest issue is getting defenders and a host to commit and then getting all their schedules in synch so they can all attend the final week. In addition, all confirmed defenders have to commit to a final book to defend before the short list can be announced.

I think there's more to it than meets the eye and It might be less of a case of disorganization that getting well-known people who would do well in the debates the way they're structured to sign on and get all their schedules sorted out. Last year they tried in off-site defender and it didn't seem to work so well on camera and another defender dropped out at the last minute. It would have been tough if even more dropped out. I think CBC organizers sort of have their hands tied and I don't think it's as easy as it looks.

Mj wrote: "I suspect the biggest issue is getting defenders and a host to commit and then getting all their schedules in synch so they can all attend the final week. In addition, all confirmed defenders have ..."

No doubt you are right, MJ.

@ Natasha thanks - Fyi, just so you know, I didn't want to be right. I was just feeling some empathy for the CBC Canada Reads' organizers and the difficult challenges they must face with avid readers and fans. Fortunately, for them our group members are a small minority of the Canada Reads' following. Most occasional Canadian readers probably are pretty impressed with how everything happens. It's all in the eye of the beholder and their expectations, I guess. :-)

Mj wrote: "@ Natasha thanks - Fyi, just so you know, I didn't want to be right. I was just feeling some empathy for the CBC Canada Reads' organizers and the difficult challenges they must face with avid reade..."

I understand completely, MJ. I don't know anyone in my "I see in person" life who is disappointed the longlist won't come out until January 8th. Lol. We are definitely not their normal audience.

Will we find out who the defenders are in addition to the long list next week?

Usually that comes with the shortlist, but who knows!? The schedule is different this year!

I wasn’t sure how it’s normally done. I’m just as excited about the defenders as the books!

@ Allison - just one more sleep!!! Do you expect to get much shut-eye on the eve of the big announcement? Or is it like sleeping the night before Santa comes? Hope you get to fnd out everything first hand with your new job. Enjoy!!!

I was just thinking about it, @MJ! I'm excited to be in my new job, but very disappointed that it means I likely won't know what books are on the longlist until the end of a work day! I may try to sneak onto my phone during a break to see if I can find out.

@ Allison - you might find the info on facebook or instagram before work starts!! I've got my fingers crossed that you get to hear or read the announcement first hand. You've been such a huge and loyal fan...you deserve it!!

I'll be peeking! Hope you get the chance to as well Allison.