CBC Booklist

[Barcey]

Twice a year the CBC Cross Canada Checkup radio show does a call in program on book recommendations. I enjoy listening to these and how passionate the people are about the books. I typically find one or two books that I've never heard of or that are in a genre that I normally wouldn't read.

This year the CBC had compiled a list of 100 books that should make you proud to be a Canadian.
http://www.cbc.ca/books/books100.html

... so the show was about what books should have been on the list. There are really some great books on the list and I don't know how many made it to other countries. I thought some on this forum might be interested.

Here's the link to the list and there's a link to a MP3 download of the program:
http://www.cbc.ca/checkup/book-lists...mer-book-list/

[JohnRR]

Thanks Barcey. Will download some samples to try them. Some of the titles interest me.

[ccowie]

I just went through the list. I'm not sure why exactly, but I always love these lists and love being critical of them. I've read all but 18 of the books listed and of those I likely will read 4 or 5 that I've wanted to.

Like always there are some books that I don't believe deserve to be on the list and a few missing that have truly made me proud to be Canadian. But, for the most part this is a really great list IMHO.

[issybird]

I think Robertson Davies is underrepresented with only one novel. And where's Donald Jack?

[ccowie]

Originally Posted by issybird

I think Robertson Davies is underrepresented with only one novel. And where's Donald Jack?

I agree. And it's always Fifth Business that makes the list; a good book, but not even my favourite Depthford novel. For me What's Bred in the Bone is the best of Davies.
Donald Jack never seems to make these lists. He'll need a Canada Reads nomination to bring him back into people's consciousness.

[Barcey]

Originally Posted by issybird

I think Robertson Davies is underrepresented with only one novel. And where's Donald Jack?

They apparently made a decision to only list one book per author and then had an internal debate on which book would best represent their work.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Barcey

They apparently made a decision to only list one book per author and then had an internal debate on which book would best represent their work.

That would have been fine, but Atwood and Boyden have two each - and I think Davies is at least as deserving as Atwood and even more so than Boyden.

[Barcey]

Originally Posted by issybird

That would have been fine, but Atwood and Boyden have two each - and I think Davies is at least as deserving as Atwood and even more so than Boyden.

Interesting, I didn't check. They had one of the people that developed the list on the radio program and I was going by what I recall her saying.

[rkomar]

Originally Posted by issybird

That would have been fine, but Atwood and Boyden have two each - and I think Davies is at least as deserving as Atwood and even more so than Boyden.

Hear, hear!

[Barcey]

Originally Posted by issybird

That would have been fine, but Atwood and Boyden have two each - and I think Davies is at least as deserving as Atwood and even more so than Boyden.

They asked Nick Mount (English Department UoT) who has fallen out of favour recently and he replied Robertson Davies. That shocked me but he went on to say that the current generation find his writing old fashioned and he wrote old fashioned even for his time. I loved his writing and it was because of that style. I guess the new generation doesn't agree.

[HomeInMyShoes]

I've only read eight, but my citizenship is under review.

There are lots of books and writers on my potential read list in this list, but I just never seem to get to them.

[elemenoP]

Interesting, there were lots of authors on there (even ones I've read) that I didn't know were Canadian. Thanks for sharing!

eP