Canada Reads 2013: Turf Wars

This year's edition of Canada Reads kicked off yesterday and, though I missed the live broadcast, I watched the video online and was very impressed.

 

For one, I found the debate to be much more intelligent and respectful than last year. All the opening statements were thoughtful and compelling and only one panelist attacked the other books right away.

Besides the perennial "Why should all Canadians read this book?" question, Jian asked the panelists to discuss the prose of each book. The overwhelming majority seemed to take issue with The Age of Hope (but mostly because of Hope's characterization which should be a separate question from prose, in my opinion) but Two Solitudes and Away also caught flack for being inaccesible.

February and Indian Horse received the least criticism and (after watching the book trailers) they are my picks to get to the finals.

All in all, the Canada Reads program has already succeeded: I bought the e-book edition of Indian Horse as soon as the video was over.

Have you read these titles? Who are you rooting for?

Les Misérables de Victor Hugo

Last year I wished I read more books in French and Spanish so this year I challenged myself to read Les Misérables in the original French.

I started this week and have already learned a lot. For example, it is easier for me to read French out loud than to myself. I think this is because I learned as a spoken language--my parents spoke it at home, I watched French TV, and listened to French radio. So reading and writing French does not come as naturally to me even though I was born in Montreal.

I gave myself a year for this challenge and judging by the length of this book (it came as five ebooks!) I'll need it. I'll post my updates on Twitter using the hashtag #jelisLesMis. Follow along!

My Top 12 Books of 2012

Some of these books have been featured on my previous best of lists but I have no qualms mentioning them again. That’s how much I loved them!

The Headmaster’s Wager by Vincent Lam

I think it’s the beautiful prose of this book that has stayed with me. I look forward to reading more of Lam’s work.

We Are in a Book by Mo Willems

I shouldn’t have to convince anyone of how awesome Mo Willems’s books are. A professor in my publishing program introduced me to Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus but Elephant and Piggie are still my favorite. 

 

Salsa Nocturna by Daniel José Older

That awesome moment when your friend’s book is actually fantastic and you don’t have to hurt his feelings with a lukewarm review! If you’re in the New York area, be sure to go to Daniel’s readings featuring music from his band, Ghost Star.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

I’ve read this book 3 times now. I bawl every single time. And now it’s a New York Times bestseller!

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Cathrynne M. Valente

Love love love this book. Valente’s world reminds me of Wonderland and Oz without the scary elements. Though there are plenty of dangers in Fairyland, September is brave enough to face them. It is an incredibly rich middle-grade novel that I would definitely read with my (hypothetical) children. I want to read the sequel but my compulsions demand I wait for the paperback edition. 

I am Number Four series by Pittacus Lore

I love this series so hard, y’all. I burned through The Power of Six and The Rise of Nine in less than 48 hours. What blows me away is the lack of pretention in the characters. Although these teenagers are in larger than life situations, their personalities are completely relatable. Each character has his or her own voice. I don’t like all of them but I understand all their motivations.  Combine that with a high-stakes interplanetary war and you’ve got one hell of a series. I can’t wait for the next book. 

Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel

I had just finished This Dark Endeavour (which I found a bit overrated) when I picked up this book so I didn’t expect much. Boy, was I wrong. This book feels both contemporary and historical and is full of heart. I highly recommend it.

Persuasion by Arlene Dickinson

This will be a lifelong reference book for me. It is exactly the type of book you’d expect Arlene Dickinson to write. All her advice is based in honesty and integrity. I radically changed the way I prepare for interviews after reading this book and I immediately suggested it to a friend who was preparing advertising pitches. This may be a business book but it’s great for everyone. 

Pivot Point by Kasie West

I was surprised by how much I liked this book. The sci-fi-esque plot summary turned me off initially but I was drawn in by the very real situations. The characters’ enhanced mind powers enhanced rather than detracted from the emotion rollercoaster of the book. Look for this book in store February 2013!

Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson

I don’t like thrillers but this one really drew me in. It started as one woman’s struggle to discover her own past and turned into a gripping whodunit.

The Encyclopedia of Me by Karen Rivers

This book is so cute! I loved the encyclopedia format and Tink’s voice is precocious and hilarious. The book touches on serious topics with a simple honesty that readers will love.

Cold Magic by Kate Elliot

I read a description of this on Tumblr and immediately bought the ebook. I was blown away, y’all. I’ve always said that fantasy can and should include diverse characters but I’d never read any books that did. (Yes, I know. Octavia Butler’s books are on my to-read list.) The world-building deftly incorporates peoples from across Europe and Africa without making people of color seem like exotic tokens or magical negroes.  

Making Time to Read

Ninety percent of my work involves reading and assessing manuscripts, making me the luckiest person in the world. But after about a month of wading through the slush pile, I noticed I was only reading for work. When I asked experienced agents about this they confirmed that they rarely had time to read for fun.  I could not let this happen, especially not while participating in the 50 book pledge. I quickly took steps to solve the problem.

I got an e-reader

Or rather my friend got me one and thereby gifted me four extra reading hours per day. I have a very long commute so being able to get the bulk of my work reading done while in transit gives me more freedom to read whatever I want at home.

I put “read” at the top of my to-do list

Those who know me know that my to-do list rules my life. And now reading is at the top every day. I can justify this because 1) I cannot be a good editor/agent if I don’t read good books and 2) leisure is an important part of staying healthy and happy. Reading is one of my favorite forms of self-care so why deny myself?

I talk about books all the time

Most of the people I talk to regularly are also passionate about reading and books. It would be really hard to keep up with their conversations if all I read were manuscripts. Having a community of friends here, on Twitter, and in real life to discuss my thoughts with encourages me to read more so I’ll have thoughts to share! 

What do you do to make time to read?