CanadianContent discussion

A place to share in the excitement of the 2017 Giller announcements and discussion of the nominated books. :)

As mentioned in another thread-Kathleen Winter also has a book coming out, maybe she will make the list. Michael Redhill is another one that just popped into my head.

I have a slightly embarrassing confession (but probably not that embarrassing in this group). I am overdue for a family visit to Toronto and when trying to pick a weekend in September, the Giller noms popped into my head and then I looked up the date and picked the weekend after they're announced. It's random what I can and cannot source south of the border, and some Giller years are better than others, but this way I can buy Giller noms on my visit.

Also, I had no idea Michael Redhill has a new book coming out. Thank you, Alan!!

Susan-sounds perfectly logical for a Canadian book lover. Let's hope this year's crop is a great one.

@Alan - it is so nice to read your predictions and know that so many of these authors are coming to Grimsby this year!!

@Susan - not embarrassing at all. It makes perfect sense to plan visits around reading!!

To you both, I have not read Redhill but maybe I need to learn more about him as he is one that is coming to Grimsby.

I had to look Redhill up because there are so many Michaels that
I can't keep track of which is which or whom is who....I did read
Redhill's Martin Sloane which was very beloved and I just found it
very tedious. But I don't know his other work and I know he's very much beloved.

Susan I think I remember you came down for the Giller reading
last year with Alison-am I correct?

Wasn't me, Alan. Maybe May??

It was May who invited me to join her and we had an awesome day!!

Ok-Allison it was you and Susan who came to town to go to the
Penguin store right? Speaking of which-Susan you never reported back-I want to head out there if they have great swag.

Tonight I'm hoping to start my first Giller long list prediction-Barbara Gowdy's newest book (I have no memory of the title).
I've read two Gowdy books in the past and I really found her to be incredibly over-rated, and this one has weird things like levitation so I'm not sure its my thing-but I have to start somewhere.

@Alan, Susan, Allison and I were at the Penguin Store at the finale of Canada Reads and my opinion is the store was very small and the swag very limited.

And expensive!

Ok thanks!

@ Alan - Which Gowdy have you read? I really liked The Romantic Falling Angels and Mister Sandman but could not finish The White Bone

Little Sister is her new one that I have not read it yet.

I really didn't like the Romantic and the one after that about the
child abduction I didn't care for either. I have a hundred pages left in Little Sister and will report on it tomorrow during the weekly reading round-up. I've wanted to read Mister Sandman for a long time now.

Last night I was going over the Giller's Crazy for canlit section, which I imagine we will get the latest version in the next two
weeks. It's fascinating to see which titles have become part of the public consciousness and how many titles which look really interesting have just disappeared. I was also surprised by how many titles turned out to be Canadian-I had heard of these books over the years or seen them in book stores, but I never knew the authors were Canadian. And it is always wonderful to see the covers of the new titles. So much Canadian literature being published and so much of it falls to the wayside.

@Alan - I have never looked at the Giller's Crazy for CanLit section. Wow!!! There sure are a lot of books/authors that I have never heard of!

Thanks for the resource Alan. I love lists like that.

If you like that you may want to also check out the ggs books received,it goes back sixteen years and includes books in translation, children,etc. It's a massive repository of so much published and unfortunately forgotten/neglected Canadian work.

I was reading the rules for submission to the giller prize this year,they said they had to change them because too many titles were being submitted. But the new rules seem so strange. If I read it correctly,the amount of titles a publisher can submit is based on the number of nominations said house received in the past. This doesn't strike me as being the most democratic. We all know how well biblioasis did last year or the year before,and when the sentimentalist won several years ago it came from a very tiny house. How are the small presses supposed to compete with the giants like Harper Collins or random house,whomever.

Here it is - the 2017 longlist!

Brother
Transit
The Bone Mother
We'll All Be Burnt in Our Beds Some Night: A Novel
Boundary: The Last Summer
Tumbleweed
Minds of Winter
Next Year, for Sure
Bellevue Square
Son of a Trickster
The Dark and Other Love Stories
I Am a Truck

http://www.scotiabankgillerprize.ca/2...

Ooooo! Thanks, @Allison!!!

I have read only one: Minds of Winter (liked it, but not sure it is Giller-worthy??) and I own Son of a Trickster, so should try to get to that, I guess!

I LOVE Rachel Cusk and am super excited to get my hands on Transit, so I'm going to maybe even go out and buy that new now, something I try hard not to do! Brother in intrigues me too.

I own Bellevue Square and Next Year, for Sure, but they are still part of my daunting unread book pile.

As usual, I've not even heard of many of the books on the long list and I've read none. I was planning to buy Bellevue Square when I'm in Toronto next weekend, so I'm happy to see that on the list.

My library system (shockingly) has about half of the long list (go, Canlit in the USA!). I'm going to start with Next Year, for Sure, since that was already on my TBR after hearing the author on The Next Chapter. I also ordered a copy of Boundary: The Last Summer from an Amazon seller for $1. :-)

I am totally flumuxed by the list-no Heather McNeill? I just
don't get it. I did guess Brother would be on the list and I think it might win, and I did suspect the Eden Robinson would be on the list, but no Kathleen Winter, no Barbara Gowdy, very strange.
And I was really worried that they would include Rachel Cusk. I did like her other novel but she's not Canadian and I think it really stinks that she keeps getting nominated. Certainly someone who has lived here most of their life deserves a nomination. That is such a wasted entry as far as I'm concerned.
I'm not familiar with almost all of the books so I will have to seek them out now. Yikes!

@Alan, I remember thinking that about Rachel Cusk last time she was nominated. I still loved her writing very much, but she does have a controversy in that she really only owns the passport.

But them's the rules, weirdly! I remember the discussion from last time about her -- was it 2016? 2015?

And yes! No Heather O'Neill! Total shocker, I agree!

An interesting article in the Globe and Mail that speaks to the the reduced submission rules introduced this year:

https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/arts...

In this breakout article of the long list in MacLeans. it shows that Indie Publishers make up 5 of the 12 books long listed this year.

http://www.macleans.ca/culture/the-20...

I have Bellevue Square, Brother, and Son of a Trickster, although I've only read the latter so far. Looking forward to checking out the others and seeing what appeals as well.

Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺ wrote: "Here it is - the 2017 longlist!

Brother
Transit
The Bone Mother
We'll All Be Burnt in Our Beds Some Night: A Novel
[book:Boundary: T..."

Thanks Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺

Wow, thanks for the article. I can't say I am liking those new rules at all. There is something great about finding a lesser known author or a great small publisher. Big name authors and publishers don't need nearly the press to get people to buy. Well, disheartened about the new rules but still curious to look into the contenders. I am excited I won Brother in a giveaway and I enjoyed Son of a Trickster but lots to learn about he rest!

I didn't realize the long list was being announced in St. John's until this morning. It was at The Rooms, which is about a stone's throw from my office building.

I do have Transit on hold at the library. While I like Eden Robinson I haven't really liked what I've heard about her latest novel so I was going to skip it. I'll only read it if it makes the short list. And I always read all of Josip Novakovich's books because I used to date him. I don't really know any of the other writers. I wish the announcement gave a blurb on each book instead of an excerpt.

Interesingly, Josip Novakovich is described as a Croatian-American writer in his bio. He must have some Canadian connection to make him a contender for the Giller, beyond his place of work (Concordia), doesn't he?

Louise-that is too much that you used to date Josip-wow six degrees of Canadian separation! I just picked up his book from the library. I've heard a lot about him but never read him so I'm really looking forward to this collection.
Allison-yes we have discussed the Rachel Cusk issue, I'm pretty sure two years ago. I actually, surprisingly liked that earlier book that was nominated back then, it really isn't the type of thing I would normally have patience for , but I found it very endearing. I still stick to my guns though and as I'm hoping to read eventually everything on the long list-I will read her entry last.
Canadians go to the front of the line please! I never understand why this country has this idea that if you ate a sandwich in a Canadian airport at some point in your life-that qualifies you for our literary prizes. I remember the woman who won the GG several years ago lived in Canada for about one year and spent her entire life in New Zealand, and yet she won the GG. Far too many struggling true Canadians who need the recognition of these awards to give them to people who left at the age of one.

I was able to predict only three books on the list-the Eden Robinson, Brother and the Michael Redhill. The positive I am taking from the list is that almost none of these writers are household names, even among reading Canadians, so we are going to be exposed to a lot of new people we may not otherwise know about-so that is great. I put both overdrive and paper copy holds on all of the titles in my public library but they
will no doubt arrive in a bunch of six at one time and I will freak
out and get to none of them. My plan is not to beat the short list or the winner-but just to read as many as I can as easily as I can.
My first pick will be the Eden Robinson because I already have it
available to pick up. I've never read her-I think the CBC group may have done Monkey Beach years ago, but I don't know her work.
Next up-the GG longlist October 5!
Happy reading all!

Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺ wrote: "I didn't realized the long list was being announced in St. John's until this morning. It was at The Rooms, which is about a stone's throw from my office building."

I was there! I was so thrilled that it was in St. John's and that my husband had an invite :)

Allison wrote: "Interesingly, Josip Novakovich is described as a Croatian-American writer in his bio. He must have some Canadian connection to make him a contender for the Giller, beyond his place o..."

He was born in what was then Yugoslavia, and moved to the US in his early 20s and lived there for most of his life but he's been in Montreal for at least 8 years now as a landed immigrant.

Allison wrote: "And yes! No Heather O'Neill! Total shocker, I agree!"

As much as I love Heather O'Neill - and I really, really do love her - I wasn't really sure her latest novel would make it.

I strongly disliked Rachel Cusk's first book, Outline. I wasn't planning on reading Transit, but I will now. Hopefully I'll enjoy it more than Outline.

@ Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺ - what a hoot!! So close and so far. Most unfortunate. Looks like there some upcoming events planned for Calgary (wordfest), Vancouver, Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, London, UK. Drats it's not the other one.

More details on Scotiabank Giller's website under Events / Important Dates http://www.scotiabankgillerprize.ca/n...

@ Louise - expect the Scotiabank Giller's website to have more info within the next few days. They're often a bit behind but do a great job. Maybe it's the secrecy and a leak protection strategy before the big announcement.

Fyi, there are 3 short story collections included - The Bone Mother (fantasy angle as well), Tumbleweed which you've added and The Dark and Other Love Stories.

@ Barbara - you must have won my copy of Brother. I keep entering but no luck so far. lol. I do have it on hold at the library.

All but 2 are either in my library or on order. Yay!! Going to read Outline as well, and Michael Redhill's nomination Bellevue Square. He's a void in my reading, although it looks like in this book it's his alter author ego writing. It's a thriller as is Boundary: The Last Summer by Andrée A. Michaud which attracted a fair amount of attention when first published in French.

I have some interest in all but a couple on the list but will need to be selective. Lots of fun and anticipation!! Surprised at a number of other established authors with books out who aren't on the list. Wonder if their publishers put their books forward.

I hope they publish all 112 books that were submitted. That should create a literary maelstrom like we've never seen before. :-)

Sarah wrote: "I strongly disliked Rachel Cusk's first book, Outline. I wasn't planning on reading Transit, but I will now. Hopefully I'll enjoy it more than Outline.."

You may not since both Outline and Transit are part of a trilogy so I'm guessing they will be somewhat similar.

Mj-for years under the Crazy for Canlit banner on the Giller home page they list all of the submissions, they haven't yet so I guess they are just behind.
In the back flap of Josip Novakovich's entry it says he teaches creative writing at Concordia university so I wanted rant about him.
The one which I think Allison said she read-something with Winter in the title-and the excerpt starts off with something about Agatha Christie-his lineage is suspect too. The book is considered a British imprint but in the acknowledgements he thanks the British council and the Canada council and the book
seems to take place around Baffin Island-so who knows. Maybe we will be left with a list with no true-blue Canadians after a while.
Someone mentioned MIchael Redhill is writing as his other author
identity. Is the one who writes and Ingo...something? Why does
he return to his real name in this one then?
David Demchuck,was a hugely beloved Toronto playwright about thirty-three years ago and had totally disappeared from the scene. I guess he was working on this novel.

Sarah wrote: "I was there! I was so thrilled that it was in St. John's and that my husband had an invite :)"

Oh nice. It's not often we get these cool things happening around here!

I bought the Eden Robinson in the kindle store last week for 4.99 and wouldn't you know it..the price has been jacked up to 14.99 now. Harumph!

@ Alan, I am impressed that you're going to read the entire long list. I try to read the short list but I don't always make it but the attempt is always there. I have however read every single winning Giller since its inception. A really wonderful list of books. I also read all 6 books on the Booker short list every year.

@ Alan - I know about Crazy for Can Lit and you're right they're always behind. Just was really curious to see it this year due to the new rules.

@ Alan - it was me who mentioned Michael Redhill and his alter ego author - which is Inger Ash Wolfe sort of tongue in cheek. His Giller nominated book Bellevue Square is credited as authored by Michael Redhill. Because it's a thriller, which I believe is different from his usual literary norm as to date his mystery/thriller series has been written under the author name Inger Ash Wolfe.

That's great @ Sarah that you got to be there in person. Bet the energy in the room was high before the announcement!!

Re: what constitutes being a Canadian author discussion.

Every prize seems to do it differently. We're getting so global it's a tough call. To some extent I prefer residency as a litmus test but I also think someone who was born and lived elsewhere for 25 years before moving to Canada, due to this experience can offer a view that others might not have to Canadians. I think their POV of their original country will be strong in their work and that's a good thing.

I'm sort of a dual or triple country fan, when I think about it, which adds a whole lot of complexity to the mix.

Guess I think it's important for someone to be saturated in a culture - that's why people who have lived for about 10 years or so in any country (maybe 2, 3 or more) - could be informed enough about this country to write books as authors familiar with these countries.

I have an issue however with moving away from a country as a child and being touted as from there e.g. Rachel Cusk. Am not picking on her. Plan to read her second book in the trilogy. It's just that's she's really "not connected to Canada at all that I can see."

From Wikipedia - Cusk was born in Canada in 1967 and spent much of her early childhood in Los Angeles. She moved to the United Kingdom in 1974. She reads English at New College, Oxford. Not sure how she could be considered a Canadian author - just because she was born here. Not knocking Cusk - she's just an example.

Fyi, when I joined Goodreads (not that long ago) Margaret Atwood was listed as an American author. I wrote to GR & complained but they indicated it was set up that way because she had been born there and it was the author's responsibility to update his/her bio. Imagine Margaret Atwood - the quintessential Canadian and Canadians pride and joy being categorized as American. Donald Trump's alternative facts?? lol

@Alan, it was me who has read Minds of Winter by Ed O'Loughlin. He was the opening "early" act for the Kingston Writer's Fest, and I saw him speak and read from his book (and got a signed copy!).

Let me say, it's a thick Irish accent he's got!! He's just like Rachel Cusk in that he was born here, and immigrated to Ireland (Irish parents, too) when he was a young boy. So, he has the passport, and that's about it. He even said he feels Irish, not Canadian. The book is set all over the world, really, but half or more takes place on Canadian territory -- Inuvik and north.

The author question is interesting and hard to resolve. I had no idea that Naomi Klein was born in the U.S. and has dual citizenship until I read her most recent book. And, sure enough, she was long listed for the National Book Award last week and could potentially be nominated for Canadian awards as well. I think of her as being so very Canadian.

Carol Shields moved to Canada in her twenties, yet we all proudly claim her even though she was eligible for and won the Pulitzer. But I also remember how odd it felt when John Irving was listed as being eligible for a Canadian award last year, despite the fact that he's been married to a Canadian since the late 1980s and has been splitting his time between the two countries for decades. Irving seems so very American.

I do understand the point everyone's making. It seems to depend on the author and the specific circumstances. I've been living in the U.S. for almost 11 years now. Marriage and life circumstances caused me to leave Canada, but it would pain me deeply if any of you argued I was no longer Canadian. :-)

@ Susan - good points. You no doubt have an awful lot of Canada in your heart and experience and there's no need for you to feel at all pained. Don't know too many people who travel to Canada to visit with relatives and pick up a whole bunch of Can Lit books. Smiling back at you!!

When I fully retire I hope to live half the year outside of Canada but can't imagine having the "Canadian part" of me every going away.

Will all the global mobility these days that's why the dual, triple composite and/or global citizenship makes a lot of sense. You can't live somewhere for many years and not have a part of that country and its culture within you. With the global economy, employment, travel, marriages etc. we are truly a global world and sometimes trying to "label" seems to cause more problems than necessary.

It's unfortunate that we don't act more like global citizens. Oftentimes when people align with a country, it ends in division and border, us and them and it seems like the results too often are violence and wars. We all bleed red blood.

Susan,I have friends who have lived in America for decades,and they still consider themselves Canadians even though their new families are all Americans.