“The Governor-General Awards for Literature 2012”

1. On November 14th, 2012 at 5:54 pm Kristen Says:

   It’s interesting given our shared language and border that many of the books given awards in Canada are not ones I have come across here.

2. On November 14th, 2012 at 6:29 pm Debbie Says:

   Actually, Kristen, I haven’t heard of this one either.

   But, generally, you’re right – many, many good Canadian books, well-known here are little known across our southern border. Maybe it’s due to the size of competing publishing houses – I’m just not sure. I suppose the same applies to Australian and, to some extent, British lit too. Thank goodness for the World Wide Web!

3. On November 17th, 2012 at 2:32 pm trish Says:

   This looks good. I came across a copy a while ago and passed it over thinking to go and look up the author first but now that it’s won an award I’m especially interested. I’ll have to go back and pick up a copy for myself.

4. On November 17th, 2012 at 4:08 pm Debbie Says:

   I know, Trish,I was thinking the same thing. Funny how a book winning a prize can change our opinion of it.

5. On November 22nd, 2012 at 6:32 pm Jen @ The Well Read Fish Says:

   I find I love when awards are announced. Then I feel I have an “assignment” and set about trying to read the winners and the ones shortlisted.

   I live in Seattle, so find I end up in Vancouver often. When I go, I ALWAYS stop into bookstores to try to pick up Canadian books. That’s how I found Ann-Marie MacDonald. Now I know they are avail in the U.S., but at the time I thought I found a discovered a lovely Canadian gem and was going to spread the WORD in the U.S. Please do share some very Canadian authors and books!

6. On November 23rd, 2012 at 4:58 pm Debbie Says:

   Hi, Jen! I’d be happy to share some Canadian authors and books – you’ve given me ideas for several posts. To tide you over: Wayne Johnston, Michael Crummey, Mordecai Richler, Guy Vanderhaeghe, Margaret Laurence, …oh my word, I there are so many! Let me know if you’ve heard of all of these and I will throw another handful your way. 🙂

7. On November 26th, 2012 at 11:00 pm Nan Says:

   Slaves in Canada?? I didn’t know this. I’ve had a blog post rolling around in my brain about how we in the US were never taught Canadian or Mexican literature or history in school – our bordering neighbors. Isn’t that strange? I wonder if in Europe it’s the same way? Or in the provinces of Canada – does a kid in high school in Toronto read any Newfoundland lit? Anyhow, I recently read some VERY good news for those of us in the US. Publishers Weekly is going to start covering Canadian books.

   http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/promotionalss/article/54453-publishers-weekly-to-add-canadian-adult-reviews.html

8. On November 27th, 2012 at 10:25 pm Debbie Says:

   Nan, I went to school in the late ’60s and early ’70s before the rise of Canadian “culturalism: that started about 1973. We studied British and American authors. I think things are a lot different now and kids get exposure to a lot more Canadian literature.

   But whether that’s still regionalized, I can’t say. I do know that as an adult living in Ontario I read a whole lot less Atlantic Canadian fiction than I do since I moved to Nova Scotia. (And probably fewer authors from Ontario and the west than I did then.)

   I’m thrilled that Publishers Weekly is going to give some exposure to Canadian publishing houses!

9. On November 26th, 2012 at 11:01 pm Nan Says:

   Oops, just read the piece, and she was writing about the US. :<)

10. On November 28th, 2012 at 4:39 pm Nan Says:

    I can’t believe they didn’t offer Canadian lit in Canada!

11. On November 28th, 2012 at 8:45 pm Debbie Says:

    So sad, I know, Nan. But we were overpowered by our predominant history, which at that time was British, and the sheer size and pervasiveness of American literature. It was sort of like trying to push off an elephant that’s sitting on you. 😉