Hiya, it’s Canada Reads team member Ann Jansen checking in.

It’s starting to feel like a countdown to a real blastoff here in CR headquarters, with the debates starting Monday on air, on TV, online, on everything. We hardly stop for tea, though there’s always time to dip into a book when the workday finally ends!

Luckily, lots of people are assisting with our workload, picking up the Canada Reads torch and doing their own thing with the books across the country. There have been lots of Canada Reads events run by CBC stations, but also unofficial ones at bookstores, libraries, bars and homes. Every year we hear reports of book clubs dissecting the titles and families and friends sharing the books and getting ready for the show. Send book-club photos our way, please and thanks!

Of course, the books are usually still read solo. Julie Wilson, who runs a great book blog called Seen Reading, has had some sightings of people reading our very own Canada Reads books out in public. Right on!

Speaking of blogs, we’ve been hearing about lots of activity on that front (check out our Facebook group and del.ici.ous for lots of articles and blog hits).

There are two blogs I’m going to be looking at every day next week. Two keen book bloggers, Stephen Beattie of That Shakespeherian Rag and Alex Good of Good Reports have joined forces to read the books and follow Canada Reads as the big debate plays out day by day. After prepping for the show for months, I can’t wait to see what they think of things. (You too — I love reading Your Say and the forum entries.)