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.)

The 2008 Canada Reads was the inspiration for a Grand Adventure on a recent winter day. I set off with Laureen Bawden and her unflappable four-month old daughter Olivia for a series of book discussions held in appropriate locales.

First stop: Allen Gardens Conservatory, Toronto
Stepping into the humid air of the greenhouse was a great relief from the sharp cold outside. After several minutes of waiting for my glasses to defog, we walked around the greenhouse, then settled in for a good talk about Icefields. Sure, it would perhaps have been more appropriate for us to hold this talk in a windswept icy field, but the longing for warmth won out. Several scenes in the book did take place in a greenhouse; and the contrast between our tropical indoor setting and the frigid outdoors was an excellent inspiration for discussing the contrasting themes in the book.

Next stop: Riverdale Farm
We had planned to discuss Brown Girl in the Ring in the Simpson House, the setting for Ti-Jeanne and Mami’s house, but it was under renovation. A kind-hearted volunteer offered to let us take a quick stroll through, but became flustered when we ran into a woman obviously in charge and she quickly shooed us out, abandoning us on a front porch. As we lifted Olivia and her stroller over the snowdrifts, we decided to take a peek in the Necropolis Chapel across the street. It was very beautiful but much too sanctified for a potentially raucous book talk. We then decided to combine the discussion of Brown Girl in the Ring and that of Not Wanted on the Voyage in the nearby barn. Our decision was validated when we were met at the barn door by a very friendly and wise cat. We immediately began to call him Mottyl, a name he did not appear to find objectionable. Surrounded by prize-winning cows and goats who seemed genuinely puzzled by a large rubber ball hanging in their pen, we enjoyed atmospheric discussions about the two books.

Third stop: Papillon, a Toronto French restaurant
Of course we talked about Tales from the Fifteenth District in the French restaurant. Olivia continued to be a most congenial companion, waking up only long enough to nurse and be charming to all those around her. Our discussion was enhanced by the excellent French onion soup, salads and desserts and our proximity to the large French country fireplace.

Final stop: We planned to stop at a hockey arena to discuss King Leary, but ran out of time.
Instead, we began the talk as we drove past the Air Canada Centre, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Our chat lasted all through one of Toronto’s traffic jams and almost all the way back to Oakville. This most excellent adventure was a terrific way to hold our Canada Reads discussion. The settings certainly added to the day and gave us a focus. Laureen and I have participated in Canada Reads for a few years (and may I modestly add that I have predicted the winning novel two years in a row). While it has always been enjoyable, this year we are both anticipating Canada Reads week with an extra degree of enthusiasm thanks to our travellin’ book discussion.

Welcome back, Canadian readers!

Well, by now I’m sure you have all tuned into the second round of Canada Reads 2008. (And if some of you missed it, no worries—you can get up to speed by listening online, or by downloading today’s show as a podcast.) I know I promised to offer up the behind-the-scenes dish at Canada Reads, so I’ll hop to it…

When I arrived at the studio today, a decadent fruit platter was laid out for the panelists, along with a seemingly endless supply of coffee, for which this bookworm was eternally grateful. As I grabbed some melon chunks and scurried into the corner, I did manage to overhear some very interesting conversations. Jemeni and Steve MacLean were deep in discussion over Icefields, while a few paces away, Lisa Moore and Zaib Shaikh were also firmly entrenched in a tête-à-tête. Lisa was explaining the finer points of Mavis Gallant’s story The Moslem Wife to Zaib, who had admitted to being a bit offended by the story during yesterday’s debates.

So, it looks like our five panelists have bonded, and I think this contributed to the tone of today’s broadcast, which felt a bit looser, as the celebrity guests grew more comfortable with each other and a little bolder in their roles as passionate book defenders. As the talk turned to brown girls and blind cats, the fearless five hunkered down for some heady discussions about characters, social relevancy and whether or not a book’s “Canadian-ness” will factor into their decision-making come voting time.

Welcome back, Canadian readers!

Can you believe it’s already the third day of Canada Reads? So much ground was covered during today’s debate, I could barely keep up with my note-taking, but I’ll do my best to recap all the high and low points for you. And for those of you who missed the show, you should check out the podcast or listen online before reading my spoilers below.

The first vote is revealed (a.k.a. the horror, the horror!)

This reveal was a true nail-biter, since the first four panelists had marked Xs on their ballots beside four different titles. It finally came time for Zaib to cast the deciding vote, and to my utter disbelief, he opted to send Mavis Gallant’s From the Fifteenth District back to the shelf.

Gallant champion Lisa Moore let out an “Ack!” sound, followed by “pain, pain,” while I alternated between sulking over the departure of my favourite title, and wondering if Zaib Shaikh and Dave Bidini have secretly formed some kind of voting alliance that none of us have picked up on yet.

But you can’t keep a good panelist down, and Lisa rallied beautifully after learning her book was the first to go — posing a juicy, pointed question to her fellow panelists: “Don’t you think that this writing is the best writing? The most crafted?”

As the celebrity guests justified their votes against the book, Steve MacLean, always the voice of reason on this year’s panel, stepped in and read a stirring quote from one of From the Fifteenth District’s stories: “The sun became as white as a stone. Something stung in its heat, like fine, hard, invisible rain” I love this guy! So I will follow Steve’s example, and let my lady Mavis’ writing speak for itself. Sulking over. And now, onward!

It’s getting hot in here

Maybe it was because it was a little hot in the studio. Maybe it was because it was hump day (a naturally occurring phenomenon that takes place every Wednesday at CBC). Maybe it was all the talk about climate change. Or maybe it was because the stakes were raised for the four remaining books and people really had to step up their arguments.

Whatever the reason, things got a lot more heated in debate number three, as the talk moved from short stories to social relevancy to the environment to the actual craft of writing. Judging from the number of interruptions that occurred, the amount of times all of us had to consult our notes and the moments all five panelists dissolved into fits of laughter, I’d say we were all more than a little punchy by the end of the broadcast.