Canada Reads 2011Shortlist – and then there were 10

So it’s only November, but it seems like folks have already been talking about the 2011 edition of Canada Reads for weeks now. The annual battle of the books contest does take place until February, but the folks behind it have made some successful — if controversial — decisions that have gotten people talking already.

As we’ve mentioned in other posts, this year’s 10th anniversary edition of the show has had books mostly decided by popular vote — hence the controversy. Some folks have argued that it will mean only the most well known books will have a chance to make it to the top list. Yesterday, the CBC announced a short list of titles for inclusion in the show — and now their panelists will pick from those ten titles for the five books to go into the final contest. There are a few big name Canadian fiction titles there (including one previous Canada Reads winner and one previous contender), but also a few smaller press titles and some up-and-coming authors.

Here’s the ten that are in contention, only 5 will be picked. But while you’ve got time you could check out all of them:

The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis

The Birth House by Ami McKay

The Bone Cage by Angie Abdou

The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill

Bottle Rocket Hearts by Zoe Whittall

Essex County by Jeff Lemire

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Pattern Recognition by William Gibson

Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden

Unless by Carol Shields