Canada Reads

Canada Reads or Le combat des livres books is a contest that is organized and transmitted from the Canadian public broadcasting. "Canada Reads " was first transmitted in 2002 on the English CBC, followed in 2004, then " Le combat des livres " on the French-language Radio -Canada.

Format

Five well-known personalities ever before make a book. The format takes five episodes, it " selects" the jury per episode from a book.

Candidates for the program are presented months before the first shipment. Participating books are in the hope that the public buys these books increased and before the broadcast reads, shown prominently in Canadian libraries.

Success

This strategy is very successful. Already thriving books received through the program still a sale boost. So sold the book " In the skin of the lion " by Michael Ondaatje, after it had been included in the shipment, 80,000 times.

But less well-known books benefit from the format; then about Jacques Poulin "Volkswagen Blues" sold, sold by the otherwise approximately 200 issues per year, with 7500 copies in the year when it was presented at "Canada Reads ".

Criticism

Criticism of the format of the show is directed against the use of celebrities, against the " game show " -esque selection procedure as well as the sometimes superficial discussion of books.

• Literature Award (Canada)
• Canadian literature