CBC announced the panellists for the upcoming 16th edition of Canada Reads, which will be hosted by CBC Laugh Out Loud’s Ali Hassan from March 27–30. Debating the question, “What is the one book Canadians need now?,” the panellists will include: spoken word artist and emcee Humble the Poet defending Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis (Coach House Books); singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk defending The Right to Be Cold by Sheila Watt-Cloutier (Penguin Canada); politician, author and former sniper Jody Mitic defending Nostalgia by M.G. Vassanji (Doubleday Canada); comedian and broadcast host Candy Palmater defending The Break by Katherena Vermette (House of Anansi); and actor Tamara Taylor defending Company Town by Madeline Ashby (Tor Books). Past winners of Canada Reads include The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis, which began as a self-published book; The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill, which was broadcast as a mini-series on CBC-TV in early 2015; and both Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O’Neill, and Ru by Kim Thúy – debut novels that became international bestsellers.

Source: National Post January 31, 2017 14:58 UTC