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Canada Reads

CBC's annual battle of the books began in 2002, pitting five Canadian books against one another in a battle to become the one book every Canadian should read. Celebrity panellists speak with passion on behalf of their chosen books, the discussions are lively and the results can be very rewarding for the title that comes out on top.

'The Best Laid Plans' takes Canada Reads 2011

Broadcast Date: Feb. 9, 2011

One is a bestselling book club favourite. One is a self-published success story. Both are from first-time authors and they are the last books standing in Canada Reads 2011. Championed by home décor expert Debbie Travis, The Birth House centres on a neophyte midwife in early 20th century Nova Scotia. But in the exciting finale, the five panellists are persuaded to endorse news broadcaster Ali Velshi's choice The Best Laid Plans, a comic novel about a Liberal party strategist who can't seem to extricate himself from politics.

'The Best Laid Plans' takes Canada Reads 2011

• The other three books under debate for the 2011 edition of Canada Reads were: The Bone Cage by Angle Abdou (defended by NHL tough guy Georges Laraque), Essex County, a graphic novel by Jeff Lemire (defended my musician Sara Quin) and Unless by Carol Shields (defended by actor Lorne Cardinal).

• For this instalment of Canada Reads, touted as its 10th anniversary edition, readers nominated their favourite books to help create an initial list of 40. The list was then further whittled down to 10 via a poll. The celebrity panellists then chose their books from among this list.

• In November 2011 CBC Television announced that it was developing Fallis's The Best Laid Plans as a six-part miniseries.

'The Best Laid Plans' takes Canada Reads 2011

Medium: Radio

Program: Canada Reads

Broadcast Date: Feb. 9, 2011

Guest(s): Lorne Cardinal, Georges Laraque, Sara Quin, Debbie Travis, Ali Velshi


Host: Jian Ghomeshi

Duration: 48:21

Last updated:
Feb. 6, 2012


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10 results available  

MediaTitle and dateDescription
Radio
48:21 		Feb. 9, 2011
'The Best Laid Plans' takes Canada Reads 2011 		The 2011 panel favours Terry Fallis's comedic novel - about a Canadian man's reluctant run for Parliament - over Ami Mackay's bestseller ‘The Birth House'.
Radio
25:43 		March 12, 2010
Nikolski wins Canada Reads 2010 		A little-known novel by a Quebec author emerges victorious in the ninth instalment of CBC's Canada Reads competition.
Radio
27:26 		March 6, 2009
'The Book of Negroes' wins in 2009 		Lawrence Hill's tale of slavery and suffering wins Canada Reads 2009.
Radio
27:26 		Feb. 29, 2008
'King Leary' rules 'Canada Reads' 2008 		Paul Quarrington's hockey tale 'King Leary' takes the title in 2008.
Radio
27:51 		March 2, 2007
'Little Criminals' snatches the prize in 2007 		Lullabies for Little Criminals comes out on top in Canada Reads 2007.
Radio
27:38 		April 21, 2006
'A Complicated Kindness' wins a complicated contest 		Miriam Toews' A Complicated Kindness takes the prize after some heated debate in Canada Reads 2006.
Radio
29:16 		Feb. 25, 2005
'Rockbound' is victory-bound in 2005 		Frank Parker Day's 1928 novel Rockbound wins Canada Reads 2005.
Radio
27:48 		April 12, 2004
'Last Crossing' wins last episode 		Guy Vanderhaeghe's 19th-century western tale is the official pick for Canada Reads 2004.
Radio
23:35 		April 25, 2003
Upset win for 'Next Episode' in 2003 		Hubert Aquin's revolutionary novel Next Episode wins Canada Reads 2003.
Radio
23:39 		April 23, 2002
Toronto tale wins first ‘Canada Reads’

Michael Ondaatje's In the Skin of a Lion wins Canada Reads 2002.
10 results available