The very cool folks over at The National Post’s Book Blog, The Afterword, launched a fantastic new “competition” you should follow and read up on by clicking here. In a nutshell, it’s a mirroring of CBC’s Canada Reads, with the goal of showcasing 8 books that deserve attention. Basically, a book-ish type (A writer, critic, book-reading celebrity of sorts) picks a book they love and defend it, mainly debate style, and someone wins. Like I said: read more here, this really is one of the coolest competitions of the year, done for all the right reasons.

The Atlantic Canadian novels on here

–> Jessica Grant’s Come, Thou Tortoise is, as Salty Ink has already said (read full review here) a fresh, innovative, unprecedented, unforgettable gem. A book you never forget. But don’t take my word for it, Take Michael Winter’s: “Please —I beg you dear reader — read Jessica Grant. ”

–> Mark Anthony Jarman is consistently lauded as one of Canada’s finest boundary-expanding and engaging writers of short fiction. The Quill & Quire has referred to his “delirious and courageous use of language,” and his writing is often noted for its rich metaphoric nuances and substance. My White Planet has been particularly heralded for the stunning range of its stories, from the story of a mind-reading flight attendant, to the story of a father accused of cowardice and neglect after his dogs maul his son.

–> Steve Zipp’s Yellowknife was an award-winner before it was even published (the H.R. Bill Percy prize). Consistently praised for its wit and cleverness and the underlying portraiture of Yellowknife. “Consider me Gobsmacked,” Shelf Monkey critic Corey Redekop said, “What a terrific novel.” Prairie Fire: “A clever, distinctly postmodern novel that pelts along at quite a pace.” 

If you’ve already read any of these novels, take a minute and feel good about yourself. If you haven’t, ask yourself why not, really. Yes, everyone’s talking about this book or that book, and you have an ever-growing to-read list like the rest of us … but that’s why The Afterword conceived this contest. To get everyone talking about these books. I loved Come, Thou Tortoise, I have a copy of Yellowknife in queue to read, and to really show I’m not a hypocrite, I am literally on my way out the door to pick up a copy of My White Planet.