Reading Bingo is always a lot of fun (2013, 2014) but I am really looking forward to this year’s edition: all things Canlit.

Last year’s reading included more than 150 books by Canadian authors in my log, so this will be more about narrowing my options, which will involve a lot of list-making (one of my favourite things to do: make lists of books I want to read).

In short, I want to emphasize the books that have been lingering unread on my shelves, neglected whilst I’ve plucked newer and more shiny options from the library shelves.

I’ve also been reading a lot of contemporary Canlit, and I’d like to dig back into the backlists of authors whose previous works I’ve enjoyed, fill some gaps and fill the card!

I also only have one L.M. Montgomery book left to read, so I hope to manage that in 2015, along with Margaret Atwood’s In Other Worlds (which I’ve been s-a-v-i-n-g — you know how that is).

How about you? Are you playing along? What square do you think will be the hardest for you to fill? Which are you most eagerly anticipating?

“B”
✔A Scotiabank Giller Prize nominated novel: Shauna Singh Baldwin’s The Tiger Claw
✔A Scotiabank Giller Prize winning novel: Joseph Boyden’s Through Black Spruce (winner, 2008)
✔A book by a Canadian author (but not Margaret Atwood): Judy Fong Bates’ Midnight at the Dragon Cafe
✔A book by Margaret Atwood: Alias Grace
✔A book set in British Columbia: Timothy Taylor’s Stanley Park

“I”
✔A book set on the East Coast: Alistair MacLeod’s Island
✔A book set in the Prairies: Gabrielle Roy’s Where Nests the Water Hen
✔A book set in Toronto: M.G. Vassanji’s No New Land
✔A book by an Aboriginal author: Tomson Highway’s The (Post)Mistress
✔A book recommended by CBC: Anita Rau Badami’s The Hero’s Walk

“N”
✔A Canada Reads nominated book: Hubert Aquin’s Next Episode (Trans. Sheila Fischman)
✔A work of non-fiction by a Canadian author: Michael Ondaatje’s Running in the Family
FREE SQUARE
✔A Governor General’s Award nominated novel: Michael Ondaatje’s Divisadero (nominee, 2007)
✔A mystery or thriller by a Canadian author: Evan Munday’s M is for Morna

“G”
✔A book of poetry by a Canadian poet: Ins Choi’s Subway Stations of the Cross (Illus. Guno Park)
✔A book about a Canadian sports team: Bruce McDougall’s The Last Hockey Game
✔A book by Alice Munro: Too Much Happiness
✔A Canadian novel that was adapted for screen (TV/movie): Guy Vanderhaeghe’s The Englishman’s Boy
✔A book with a red and white cover: Chad Pelley’s Every Little Thing

“O”
✔A book that was featured on Canada AM: Beth Powning’s A Measure of Light
✔A biography or autobiography of a Canadian celebrity: Elaine Lui’s Listen to the Squawking Chicken
✔A book that appears in #CANLIT: Helen Weinzweig’s Basic Black with Pearls
✔A book with snow on its cover: David Adams Richards’ Evening Snow Will Bring Such Peace
✔A book by L.M. Montgomery: Rilla of Ingleside