Guelph Reads is back for 2017. It happens on Wednesday, May 24, at the downtown branch of the Guelph Public Library. The literary event usually attracts a large audience to the upstairs programming room of the library.
This year there are a few new twists to the annual event, which patterns itself after the CBC’s popular Canada Reads. Whether the national program or the local one, the idea is to get people excited about Canadian books – excited enough to go out, buy them and read them.
Allan Pickersgill, an organizer of Guelph Reads and a board member with Friend of Guelph Public Library, said this will be the first year that a graphic novel has been part of the slate of books championed by local panelists. As well, a novel for young adults is on the bill, another first. He added that for the first time the plan is to live-stream Guelph Reads on social media.
“It’s always a fun time,” Pickersgill said in an interview on Monday. “There are different panelists each year, and there is always good-natured debate.”
The panelists are given copies of all four books and asked to read them. That way they know exactly what they are up against when championing their book of choice.
“There are some jibs and jabs, but everyone takes it quite well,” he said.
Again this year, the panel moderator for the event will be Marva Wisdom.
Butch Carter, former coach of the Toronto Raptors, will defend the novel for young readers, Walking Home, by Eric Walters. Set in Kenya, the story is about a brother and sister in search of a home.
Jenn Haines, owner of the bookstore Dragon, will champion the graphic novel The Underground Welder by Jeff Lemire, a story about the haunting things of life, with a Maritimes setting.
The Muslim Society of Guelph’s Sara Sayyed, who helps coordinated Syrian refugee settlement in the city, will go to bat for The Hidden Keys by Andre Alexis, a novel about faith, goodness, language and mortality.
And Marty Williams, head of the Downtown Guelph Business Association, will defend Martyn Burke’s Music for Love and War. Yes, it’s a novel that explores love and war in its many shades.
Guelph Reads was started by University of Guelph English professor Ajay Heble, and turned over to Friends of GPL in 2012. The event is free and begins at 7 p.m. on the 24th.
“The criteria is that the books have to be by Canadian authors and in print,” Pickersgill said. “That way, people can go out and get a copy.”
