How in hell did Lawrence Hill’s The Book of Negroes (Harper Collins) not make this list or the GGs? Lawrence you’ve done what none of the jurors are capable of doing–written a masterpiece. It’s time we got these career writers off the prize committees. Ondaatje might have written better books but it isn’t this one. My sense is that these toadies didn’t dare say so. Good career move that.

(a) Hay; (b) Hay; (c) Given the quality of some of the nominees, I would say any book at all published in Canada this past year.

I’m assuming Quill staffers will be posting all their own picks again this year, repeating last year’s embarrassment . . .

Hay’s to lose, if there’s any justice. Of course regarding last year…
there isn’t.

Based only on the readings at Harbourfront, Saturday October 27, I’d say it’s A Secret Between Us, Daniel Poliquin and Donald Winkler. Second choice is Elizabeth Hay’s Late Nights on Air. I’ll try to read all books by November 6, so that I’ll be a more informed assessor …

I agree with Angel about Lawrence Hill. You wuz robbed, Larry!