Toronto, October 14, 2009 – The Canada Council for the Arts today announced the finalists for the 2009 Governor General's Literary Awards. The finalists include authors, illustrators and translators from ages 27 to 78. The English and French awards are in the categories of fiction, non‑fiction, poetry, drama, children's literature (text and illustration) and translation. In total, 70 books are shortlisted.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Canada Council involvement with the Governor General's Literary Awards. A total of 1,541 eligible books were submitted for this year's awards. Thirty-eight of the 75 finalists are nominated for the first time. At least seven of the finalists are under the age of 35 and three of the finalists are aboriginal. A sense of belonging, family, war and religion are themes that figure prominently in several of the books.
The names of the finalists and the titles of their works are listed below with the peer assessment committees' citations for each work. The names of the members of the 14 committees (seven English and seven French) are listed at the conclusion of this release.
Download images of the shortlisted books.
Find additional information about the 2009 Awards.
Governor General's Literary Awards
The Canada Council for the Arts funds, administers and promotes the Governor General's Literary Awards. Each winner will receive $25,000 and a specially-bound copy of the winning book. The publisher of each winning book will receive $3,000 to support promotional activities. Non-winning finalists will each receive $1,000 in recognition of their selection as finalists, bringing the total value of the awards to approximately $450,000.
Winners announcement
The winners will be announced on Tuesday, November 17 at 10 a.m. at La Grande Bibliothèque de Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, 475 Boulevard De Maisonneuve East, in Montreal.
Awards presentation at Rideau Hall
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, will present the 2009 Literary Awards on Thursday, November 26, at 6 p.m. at Rideau Hall. Media representatives wishing to cover the awards presentation should contact Julie Rocheleau at the Rideau Hall Press Office, 613-998-7280 or jrocheleau@gg.ca.
English-language finalists
Fiction
Michael Crummey, St. John's (Newfoundland and Labrador), Galore. (Doubleday Canada; distributed by Random House of Canada) (ISBN 978-0-385-66314-4)
Michael Crummey's Galore is a gorgeous and mysterious whale of a book – part multi-generational love story, part riff on the Bible, and part tall tale. Spanning several generations in a remote Newfoundland outport, this story is bursting with fantastical events, colourful characters and delicious dialogue. An unforgettable journey.
Annabel Lyon, New Westminster (British Columbia), The Golden Mean. (Random House Canada; distributed by the publisher) (ISBN 978-0-307-35620-8)
Annabel Lyon's The Golden Mean is a wise and subtle journey into the Court of Philip of Macedon, the mind of Aristotle and his complex relationship with his pupil, Alexander the Great. In this glorious balancing act of a book, Aristotle emerges as a man both brilliant and blind, immersed in life but terrified of living.
Alice Munro, Clinton (Ontario), Too Much Happiness. (McClelland & Stewart; distributed by Random House of Canada) (ISBN 978-0-7710-6529-3)
In Too Much Happiness, Alice Munro again displays her profound mastery of the short story form. With Shakespearean overtones of rage and sorrow, the book is remarkable in its scope and versatility. Every story astonishes, entertains and evokes a powerful visceral response. Munro could not be less than brilliant if she tried.
Kate Pullinger, London (UK), [originally from Cranbrook, British Columbia], The Mistress of Nothing. (McArthur & Company; distributed by the publisher) (ISBN 978-1-55278-798-4)
A highly sensual evocation of place and time, Kate Pullinger's The Mistress of Nothing is a journey down the Nile that explores the subtle complexities of power, race, class and love during the Victorian era. The book, narrated by the character of the maid, Sally Naldrett, has one of the most distinctive and memorable voices in recent literature.
Deborah Willis, Victoria, Vanishing and Other Stories. (Penguin Group (Canada); distributed by the publisher) (ISBN 978-0-14-317022-8)
Vanishing and Other Stories is a book of rare insight into the complications of the human heart. Light of touch but deep in content, Deborah Willis's stories startle, exhilarate and radiate with piercing insights. Original and deftly structured, all 14 continue to resonate long after the book is finished.
Poetry
David W. McFadden, Toronto, Be Calm, Honey. (Mansfield Press; distributed by LitDistCo) (ISBN 978-1-894469-38-8)
David McFadden's Be Calm, Honey displays masterful wit in a sequence of playful sonnets that engage the slipperiness of moment, thought and experience. There is delightful wisdom and humanity in the quirky disguises and accessibility of his plain speech.
Philip Kevin Paul, Brentwood Bay (British Columbia), Little Hunger. (Nightwood Editions; distributed by Harbour Publishing) (ISBN 978-0-88971-220-1)
Fine lyric moments and an admirable and generous awareness characterize Philip Kevin Paul's Little Hunger. These poems inhabit and embody deep resonances of family, place and language. A beautiful congruence of personal exploration, cultural endurance and human experience.
Sina Queyras, Montreal, Expressway. (Coach House Books; distributed by LitDistCo) (ISBN 978-1-55245-216-5)
Expressway is a jagged meditation on how we have constructed ourselves and our world. From a collage of Google text to a re-visioning of the journals of Dorothy Wordsworth, Sina Queyras explores the possibilities for poetry and human survival as death, speed and spurious freedoms collide with dreams of hope, wisdom and action.
Carmine Starnino, Montreal, This Way Out. (Gaspereau Press; distributed by the publisher) (ISBN 978-1-55447-051-8)
Carmine Starnino's This Way Out is a book of marvelous skill and heart, at once accessible and rigorous, serious and humorous, protean and profound. These poems do not advocate love at first sight, but love reborn from second looks. They are canny, genuine odes to the triplets known as Yesterday, Tomorrow and Today.
David Zieroth, North Vancouver, The Fly in Autumn. (Harbour Publishing; distributed by the publisher) (ISBN 978-1-55017-468-7)
David Zieroth's The Fly in Autumn is a note-perfect rendering of the poet's greatest challenge – to risk oneself in the name of knowing and feeling. It reveals that quietness need not mean silence, that modesty need not mean invisibility, and that comfort is not always found in ease.
Drama
Beverley Cooper, Toronto, Innocence Lost: A Play about Steven Truscott. (Scirocco Drama / J. Gordon Shillingford Publishing Group; distributed by University of Toronto Press) (ISBN 978-1-897289-36-5) Innocence Lost is a powerful play depicting the tragic miscarriage of justice in the Steven Truscott case. Beverley Cooper goes beyond documenting a court case to thoroughly engage the reader in a poignant examination of the loss of innocence.
Kevin Loring, Vancouver, Where the Blood Mixes. (Talonbooks; distributed by Publishers Group Canada) (ISBN 978-0-88922-608-1)
Kevin Loring has written a play that lets all of us feel and experience the aftermath of the failed residential school system. His characters have been diminished but they will not be extinguished. He writes with humour and insight, and turns a historical process into a personal and gripping story.
Joan MacLeod, Victoria, Another Home Invasion. (Talonbooks; distributed by Publishers Group Canada) (ISBN 978-0-88922-622-7)
When the security of her home is violated, Joan MacLeod's Jean leads us through the stage of life where the ordinary becomes the unfamiliar on the way to a frightening inevitability. Real and direct in its portrayal and promises of the strength of love and human power in the last ages of life.
Hannah Moscovitch, Toronto, East of Berlin. (Playwrights Canada Press; distributed by the publisher) (ISBN 978-0-88754-849-9)
Hannah Moscovitch's East of Berlin is part mystery, part story of redemption. The play travels from a middle class home in Paraguay to the libraries of Germany as young Rudi tries to find out the truth about his father's wartime past. Emotional, suspenseful and skillfully written, East of Berlin shows how the past never really leaves us.
Michael Nathanson, Winnipeg, Talk. (Playwrights Canada Press; distributed by the publisher) (ISBN 978-0-88754-873-4)
A loaded remark triggers a heated argument between Josh and his old friend, Gordon, over the conflict in the Middle East. Witty and engaging, Michael Nathanson's Talk explores the minefield of friendship: where the political and personal intersect and political stances mask personal demons. A thoroughly engrossing examination of the nature of friendship.
Non-fiction
Randall Hansen, Toronto, Fire and Fury: The Allied Bombing of Germany, 1942-45. (Doubleday Canada; distributed by Random House of Canada) (ISBN 978-0-385-66403-5)
A brave re-examination of a controversial episode in World War II history. Randall Hansen combines meticulous research with an eye for telling human detail to make his case that the Allied bombing campaign didn't help to win the war, and actually prolonged it. A book that offers lessons for today.
Trevor Herriot, Regina, Grass, Sky, Song: Promise and Peril in the World of Grassland Birds. (Phyllis Bruce Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; distributed by HarperCollins Canada) (ISBN 978-1-55468-038-2)
Like the resilient but vulnerable birds that are its subject, this is a book of great and simple beauty. Trevor Herriot is a wise guide into a vanishing realm, almost invisible at the threshold of human culture. His poetic prose – finely-crafted, urgent and lyrical – reminds us of the entwined spirits of the human and natural worlds.
Eric S. Margolis, Toronto, American Raj: Liberation or Domination? (Resolving the Conflict Between the West and the Muslim World). (Key Porter Books; distributed by H.B. Fenn and Company Ltd) (ISBN 978-1-55470-087-5)
American Raj offers the missing context to the media coverage of current political events. Written from the perspective of the Muslim world, Eric S. Margolis's fluid narrative is an unapologetic account of the growing mistrust of Muslims toward the West. Powerful and unequivocal writing that shuns easy answers.
Eric Siblin, Westmount (Quebec), The Cello Suites: J.S. Bach, Pablo Casals, and the Search for a Baroque Masterpiece. (House of Anansi Press; distributed by HarperCollins Canada) (ISBN 978-0-88784-222-1)
A delightfully quirky quest to uncover the three-century-old mystery and magic behind Johann Sebastian Bach's famous cello suites. Eric Siblin seamlessly weaves together the tale of how Bach's lost and mostly forgotten manuscript came to be discovered a century later by Pablo Casals, and finally became Siblin's personal passion.
M.G. Vassanji, Toronto, A Place Within: Rediscovering India. (Doubleday Canada; distributed by Random House of Canada) (ISBN 978-0-385-66178-2)
Lyrical, evocative and informative, A Place Within reaches deep into a long, contested past history, and brings it to the surface, to the present, so the reader can see it, and touch it in its fullness. M.G. Vassanji's prose has a transcendent quality, like the journey itself.
Children's Literature - Text
Shelley Hrdlitschka, North Vancouver, Sister Wife. (Orca Book Publishers; distributed by the publisher) (ISBN 978-1-55143-927-3)
Shelley Hrdlitschka's Sister Wife paints a realistic picture of life inside a polygamist community where women are exploited and power is absolute. The strong cast of characters and close attention to detail make this novel absorbing and riveting right down to its explosive conclusion. Sharon Jennings, Toronto, Home Free. (Second Story Press; distributed by University of Toronto Press) (ISBN 978-1-897187-55-5)
Eleven-year-old Lee Mets goes about the complicated business of living with such verve and die-hard enthusiasm that one has no choice but to yell, "Bravo!" A cleverly-crafted story told from the heart, Sharon Jennings's Home Free entertains and lifts the human spirit.
Caroline Pignat, Ottawa, Greener Grass: The Famine Years. (Red Deer Press, a division of Fitzhenry & Whiteside; distributed by the publisher) (ISBN 978-0-88995-402-1)
In Caroline Pignat's heart-rending story of the Irish potato famine of 1847, a young girl must compromise the values of her Catholic upbringing in order for her family to survive. Told with devastating realism, Greener Grass will touch the hearts and minds of all ages.
Robin Stevenson, Victoria, A Thousand Shades of Blue. (Orca Book Publishers; distributed by the publisher) (ISBN 978-1-55143-921-1)
When Rachel is forced to go on a year-long trip to the Bahamas with her dysfunctional family, she finds out the true meaning of Sartre's "Hell is other people." Robin Stevenson's A Thousand Shades of Blue is a humorous and heartfelt story of a family headed toward disaster.
Tim Wynne-Jones, Perth (Ontario), The Uninvited. (Candlewick Press; distributed by Random House of Canada) (ISBN 978-0-7636-3984-6)
Three strangers find themselves at the same abandoned house in the Ontario countryside and soon discover each is the inheritor of a decades-old secret. Together, they must come to terms with the tragic consequences in Tim Wynne-Jones's complex and beautifully crafted novel, at once mystery and family drama.
Children's Literature - Illustration
Rachel Berman, Victoria, Bradley McGogg, the Very Fine Frog, text by Tim Beiser. (Tundra Books; distributed by Random House of Canada) (ISBN 978-0-88776-864-4)
Beautifully drawn and painted, this is a tale in which a frog's quest for a meal leads him to discover that not everyone finds bugs and slugs the ideal feast. Rachel Berman brings to life Bradley McGogg, an expressive character children will fall in love with.
Irene Luxbacher, Toronto, The Imaginary Garden, text by Andrew Larsen. (Kids Can Press; distributed by University of Toronto Press) (ISBN 978-1-55453-279-7)
In The Imaginary Garden, Irene Luxbacher combines pen and ink line, paint and collage to tell the story of a young girl and her grandfather who, together, discover the power of art and imagination. Bright, bold and whimsical, these illustrations powerfully convey an important message.
Jirina Marton, Colborne (Ontario), Bella's Tree, text by Janet Russell. (Groundwood Books / House of Anansi Press; distributed by HarperCollins Canada) (ISBN 978-0-88899-870-5)
As with text, illustrations should compel the reader to turn the page to see what happens next. Jirina Marton's illustrations flow; they bring the reader along and add a warm mood to a cold winter's day. A spirit captured within the pages of this book is set free by the reading.
Luc Melanson, Laval (Quebec), My Great Big Mamma, text by Olivier Ka, translation by Helen Mixter. (Groundwood Books / House of Anansi Press; distributed by HarperCollins Canada) (ISBN 978-0-88899-942-9)
Luc Melanson's larger-than-life illustrations fill each page with gusto, warmth and love, and convey the story's heartwarming message of self-acceptance, as told from the view of a young boy. Whimsical, simple and clear, the illustrations create a mood of safety and depict a mother's love for her son.
Ningeokuluk Teevee, Cape Dorset (Nunavut), Alego, text by Ningeokuluk Teevee, translation by Nina Manning-Toonoo. (Groundwood Books / House of Anansi Press; distributed by HarperCollins Canada) (ISBN 978-0-88899-943-6)
Ningeokuluk Teevee's pencil drawings express beautifully a manner of dress, food, land, air, cold, warmth, surprise and age. The storytelling is a heart speaking to a heart, capturing the spiritual relationship that a child has with the world she lives in. This gentle book will warm hearts.
Translation - French to English
Phyllis Aronoff and Howard Scott, Montreal, A Slight Case of Fatigue. (Talonbooks; distributed by Publishers Group Canada, a division of Raincoast Books) (ISBN 978-0-88922-596-1) English translation of Un peu de fatigue by Stéphane Bourguignon (Les Éditions Québec Amérique)
With A Slight Case of Fatigue, Phyllis Aronoff and Howard Scott have captured the dark humour of the original, deftly rendering the intensity and humanity of the characters in a translation that does justice to the frenetic emotional world created by Stéphane Bourguignon.
Jo-Anne Elder, Fredericton, One. (Goose Lane Editions; distributed by University of Toronto Press) (ISBN 978-0-86492-533-6) English translation of Seul on est by Serge Patrice Thibodeau (Les Éditions Perce-Neige)
In One, Jo-Anne Elder's bold, yet delicate translation provides English-language readers with thrilling access to the poetic world of Serge Patrice Thibodeau – in which the majesty and intimacy of the natural world are mirrored in a human experience that sees itself, both agonizingly and ecstatically, at one with Nature.
David Homel and Fred A. Reed, Montreal, Wildlives. (Douglas & McIntyre; distributed by HarperCollins Canada) (ISBN 978-1-55365-409-4) English translation of Champagne by Monique Proulx (Les Éditions du Boréal)
David Homel and Fred A. Reed have produced a richly vibrant prose that captures the pulses and rhythms, the energy, and the teeming profusion of Monique Proulx's powerful evocation of the life-death forces at work in the wilderness of a Laurentian landscape on which human beings intrude with haunting consequences.
Susan Ouriou, Calgary, Pieces of Me. (Kids Can Press; distributed by University of Toronto Press) (ISBN 978-1-55453-242-1) (bound) / 978-1-55453-432-6 (pbk)) English translation of La liberté? Connais pas… by Charlotte Gingras (Les éditions de la courte échelle)
Pieces of Me, Susan Ouriou's translation of a compelling novel for young adults, is itself a work of superb literary quality. It captures both the mind and heart of Mirabelle, the book's fragile yet courageous protagonist, and the ineffably subtle and moving lyricism of Charlotte Gingras's original.
Fred A. Reed, Montreal, Empire of Desire: The Abolition of Time. (Talonbooks; distributed by Publishers Group Canada, a division of Raincoast Books) (ISBN 978-0-88922-587-9) English translation of Le temps aboli : l'Occident et ses grands récits by Thierry Hentsch (Les Éditions du Boréal / Les Presses de l'Université de Montréal)
Fred Reed reproduces the subtle modulations of thought, the powerful strokes of insight, and the assured stride of this complex reflection on masterworks of the Western narrative tradition. The translation replicates with astonishing versatility the empathetic, mimetic and infinitely varying rhythms of the author's style.
French-language finalists
Fiction
Jean-François Beauchemin, Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs (Quebec), Cette année s'envole ma jeunesse. (Les Éditions Québec Amérique; distributed by Diffusion Prologue) (ISBN 978-2-7644-0691-5)
This is an intimate work whose words, echoing the experience and emotions of the author, imbue the story with a real poignancy. The "incredibly human music" he refers to eases the interaction with the reader. The language is beautiful, sensual and deeply moving.
Nadine Bismuth, Montreal, Êtes-vous mariée à un psychopathe? (Les Éditions du Boréal; distributed by Diffusion Dimédia) (ISBN 978-2-7646-0662-9)
The author is already known as an accomplished short story writer; she has proven it once again with this collection of stories that are in turn impressionistic, psychological and frankly satirical. Nadine Bismuth's world is not restricted to the self-absorption of the Plateau Mont-Royal of a certain generation – it concerns us all, and we are captivated by the easy charm of her writing.
Dominique Fortier, Montreal, Du bon usage des étoiles. (Éditions Alto; distributed by Socadis) (ISBN 978-2-923550-15-2)
The author succeeds in taking a fresh approach to a familiar subject: Franklin's Arctic expedition. Her point of view is surprising and refreshing, and her language is limpid, subtle and highly readable. This is not just historical fiction but a novel in its own right, and one that will be remembered.
Julie Mazzieri, Velone-Orneto, France, [originally from Quebec], Le discours sur la tombe de l'idiot. (Éditions José Corti; distributed by Diffusion Dimédia) (ISBN 978-2-7143-0987-7)
Julie Mazzieri treats us to a skilful manipulation of genres in writing that is expertly and wonderfully controlled. Her novel, with its airs of a detective story, is in reality an impressive incursion into a labyrinth of passions filled with characters who are blinded by everyday evils.
Aki Shimazaki, Montreal, Zakuro. (Leméac Éditeur / Actes Sud; distributed by Diffusion Prologue) (ISBN 978-2-7609-2828-2)
In this gripping and beautifully spare novel, Aki Shimazaki opens a window onto a painful episode of history. The economical, polished writing advances relentlessly toward a conclusion, from which, almost magically, pure emotion springs forth – and the reader is made the richer by the experience.
Poetry
Normand de Bellefeuille, Sainte-Pétronille (Quebec), Mon nom. (Éditions du Noroît; distributed by Diffusion Dimédia) (ISBN 978-2-89018-655-2)
Normand de Bellefeuille's Mon nom is a contemporary reflection on poetry. In this first volume of his « chroniques de l'effroi » (tales of terror), the author tackles his language and identity. In its formal arrangement and thematic cohesiveness, the collection attests to research that guides the reader to the origins of poetic creation.
René Lapierre, Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu (Quebec), Traité de physique. (Les Herbes rouges; distributed by Diffusion Dimédia) (ISBN 978-2-89419-280-1)
The poetry in this collection accords a sense of observation to the scientific mind and abolishes the boundary between genres. The emotional charge of memory combines with sumptuous descriptions of landscapes and the things of the world. In this treatise on physics, a veritable poetic art, he formulates fundamental questions on the human condition.
Hélène Monette, Montreal, Thérèse pour joie et orchestre. (Les Éditions du Boréal; distributed by Diffusion Dimédia) (ISBN 978-2-7646-0625-4)
In Thérèse pour joie et orchestre, Hélène Monette draws on the pain of the loss of her sister to give renewed life to a unique sisterly love. Intuitively, the author calls upon elements of counterculture to imbue this musical suite with a fascinating rhythm.
Philippe More, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu (Quebec), Brouillons pour un siècle abstrait. (Poètes de brousse; distributed by Messageries ADP) (ISBN 978-2923338-20-0)
This vehement poetry expresses rebellion against death with tragic fervour. Hoarse and abrupt, the voice, exasperated with the erosion of the body, denounces the incurable disease of life and the powerlessness of man to assume the threat of his extinction. A cry of anguish in poems, a voice that catches its breath with emotion.
André Roy, Montreal, Les espions de Dieu. (Les Herbes rouges; distributed by Diffusion Dimédia) (ISBN 978-2-89419-282-5)
Les espions de Dieu – the spies of God – remind the living that the poet is a mortal gifted with heightened lucidity. André Roy looks with compassion on the lives of the men and women who have given their name to poetry. A book of pagan prayers, this collection renews with the fate of these martyrs.
Drama
Evelyne de la Chenelire, Montreal, Les pieds des anges. (Leméac Éditeur; distributed by Socadis) (ISBN 978-2-7609-0407-1)
Les pieds des anges is a tale of luminous beauty. Evelyne de la Chenelière writes with eloquent restraint of the confusion of a generation that has lost its way. Her work, filled with a real compassion for humanity, has the bittersweet taste of lost happiness and the striking power of a language that is unique, critical and intelligent.
François Godin, Montreal, Je suis d'un would be pays. (Leméac Éditeur; distributed by Socadis) (ISBN 978-2-7609-0406-4)
François Godin has produced a sensitive and keenly intelligent play. His fluid, thoughtful writing draws us along on an intense journey into the self. The reader is quick to identify with the pain of the character, and his wanderings become the reflection of a universal malaise.
Olivier Kemeid, Montreal, L'Énéide. (Lansman Éditeur; distributed by Diffusion Dimédia) (ISBN 978-2-87282-659-9)
A transposition of Virgil's epic poem into modern times, this portrait of people uprooted by war becomes highly relevant in Olivier Kemeid's hands. His characters are very moving in the nobility of their ideals, and his text is imbued with the beauty of tragedy.
Louis-Dominique Lavigne, Montreal, Glouglou. (Dramaturges Éditeurs; distributed by Diffusion Dimédia) (ISBN 978-2-89637-008-5)
Louis-Dominique Lavigne has written a fascinating, luminous and audacious work. His play for toddlers not only addresses themes that are part of their immediate universe, it reflects on the passage of time, old age and death; on life, as it unfolds. Glouglou is the work of an author with a perfect mastery of his art.
Suzanne Lebeau, Montreal, Le bruit des os qui craquent. (Leméac Éditeur; distributed by Socadis) (ISBN 978-2-7609-0408-8)
In simple, direct language, Suzanne Lebeau delivers a riveting and shocking story that takes an uncompromising look at the visible and invisible scars of violence and war. The author traces the tragic journey of Elikia, a devastated girl, held captive and forced to become a soldier.
Non-fiction
Djemila Benhabib, Gatineau (Quebec), Ma vie à contre-Coran : une femme témoigne sur les islamistes. (VLB éditeur; distributed by Les messageries ADP) (ISBN 978-2-89649-059-2)
The author looks at the phenomenon of Muslim fundamentalism with courage, clear-sightedness and maturity. She gives scathing analyses of the political and religious powers that have taken hold in Algeria since independence, and condemns the attacks on basic freedoms of thought, expression and intellectual, artistic and sexual practices.
Nicole V. Champeau , Ottawa,
Pointe Maligne : l'infiniment oubliée. (Les Éditions du Vermillon; distributed by Prologue) (
ISBN
978-1-897058-74-9)
When there are no longer words to sustain the drama of the disappearance of the settlements and inhabitants of the Amerindian and French founding nations around Cornwall (Pointe Maligne), when words do not suffice, Nicole V. Champeau resorts to poetry, as do all the great writers of humanity.
Claude Fournier, Saint-Paul-d'Abbotsford (Quebec), À force de vivre : mémoires. (Éditions Libre Expression; distributed by Les messageries ADP) (ISBN 978-2-7648-0339-4)
Through the many events that have marked his full life, filmmaker Claude Fournier has produced a book filled with emotion, the saga of an era. Neither simple autobiography nor essay on a changing world, his work is, as the title suggests, a tribute to memory.
Céline Lafontaine, Montréal, La société postmortelle : la mort, l'individu et le lien social à l'ère des communications. (Éditions du Seuil; distributed by Diffusion Dimédia) (ISBN 978-2-02-085953-0)
This book is an implacable argument for reconsidering our attitudes about the end of life and for empowering ourselves, not as beings dispossessed, but as reconciled with mortality and with the inherent solitude of the human condition, fully assumed until the end of life.
Charles Le Blanc, Gatineau (Quebec), Le complexe d'Hermès : regards philosophiques sur la traduction. (Les Presses de l'Université d'Ottawa; distributed by Prologue) (ISBN 978-2-7603-3038-2)
Hermes, messenger of the gods, never spoke on his own behalf. Likewise the translator is a portal for text, transmitting the words from the creators, the authors, to their public. A brilliant and rich reflection of vast cultural erudition, this book is a philosophical meditation on the work of translation, expressed in impeccably-mastered language.
Children's Literature – Text
Jocelyn Boisvert, Hâvre-aux-Maisons (Quebec), Mort et déterré. (Soulières éditeur; distributed by Diffusion du livre Mirabel) (ISBN 978-2-89607-084-8)
Jocelyn Boisvert takes us inside the head of a zombie whose many captivating escapades give a whole new meaning to the expression "love you to death." The author skilfully intertwines comedy and tragedy, leading us on an adventure in the afterlife filled with amusing and surprising situations.
Hervé Bouchard, Saguenay (Quebec), Harvey. (Les Éditions de la Pastèque; distributed by Socadis) (ISBN 978-2-922585-67-4)
In this extremely moving story, Hervé Bouchard creates a universe of innocence, poetry and depth. The nuanced settings, the characters and the delicately woven tale conjure a disquieting and fascinating atmosphere. The author takes the risk of surprising us, buoyed by beautifully-written and highly-personal language.
Pierre Chartray and Sylvie Rancourt, Longueuil (Quebec), Simon et le chasseur de dragons. (Éditions du CHU Sainte-Justine; distributed by Diffusion Prologue) (ISBN 978-2-89619-135-2)
Pierre Chartray and Sylvie Rancourt have penned a moving allegory in this sensitive approach to a very difficult subject: the death of a loved one. This simple, tender story draws us into the terrible battle against a fatal disease via the metaphor of a brave knight who must ward off evil dragons.
Michèle Laframboise, Toronto, La quête de Chaaas, tome 2 – Les vents de Tammerlan. (Éditions Médiaspaul; distributed by Diffusion Prologue) (ISBN 978-2-89420-772-7)
This captivating novel by Michèle Laframboise strays from the well-worn paths of science fiction. While conserving the essential elements of the genre, the author's subtle, at times poetic, prose creates moving and colourful images and gives life to complex, lovable characters.
Matthieu Simard, Montreal, Pavel, épisode 1 – Plus vivant que toutes les pornstars réunies. (Les éditions de la courte échelle; distributed by Diffusion du livre Mirabel) (ISBN 978-2-89651-004-7)
In his inimitable style, blending irony, dark humour, powerful images and a keen sensitivity, Matthieu Simard expresses all the loneliness, sorrow and vulnerability of his teenage hero. His work is highly contemporary, dynamic and right on target.
Children's Literature – Illustration
Philippe Béha, Montreal, Ulysse et Pénélope, text by Louise Portal. (Éditions Hurtubise HMH; distributed by the publisher) (ISBN 978-2-89647-118-8)
A deliciously joyful book. The luminous pictures in orange and blue convey the sun and the sea in this story inspired by Greek mythology. The illustrator succeeds in creating stylized characters in evocative, symbolic compositions.
Gérard DuBois, Saint-Lambert (Quebec), Henri au jardin d'enfants, text by Gérard DuBois. (Éditions du Seuil; distributed by Diffusion Dimedia) (ISBN 978-2-02-098231-3)
This book seems to invite us into a children's playground; in reality, it carries us much farther, through the book itself and straight into the world of the imagination. Through the images, the illustrator reveals all the astonishing things that can happen with a kiss. An exceptional book in its research and design qualities.
Janice Nadeau, Montreal, Harvey, text by Hervé Bouchard. (Les Éditions de la Pastèque; distributed by Socadis) (ISBN 978-2-922585-67-4)
The theme of death, narrated and illustrated in the mind of a child. The tone of the illustrations matches the text so faithfully that it is hard to believe they were not the creation of a single mind. Almost three stories in one, with three treatments that make for a harmonious whole. The characters are richly drawn, and the humour, sadness and friendship are magnificently expressed.
Pierre Pratt, Montreal, L'étoile de Sarajevo, text by Jacques Pasquet. (Dominique et compagnie, a division of Éditions Héritage; distributed by Messageries ADP, groupe Sogides) (ISBN 978-2-89512-572-3)
The textured treatment and contrasts of the illustrations accurately portray the mood of young Amina as she tells her story. The illustrator has done a wonderful job of rendering the atmospheres of Sarajevo. The enormous, heavy masses of the bombed city evoke sorrow, while the luminous green park at the end of the book is a sign of hope.
Rogé (Roger Girard), Montreal, La vraie histoire de Léo Pointu, text by Rogé. (Dominique et compagnie, a division of Éditions Héritage; distributed by Messageries ADP, groupe Sogides) (ISBN 978-2-89512-660-7 (bound) / 978-2-89512-661-4 (paper)
This visual gem, full of fantasy and rich in colour, is a delight for the eyes. In luminous tones, the illustrator tells an amusing story where tradition is confronted with modern "progress." Droll, original characters punctuate this story filled with quirky detail and original compositions.
Translation – English to French
Sylvie Nicolas, Quebec City, Lundi sans faute. (Les Éditions Québec Amérique; distributed by Diffusion Prologue) (ISBN 978-2-7644-0650-2) French translation of Right Away Monday by Joel Thomas Hynes (Harper Perennial, a division of HarperCollins Publishers)
Lundi sans faute is an excellent translation of a text that is difficult both linguistically and stylistically. Sylvie Nicolas has rendered the dialogue in all its diversity, with great sensitivity and lightness of touch – a feat that enables us to appreciate the work of this young writer from Newfoundland.
Paule Noyart, Bromont (Quebec), Le miel d'Harar. (Leméac Éditeur / Actes Sud; distributed by Diffusion Prologue) (ISBN 978-2-7609-2680-6) French translation of Sweetness in the Belly by Camilla Gibb (Anchor Canada)
The challenge of translating the intricacies of a language that in its original form espouses the subtle meanders of a transcultural journey has been remarkably met by Paule Noyart. The success of this kind of endeavour is proof of the artistry of translation.
Hélène Rioux, Montreal, Certitudes. (XYZ éditeur; distributed by Distribution HMH) (ISBN 978-2-89261-528-9) French translation of Certainty by Madeleine Thien (McClelland & Stewart)
Certitudes is an excellent translation that allows francophone readers to discover a magnificent novel. Hélène Rioux has done a superb job in capturing the individual quests of the characters, the powerful pathos of the story and the richness emanating from cultural differences.
Lori Saint-Martin and Paul Gagné, Montreal, Cartes postales de l'enfer. (Les Éditions du Boréal; distributed by Diffusion Dimédia) (ISBN 978-2-7646-0643-8) French translation of The Soul of All Great Designs by Neil Bissoondath (Cormorant Books)
The most astonishing thing for the reader of a translation is to feel like they're reading the book in its original language. This is the case with Cartes postales de l'enfer, an amazingly accurate and inventive translation of Neil Bissoondath's novel.
Lori Saint-Martin and Paul Gagné, Montreal, La veuve. (Les Éditions du Boréal; distributed by Diffusion Dimédia) (ISBN 978-2-7646-0657-5) French translation of The Outlander by Gil Adamson (House of Anansi Press)
Translators Lori Saint-Martin and Paul Gagné have drawn on an extensive vocabulary to render the atmosphere and complex textures of this highly evocative novel. They've accomplished this feat with vigour, creating a translation that is both audacious and faithful to the original.
The peer assessment committees
The finalists for the Governor General's Literary Awards are chosen by peer assessment committees (seven English and seven French categories) appointed by the Canada Council. The committees, which meet separately, consider all eligible books published between September 1, 2008 and September 30, 2009 for English-language books and between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009 for French-language books. This year, 884 titles in the English-language categories and 657 titles in the French-language categories were submitted.
English-language committees
Fiction: Judy Fong Bates (Campbellford, ON), Wayne Johnston (Toronto), Shaena Lambert (Vancouver)
Poetry: Janice Kulyk Keefer (Toronto), George Murray (St. John's, NL), John Pass (Madeira Park, BC)
Drama: Sally Clark (Vancouver), Bruce McManus (Winnipeg), Drew Hayden Taylor (Curve Lake, ON)
Non-fiction: Stephen Kimber (Halifax), Ross A. Laird (Delta, BC), Nelofer Pazira (Toronto)
Children's Literature – Text: Tomson Highway (Noëlville, ON), Pamela Porter (North Saanich, BC), Alice Walsh (Lower Sackville, NS)
Children's Literature – Illustration: Kyrsten Brooker (Edmonton), Laura Jolicoeur-Simon (Dartmouth, NS), Leo Yerxa (Ottawa)
Translation: Betty Bednarski (Halifax), Rhonda Mullins (Montreal), John Murrell (Calgary)
French-language committees
Fiction: Marie-Célie Agnant (Montreal), Daniel Poliquin (Parrsboro, NS), Pierre Samson (Montreal)
Poetry: Carole David (Montreal), Paul Chanel Malenfant (Rimouski, QC), Benoît Doyon-Gosselin (Quebec City)
Drama: Marie-Christine Lê Huu (Montreal), Pierre-Yves Lemieux (Montreal), Robert Marinier (Ottawa)
Non-fiction: François Bugingo (Montreal), Madeleine Gagnon (Montreal), Roland Le Huenen (Toronto)
Children's Literature – Text: Charlotte Gingras (Morin-Heights, QC), Daniel Marchildon (Penetanguishene, ON), Jean-Michel Schembré (Sainte-Brigitte-de-Laval, QC)
Children's Literature – Illustration: Sylvie Daigneault (Toronto), Virginie Egger (Montreal), Rafael Sottolichio (Montreal)
Translation: Jean Antonin Billard (Roxton Falls, QC), Anne Malena (Edmonton), Sophie Voillot (Montreal)
Media contact:
Grace Thrasher
Arts Promotion Coordinator
1-800-263-5588 or (613) 566-4414, ext. 5145
Email this contact
Carole Breton
Public Relations Officer
1-800-263-5588 or (613) 566-4414, ext. 4523
Email this contact
Interviews with authors, translators and illustrators:
English-language:
Diane Hargrave
416-467-9954, ext. 104
dhprbks@interlog.com
Christopher DiRaddo
514-842-5087
Cell phone: 514-806-5087
diraddo@videotron.ca
French language:
Mireille Bertrand
418-828-0481
Cell phone: 514-652-6085
mireillebertrand@sympatico.ca
Virginie Perron
450-933-3496
v.perron@videotron.qc.ca
