Conceit

Conceit (Random House of Canada, 2007) by Mary Novik
Mary Novik's journey to 17th-century London, England, had many readers, including Heather Walter, swooning. In her nomination, she writes:
"I recommend Conceit because it is far and away the best and most ambitious novel on a literary theme that I have read."
Accolades: Conceit took home the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, awarded annually to the best book of fiction by a B.C. author, and was a Scotiabank Giller Prize finalist. The Globe and Mail declared it a must-read, citing that "reading Conceit is like settling into a multi-course feast that shifts your ideas of food, of the wonders that art can conjure from the staples of life."

This book could have been great but it veered off a little and got a little off topic, I found.  I would have liked it to have focused more on the present time and not to have been so literal in assuming that you knew where the author was going.

Elle

Elle (Goose Lane Editions, 2003) by Douglas Glover
This 16th-century romp is nothing short of brilliant, according to the many readers who recommended it to Canada Reads. Bethany Gibson writes:
"It's brilliant. Lusty and scary and smart and energetic, a true stand-out in Canadian fiction."
Accolades: Elle scored the Governor General's Award for Fiction and was a finalist for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize.

Loved this book.  Didn't think I could like a book about a woman turning into a bear, but surprisingly, I really did.

Bottle Rocket Hearts

Bottle Rocket Hearts (Cormorant Books, 2007) by Zoe Whittall
This coming-of-age tale set in 1995 Montreal has it all: love, sex, a referendum and a large, devoted fan base. In his reader recommendation, Michel Sauve wrote:
"I read through this book so fast, it was like drinking a glass of water. It speaks so poignantly of queer life in Montreal during the referendum, that I felt like I had lived the story myself. It's witty, wry and insightful. A must-read!"
Accolades: Zoe Whittall's debut novel took home the Dayne Ogilive Grant Award and won rave reviews, including from the Globe and Mail, which wrote, "Zoe Whittall might just possibly be the cockiest, brashest, funniest, toughest, most life-affirming, elegant, scruffy, no-holds-barred writer to emerge from Montreal since Mordecai Richler." (The book's film rights have also been optioned, so keep your eyes peeled for a movie version in the near future!)

Good read.  Felt like I was really there in the action of Quebec in the 90's.

Inside

Inside (Random House of Canada, 2006) by Kenneth J. Harvey
This unflinching story of a newly released ex-con's adjustment to life on the outside in a rough neighbourhood of St. John's was reader Craig Pyette's pick. He wrote: "Inside is the most effectively innovative and emotionally pointed Canadian novel of the decade. No boredom, stock characters or unlikely nonsense here. It's as precise as a needle in the bone — and after it's finished you feel it for just about as long."
Accolades: Critics and award juries obviously like 'em tough. Inside won the Rogers Writers' Trust Prize and the BMO Winterset Award and was a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller. It was also named one of the top books of the year by Quill & Quire and the Globe and Mail among other media outlets.

Really enjoyed this book.  It was written with very short sentences that were a little tough to get used to but very easy to read.  Liked the open ended ending.