The Canadian Book Challenge 4- 11th Roundup

We're almost there folks! One month left to go. How's the progress going? Have you completed your 13 already, now just adding in a few more for good measure? Or are you going to cram like there's no tomorrow to make sure you get there? Don't stress it! If you come up short this time around, there's always the 5th edition just around the corner.

A few weeks ago I asked you all to take a vote on the next logo, and the winner was obvious:



So there you have it. Steal it, post about it, add it to your sidebar, start thinking of those titles you're planning to tackle. See if you can't recruit a few more to the party. (And if you're curious as to all the titles worked into the logo, they're a little more clear in my new blog wallpaper.)

Remember, if you haven't signed up yet, simply email me with the subject "Sign Me Up" at jmutford [at] hotmail (dot) com. And authors/publishers/booksalespeople-- I'm still in need of books as prizes!!!

Also consider joining the Under the Midnight Sun Read-a-thon on July 2nd (Canadian titles only)! (Details here.)



Back to May for a second. if you'll remember I challenged people to read Canadian books with a Japanese connection last month, promising that if we could hit ten titles I'd donate $200 to the Red Cross for the Earthquake relief efforts. If we did less than 10 books, I said it would be $10 per book. Well, looks like we came up a little short but thanks to Kate and Niranjana, both of whom reviewed Skim by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki, Wanda who reviewed Deirdre Dwyer's The Breath The Lightens The Body, and Shannon who reviewed Darcy Tamayose's Odori, I'll be donating $50 (I also include my review of Nils Andrew Thompson's Looking For Momo in Tomo Domo).

But, I hope you're not all charitied out, because, as you know, there's been a lot going on right here at home in these past few weeks. Floods and fires, it's been a lot to take in. But one that struck a particularly loud chord with me, as I know it will with all of you, seeing as we're all readers, was the Slave Lake Public Library burning to the ground:

Absolutely terrible. I've been in contact with Deborah Kendze, the library manager, and she gave me some directions on how we can help (these instructions are also available on their website):

Donations of new or nearly new books (no more than two years old) can be shipped to Peace Library System headquarters where they will be catalogued, processed and stored until a temporary library opens in Slave Lake. Please ship prepaid to:

Peace Library System
8301 – 110 Street
Grande Prairie, AB T8W 6T2

ATTN: Books for Slave Lake Library



We are grateful for the many book donations that have been promised to the library and have heard from many organizations who are holding fundraising efforts on our behalf. At this time, donations in the form of money are preferred. We will likely need items other than just books to set up the temporary location.

Cash donations can be made by clicking on the “Make a Donation” link on the left hand side of [the Slave Lake Library Website].If you prefer to send a cheque, please make it payable to the "Slave Lake Regional Library Board" and mail to :

Peace Library System
8301 – 110 Street
Grande Prairie, AB T8W 6T2

So, there you have it. It looks like they prefer money at this time, but for those of you joining the 5th Canadian Book Challenge and were hoping to theme your 13 selections somehow, how about having a Slave Lake Donations Theme? Pick 13 Canadian books published in the past 2 years, and as you finish each one off, send it off to the good folks of Slave Lake, Alberta.

Now, one month to go and one more round of prizes. Next month, I'll be picking randomly from all of you that managed to read and review 13 books or more, for a prize pack of 13 gently used mystery books, one from each province and territory.

And finally, while we're all gathered here today: the roundup. What Canadian books did you read and review in May? Let everyone know in the comments below.

Remember:
- Make sure you tell me how many you've completed so far so that I can record it in the sidebar progress report
- It doesn't count as complete until the review is done!
- When people leave links, try to visit one another's blogs and read what they had to say. Comment. Encourage. The discussion of Canadian books is what this challenge is all about.