Prince Edward County loves Canadian literature and there is no better proof of that than the crowd that showed up for the kick-off event of the 2017 Author’s Festival. This was the eighth anniversary of The County Reads event. Like CBC’s popular Canada Reads competition, The County Reads is a book debate, featuring five books being defended by five members of the community.
This was the first year the library was involved in planning and organizing the event, and while the evening was a great success, we know we are indebted to Anne Preston, who started this wonderful literary event. Anne has retired from organizing it this year to focus on other projects and obligations, but we thank her for seven wonderful years of bringing Canadian literature to the County.
We would also like to thank Exultet Estates wines for donating wine and Lia Spinosa for pouring. The night would not have been the same without them!
The night was a fabulous evening of discussion about Canadian literature, but, of course, at the end of the evening, one book rose above the rest and was declared the winner.
Etta and Otto and Russell and James
Emma Hooper
82-year-old Etta has never seen the ocean. Early one morning she takes a rifle, some chocolate, and her best boots, and begins walking the 3,232 kilometres from rural Saskatchewan to Halifax. Her husband wakes to a note left on the kitchen table; his oldest friend, who has loved Etta from afar for 60 years, insists on finding her, wherever she’s gone.
Defended by Monica Alyea, Hooper’s novel was announced the winner of the County Reads 2017. While we’re thrilled that this book won the competition, The County Reads is not about which book wins and which lose; it’s about getting people reading and talking about great Canadian literature. We are thrilled to have accomplished this goal.