Throughout the week, CBC host, Bill Richardson, has been setting the scene for this year’s Canada Reads “battle of books.” Celebrity panellists have “lobbied, cajoled and tried to sway each other in favour of the book they’re defending.” One of the five books has been voted off the list each day with the final Canada Reads title being the survivor.

Community and Cultural Affairs Minister Elmer MacFadyen expressed his thanks to the publishers of the volumes and to the CBC “We are delighted to see this event continue in support of the value of reading. We know from experience that Canada Reads has made an impressive impact on people’s interest in Canadian fiction and the donation from the publishers of the 2005 selections is a welcome addition to the provincial library service.”

The additional copies of the books have been added to AbbyCat, the library catalogue, and have been rushed to a number of libraries across the province.

This year’s panellists are Donna Morrissey, prize-winning novelist screenplay right, Molly Johnson, well-known pop artist; Olivia Chow, active and vocal Toronto City councillor; Roch Carrier, one of Canada’s celebrated authors and until recently, Canada’s National Librarian; and Sherraine MacKay, Canada’s top Olympic fencer and World Cup medal winner. The five books chosen include current and recent popular fiction. Detailed information on the selections and the program can be found at www.canadareads.cbc.ca.

Publishers who have presented additional copies of their books are Cormorant Books, McClelland & Stewart, University of Toronto Press, Women’s Press, and Random House.