Rossland Reads is now headed into its final week, with the four books now down to only two. In the final installment, the two books and their defenders will go head to head for which book is the required reading for Rossland.
Sunday was the second of three meetings at Cafe Books between the Rossland Reads debaters and it was The Golden Spruce that joined When it Rains in the voted off category.
“The crowd actually voted off Begger’s Garden, but then since we allow the panelist’s votes account for two votes, they ended up kicking off The Golden Spruce,” said Tara Howse, who organized the event. “The audience wanted to have the Golden Spruce stay on, meaning Ida (Koric) will have a lot of persuading to do to get them back on her side.”
The Golden Spruce by John Valliant, was being defended by Stew Spooner, whose book lost in another close vote. In fact, the audience had voted to keep the book and it was only the new rule, that defenders had their own vote, that pushed the axe towards Spooner, rather than Ida Koric’s book choice of The Beggar’s Garden by Michael Christie.
Howse said it’s been an interesting debate so far.
“All of the books are so different,” Howse said. “When it rains and The Golden Spruce, you can’t get more opposite ends of the spectrum than that.”
The Golden Spruce centres its story around a majestic tree in Haida Gwaii, telling the history around it and the story of the man who eventually cuts it down, while When it Rains centres around a murder mystery. The other two books are: Treading Water by author Anne DeGrace, defended by Patricia Groulx; When it Rains by Laura Cuthbert, defended by Tracey Billet (voted off in the first week.)
“I think Treading Water is going to be strong because it is such a local book,” she said. “Everyone thought that from the beginning. Anne De Grace actually showed up at our last Rossland Reads session. It was awesome to have her out.”
Howse said they are also open to input from the community on the voting rules and the format with the different books.
The debate will all continue Sunday in the third round at 4 p.m. In Cafe Books West. Come out and cheer for your favourite book. All of the books are available at the Rossland Public Library to borrow or Café Books to buy. To check out the reader’s bios and more on their book choices, visit rosslandreads.wordpress.coms.
Rossland Reads 2012 is a volunteer-run event, sponsored by the Rossland Public Library.