The Mind’s Eye: CBC Literary Awards Winners 2001-2006. Toronto, ON: ECW Press, 2008. 242 pp., pbk., $19.95. ISBN 978-1-55022-832-8. Subject Heading: Canadian Literature (English)-21st century. Grades 11 and up / Ages 16 and up. Review by Geneviève M.Y. Valleau. **** /4

As it states in the introduction, this book is a compilation of Canadian writers who have won the CBC Literary Award from 2001 to 2006. This award was established in 1979 by Robert Weaver, who produced such radio shows as CBC Radio’s Anthology and CBC Wednesday Night. This award celebrates Canadian authors, both English and French, who have penned poetry, short stories, and travel writing. Kim Echlin, who wrote the introduction to this particular anthology, notes that esteemed authors such as Michael Ondaatje, Carol Shields and Pierre Turgeon have won this award and writes:

Writers love this competition because entries are read without the authors’ names and judged blind, on the merits of the writing alone. This unique literary competition in both languages is about writing, the beauty of the language, the interest of the subject matter.

     The anthology is divided by year, with each year containing the winner for the Poetry, Short Story, and Travel Writing portion of the award. This particular compilation contains authors such as Rob Winger, Paul Labrèche, Alison Pick, Asa Boxer and Montana Jones.

   This book would be great for aspiring writers, young or old. It would be a terrific resource in an English Literature course in grades 11 and 12, as well as in a first year university or college course. The anthology demonstrates not only what Canadian writers are writing about currently, but also it shows that Canadian literature is still a significant and thriving aspect of Canadian culture. As Echlin comments, “If the best writing tells the truth, as I believe, then this anthology is full of truth....”

Recommended.

Geneviève M.Y. Valleau, who has a Master’s of Arts in Children’s Literature from the University of British Columbia, is currently working on a Master of Library and Information Science.

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