‘Ducks,’ Kate Beaton’s graphic memoir about the oilsands, wins Canada Reads

TORONTO – Kate Beaton’s “Ducks” has won this year’s edition of Canada Reads.

The graphic memoir published last year by Drawn & Quarterly traces Beaton’s two years working in Alberta’s oilsands.

“Jeopardy” super-champion Mattea Roach defended the book during the four-day competition that aired live on CBC Radio.

“Ducks” won the competition Thursday, beating out Emily St. John Mandel’s novel “Station Eleven,” which was championed by actor-director Michael Greyeyes.

“Hotline” by Dimitri Nasrallah, championed by bhangra dancer Gurdeep Pandher, was voted off Wednesday; “Greenwood” by Michael Christie, championed by actress Keegan Connor Tracy, was eliminated Tuesday; and “Mexican Gothic” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, championed by TikToker Tasnim Geedi, didn’t make it past the first day, Monday.

This year’s competition sought to find “one book to shift your perspective.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 30, 2023.

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