The Giller Prize was awarded last night. The Giller provides a list of the top Canadian fiction writers for the year. The winner may not always be the most interesting, but the list of writers posted may have some that I might enjoy reading.

This year's 2010 Scotiabank Giller Prize winner is Johanna Skibsrud's The Sentimentalist.

It gets a great deal of publicity. There are 246 news articles listed on Google News. At my local library, but there are already 8 holds on the book before it even arrives.

Johanna Skibsrud, aged 30, of Montreal, is the youngest-ever Giller recipient and picked up the $50,000 book prize. Skibsrud grew up in Pictou County, N.S.

There appears to be a shortage of the winner's book. Gaspereau Press can only print about 1,000 books a week. Gaspereau's headquarters are in Kentville, N.S. The publisher noted that readers can download the book onto an ereader if they are desperate to get it right away. It is not available at my local Coles Book Store.

online price: $18.44
eBook: $9.89

Other finalists on short list:
This Cake is for the Party by Toronto's Sarah Selecky
Light Lifting by Alexander MacLeod of Dartmouth, N.S.
(Son of author Alistair MacLeod.)
The Matter With Morris by Winnipeg's David Bergen
(I've read one of his previous novels.)
Annabel by Montreal-based Kathleen Winter.

The long list of Giller finalists:
David Bergen The Matter With Morris
Douglas Coupland Player One
Michael Helm Cities of Refuge
Alexandar MacLeod Light Lifting
Avner Mandelman The Debba
Tom Rachman The Imperfectionists
Sarah Selecky This Cake is for the Party
Johanna Skibsrud The Sentimentalists
Cordelia Strube Lemon
Joan Thomas Curiosity
Jane Urquhart Sanctuary Line
Dianne Warren Cool Water
Kathleen Winter Annabel