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Scotiabank Giller Prize - 2007 Longlist
By Rowdy Rhodes
September, 2007, 07:20

September 17, 2007 (Toronto, ON) – The 2007 Scotiabank Giller Prize jury today announced its longlist of books in the running for this year’s prize. The jury selected 15 titles out of a record 108 books submitted by 46 publishers from every region of Canada.

The 2007 jury comprised author and 2005 Scotiabank Giller Prize winner David Bergen, author Camilla Gibb and author, poet and artist Lorna Goodison.

The Scotiabank Giller Prize awards $40,000 annually to the author of the best Canadian novel or short story collection published in English and $2,500 to each of the finalists. The Scotiabank Giller Prize is named in honour of the late literary journalist Doris Giller and was founded in 1994 by her husband Toronto businessman Jack Rabinovitch.

The 2007 Scotiabank Giller Prize longlist is as follows:

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David Chariandy for his novel Soucouyant, Arsenal Pulp Press
ISBN-13: 9781551522265

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Sharon English for her collection of short stories Zero Gravity, The Porcupine’s Quill ISBN 0889842795

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Barbara Gowdy for her novel Helpless, HarperCollins Canada ISBN: 9780002008464

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Elizabeth Hay for her novel Late Nights on Air, McClelland & Stewart ISBN: 9780771038112

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Lawrence Hill for his novel The Book of Negroes, HarperCollins Canada
ISBN: 9780002255073

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Paulette Jiles for her novel Stormy Weather, HarperCollins Canada ISBN: 9780060537326

N/A

D.R. MacDonald for his novel Lauchlin of the Bad Heart, HarperCollins Canada
ISBN: 9781554680634

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Claire Mulligan for her novel The Reckoning of Boston Jim, Brindle & Glass Publishing ISBN: 1897142218

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Mary Novik for her novel Conceit, Doubleday Canada
ISBN: 9780385662055

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Michael Ondaatje for his novel Divisadero, McClelland & Stewart ISBN: 9780771068720

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Daniel Poliquin for his novel A Secret Between Us, trans. Donald Winkler, Douglas & McIntyre
ISBN: 9781553652724

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M.G. Vassanji for his novel The Assassin’s Song, Doubleday Canada
ISBN: 9780385663519

N/A

Michael Winter for his novel The Architects Are Here, Penguin Books Canada ISBN 9780670066278

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Richard Wright for his novel October, HarperCollins Canada, a Phyllis Bruce Book
ISBN: 9780002006897

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Alissa York for her novel Effigy, Random House Canada ISBN: 9780679314738

Of the longlist, the jury writes:

"The books on this year's longlist offer penetrating insights into the human condition through strong narrative, depth of character and moral vision. Historic and contemporary worlds are explored in ways that are novel, humorous, surprising and illuminating."

The shortlist for this year's Scotiabank Giller Prize will be announced at a news conference on Tuesday, October 9 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto. The finalists will be honoured and a winner announced at a gala black tie dinner and awards ceremony to be held on November 6th, 2007.

With Christmas right around the corner you may want to book mark this page and add these excellent reads to your wish list.

Good luck to all of the contenders!