It’s been called Canada’s literary version of Survivor – a competition of wit and endurance to find the country’s favourite book. 

Canada Reads, a week-long CBC Radio series hosted by Jian Ghomeshi, entered its third round on Wednesday. Each year, the competition pulls together a panel of prominent Canadians to vote for Canada’s favourite work of fiction, whittling down the selections over five days until the top novel is chosen.  

This year, actor Jay Baruchel, Olympic wrestler Carol Huynh, Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean, comedian Trent McClellan and historian Charlotte Gray were each assigned a novel from a different region of Canada to defend. By Wednesday, three books were left after Away by Jane Urquhart and The Age of Hope by David Bergen were eliminated earlier in the week.

“It’s time to drill deeper into these books,” Ghomeshi said, introducing Wednesday’s debate.

First on the docket was Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese, a 2012 novel that explores the dark past surrounding First Nations residential schools in B.C. 

“I’ve found that this book really is about truth and metaphor,” said Huynh in defense of her pick. She said that she grew up in a small town in B.C. with a large First Nations population, so she could see her own story in the novel. 

Ghomeshi pointed out that, according to the polls, audiences had been siding with Indian Horse. “Well, your name is pronounced ‘Win,’” Ghomeshi joked, but added that the decision will be left to the panelists. 

Baruchel – known for his roles in Goon and Knocked Up – spoke in defense of Two Solitudes, a 1945 novel from Quebec. A Montrealer himself, Baruchel said the book eloquently explores the concept of “tradition in the face of change” in Quebec’s evolution. 

The last contender, February by Lisa Moore, follows the story of Helen, a woman who loses her husband in the sinking of the Ocean Ranger off the coast of Newfoundland in the 1980s. 

“I discovered that this book encompasses all the other books,” McClellan said. “It has the struggle to find one’s self from Two Solitudes, the haunting language of Away and the emotional perseverance of Indian Horse.”  

The debate was heated. Gray tore into Indian Horse off the bat, saying the book was “black and white” and “two-dimensional” in its portrayal of the relationship between First Nations and white Canadians. 

“It was the most exasperating read,” Gray said. “All I’m asking is ‘Is this a piece of art?’ and I’m suggesting it doesn’t work for me.”

When asked what book had the worst story, Baruchel took a jab at February.

“There was not a fire behind me to keep reading it,” he said.  

McClellan scrunched his face at the comment and launched a counter-attack at Baruchel’s book, Two Solitudes. 

“It was solitude saturation for me. Can someone smile for a minute? Is Quebec this sad place?” McClellan said. The audience laughed. 

When the debate closed, the five panelists were asked to vote out one of the books. It was a tie of 2-2 between Indian Horse and February.

“Is there a chance that we can wrestle for it?” joked Huynh, who has two Olympic medals for wrestling under her belt. 

But in the end, Indian Horse got the axe when McClellan delivered the scale-tipping vote. 

The decision was particularly surprising because, according to a poll of CBC viewers, Indian Horse was the most popular book; 44 per cent of viewers voted for the B.C. novel to win, while February was nipping at its heels with 40 per cent of the votes. 

“I’m very surprised. I feel a little blindsided,” Huynh said after the show wrapped. “I know that two of the other panelists, Jay and Trent, loved Indian Horse as much as I did.”  

On Thursday, the final day of the debate, Two Solitudes and February went head-to-head. After 45 minutes of debate, February won the title of Canada’s favourite book. 

The novel will join the ranks of past winners, including The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill and A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews. While February has already seen a boost in sales since it entered the competition, a surge of new sales is expected since its win. 

February is Lisa Moore’s second novel. Her first work of fiction, Alligator, was nominated for a Giller Prize in 2005.