CBC Books has released a longlist for Canada Reads 2026, which is "looking for one book to build bridges. Stories connect us to different people, places and perspectives. The collection of titles for 2026 showcase the power storytelling has to inspire, connect and grow--together."
For Canada Reads, five Canadian celebrities each pick one book they believe all Canadians should read, then debate their choices over the course of four days, voting to eliminate one every day. The last book standing is the winner. Every year, CBC Books reveals a longlist before the final contenders are named. Canada Reads will air this year's edition from April 13 to 16. See the longlisted titles here.
---
Marilyn Booth has won the Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation for her translation of Honey Hunger by Zahran Alqasmi (Hoopoe Fiction/the American University in Cairo Press). With an award of £3,000 (about $4,000), the prize is administered by the Society of Authors.
Organizers said that "Honey Hunger takes you to the remote highland landscapes of Oman and the story of Azzan, a beekeeper who retreats into the mountains to rebuild his life and hives. As Azzan becomes immersed in nature and beekeeping, he forms bonds with fellow honey hunters and a lyrical story of loss, addiction, resilience, healing and the fragile balance of human and nature unfolds. This novel is exceptional not only for its beautiful evocative prose but for its exploration of the taboo topic of addiction in rural Oman and for its vital ecological theme."
Judges praised the book for "its exquisite language and style in translation and on account of the significance of the themes explored in the novel (love, addiction, environment), and the fresh perspective the Omani voice and setting brings to bear on them."
Kay Heikkinen was named a runner up for the prize for her translation of Radwa Ashour's trilogy, Granada: The Complete Trilogy (also published by Hoopoe Fiction/AUC Press). Heikkinen wins £1,000 (about $1,333).
Organizers said that Granada "chronicles the destruction of Moorish Spain following the conquest of Granada by Spain's Catholic monarchs in 1492, and tells the story of the Muslims who remained in Andalusia, who struggled to maintain faith and hope in a possible future. It narrates a community's effort to comprehend what has happened to them, and of their valiant but ultimately unsuccessful efforts to resist the destruction of their identity."