Something calling itself Canada's 100 Greatest Books has appeared on the literary landscape.  It's ostensibly a forthcoming book that promises to wrangle a finite list of fiction and non-fiction written by "Canadian authors and that involve Canada in some capacity". 

Fine.  No problem.  Whatever.  I'll leave the glaring omission of books of poetry and drama to other voices better suited to speak on that matter.

What surprises, even confounds, me is the weak methodology that the organizers are using to cull the data that will apparently reveal "a defining look into the soul of a nation" (yes, I just threw up a little bit in my mouth just there) and "celebrate our rich and colourful literary heritage" (except, of course, for poetry and drama).  Rich and colourful but not too rich and colourful.

And what is the vessel that will help us to determine this defining look into the soul of a nation?

It's gmail.  You know... gmail.

Anyway, here's what I posted on the Facebook Page for Canada's 100 Greatest Books:

"Surely there's a more granular, detailed and transparent way of gathering data about what books Canadians feel should be included on this highly selective poll that excludes poetry and dramatic works (they're not BOOKS apparently. Who knew?).

In an age replete with countless free or almost free polling/voting software available you're relying on emails to a gmail.com account?  Really?  Really really?

Think of all of the information that you can collect about the people who participate. All kinds of cool, interpretable info that would allow Canadians a chance to make up their own minds about what books are important, to whom, where and why.

I think that if you're using the words 'Canada' 'Greatest' and 'Books' in the same sentence then you owe it to the readers and writers of this country to have a more sophisticated and transparent method.

And it would provide much richer data and participation would be more meaningful than various ppl sending emails to a couple of dudes with a gmail account.

Just sayin'."

I guarantee you that the Book Madam & Associates crew could gather some ferocious data from passionate and opinionated readers from coast to coast to coast.

You give us 6 months and a book deal and we'll show you soul.  And it won't be a collection of the usual suspects with attendant commentary, either.

Just sayin'.