About the Book Club

The Book Club is a place where book lovers can connect online to meet, chat and share news and views about books. This virtual gathering of avid readers discusses new topics and books each month.

Get involved by responding to our blogs and entering our contests. Write to us anytime. Feel free to Twitter away, too! And don't forget to join our Facebook group. Instead of wine and cheese, we provide the dish, along with videos, blogs, live chats, photos, interviews and more.

Ann Jansen, senior producer

I grew up in a house with few books, on a farm far from any library. Summers were a reading wasteland, so I was always happy to get back to school. Special thanks to my Grade 4 teacher, who had a long shelf of books running the length of her classroom. At the end of the year, she announced that I had read more books than the rest of the class combined, not counting Lori, who'd read half as many as me (hi, Lori). As a grownup, I've worked with authors, playwrights and actors, and have been sent many, many books. I co-founded CBC Radio's Between the Covers and have also directed award-winning radio plays. My luck in working with books has continued during my past four years with Canada Reads.

Barb Carey, associate producer

I was raised on "once upon a time": having a bedtime story read to me (and to my siblings) was a nightly ritual in our house when I was young, and I've been a books person every since. As part of the Canada Reads team, I help prepare and edit material (both audio and print) for the website. Apart from that, I'm a freelance reviewer (mostly for the Toronto Star) and have published three books of poetry. Working on my fourth, but hey, where to find the time?

Hannah Classen, associate producer

I'm one of those readers who thinks that books are the perfect technology -- from the crisp feel of the analog page to its exciting digital future! As part of the CBC Books team, I manage the website and blog for the Book Club. When I'm not crouched behind the computer screen, you can hear me on the radio as a freelancer for CBC Radio One and a few other independent podcasts.