Canada Reads panelist Michel Vézina told us that while he was in Scotland, on his 33rd birthday, he actually saw the Loch Ness monster. How many of us can make such a claim? This inspired our poll last week where we asked which "mythological" creature you would most like to see.

As of last Friday, the mischievous leprechaun was in the lead (28 per cent) with the unicorn gaining fast on his little green heels (26 per cent). Bigfoot was dead last (6 per cent). Since Bigfoot is a friend of the CBC Book Club, and a Canadian, I thought it was only fair to let him know how he was doing.

His first reaction was vivid and quick "Catch Leprechaun. He give wishes. First his eyes burst, second get chew on by dog, three he die. Hate Leprechauns."

Bigfoot used his Twitter account @hellobigfoot, and sent out this call for action: "Please destroy other beautiful creature for Bigfoot glory."

And within 30 minutes, Bigfoot had literally squashed the competition. The end result: Bigfoot won with 54 per cent wanting to meet him. The leprechaun and unicorns managed to tie at 14 per cent, followed by mermaids (10 per cent) and dragons (8 per cent).

Was this an abuse of the polling system? I think not (who's going to argue with Bigfoot?). When I tweeted him for a response to his victory, he responded with the chilling ...

"Do not taunt Bigfoot."

Congratulations to Gudrun Masschelein of Ailsa Craig, Ontario, for winning the books and tote bag in the Canada Reads weekly contest. Don't forget to send in your entry for February's Make a Pitch Contest for a chance to win a Sony Reader Digital Book.

By now, some of you have finished all five of the 2010 Canada Reads titles. So let's start talking, shall we? Join our five intrepid moderators to discuss the books. Get involved here.

Rosie@CBC has the goods on Good to a Fault by Marina Endicott.
Barb@CBC is on hand to discuss Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald.
Andrea@CBC fully discloses for Generation X by Douglas Coupland.
Kimberly@CBC unpacks Nikolski by Nicolas Dickner.
Angela@CBC covers, from cover to cover, The Jade Peony by Wayson Choy.

If you have a CBC account, you're good to go. Sign in and start chatting! If not, it's a simple one-time process. Go to the CBC Member Centre, fill in a few fields, and voila, you're on your way.

I'll be there, too, checking in and adding my two cents. For instance, Rosie@CBC is of the mind that Good to a Fault is one of the lesser known books on the list because it's newer. See what I had to say to that over here.

Fun on a bun. Hope you join us!

And, hey, in my recent podcast with Sean Cranbury, I mentioned a quote. I couldn't remember it all at the time, which drove me batty afterward, so here it is in its entirety, a lovely testament to the p-book (Paper book) and reminder of why it really is the perfect technology.

"A book is a human-powered film projector (complete with feature film) that advances at a speed fully customized to the viewer's mood or fancy. This rare harmony between object and user arises from the minimal skills required to manipulate a bound sequence of pages. Each piece of paper embodies a corresponding instant of time which remains frozen until liberated by the act of turning a page." — John Maeda, Reactive Square

Julie "Let's get ready to rumble!" Wilson
(a.k.a. @BookMadam)

Literary Thunder Bay offers up a Canada Reads debate with a Thunder Bay twist.

Let It Read has posted its Canada Reads Book Club: Update #2 on The Jade Peony. More love for Wayson Choy's book can be found at the Keepin' It Real Book Club. @hfxlibrarian is defending The Jade Peony in a local Canada Reads gathering before the on-air debates begin in what they're calling a Nova Scotian Canada Reads 2010 Preview. They'll duke it out and come up with their Canada Reads selection! Bring it on!

Over at A Certain Bent Appeal, Bronwyn Reads Generation X by Douglas Coupland.

Many of you have been chatting about the books on Facebook and Twitter, but now you can join the moderated discussion on the Canada Reads site.

We're also starting to hear word of events coming up across the nation. Stay posted for details and send us news of your own happenings.

Give me your contests, your challenges,
Your themed events with special VIPs,
The well-penned blog posts of your online world,
Send these, the tidbits, internet-tost to me,
I keep my eyes peeled for glorious details!

Regards,
Kimberly "Stick to Your Day Job" Walsh
(a.k.a. @AliasGrace)