Five contenders were reduced to four on Canada Reads Wednesday morning, with actor Zaib Shaikh providing the killing blow.

The first elimination vote began the broadcast of CBC Radio's annual book battle and appeared headed for an impasse, with the participating celebrity champions each picking a different title to dump.

However, Shaikh ended a four-way tie by adding his vote to that of musician and writer Dave Bidini against Mavis Gallant's From the 15th District.

After literally crying out at the decision, author Lisa Moore, who had advocated Gallant's book, asked her fellow panellists, "But don't you think this is the best writing?"

While Shaikh, Bidini and hip-hop poet Jemini all agreed that Gallant's writing was "beautiful" and "exquisite," they argued that they were not moved by the work overall.

Host Jian Ghomeshi then moved the panellists through a host of other topics, including the importance of social critique in the remaining books and whether a book's timelessness should be a factor in their considerations.

Bidini and Moore both praised the social issues Nalo Hopkinson tackles in Brown Girl in the Ring, Jemini's choice, but each also admitted the writing was not the strongest of the now-four contenders.

Throughout the half-hour broadcast, astronaut Steve MacLean kept up an ongoing defence of his chosen title, Icefields by Thomas Wharton.

In the meantime, Shaikh and Bidini continued to promote their respective picks, Timothy Findley's Not Wanted on the Voyage and Paul Quarrington's King Leary.

The battle continues Thursday with the elimination of another title.

Canada Reads can be heard at 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. (half an hour later in N.L.) on CBC Radio One or downloaded on podcast.