Jeanne Beker, championing Forgiveness, wins Canada Reads 2018

And then there was one: Jeanne Beker is the winner of Canada Reads 2018, with the book she defended, Forgiveness by Mark Sakamoto,survivingthe final elimination vote on March 29, 2018.

• Canada Reads 2018 finale

The fashion icon and TV host successfully presented her case about why the memoirwhich followsSakamoto's maternal grandfather asa Prisoner of War in Japan during the Second World War while his paternal Japanese-Canadian grandmother isinterned in Canada is the one book that will open Canada's eyes.

Bekerultimately bested runner-up American War,Omar El Akkad'sdystopiannovel which was defended by actor TahmohPenikett. Beker won in a 3-2 vote on the final day.

• Find out how the voting broke down throughoutthe week

"Forgivenesssheds light on a shameful chapter in our history, but it also shows us that healing is possible with tolerance and compassion. The message for Canadians is a timely one: forgive in order to move forward, but never, ever forget," Beker said during the four-day event.

Forgiveness Trailer

7 years ago

Duration 0:58

Canada Reads trailer for Mark Sakamoto's Forgiveness.

Until the final day, Forgiveness was the only book that did not have an elimination vote placed against it.Bekerwas passionate over the four days as she connected her own personal experience as the child of Holocaust survivors to the book and how it contains a universal message about personal compassion, understandingand a willingness to help heal the world.

• Why Jeanne Beker thinks Forgiveness is the 'one book to open your eyes'

"It is these stories that make us who we are and it is these stories we can glean so much from. And because this is a memoir, Mark Sakamoto's book tells the true story of two living, breathing people," Jeanne Bekersaid on Day Three of the debates.

• Canada Reads panellist Jeanne Beker and Forgiveness author Mark Sakamoto get to know each other

This year's debates werecentredon the theme of one book to open your eyes. As Bekersaid during the week, the memoir sheds light on a chapter of history that all Canadians can learn from.

"Thisis the book for Canadians. This is the book that will open your mind and your heart. This is a book about soldiering on through personal wars, [and also]aboutwhat it has to teach us about what happened in this nation," Bekersaid on Day One of the debates.

• Why Mark Sakamoto's father got emotional reading his son's memoir Forgiveness

The other three books were eliminated earlier in the week. The Boat People by Sharon Balawas eliminated on Day One, followed by Craig Davidson's Precious Cargo on Day Two and Cherie Dimaline'sThe Marrow Thieves on Day Three.

All three were cast off in tight votes, after being passionately defended by their respectivepanellists:Mozhdah Jamalzadah, Greg Johnson and Jully Black.

It was a week full of agreement for the literary merit of all the contending books, but also featured some reasoned exchanges and criticisms.

This year's show was hosted by Ali Hassan.

'I believe so passionately in Mark's book:' Jeanne Beker and Mark Sakamoto on Canada Reads

7 years ago

Duration 1:57

Canada Reads 2018 champion Sakamoto and his winning defender, Fashion TV icon Baker, on the emotional ride of CBC's battle of the books.