Vincent Lam Wins the Giller

As you hopefully all know, Vincent Lam won the Giller Prize Tuesday night for his collection of stories Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures.

The ceremony was broadcast on CTV (during prime time, which is pretty sweet), and bookish types unable to squeeze in at the Four Seasons hung out at the (surprisingly cozy) Steamwhistle Brewery Roundhouse for the Scotia Giller Light Bash.

There's something so endearing about publishing types having a party.

The event raised money for a charity dedicated to promoting literacy, Frontier College, (so impressed was I that I'm going to hunt down the volunteering information) - aside from the ticket price, there were a few raffles going.

We were also entertained (albeit briefly) after the awards show by Chantal Kreviazuk.

Debate over the winner should ensue - is Hage being overlooked because he may win the Governor General? Were the translations shut out because they were, well, French? Does a book that's essentially a treatment for a few episodes of ER/Grey's Anatomy/Scrubs deserve the award? Lam's a doctor, does he even need the prize money?

And of course, Lam's was the only book from a major publisher. I think this whole think is ripe for some serious gossip/debate.

image from flickr.com user Rather Salty