Author Michael Ondaatje won the Governor General’s Literary Award today for his novel Divisadero.

CBC has a brief report on the award and Ondaatje’s previous wins and nominations.

In June, I reviewed Divisadero by Michael Ondattje. I liked the book, but I was more enthralled by the second half of the story than the first. The first is a modern-day love story and the second is a historical love story. The historical one is written with the same magic that he brought to The English Patient. My full review is here.

And if you want sound instead of text, publisher McClelland & Stewart has a podcast of Ondaatje on BookLounge.ca.

The full list of the Governor General’s award winners for all 14 categories are available on the Canada Council website but I have a short call out to Iain Lawrence of Gabriola Island, BC, who won the English-language children’s literature award for his book Gemini Summer. A local hat’s off.