Agatha Christie and her tweeting #Christie fans fought valiantly but J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic The Hobbit reigned supreme and now enters our HCC March Madness Hall of Fame.

Thank you ALL who supported the tournament!

One of you is about to win all 64 books entered in this year’s tournament so check your inboxes and watch our Facebook page for the announcement.

Over the next 7 days readers will choose one book to enter our Hall of Fame and one of you will be chosen to receive the best prize of all: ALL 64 books that began this tournament back on February 28th.

All those weeks ago we had no idea which book would win, and how could we? The field was wide open,containing everything from huge bestsellers (like Water for Elephants, Belong to Me and Silverwing) up and coming literary stars (such as The Day the Falls Stood Still, Lullabies for Little Criminals, Spin) and treasured classics (To Kill a Mockingbird, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, The Corrections).

But, only two remain. After thousands and thousands of votes Agatha Christie and J.R.R. Tolkien will duke it out for the opportunity to enter the Hall of Fame alongside previous winners Susan Juby, James Rollins and Dennis Lehane.

So? Which will it be? The greatest mystery of all-time, Murder on the Orient Express or the novel that stands alone atop the Mt. Rushmore of fantasy, The Hobbit?

The Semi-Finals. Round 5. The Final 4.

No matter what you call it, we’re there. From a field of 64 excellent books you have chosen just four to duke it out for the chance to make it to next week’s Finals. Voting has been tight and whichever book wins it will have earned it’s place in our Hall of Fame.

Just two weeks left voters. Go vote now!

While SOME tournaments just started this past weekend ours is already into the Elite 8. Yes, from a field of 64 of the world’s best books you, the readers, have cut it down to just eight.

In the matchup we’ve speculated about since the beginning of the tournament Agatha Christie takes on Agatha Christie as Murder on the Orient Express duels And Then There Were None.

Neil Gaiman takes on Garth Stein as American Gods takes on The Art of Racing in the Rain.

Canadian superstar Kenneth Oppel’s Silverwing takes on the legend, J.R.R. Tolkien and The Hobbit.

And finally, another Canadian, Lawrence Hill and The Book of Negroes goes up against Betty Smith and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

Voting is on now!

Two weeks over and 48 books have been eliminated. We’re in the Sweet 16 now where things get REALLY interesting. Read our recap here.

This round features a few VERY intriguing matchups, including The Hobbit vs. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and a possibility that Agatha Christie will face…Agatha Christie in the Elite Eight.

Go and vote!

Visit our Facebook page for updates and questions.

After just one week 32 books have been eliminated and another 32 have kept hope alive. Read our recap of the first round here on thesavvyreader.ca.

The tournament is just getting started and if Round 1 is any indication we have no idea which book will ultimately win and end up in our Hall of Fame. Be sure to click on each book to start reading it free online now. Maybe you’ll pick up a new favourite!

Visit our Facebook page for updates and questions.

Let the Madness begin AGAIN!

HCC March Madness is back. 64 books have entered, 1 will be Champion…and one of you will take home ALL 64 books entered in the tournament. Which book will join James Rollins, Dennis Lehane and last year’s winner, Susan Juby in the Hall of Fame?

Just click through to the Vote page to make your Round 1 picks. Each round lasts one week, so vote often.

Click the “Browse” icon on each book to sample  a book and maybe discover a new favourite.

Thanks to all who voted on our Facebook page for this year’s “Play-In” titles.

Good luck everyone!

Shout out to Type Books in Toronto, running their own book-related March Madness tourney. Check ‘em out here.

Previously called Q&A, Slumdog Millionaire received a name change when it was made into an award-winning motion picture. Still haven’t read the book? Browse Inside to read an excerpt now.

We’re getting close to the final round, so today’s Browse Inside is a book that lost to a semi-finalist: Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead. Browse Inside to read an excerpt