A Booker Prize Crisis?

Hello Gentle Reader

The more I read into the Booker Prize train wreck/car crash – the more it becomes certain that its far from over, or may take a while for the prize to rise out of the smouldering ashes that has become of its reputation. It (could be argued) first started with the outrage one judge had over Philip Roth winning the Man Booker International Prize of two thousand and eleven. However John Le Carre upon finding out that he had been shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize of two thousand and eleven, had actually requested that he be removed from the prize shortlist because he does not compete for awards and prizes. The chair of the Man Booker International Prize of two thousand eleven, declined to fill out the request. Then there was the chairman of the Booker Prize Foundation, had thrown gas on the fire, with his remarks about the Nobel Prize for Literature, stating that the Nobel Prize for Literature was “political at best,” and further boasting the Man Booker International Prize as a “ever more competent component.” Not to mention that this year’s winner of the Man Booker International Prize Philip Roth had declined to even go to the banquet held in his honour – much like the judge who in a fit of outrage and decline refused to be there as well.

Just when one thinks, that the Booker Prize could not have gotten any worst after such mishaps, outrages, slamming of doors, and outright refusal to see each other, it became more of a circus show then before. Yet even before that, even before the outrage of the Man Booker International Prize of two thousand eleven. Back in the nineties apparently some “undeserving,” novels won the prize. However if one looks back into the archives of the prize, some of the novels did deserve to win. Though that past has since become something of a disgrace for the current events happening now, surrounding the prize. In fact it’s becoming apparent by some that the Man Booker Prize is not really about literature at all, but more about self-promotion.

Then with the annual Man Booker Prize taking place, there was slight outrage that Ali Smith did not even make the long list. The fact that Alan Hollinghurst did not even make the shortlist – though he did make the long list. Then of course there was the recently departed Beryl Bainbridge often referred to as the Booker Prize Bridesmaid – she could finally win a Booker Prize herself, with readers voting for one of her five novels that were shortlisted for the Booker, and the winner would be announced. Though in all honesty it could be it be said, that it bothered to do much of anything? Poor Dame Beryl Bainbridge however is deceased. What could the prize really do for her? Though perhaps it is more of an apology for never awarding the prize to the author. However a Nobel Laureate for Literature Doris Lessing never won the Man Booker Prize either, though she was shortlisted three times.

Once the shortlist of this year’s Man Booker Prize was announced there was criticism, which the chair of this year’s award Dame Stella Rimington fought back with. The Dame and the chair this year, fought back, stating that the Publishing world was like the KGB. Andrew Motion former Poet Laureate, gave a horrible review of A.D. Miller’s shortlisted novel “Snowdrops,” stating that it could barely keep his “eyebrows level.” Quite frankly though, this year’s Man Booker Prize had stated quite frankly that it had been the worst in decades. Though its popularity with the general reading public has been rather high.
Then of course came the announcement that Andrew Kidd and his friends and colleagues were going to open a new prize to rival that of the Man Booker Prize, and call it the “Literature Prize.” It’s a Literary Dispute, that has become quite an enjoyable spectacle after a while – and now it’s just becoming slightly awkward. Of course I am not hurt by either statements. If the “Literature Prize,” comes to pass, that just gives me more authors to look into reading. But the comments, the snide remarks, the criticism, the public tantrums, it all proves that this year’s Man Booker Prize (both International and the English/Common Wealth award) was more entertaining out of how it all was handled, rather than the Book that was awarded, or what amounts to good Literature.

Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
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To read all the articles in which this information was found please use the following links:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2011/oct/13/man-booker-prize-fresh-challenger

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2011/oct/20/booker-narrative-arc-robert-mccrum

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2011/oct/19/stella-rimington-booker-diatribe-kgb

http://londonersdiary.standard.co.uk/2011/06/booker-bigger-than-nobel-says-chairman.html

http://www.themanbookerprize.com/news/stories/1490

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2011/oct/19/stella-rimington-booker-diatribe-kgb