Hello Gentle Reader
“The Sense of an Ending,” written by Julian Barnes, is a short little novella. Julian Barnes had been nominated for the Booker Prize numerous times before for his past novels: “Flaubert’s Parrot,” in nineteen-eighty five; “England, England,” in nineteen-ninety eight; “Arthur and George,” in two thousand and five. Finally however the long time favourite to win a Booker Prize has finally picked up the prize in two thousand and eleven for his short little novel (often called a novella) “The Sense of an Ending.”
This year’s (as in this year of two thousand and eleven) has been one of the most interesting years for the Man Booker Prize. Under heavy scrutiny and criticism, by many of the literary establishment, for the question that this year’s Man Booker Prize Judges, had chosen readability over ‘artistic,’ quality – or in a more preferred terms (at least my more preferred terms) it choose a sense of readability or a less complex prose over prose that are more literary in merit and are a bit more challenging and reading.
The former poet laureate, Andrew Motion was the one who had (at least from my knowledge) had brought the attention of criticism of the concept that this year’s Booker Prize, was choosing more readable products of novels, over more complex novels, that presented a more substantial literary view. Immediately it becomes clear that Andrew Motion and Andrew Kidd (a literary agent) have both been more or less unimpressed with the works of those (besides Julian Barnes) on the shortlist of this year’s Booker Prize, as snubbing the artistic achievements of other novelists who were not even bothered to be included on the Long List of this year’s Booker Prize. The fact of the matter is many found the selection of two debut novelists (A.D. Miller and Stephan Kelman) where included on the list, along with obscure novelists Patrick deWitt and Esi Edugyan, which was followed by the UK Carol Birch and the critically favourite to win the Booker Prize this year Julian Barnes.
Even though homosexual author Allan Hollinghurst the two thousand and four winner of the Booker Prize, with his novel “The Line of Beauty,” had made it on this year’s Long list with “The Stranger’s Child,” many were disappointed with the fact that he did not make the Shortlist. Many were quite outraged that Ali Smith a Booker Prize bridesmaid (much like Julian Barnes) with her new novel “There but for the,” was not even placed on the Long list. Others though that the International IMPAC Literary Dublin Award winner in nineteen-ninety nine Andrew Miller and his new novel “Pure,” should have also been placed on the Long list and should have seriously been considered for the prize. Others thought that the Edward St Aubyn new novel and semi-autobiographical novel that ends the Melrose saga should also have been placed on it. Others declared that “Wish You Were Here,” by Graham Swift should have also have been considered. Some even petitioned for China Mieville and his new novel “Embassytown,” though it was clearly a utopian thought, and most likely not going to happen.
Even though the Literary Establishment has made it quite clear that this year’s Booker Prize, felt “dumb downed,” the public became quite interested to see who won. With reports stating that the shortlist has been the most popular since the prize had first formed. The Guardian had even reported that a publisher who decided to remain off the record, had also agreed with the established consensus of the literary world and had said that this year’s Booker Prize judges were “lacking in authority,” not to mention “a bit confused about what the prize is for.” The best quote however the Guardian provided though came from a poet by the name of Jackie Kay who said:
“We desperately need a prize which shows off the best writers writing in English. It is a sad day when even the Booker is afraid to be bookish … People want to think. They don't want to be patronised. People are excited by books doing different things with structure, like Ali Smith – it's really shocking she wasn't even on the longlist.”
What I agreed with the statement above is that: “People want to think. They don’t want to be patronised.” Which quite frankly is quite true. The serious reader wants to have a piece of fiction that makes them think, not something that wastes their time. Of course others were quick to come to the defense of the Booker Prize judges. Saying that it wasn’t readability over quality, but readability and a novel of excellence. Others went on to state that they wanted readability and quality. No one wants a novel that is unreadable. Which is true – Virginia Woolf still pisses me off, but I still enjoy her as an author – no idea why but I do – maybe for me the thrill of reading Virginia Woolf is the openness of her work, the form of her work, and the difficulty.
However it does become more and more interesting when one thinks about it. The only author that was truly recognizable on this list was Julian Barnes. All the others were unknown. So it comes into question if the Booker Prize. Did the authors actually focus on the sense of excellence in the work? The way the prose of the author got the message across, while being entertaining? Who could forget in the year of two thousand and ten, when I had gotten a bit disappointed (anger would be more sufficient word) that David Mitchell and his novel “The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet,” did not make the shortlist but Peter Carey did – not to mention that Peter Carey had won the Booker Prize two times before that. In two thousand and nine that two former winners Dame A.S. Byatt for her novel “The Children’s Book,” and J.M. Coetzee also a former (twice the other novelist who had only won the prize twice along with Peter Carey) was shortlisted for his novel “Summertime.”
Looking at it now, maybe the Booker Prize is more of a old gentlemen’s club recently, rather than a prize to be awarded to the excellencies of the individual novel. However that is up for you Gentle Reader to decide. Is the Booker Prize just another old gentlemen’s club? Another form of “class boundary,” based on literary reputation? Or is it awarded to deserving novelists who had achieved a sense of excellent ‘artistic,’ temperament in their novel?
Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
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To see the above referenced article please follow the link presented below:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/oct/16/booker-prize-cricitism-andrew-motion?newsfeed=true
To read about Julian Barnes snagging the Booker Prize please follow the following link below:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/oct/18/booker-prize-julian-barnes-wins
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