Hello Gentle Reader
Starting with the notorious Booker Prize crisis in the later part of the year two thousand and eleven, it would appear that Literature, and the Literary Prizes of the year (at least in the English speaking world) were not up to snuff, to some peoples standards. The Booker Prize of two thousand and eleven was in hot water, when many thought it was ridiculous that Ali Smith’s new novel “There But For The,” didn’t even make it onto the long list, and were further annoyed when Alan Hollinghurt’s “The Stranger’s Child,” didn’t even make it to the shortlist, had caused for an annoyance. Some even optioned for a new literary prize, to replace or at least rival the Booker Prize. Not to mention that the Man Booker International Prize of two thousand and eleven, was met with some hasty attack from a judge herself, who had resigned from when it was decided that it was to be awarded to the American author Philip Roth. Whose writing the judge said that it was like Philip Roth was sitting on the readers face, suffocating them, and who had a dreadful way of continually repeating himself over and over again; and there was some disgruntled feelings when Philip Roth couldn’t have been bothered to have gone and picked up the prize in person. Which everyone thought that the author wouldn’t have even bothered to have done, if it was the Nobel Prize for Literature. Now with science fictions preeminent award is under attack by the science fiction author Christopher Priest (“The Prestige,”) had attacked the awards short list and had even suggested the prize be suspended. China Melville and his novel “Embassytown,” front the running for the prize, and if he wins this award it’ll be the fourth time. Christopher Priest latter won the British Science Fiction Association‘s prize for best novel, with this novel “The Islanders.”
This year’s Booker Prize news (with the long list not yet announced until July) has already started early with the speculation that a New Zealand writer, Emily Perkins and her novel “The Forrests,” has been tipped to win this year’s Booker Prize. One will have to wait and see – but October sixteenth is a ways away yet.
The Orange Prize Shortlist has also just been announced. The shortlisted authors and there titles are:
“Foreign Bodies,” by Cynthia Ozick
“Half Blood Blues,” by Esi Edugyan
“Painter of Silence,” by Georgina Harding
“State of Wonder,” by Anne Patchett
“The Song of Achilles,” by Madeline Miller
“The Forgotten Waltz,” by Anne Enright
Familiar names on this shortlist, are Anne Patchett who won the Orange Prize, before with her novel “Bel Canto,” will she win again for a second time? Anne Enright will also be a familiar face because of her novel “The Gathering,” which had won the Booker Prize in two thousand and seven. Esi Edugyan will also be a familiar face after the Booker Prize Crisis of two thousand and eleven, and the fact that she won the Scotiabank Giller Prize. May the best lady win. Though personally “The Song of Achilles,” by Madeline Miller sounds to be the most intriguing novel on this shortlist. However the author that a lot of people are cheering on is Cynthia Ozick for her novel “Foreign Bodies.”
As well as the International IMPAC Dublin Award short list has been announced:
“Rocks in the Belly,” by John Bauer
“The Matter with Morris,” by David Bergen
“A Visit From the Goon Squad,” by Jennifer Egan
“The Memory of Love,” by Aminatta Forna
“Even the Dogs,” by Jon McGregor
“Matterhorn,” by Karl Marlantes
“Landed,” by Tim Pears
“Limassol,” by Yishai Sarid
“The Eternal Sun,” by Cirstovao Tezza
“Lean on Pete” by Willy Vlautin
Many will recognize Jennifer Egan and her novel “A Visit from the Goon Squad,” as the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in two thousand and eleven. Yishai Sarid is a crime novelist from Israel, and will be an author that many readers will have difficult recognizing.
What’ll come to a surprise to many though – especially to American readers; is that for the first time in thirty five years, the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction has been suspended. One of the shortlisted books was “Pale King,” by the late David Foster Wallace, as well as a short novella “Train Dream,” by Denis Johnson, and the debut novel “Swamplandia,” by Karen Russells. In the end no majority could be met, and therefore it was decided that, this year’s Pulitzer Prize for fiction will be suspended. Something that the Booker Prize should be able to do, which would further add to the merit of the award, rather then it forced to pick the best of the weakest novels, that make up that year’s award – such as the case in two thousand and eleven.
It is has been a rough year for the English World’s Literary prizes. Perhaps in the year two thousand and twelve, will be a better year for literature and the literary prizes, that so many watch and look forward too.
Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
*And Remember: Downloading Books Illegally is Thievery and Wrong.*
M. Mary
