Hello Gentle Reader
After the previous biannual awards, walkouts, and requests for removal, the Man Booker Prize International Prize Shortlist, is back; as graceful as ever. Previous winners include the Canadian short story write Alice Munro, the Albanian novelist Ismail Kadare; and two-thousand and eleven winner Philip Roth. Shortlisted writers of the past include a recent Nobel speculated author from Italy Dacia Maraini; Nobel Laureate and Modern Egyptian author Naguib Mahfouz; the late Antonio Tabucchi; recent Nobel Laureate Mario Vargas Llosa; Nobel Perennial Milan Kundera among other famous intentionally renowned authors.
The ten nominees this year are:
Peter Stamm from Switzerland; Known for his short stories and novels, translated in English by Michael Hoffman, from the native German. Peter Stamm work is written in cool detached and sparse prose. But this isn’t some Ernest Hemmingway minimalism or Raymond Carver blue-collar minimalist work either. Nor does it cycle, in absurd comedy like Samuel Beckett in its compact spaces. Peter Stamm’s work, do what many authors preach: they show; not tell. A great writer deserving to be placed on the list.
Vladimir Sorokin from Russia: In modern Russia there are two writers, which will most likely be familiar with English speakers (not necessarily the general reading public) those two would be Vladimir Sorokin, and Victor Pelevin. Vladimir Sorokin is known for his darkly comic and absurd novels and stories, which tack on the disguise of being science fiction like or magical realism like. But they deal with issues of Russia’s Soviet past and the recent issues with Russia in its new democratic life. Biting satirical and censored Vladimir is certainly a welcomed contender; in my opinion.
Aharon Appelfeld from Israel: He writes fiction in Hebrew, although he did not learn the language until he was in his teens. Most of his work focuses on Jewish life in Europe before, during and after World War II, but it is not simple autobiography. Silence, muteness and stuttering enforce his work.
Lydia Davis from United States of America: She once said that her style was a reaction to Marcel Proust’s long sentences. A translator of French fiction; one of them being “In Search of lost Time,” by Marcel Proust and Flaubert’s “Madame Bovary,” this author is known for her compact and extremely short stories, which border on philosophical aphorisms or poetry. Even longer pieces of work, are still at only three pages long.
Intizar Husain from Pakistan: Is a modern chronicler of contemporary Pakistan life. From the ten year dictatorship of General Zia-ul-Haq. He discusses issues of modern violence, in his country and the general area.
Yan Lianke from China: is a satirist, and has been banned and censored by the ruling Communist Party; but has also admitted to self-censoring so his work won’t be banned. He has also though, won two of China’s top Literary Awards. Perhaps he is one of those authors that is both praised for his work but also fought against – kind of like China’s own Michel Houellebecq.
Josip Novakovich from Canada: His work deals with the Yugoslav war. Dark cries of shrill laughter echo about the atrocities of the war. Known for his descriptions of violence; this author is a new name for me.
U R Ananthamurthy from India: an author known for his reputation as a great representative of the “New Movement,” in contemporary Indian Letters; his work deal primarily with questioning of cultural norms.
Marie NDiaye from France: Is one of Frances most interesting authors. She is the only second woman to have taken Frances Comédie Française for her play Daddy’s got to Eat. Her first novel was published when she was eighteen years old, by Lindon who was also Samuel Beckett’s publisher.
Marilynne Robinson from United States of America: is this year’s top contender; shortlisted in two-thousand and eleven, but lost to Philip Roth. She has written three novels Housekeeping in nineteen-eighty followed by Gilead in two-thousand and four and Home in two-thousand eight. In between these novels she has written non-fiction work.
There you have them Gentle Reader. The Shortlist for this Year’s biannual Man Booker International Prize. It’ll be interesting to see who wins this award, this year.
Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
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And As Always
Stay Well Read
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M. Mary
