Nobel Prize for Literature 2014 – Closing Thoughts

Hello Gentle Reader

This year’s Nobel speculation has been rather quiet, then years past. Many Nobel watchers blame the betting site ‘Ladbrokes,’ for opening up bets for this year’s Nobel, just moments after it was announced that Alice Munro “Master of the contemporary short story,” had won last year’s Nobel. Speculation in general has been sluggish. This year’s Nobel Laureate for Literature will be announced this coming Thursday: October 9th. Still the speculation has been continued to be lack luster and even, apathetic to some degree. My list of fifty authors did not receive the same hits it had last year; and a member of the internet forum “World Literature Forum,” (great forum by the way) had also commented on the lack of interest in this year’s award. The question does remain for many at the time; who will win the most covenanted literary award? Will it be a established and well known author like past laureates: Harold Pinter, Doris Lessing, Alice Munro, Mario Vargas Llosa, or V.S. Naipaul? Or, will it go to a more obscure author of the time like past laureates: Herta Müller, Jean-Marie Gustav Le Clezio, Claude Simon, or Elfriede Jelinek? Then there is the possibility of authors that are known, but toe the line of obscurity like past laureates: Jose Saramago, Tomas Transtromer, Wislwa Szymborska. Whoever this year’s laureate will be, it should be hopefully be a surprise. Personally myself I am hoping for an obscure author, that will open the doors to new, and exciting realms of literature and reading experiences.

Another quick comment that I will make as a general statement towards the years literary awards of this autumn; is a certain lack of originality, daring feats of experimentation. Rather the books that have made it to the shortlists, for the most part this year in many awards – have proven to have rehashed old ground. I had commented that the Booker Prize shortlist in particular was stagnant and lifeless. I continue to hold that opinion. The Goldsmith Literary Award, has also proven to lack any thought for creativity and or originality. Fingers crossed for the Nobel to be exciting.

Come Thursday Gentle Reader, we shall all know who this year’s Laureate. Here is my list of five authors, from my speculation who I would like to see win the Nobel this year, in no particular order.

Ersi Sotiropoulos (or) Kiki Dimoula – Greece –
Pepetela – Angola –
Leonard Nolens – Belgium –
Tua Forsström – Finland –
Doris Kareva – Estonia –

Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
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M. Mary


P.S. – Here’s a link to a video on the German Book Prize shortlisted authors and their books.

http://www.dw.de/shortlisted-german-book-prize-nominees/av-17959758