Man Booker International Prize 2017 Shortlist

Hello Gentle Reader

                                    

Hot on the heels of the Best Translated Book Award finalists, the Man Booker International Prize has now released this year’s final candidates for the award—in other words (or in a way to quote my mother): “Double Trouble,” my Dear Gentle Reader.

List below Gentle Reader is this year’s shortlist for the Man Booker International Prize for 2017, in no particular order.

David Grossman – Israel – “A Horse Walks Into a Bar,”

Roy Jacobsen – Norway – “The Unseen,”

Mathias Enard – France – “Compass,”

Samanta Schweblin – Argentina – “Fever Dream,”

Dorthe Nors – Denmark – “Mirror, Shoulder, Signal,”

Amos Oz – Israel – “Judas,”

There it is Gentle Reader this year’s finalists for the Man Booker International Prize. In comparison to the Best Translated Book award shortlist, the Man Booker International Prize’s final list of candidates, is considerably more condescended and manageable—this is both a positive and a consequence; the greater the options the greater the ability for a nice surprise and diverse discussion of who the winner should be; but to many names in the hat, means more convoluted conversations must take place, in order to reach the inevitable and immediate conclusion, set out in the time line. This year’s Man Booker International Prize, lacking the eccentric, eclectic and exciting diversity the Best Translated Book Award possessed; then again the Man Booker International Prize (much like its parent prize the Booker Prize) has always been known for having its conservative literary leanings. For example on this year’s Best Translated Book Award shortlist, Nobel Laureate Patrick Modiano and two time winning author László Krasznahorkai were omitted from the shortlist, in favour of others, such as Boubacar Boris Diop and Ananda Dev; in contrast with this year’s Man Booker International prize, two seasoned and well known international authors make it onto the shortlist: David Grossman and Amos Oz. It was disappointing to see some authors and their works dropped from the initial list, such as: Wioletta Greg and her work “Swallowing Mercury,” and Jon Kalman Stefansson: “Fish Have No Feet.” Despite the compare and contrast, it should be noted, both awards are governed by different polices and regulations, in to what qualifies for the award. It is obvious that the Man Booker International Prize is strictly stringent in its eligibility for nomination, in comparison to the Best Translated Book Award.

If it is one aspect which can be gathered from the two awards; it is Argentina is entering the literary map with greater quality work, as Samanta Schweblin debut in English “Fever Dream,” has been described as hallucinogenic, feverish and brilliant—it should also be noted, “Fever Dream,” is the shortest novel on this year’s shortlist, and   Samanta Schweblin is also the youngest nominated writer. If “Fever Dream,” were to win, it would go on to show short novels, can pack a far greater punch then the doorstop novels, some writers continue to write; as well be another feather in the cap of the independent publisher Oneworld, who had published and promoted two other high profile winning writers for the Booker Prize: Marlon James, “A Brief History of Seven Killings,” and Paul Beatty “The Sellout.”

For now though Gentle Reader, there is this year’s finalists for this year’s Man Booker International Prize.

Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader

Take Care

And As Always

Stay Well Read

M. Mary