Hello
Gentle Reader,
Earlier
today, the Booker Prize judges, chaired by Lady Lola Young (Baroness Young of
Hornsey), announced this year’s six shortlisted writer for the Booker Prize.
The list announcement was met with mixed praise of applause, and other
mutterings of shock, but also controversial questions. Before then, the
following are the six lucky shortlist writers for this year’s Man Booker Prize:
Ali
Smith – United Kingdom – “Autumn,”
George
Saunders – United States – “Lincoln in the Bardo,”
Paul
Auster – United States – “4321,’
Emily
Fridlund – United States – “History of Wolves,”
Mohsin
Hamid – Pakistan – “Exit West,”
Fiona
Mozley – United Kingdom – “Elmet,”
The
shock started with the omission of Arundhati Roy from the shortlist with her
novel “The Ministry of Utmost Happiness.” The other shocking omission was
Colson Whitehead and his acclaimed science-fiction novel “The Underground Railroad,”
which has already won numerous literary awards such as: The Pulitzer Prize for
Fiction, the Arthur C Clarke Award, and the National Book Award for Fiction; as
well as being selected as part of Oprah’s Book Club in two-thousand and
sixteen. Many commented, on the omission of “The Underground Railroad,” would
be considered in the near future the novel that got away. Controversy also erupted
once again, when the dreaded questions was asked about the ‘Americanisation,”
of the Man Booker Prize; after all, the shortlist is heavily inclined toward
American writers, especially two well established writers: George Saunders (who
is favoured to win the Prize) and Paul Auster. The judges immediately went on
damage control, claiming none of the works shortlisted were discriminated or
favoured, due to nationality, gender, age, or the writer—the books themselves
had to support their claim for a sport on the shortlist, with the judges
debating and discussing, which books to place their. The judges only confirmed
the coincidental shortlist, favoured to American writers, simply exemplifies the
award moving in a ‘transcultural,’ direction, where literature is favoured on
literary merit not national identity.
Though
if you ask me such statements are as hollow; the list has so far been favoured
and dominated by American and United Kingdom/British writers, over other common
wealth countries. It leaves one to fear that Marlon James’s win in two-thousand
and fifteen, would be the last time the award moved beyond its ‘old boys,’ club
rhetoric. Then again, you can’t expect much from a horse race; and the true
gems (if they do in fact exist) are always left buried in the sand, waiting to
be discovered.
Overall
though, this year’s Shortlist has been praised for its diversity, as it honours
debut writers (I wonder if that includes, George Saunders), against established
writers. The list has been noted for challenging literary conventions, being immediate
in themes, contemporary in style, and noted for its at times social preoccupations.
Either
way: Congratulations to the Shortlisted writers.
Thank-you
For Reading Gentle Reader
Take
Care
And
As Always
Stay
Well Read
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