The Golden Man Booker Prize Winner

Hello Gentle Reader

To commemorate fifty years, the Booker Prize Foundation, had created the Golden Booker Prize, where a panel of judges would survey the past five decades of Booker Prize Winners, and create a short list of winning authors and novels. The shortlist consisted of the following:

V.S. Naipaul – “In a Free State,”

Hilary Mantel – “Wolf Hall,”

Michael Ondaatje – “The English Patient,”

Penelope Lively – “Moon Tiger,”

George Saunders – “Lincoln in the Bardo,”

Of these five writers and their winning novel, the public was asked to vote on who they thought was the most outranking writer and novel, for this year’s Golden Booker Prize. After voting had commenced, the Golden Booker Prize Winner is: the Canadian author, Michael Ondaatje, with his novel: “The English Patient.”

The Golden Booker Prize, received a few backhanded compliments and more outward complaints from readers and the public, and the shortlist baffled a few due to it neglecting some very famous Booker Prize winning authors, such as: Salman Rushdie, J.M. Coetzee, and Peter Carey; and for including the recent winner George Saunders on the list. Yet through the criticism, the panel stuck to their judgements and created the above shortlist, and with it the public voted on who they thought was the most deserving of the fifty year accolade.

Michael Ondaatje has been lukewarm to the news, instead speaking praise towards other writers, specifically V.S. Naipaul, who Ondaatje had said was a master of the times, and certainly more deserving the award; to Hilary Mantel’s momentous and deserving novel: “Wolf Hall.” He spoke fondly of how other writers such as Alice Munro never won the award; and how he felt “The English Patient,” despite its previous Booker Win, and its current win; had numerous issues within it, from pacing to other faded areas which required more attention.

Yet it was the public’s vote that deemed “The English Patient,” the Golden Booker Prize winner.

Congregations are certainly in order for Michael Ondaatje, as he takes the Golden Booker Prize.

Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader

Take Care

And As Always

Stay Well Read

M. Mary

To Read Michael Ondaatje’s reaction and news on this years award please see the following article from The Guardian:

The English Patient wins public poll of best Man Booker in 50 years