Hello
Gentle Reader
The
judges for this year’s Booker Prize commented on this year’s shortlist as a: “reflection
of the dark times,” in which people currently live in. Without a doubt, the
current times in which humanity as a race and as a species finds itself in is
troubling and the novels shortlisted for this year’s prize, are said to be a
reflection of the anxiety and fear which grips contemporary society. Issues
concerning the environment, political upheaval and the rise populism, disenfranchisement,
and a uncomfortable expectation to fill traditional roles, are just a few
topics which this year’s writers tackle in their novels. Without further ado
though, the following list are this year’s shortlisted authors and novels for
this year’s Booker Prize:
Esi
Edugyan – Canada – “Washington Black,”
Robin
Robertson – United Kingdom – “The Long Take,”
Rachel
Kushner – United State – “The Mars Room,”
Daisy
Johnson – United Kingdom – “Everything Under,”
Richard
Powers – United States – “The Overstory,”
Anna
Burns – United Kingdom – “Milkman,”
Looking
at the shortlist, once again the dominate contenders come from the United
Kingdom and the United States, respectively with three finalist coming from the
United Kingdom, and another two from the United States, taking the majority
spots of the final shortlist, leaving Canadian writer and former Booker Prize
nominee, Ersi Edugyan, as a solitary outlier.
This
year’s Booker Prize longlist initially turned heads with its daring desire to move
away from conventional literary formats and grounds and induct and deliberate,
rather unconventional literary formats for the prize, which was the graphic
novel “Sabrina,” by Nick Drnaso. The inclusion was met with excitement from critics
and the public, who found the induction and inclusion of a graphic novel on the
longlist, both daring and revolutionary. It was seen by many as a sign of the
changing times of literary culture. However, with the shortlist, the judges had
decided to move back towards more conventional grounds of Booker precedence,
and literary orthodoxy. There have been a few grumbles over this dismissal, but
overall the shortlist has been praised as unique, challenging, and a social conscious
eye for concern. Of the shortlist authors, Daisy Johnson is considered a rising
but also established start with her novel: “Everything Under.” At just
twenty-seven years old, Daisy Johnson is considered to have already begun
establishing a career worthy of the name, as her debut story collection: “Fen.”
Though she is not the youngest writer to have been shortlisted for the award
(Eleanor Catton was also twenty-seven when she was shortlisted), if she wins
she will be considered the youngest winner to receive the award at the age of
twenty-seven. This in itself is again a positive sign for the prize as it moves
steadily away from fixating on established authors and previous winners or nominated
writers, and making greater headway for younger and up and coming writers, well
on their way to establishing striking and worthy literary careers.
On
the flipside of matters, however, this year’s Booker Prize had a unique
criticism to make towards some of the books and authors which had been
nominated by publishers. Much like I often feel, the judges this year have
advised writers to quite being long-winded and overtly verbose in their
writing, and encouraged editors to take more active and participatory approach.
Many of the nominated books the authors had read during the nomination and
longlist deliberations were often over-wrote, and riddled with windbaggery. The
judges often felt some of the novels nominated could have been shorter, and
would have had greater success if they were shorter, due to a more active
editor, and a stronger relationship existing between the two professions. On
that note, Gentle Reader, it should be noted to all writers aspiring or otherwise:
subtraction can often be addition when done correctly; and on a personal note: I
will most likely never read a ‘meganovel,’ or doorstop, tombstone piece of literary
work; I personally feel that I have neither the time nor the tolerance or patience
to swath and slice through the overgrown jungle text, of someone who believes
they have that much to say, only to reveal they have nothing to say.
In
the end though Gentle Reader, congratulations to the shortlisted writers. It’s
a unique, daring, and experimental shortlist, which again has been described as
a unique reflection and perspective of the current situation of contemporary
society. Good luck to all the writers!
Thank-you
For Reading Gentle Reader
Take
Care
And
As Always
Stay
Well Read
M.
Mary
For Further
Reading on this year’s Booker Prize Shortlist please see the following articles
from “The
Guardian,” and “The Telegraph.”
The Guardian -- "Man Booker 2018: Daisy Johnson becomes youngest ever author shortlisted for prize,"
The Guardian -- "Man Booker prize shortlist narrows the field – and also its sights?"
The Telegraph -- "Man Booker Prize judges tell authors: stop being so long-winded,"
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