The Booker Prize much like any to all literary prizes has its peaks and valleys. Zeniths and nadirs. Highs and lows. Like any literary award, the judging panel discusses, debates, argues, pettishly resists, and eventually compromises. Some compromises are more eyebrow raising then others. This years Booker Prize Shortlist is one such list:
Sarah Bernstein – "Study for Obedience,"
Jonathan Escoffery – "If I Survive You,"
Paul Harding – "This Other Eden,"
Paul Murray – "The Bee Sting,"
Chetna Maroo – "Western Lane,"
Paul Lynch – "Prophet Song,"
The omission of both Sebastian Barry and Tan Twan Eng compromised my first observations of the prizes shortlist. Both of these writers had been nominated before and have been considered favourites in years past. Their omission from this year's shortlist is a surprise. Raising questions of what is considered the measuring stick for literature. This years shortlist carries the airs of the judges trying to be relevant dealing with issues and concerns that could be considered contemporary concerns, with a kind eye towards debut novelists.
Of the shortlist, only Sarah Bernstein has maintained my attention with her dark horse gothic novel "Study for Obedience." While the others, though interesting in their own right and with plenty of merit, fail to (as Marie Kondo would put it) spark joy.
Congratulations to this years shortlisted writers.
Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
M. Mary
Surprised and disappointed about the omissions you mentioned in the Booker Shortlist article. Of the finalists, I'm rooting for This Other Eden.
ReplyDeleteHello James,
DeleteI agree the omissions were a bit of a shock to me on this years shortlist. I know the Booker Prize has its ups and downs, some years are stellar while others leave a little more to the imagining, but this year's award does feel different, not only regarding the compromises, but what appears to be deliberate motivations to bring some writers to the forefront because they're starting out in their career, over those who've worked hard to establish a reputation.
Of course, on the contrary, the Booker Prize often gets criticized for routinely celebrating established writers or recognizable writers at the expense of others (with the running joke being if J.M. Coetzee publishes a novel and its longlisted, there's a 75% chance he will win). This, however, the push to recognize emerging talent seems to come at the wrong expense.
M. Mary