Hello Gentle Reader,
This years International Booker Prize Shortlist has just been released. Six novels have made the cut, with surprising omissions being trimmed away during the judges’ deliberations. This year’s shortlist consists of the following writers and novels:
Hwang Sok-young – (South) Korea – “Mater 2-10,”
Jente Posthuma – The Netherlands – “What I’d Rather Not Think About,”
Selva Almada – Argentina – “Not a River,”
Ia Genberg – Sweden – “The Details,”
Itamar Vieira Junio – Brazil – “Crooked Plow,”
It’s a twisted fate for previous winners and globally recognized writers. Including them on the shortlist, and the judges are accused of being predictable or playing it safe. Excluding them, however, raises the charge of superficial radicalism. In the case of Ismail Kadare, one could have expected to see him included on the shortlist because of his dignified decades long literary career; while in turn this reputation played against him via optics of the award. Personally, I was rather disappointed to see marvelous Italian writer, Domenico Starnone was omitted from the shortlist. While the longlisted novel (“Via Gemito,”) premise did not completely entice me, other novels such as “Trust,” “Ties,” and the forthcoming novel “The Mortal and Immortal Life of the Girl from Milan,” did pique my interest, as Domenico Starnone positions himself as a surveyor and portraits of the existential follies and interior dramas and private spaces of the individual. I look forward to reading Domenico Starnone in the near future.
The inclusion of Hwang Sok-young showcases the compelling interest of (South) Korean literature in translation, as this marks the third time in a row, a (South) Korean writer has been shortlisted for the prize. This is also a point of testament and pride for the (South) Korean governments increased sponsorship of literary translations abroad, whereby Korean language writers are finding a new readership as their work crosses linguistic thresholds. Hwang Sok-young’s novel “Mater 2-10,” is an epic in scope (and length, by far the largest novel on the shortlist), it traces a worker’s perspective of history through the 20th century, as a laid off factory worker stages a sit-down strike atop a 16-story factory chimney, whereby he communicates with his ancestors, who witnessed colonialization, calamity, war, partition, and dictatorship through their lifetimes. “Mater 2-10,” cements and confirms that Hwang Sok-young is one of the most important novelists of his generation, with a keen understanding of historical context as pretext and foundation to the present.
Jenny Erpenbeck is a well known and beloved German writer, whose works are frequently translated into English. “Kairos,” recounts societal change and German reunification, while fixating on the personal dissolution of a relationship. Erpenbeck reminds readers as to why she is considered one of the most important contemporary German language writers as, “Kairos,” weaves the weight and macro forces of history into the personal life, recounting how memory and the subtilties of western and eastern cultures, shapes and individuals’ identity and their relationship to history, but also the bewildering state of moving between states and ideologies into a new state.
It was no surprise (and some relief) to see Jente Posthuma included on
the shortlist with her novel “What I’d Rather Not Think About.” A compelling
story regarding life, death, grief, from the unique perspective of twins, and
the contrary nature of oppositional desires. Told through vignette’s, Jente
Posthuma provides bitter insight into grief and loss, while recounting two
lives intertwined and lived within a celestial orbit of one another, until diverting
and crumbling in part to life’s disappointments and mishandlings, all the while
sparking alive with humour. While the remaining three novels are equally noteworthy
for tackling the complexities of history, both a national and personal level, in
addition to their narrative techniques. Ia Genberg’s use of nonlinear narrative
and falling into the fever dream of memory in her novel “The Details,” is a
hallmark of a literary stylist at the height of her game.
This year’s shortlist is compelling with some surprise omissions. I think (personally) that the novels of most notoriety are: “Mater 2-10,” “Kairos,” “What I’d Rather Not Think About,” and “The Details.” Yet its up to the judges to make that decision on who will be crowned as this years International Booker Prize Winner. May they tackle the good work. The hard work. And the outright bitter work with gusto. I hope this years judges (chaired by the very well read Canadian writer and broadcaster, Eleanor Wachtel) have productive discussions, lively debates, and meaningful compromises in their future deliberations.
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
M. Mary
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