The Man Booker
Prize 2014 longlist was announced yesterday. We’ve shadowed what I regard as
the UK’s children’s literary equivalent, the CILIP Carnegie Medal, for two
years, so I thought it’s about time I start to note my Booker reading commentary.
Unlike the
Carnegie, I’ve usually never read any of the novels on the Booker longlists
when they are announced (with a few coincidental exceptions). To be honest,
before this blog, I don’t think I even knew when the longlists (or even
shortlists) were announced. I’d certainly never become excitedly embroiled in
critical shadowing nor joyful predicting.
This year,
however, I’m aware that there has been a Booker rule change. Previously, the
award was open to UK and Commonwealth writers. Eligibility was opened up to
make this a global prize. Of course, an American onslaught was feared. From the
13 slots available on this year’s longlist, 4 Commonwealth writers have been
moved out to make room for 4 Americans. And, expect unfortunate punning on ‘Man’
Booker as there are only 3 women writers on the list (cough: I think 2 of them
are from the American contingent).
Whether any of
these facts are significant to readers (or publishing today), I don’t know
because I’ve not read any of the novels on this year’s longlist. I have read
some novels in the past year that may have been eligible. These novels included
writers who were men, women, UK, US and commonwealth writers. I loved many of
them but I didn’t expect any of them would turn up on the Booker (and they didn’t).
I don’t even attempt to ‘judge’ what will make it or not because my breadth of
reading and understanding of literature just doesn’t come close to matching
that of the judging panel. Unlike the Carnegie, the Booker doesn’t publish detailed
judging criteria. It’s a very, very subjective process contained within a set
of industry rules (and probably agendas).
As a reader, I’m
okay with this. I never read a book and think, ‘o, this one for the Booker’
(that’s probably because I’m mostly reading backlist recommendations). However,
my shelves and reading habits are adorned with Booker listed and winning novels
(along with a whole host of other sorts of fiction too).
My first thoughts
on this year’s longlist are:
In comparison to 2013, it doesn’t ‘look’ as ‘exciting’,
but only the reading will tell. I will buy The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell just
because it’s Mitchell (I’ll have to wait a long time though: it’s not published
until September and then only in hardback and my Mitchell editions are
paperback!). Also, I have a review copy of J by Howard Jacobson because I like
his writing and the sound of this one is a bit more sci-fiey, so I’m good to
try this. Ali Smith is on the list too – and I like her writing, so that’s an
obvious read for me. David Nicholls appears but I was not a fan of One Day (it’s
on my shelf of kept-because-someone-else-might-like-it books). As for the other
9, I don’t’ really know anything about them but have heard that one of them was
a crowdfunded book, which apparently is a first for the Booker (so that might
be worth a nosy). I have, however, started off with Richard Flanagan’s novel
simply because I have a review copy…..and the writing on the first few pages
just glides……
Note how my
familiarity with the names of titles and authors on this year’s longlist is
very shaky. For self-indulgent (or illuminating reasons) rather than lazy ones,
I haven’t used the internet to provide the details.
Now for the fun bit!
My quick thoughts
on an adulthood of ‘Booker’ reading:
The Luminaries –
Eleanor Catton (2013 winner)
It’s a big one.
Am halfway through the e-book and wish I’d bought the paperback. Quite like it
but won’t be sure until the end. The gold dust magic hasn’t quite done it for
me yet.
A Tale For the
Time Being – Ruth Ozeki (2013 shortlist)
I loved
everything about this novel and highly recommend it to many people. Right up my
street.
We Need New Names
– NoViolet Bulawayo (2013 shortlist)
Pageturning and
wonderful, it’s a favourite of mine. Highly recommended, though I didn’t expect
it to on the shortlist, probably because I don’t expect to see pageturners on
the Booker. Curiously, read this on a e-reader!
The Testament of
Mary – Colm Toibin (2013 shortlist)
Compelling
writing, interesting and controversial tale. Very short, and I liked that.
Pleased I read it. Would never have selected to read this without some form of
recommendation, which the Booker gave it.
The Lowland –
Jhumpa Lahiri (2013 shortlist)
Thoroughly
enjoyed this one, though perhaps it’s not going to be one of my favourites. Borrowed
it from the library but not sure I’d buy it.
The Garden of
Evening Mists – Tan Twan Eng (2012 shortlist)
Very atmospheric
writing and an interesting and disturbing tale. But, I haven’t finished it yet.
Don’t know why because I love reading it. It still lingers in my head so this
is very curious!
The Sense of an
Ending – Julian Barnes (2011 winner)
A short book that
I enjoyed. Easy writing, cleverish and intriguing story. Generally, I enjoy
reading Barnes even if it’s to see what he’s come up with this time. Not sure
this was his best but perhaps it was his most accessible.Pigeon English – Stephen Kelman (2011 shortlist)
This was subsequently published as a Young Adult novel, and I read it in that context. It is excellent, highly recommended, accessible and very moving.
The Testament of
Jessie Lamb – Jane Rogers (2011 shortlist)
I loved this
novel. Curiously, like Pigeon English, this would suit a YA audience too,
primarily because of the main character’s age. It’s also the novel that caught
Little M’s eye and made us realise that she had probably outgrown Enid Blyton
even if she wasn’t quite ready for Jessie Lamb!
The Finkler
Question – Howard Jacobson (2010 winner)
Enjoy the writing
but haven’t finished this one yet. Not sure if I ever will so only time will
tell.
The Slap –
Christos Tsiolkas (2010 longlist)
I read this on a
beach holiday and while everyone else went out to discover the nightlife, I
stayed in to finish it. Enough said! Loved it.
The Children’s
Book – AS Byatt (2009 shortlist)
It’s been a few
years but I’m still just under halfway through. I just can’t connect with it.
2008 – completely
passed me by
The Gathering –
Anne Enright (2007 winner)
Wonderful book.
Interestingly, I think I bought this not in connection with the Booker but
because I saw her alongside Maggie O’Farrell at a literature festival reading.
Mister Pip –
Lloyd Jones (2007 shortlist)
Enjoyed this
hugely. Reminded me of the atmosphere of Wide Sargasso Sea but the Dickens
element grated on me a little.
On Chesil Beach –
Ian McEwan (2007 shortlist)
A very short
book, and though I love McEwan, I think I remember being very underwhelmed by
this one.
The Reluctant
Fundamentalist – Moisin Hamid (2007 shortlist)
Loved this book.
Quite pageturning too with bits of mystery.
Get a Life –
Nadime Gordimer (2006 longlist)
It’s Gordimer, so
I’d have got it anyway. I remember
reading it quickly, and perhaps being slightly on the fence about it when I’d
finished. Hazy memory though.
The Accidental –
Ali Smith (2005 shortlist)
Can’t remember
much about this other than lots of intimate intrigue and that I was mesmerised.
On Beauty – Zadie
Smith (2005 shortlist)
I think this is
my favourite Zadie Smith novel.
The Line of
Beauty – Alan Hollinghurst (2004 winner)
I read the whole
thing. I think the writing carried it because I didn’t like the characters. It’s
on the same shelf as David Nicholl’s One Day.
Bitter Fruit –
Achmat Dangor (2004 shortlist)
Loved it.
Cloud Atlas –
David Mitchell (2004 shortlist)
This is why I buy
so many David Mitchell novels. Took me a chapter or two to get into it and then
the magic unwound. Sonmi 451 is one of my favourite literary characters. A
friend thought it wasn’t as clever as people were raving about because so many
authors had done similar stuff before (and arguably better). She’s read more
than me!
Purple Hibiscus –
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2004 longlist)
Fell totally in
love with this novel. Have her next novel on this back of this, but not read it
yet (it’s probably an e-book!). Couldn’t get on with the main character in her
latest, Americanah.
Vernon God Little
– DBC Pierre (2003 winner)
Someone bought me
this. Oh dear. I started reading it but the plot was way out of my comfort
zone. It’s unread on a shelf that I can’t see. One day, I may venture into the
dark.
Brick Lane –
Monica Ali (2003 shortlist)
Loved, loved,
loved. Now, I always get the names of Monica Ali, Ali Smith and Zadie Smith
mixed up. I just buy all three.
Oryx and Crake –
Margaret Atwood (2003 shortlist)
Curiously, 2003
must have passed me by too, despite the fact I’ve read novels off the list.
Here’s why: I’ve read Oryx and Crake but only after I’d read The Year of the
Flood, during which I realised that this was some sort of sequel and I’d
started in the wrong place. So Oryx and Crake became the second, rather than
the first, in my MaddAddam trilogy reading. I just love the whole trilogy
immensely for everything it does, mostly storytelling and humour. Shelved on my
Atwood shelf. Read years after its shortlisting.
Frankie and
Stankie – Barbara Trapido (2003 longlist)
My favourite
Trapido novel, but this might be for nostalgic reasons more than anything else.
That’s just a disclaimer because I think it’s funny, insightfully and warmly
told.
The Curious
Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – Mark Haddon (2003 longlist)
I only read this
in the last few years. It’s good and I like the writing, and I do recommend it.
I didn’t like the dad character and I didn’t like the dead dog. I’m unmoveable
on some things, so it seems.
Life of Pi – Yann
Martel (2002 winner)
Took this as a
lazy beach read. Wrong move. Gave up for years. Gave it another go recently, alongside
Little M and the film adaptation. So glad I did because I loved it. The thing
that stands out for me most is the ending, and pissing (haha, I’m so childish!).
Atonement – Ian McEwan
(2001 winner)
One of my
all-time favourites.
Looks like 2001
was the first year for a Longlist.
The Blind
Assassin – Margaret Atwood (2000 winner)
Read this very
recently. It’s superb.
Disgrace – JM Coetzee
(1999 winner)
Intrigued and
shocked me simultaneously. Perhaps one of the first novels to really do this
for me successfully (that’s probably about me, not the novel).
Amsterdam – Ian McEwan
(1998 winner)
The start of my
McEwan love affair
The God of Small
Things – Arundhati Roy (1997 winner)
Remember enjoying
this a lot and think it was my mother who recommended it (could be wrong about
this though).
Alias Grace –
Margaret Atwood (1996 shortlist)
This is why I
need reading notes. It’s either The Robber Bride or Alias Grace that I didn’t finish.
Will have to give this one another go (or is that a reread?).
Time’s Arrow –
Martin Amis (1991 shortlist)
“It goes
backwards,” someone enthused to me. A big hit with me and I recommended it to
everyone.
Possession – AS Byatt
(1990 winner)
Sits among my
most favourite novels ever. Completely captivating.
Cat’s Eye –
Margaret Atwood (1989 shortlist)
Loved it then.
Currently re-reading it now. There’s a boy-man in a tree. Knock, knock
MaddAddam.
The Handmaid’s
Tale – Margaret Atwood (1986 shortlist)
Forever kind of
love!
Flaubert’s Parrot
– Julian Barnes (1984 shortlist)
My introduction
to Barnes. I was young: found it experimental but tedious. I kept on buying and
reading him though!
Life and Times of
Michael K – JM Coetzee (1983 winner)
I remember a long
pub conversation about Coetzee and this being recommended. I think I read it
and loved it – but I could be wrong. Another one for the reread (or is read?)
So that's me and the Booker. We've had some memorable times.
