The Mookse and the Gripes discussion
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Queen Mary Prize (RofC UK)
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Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses
Sounds an excellent prize - not least as I pointed it out to you (or had you already seen it). I have signed up for 5 raffle tickets.Will you read the other 2 books? I will if you are and I think in the spirit of the prize will buy the books (rather than look for them in the library) so as to support the publishers.
And do you know if there will be any author readings - is it worth contacting the organiser?
Gumble's Yard wrote: "Sounds an excellent prize - not least as I pointed it out to you (or had you already seen it). I have signed up for 5 raffle tickets.Will you read the other 2 books? I will if you are and I think..."
I think I will although one is 700 pages. And yes I should have hat-tipped you on the post.
And email the chap - he does respond to mails. neil@republicofconsciousness.com
Paul, thanks for bringing this to our attention. It does look like an interesting and excellent prize. It is nice to see Elnathan John's Born on a Tuesday get some recognition. I read it last year and thought it was a strong debut novel (I gave it 4 stars.) An excellent and timely exploration of religious extremism in Nigeria.
My rankings of the four and links to my reviews1 Forbidden Line
2 Martin John
3 Solar Bones
4 Born on a Tuesday
Although there isn't much to separate them and they'd all be worthy winners, I would like to see Forbidden Line get it as it is such a unique book.
I agree on the winner. I would swap your number 2 and 3 in terms of literary merit though perhaps not in terms of the spirit of the prize as Martin John took more courage to publish.
I haven't read Born On A Tuesday (yet), but I would agree with your other 3.
Gumble's Yard wrote: "I agree on the winner. I would swap your number 2 and 3 in terms of literary merit though perhaps not in terms of the spirit of the prize as Martin John took more courage to publish."Yes well put - also given it has taken the Goldsmiths, the prize would be a little wasted on Solar Bones. I almost feel guilty putting it above Born on a Tuesday, but the latter simply didn't seem to have the same innovation in prose (and opposed to topic) as the others, much indeed like the Cassava Republic Press book on the Goldsmiths list.
A pseudo Mookse and Gripes dynamic ranking would be:1 Forbidden Line 1.0 (3 readers) (3 first place)
2 Martin John 2.2 (3 readers)
3 Solar Bones 2.8 (3 readers)
4 Born on a Tuesday 4.0 (2 readers)
(where I've ranked SB & MJ equally for Gumble's Yard)
Incidentally I see from twitter that they have raised sufficient funds to hit their target for a £3,000 prize (£2,000 to press; £1000 to writer) as well as award £1,000 to each to two runners-up.But this will be judged over all 8 books - the 4 short-story collections as well - I had misread it as two separate prizes.
Have Counternarratives on my shelves to read. Not sure I will get to the others.
I got confused by the mixture of novels and short story collections, too. I am going to read Born On A Tuesday next (probably next week with the way work is interfering with reading time currently) and that will be all the novels read. I have Light Box sitting on my Kindle, but not sure if I will get to the other 3.
I am also going to read one of the longlisted but not shortlisted novels as the author asked me to via Twitter. That's a first for me!
Who was that.
As an update to my previous post, I now intend to read all the short story collections before prize giving day. Nearly finished Counternarratives and I have the other 3 books in the house waiting to be read (two electronically and one physically).
Neil wrote: "As an update to my previous post, I now intend to read all the short story collections before prize giving day. Nearly finished Counternarratives and I have the other 3 books in the house waiting t..."Looking forward to your take on Counternarratives.
As for the other 3 books - I've actually won them (well in fact the entire shortlist) in the prize draw.
Results here as I don't think winners have been contacted direct:
http://www.republicofconsciousness.co...
But to save postage I said I'd pick them up at the ceremony - which has the perverse effect that I now won't have read them beforehand.
I've now read all 8 books. All my reviews are here (if anyone is interested!): Neil's ROCMy complete ranking list is:
1. Counternarratives
2. Forbidden Line
3. Martin John
4. Solar Bones
5. Light Box
6. Born on a Tuesday
7. Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine
8. Treats
A very interesting prize and I've enjoyed reading the books (mostly!). It will be fascinating to see what is picked as the winner.
I would concur from those I have read except I would have Forbidden Line ahead of Counternarratives. Doesn't look as if you were so taken with the three I haven't.
It is probably because I am not normally a fan of short stories. Counternarratives took me by surprise and I thought some of the stories in Light Box were good and there was a thematic link going on. Treats was just too depressing for me. Fine... was weird and I couldn't really get my head around it - it would be interesting to see what others make of it (it seems to have a mix of 1 and 5 star reviews at the moment).
I have the same issue with short stories. Have read another novel from the longlist: the Storyteller by Kate Armstrong. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The prize was awarded last night:The winner was Fitzcarraldo Editions for Counternarratives
Runners Up: And Other Stories for Martin John and Tramp Press for Solar Bones
And a special prize from the Chair of Judges for Galley Beggar Press for Forbidden Line.
so well called by Neil!
(as a small aside: two of the books were originally published by independent press outside of the UK - the winner by New Directions and Martin John by Biblioasis, so congratulations should be due to them as well)
A write up of the event here https://neverimitate.wordpress.com/20...
It was a great evening to celebrate small presses - hopefully this prize will go from strength to strength.
Paul wrote: "It was a great evening to celebrate small presses - hopefully this prize will go from strength to strength."Amen to that!
Neil wrote: "Paul wrote: "It was a great evening to celebrate small presses - hopefully this prize will go from strength to strength."Amen to that!"
Did you spot yourself on the photo on the blog link I posted?
Yes! I saw us both - me taking a picture.
Mod
Well hello you two!
The Republic of Consciousness Prize - my favourite literary prize - is back, and has launched a fund raiser to top up the prize moneyhttps://www.indiegogo.com/projects/re...
Support is encouraged - raffle tickets to win the shortlist start at 3 pounds and last year two of us were winners - and would be extremely welcome.
Just to say - as it came up on another thread - if you win the raffle, the books will be shipped worldwide.
Thanks Paul! That's what was holding me back.
Some of the publishers offering books have also altered to ship overseas e.g. the first Fitzcarraldo subscription was sold to the US.
I wanted to participate in the crowd funding, but found that they only take credit card. Since I live in Germany where credit cards are not as common as in most places that leaves me out in the rain. Weird though, that a big platform such as indiegogo does not accept PayPal.
Tim wrote: "I wanted to participate in the crowd funding, but found that they only take credit card. Since I live in Germany where credit cards are not as common as in most places that leaves me out in the rai..."Thanks - indiegogo does support Apple Pay but I think that isn't live in Germany.
But if you DM the Republic of Consciousness Prize on twitter (@prizeRofC), or email them (neil [at] republicofconsciousness [dot] com) then they would be only to delighted to accept a paypal donation, I am sure.
Actually if anyone does want to pay on Paypal or arrange anything else that the indiegogo site doesn't allow, email James Tookey who runs the prize, on jwtookey[AT]gmail[DOT]com
I am glad I heard Paul and Jonathan talking about this at the Goldsmiths readings. I hadn't read about the fundraising so I looked it up and have bought the Tramp Press offer. I think the timing of this prize will be good for me. Too many others overlap.
Ang wrote: "I am glad I heard Paul and Jonathan talking about this at the Goldsmiths readings. I hadn't read about the fundraising so I looked it up and have bought the Tramp Press offer. I think the timing of..."Many thanks. Was interesting how pleased Sara Baume was incidentally that we had the Tramp Press copies of her book (even if they didn't do the pictures the way she wanted).
The longlist for the 2017 Republic of Consciousness Prize is out.The 13 books are - in alphabetical order by publisher:
1. Playing Possum by Kevin Davey (Aaaargh! Press)
2. Sorry to Disrupt the Peace by Patti Yumi Cottrell (And Other Stories)
3. The Gallows Pole by Ben Myers (Bluemoose Books)
4. An Overcoat: Scenes from the Afterlife of H.B. by Jack Robinson (CB Editions)
5. Die, My Love by Ariana Harwicz (Charco Press)
6. Gaudy Bauble by Isabel Waidner (Dostoevsky Wannabe)
7. Compass by Mathias Enard, tr. Charlotte Mandell (Fitzcarraldo Editions)
8. Blue Self-Portrait by Noemi Lefevbre, tr. Sophie Lewis (Les Fugitives)
9. We That Are Young by Preti Taneja (Galley Beggar Press)
10. Attrib. and other stories by Eley Williams (Influx Press)
11. Darker With The Lights On on by David Hayden (Little Island Press)
12. In the Absence of Absalon by Simon Okotie (Salt Publishing)
13. The Iron Age by Arja Kajermo (Tramp Press)
see:
https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/pu... for a write up on each - or click through for reviews from myself, Gumble's Yard and Neil.
I - and I think I speak for Neil and Gumble's Yard as well - can say that I am very proud of this list. Choosing a shortlist, let alone a winner is going to be very hard.The great news for everyone is that - uniquely - you can get involved in two ways.
1. Support the crowd funding for the prize pool, and get yourself some great books in the process. GBP50 gets you the shortlist when chosen, and as little as GBP3 a chance of winning it in a raffle.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/re...
2. Your views on the books may well influence at least 3 of the judges in our deliberations. We meet as a panel (of 12 bloggers, authors, booksellers and Goodreaders) to decide at the end of January - so get reading and let us know what you think.
Amen to all that! It’s a great list - thoroughly recommended. Happy reading, everyone!
Mod
This list looks amazing.
I also note that many are described as "slim" or "novella", so there's a good chance for spectators to make a dent on the longlist.
I also note that many are described as "slim" or "novella", so there's a good chance for spectators to make a dent on the longlist.
We'll done. I hope to read more of these (currently I've only read Playing Possum).
Mod
I also note that many are described as "slim" or "novella", so there's a good chance for spectators to make a dent on the longlist."
Not all of them - looking at the picture Gumble shared on Twitter the Taneja and Enard look pretty thick, as is The Gallows Pole which is already on my TBR pile.
Does anyone want to do dynamic rankings for these?
I bought the Tramp Press offer in the fundraising site. It's been a while and I haven't heard how to make my choices. Do you know how it works, Paul?
Hugh wrote: "Not all of them - looking at the picture Gumble shared on Twitter the Taneja and Enard look pretty thick, as is The Gallows Pole which is already on my TBR pile. "
I tracked down that photo and am sad to see that the Taneja, which I really want to read, is one of the thickest.
The stack
I tracked down that photo and am sad to see that the Taneja, which I really want to read, is one of the thickest.
The stack
For the avoidance of doubt the two really thick "books" at the bottom of the pile are not on the list. They are part of a stool I use to get to the top bookshelves in my library/study. All 13 books are great reads but Compass and We That Are Young are not quick reads.
I’d second what GY says. It is a great long list and I don’t think you will regret the time needed for the longer ones.
Ang. They were going to put people in touch with publishers once the fund raise has closed. But if you want to pre-empt I can DM you organisers email?
Is Sorry to Disrupt the Peace terribly depressing? That's the only one I already own, but I don't know if I can deal with suicide thoughts this week.
Well if it envokes negative reactions it is more of disgust than depressing - although I found it very funny in parts. Suicide (although of the narrator's brother) does play a part though.
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The Mookse and the Gripes
Books mentioned in this topic
Tinderbox (other topics)Feeding Time (other topics)
We That Are Young (other topics)
In the Midst of Winter (other topics)
Sorry to Disrupt the Peace (other topics)
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A new UK prize aimed specifically at innovative fiction from small presses and with a crowd-funded prize.
They are holding a literary raffle to help fund the prize which is well worth supporting, particularly for anyone UK based:
http://www.republicofconsciousness.co...
The shortlist was announced yesterday see article in The Guardian and looks impressive.
Two I've read and really enjoyed: the Goldsmiths winner Solar Bones, the Goldsmith and Giller shortlisted Martin John
and two new to me:
Born on a Tuesday and Forbidden Line
also a strong-looking short-story list.