The Mookse and the Gripes discussion
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Booker Prize for Fiction
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2020 Booker Prize Speculation
Gumble's Yard wrote: "Agree re Apeirogon - it’s brilliant. In a normal year I think it could even win the prize but this is very far from that, and I think it may be seen by the judges as lacking topicality. The other..."
I see your point of view and it prompts us to ask-- what are going to be the defining topics this year? Apeirogon is relevant in considering consequences of division and suggests an alternative to ineffective or unsatisfying authoritative responses to the problem. I think that could be viewed universally, and related to immigration, Black Lives Matter or the Covid-19 response. It will be interesting to see what topics the judges elevate this year.
Yes, I think Apeirogon is relevant even if not directly so. Perhaps somewhat more direct is Yu's Interior Chinatown? Tangential to BLM but maybe somewhat too direct in my opinion.Sadly, neither That Reminds Me nor Rainbow Milk are available in Canada yet. If they are longlisted, I'll be ordering them from Blackwell's - and even if they aren't, I'll likely get them alongside the nominees.
I would be surprised and disappointed if Aperiogon does not make at least the longlist - I just don’t see it as a winner (whereas when I read it in the very different world of February that is how I saw it).
I loved John Self’s reviews. I don’t think I’ve read a whole review by John Self, just his Twitter posts.Perhaps every book group should have a graphic that says, “You don’t have to like everything” or “You don’t have to agree with everything,” I’ve been in groups where that simple wisdom would have spared ruffled feathers.
He is doing it as a career now rather than as a hobby so I think you will see more of them.
He hasn’t always been a paid reviewer? I’m surprised, he’s very good.
Dylan wrote: "Yes, I think Apeirogon is relevant even if not directly so. Perhaps somewhat more direct is Yu's Interior Chinatown? Tangential to BLM but maybe somewhat too direct in my opinion.Sadly, neither T..."
Interior Chinatown doesn't look like it's published in the UK until November, though, so I'd be surprised if that's on the radar. I am looking forward to reading it though.
WndyJW wrote: "He hasn’t always been a paid reviewer? I’m surprised, he’s very good."in the late 00's he had a blog - which was good
I've just started Aperiogon and ready to give it 5 plus stars. I was in Israel in December which makes it even more meaningful, as I experienced the wall and the checkpoints. I think there is topicality - just yesterday I heard a report about Corvid-19 surge in Israel and the Palestine and as I was reading about the trip to hospital in Aperiogon, I wondered how Corvid-19 is being handled in such a divided society.
I hope you are right.
H Anthony wrote: "Interior Chinatown doesn't look like it's published in the UK until November, though, so I'd be surprised if that's on the radar. I am looking forward to reading it though."Good catch! It was on the list of eligible titles in the first post of this thread and I didn't bother fact-checking it (and it's possible there might have been a publication delay since it was first announced).
While I enjoyed it quite a bit I'm not sure we will see it - if only because there are quite a lot of great titles to consider.
As You Were by Elaine Feeney. This is so good...
My review ( I enjoyed it)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have to say reviews have been fairly mixed - including by Neil (who was previously a big contributor to M&G), The dialogue seems to get a lot of criticism.
Emily wrote: "It looks like last year's Giller winner Reproduction is out in the UK in June, so that could be in with a chance."I'm a little bit confused with the release dates. The Europa Edition was published in April but the Little Brown Version is out on the 24th September.
Now with the International Booker Europa Editions have made the list
Is Ian Williams Reproduction eligible??
Gumble's Yard wrote: "The dialogue seems to get a lot of criticism. "I had no bother with it. It was a strength, if anything - that people spoke in fragments.
The fake John Banville twitter account, which mostly pokes fun at the 'the novel is dead' crowd, tweeted this weekend:The novel is still dead. Apparently young women killed it, if older male novelists are to be believed.
I know a male novelist who has a recurring nightmare in which Sally Rooney, Naoise Dolan, and Nicole Flattery beat the novel to death with cudgels in an alleyway.
I suspect / hope Elaine Feeney was seen at the scene as well!
Robert wrote: "Emily wrote: "It looks like last year's Giller winner Reproduction is out in the UK in June, so that could be in with a chance."I'm a little bit confused with the release dates. T..."
I think Europa are doing the US but not the UK edition. And the UK one is the Little Brown/Dialogue one in September. However September still meets the cut off for this year's Booker.
Paul wrote: "I know a male novelist who has a recurring nightmare in which Sally Rooney, Naoise Dolan, and Nicole Flattery beat the novel to death with cudgels in an alleyway."That made me smile. Naoise is a boy's name. A bit like Lionel.
Interesting. Is it unusual as a female name? Unlike Shriver, I haven't seen anything suggesting it isn't her birth given name.
It is a masculine Irish mythological name, from the story of Naoise and Deirdre. However, usage in Ireland for the past few decades has actually tended female, probably due to it being pronounced Neesha (I think, not a Gaelic speaker). For example, last year it was given to 20 baby boys and 44 baby girls. Prior to the late 1980s it had very sporadic use for both genders.
According to her Twitter profile - its pronounced "Naoise"
Women's Prize shortlist readings cancelled (and the Southbank is shut until December) so I assume probably no Booker shortlist readings this year.
Gumble's Yard wrote: "Women's Prize shortlist readings cancelled (and the Southbank is shut until December) so I assume probably no Booker shortlist readings this year."I'm liking the way the International Booker are tackling the readings so if both prizes follow suit, I don't mind.
Understand..Not quite so good for those of us who could and liked attending in person - asking questions, getting books signed, meeting and chatting with the authors etc.
And to be honest my enthusiasm for watching anything online after a day of Webex meetings is very low.
To use an analogy I have not watched a single football match since the season resumed - just waiting for when we can go back to the ground.
Gumble's Yard wrote: "Understand..Not quite so good for those of us who could and liked attending in person - asking questions, getting books signed, meeting and chatting with the authors etc.
And to be honest my enthu..."
very true
Gumble's Yard wrote: "To use an analogy I have not watched a single football match since the season resumed"Blame Mikel Arteta for that, not Covid-19
Gumble's Yard wrote: "According to her Twitter profile - its pronounced "Naoise""Yes, It's phonetic.
I must say I really enjoyed her book (I know Lark Benobi did also) but its definitely getting mixed reviews - I would be surprised to see it make the Booker longlist
Gumble's Yard wrote: "According to her Twitter profile - its pronounced "Naoise""☺️
I have picked my 13 novels for the longlist- there will be a blog post on Friday
Great, Robert. I look forward to your predictions.
Don't think eligible as US published only but would be fun if Telephone were on the list.Publisher revealed in May that book is published in three different versions (ending differs for example but also other scenes), and random which you get. And they've submitted to some prizes:
“For the prizes, they were just given any copy,” Fiona McCrae, his longtime editor and publisher at Graywolf Press, said. “It could be that some judges are discussing the book, but they’re not all reading the same book.”
Paul wrote: "Don't think eligible as US published only but would be fun if Telephone were on the list.Publisher revealed in May that book is published in three different versions (ending diffe..."
He's probably my favorite author, so I pre-ordered it the day I learned of it coming, and since May (when my one copy arrived), I've been trying to figure out how to get my mitts on the other two versions. As an Everett completionist, I know he would have me trying to get all three, but I still want them. Anyone have a clue? Do we have a Percival Everett author thread? I'll check in a bit.
Mod
No we don't, at least not yet...
I’ve heard so much about him - very curious
Well the covers are subtly different in the compass directions so if one goes to or rings a book shop one can ask for the other versions.see:
https://static01.nyt.com/images/2020/...
Paul wrote: "Well the covers are subtly different in the compass directions so if one goes to or rings a book shop one can ask for the other versions.see:
https://static01.nyt.com/images/2020/......"
Thank you! This looks like a job for my favorite indy bookstore, who needs the business anyway. I will get on that (and I'm working up a list of his books to start a thread for Mr. Everett.)
Very subtle differences! - and quite an interesting idea.
Hugh wrote: "Ella wrote: "Do we have a Percival Everett author thread?"No we don't, at least not yet..."
We at least have a start now: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Just from reading Goodreads reviews - Shuggie Bain looks a very serious contender.
I’m ordering Shuggie Bain either way.I’ve never heard of Percival Everett. If he’s your favorite, Ella, I must check into him.
I take that back, I have heard of I Am Not Sidney Poitier.
I just received an ARC of Jack. I’m so excited to get started! I finished Apeirogon last night, and loved it. I think this year the judges may have some good choices.
Thanks Robert. That seems a strong list in both senses (very good books with a very good chance to appear)
Paul wrote: "Thanks Robert. That seems a strong list in both senses (very good books with a very good chance to appear)"Thanks!
That would pretty well be exactly my list - I have read 9, am reading 2 this week (Shuggie and Mermaid) and bought the Mitchell (although unless it’s longlisted I will save it for later in the year and re-read all of his books in sequence). Of the ones I have read or reading I think all are very serious contenders. The only one I have not got is Reproduction - it seems to have very mixed reviews.
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The Mookse and the Gripes
Books mentioned in this topic
The Vanishing Half (other topics)The Accomplice (other topics)
Exciting Times (other topics)
Reproduction (other topics)
Days by Moonlight (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
André Alexis (other topics)Emily St. John Mandel (other topics)
Naoise Dolan (other topics)
Deepa Anappara (other topics)
Maaza Mengiste (other topics)
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The other two books I think have strong chances of the longlist are That Reminds Me and Rainbow Milk (the latter seems to have some commonality with Cleanness).