Shortlists and Prizes

[Karen]

I'm looking forward to reading the new Elif Shafak and there's a few others that sound good to add to my to read list. I haven't read any on that list yet though. Have you?

[DrMama]

Hi Ian,
I hope you are well (and ... on-goingly … still … many many thanks for the 'Book Barter'!). Cheers too for this Booker List.
However … I have to say that I'm a little disappointed that it is so 'Western'. I have not kept up with the various changes with how the submissions are organised, and was always opposed to the inclusion of the US. I did prefer the years when there would be so many works from various African countries, NZ, Aus, India and so on. I know the original base of that was the inclusion of 'former Commonwealth countries' but this list does seem so UK/USA- based … with so many writers who are already getting enough sales and coverage. Having said that, I am looking forward to the Kevin Barry, John Lanchester and Max Porter … but they were already on my 'tbr' list. The only one I have read is Oyinkan Bratithwaite's, and while I thought it convincing, well-written/structured and exceptionally well-voiced, I'm surprised to find it here. However, I'm very interested to see what others think.

[Ian]

DrMama wrote: "Hi Ian,
I hope you are well (and ... on-goingly … still … many many thanks for the 'Book Barter'!). Cheers too for this Booker List.
However … I have to say that I'm a little disappointed that it i..."

I know what you are saying - I know Man Booker also have an international prize so maybe that is where the wider community of writers is represented?

[Ian]

Karen wrote: "I'm looking forward to reading the new Elif Shafak and there's a few others that sound good to add to my to read list. I haven't read any on that list yet though. Have you?"

No - not read any of them yet but will certainly want to do so

[DrMama]

Ian wrote: "DrMama wrote: "Hi Ian,
I hope you are well (and ... on-goingly … still … many many thanks for the 'Book Barter'!). Cheers too for this Booker List.
However … I have to say that I'm a little disappo..."
You may be right … having said that, I can't remember what was on the last Man Booker International list. I will go and have a look, 'though I suspect I thought it was still too US/UK/ Western … but that could just be my cynicism.
I do adore the website 'The Literary Saloon' run by Michael Orthofer, - he has ruined me for so many books - as he rates so many World Writers who I had never heard of; and sampling some of them quickly led me down all sorts of wonderful new readerly/writerly paths. A particular favourite of mine is Lazlo Krasznahorki {nb I think I'm spelling his name correctly but he doesn't seem to be in the Good Reads database}. His works are wonderful.

[DrMama]

Hi Karen,
I'm replying to a post of yours, that came to my email, but does not - yet - appear to be on this site .
Yes, Michael Orthofer's site is also 'The Complete Review'. He is amazing. It is a very low-key site - just his posts on books and authors - but he knows so much about amazing World Literature that I had previously never heard of. I now find it hard to settle to more ordinary works.
Hope you like it.
/DrMama / Carole

[Karen]

DrMama wrote: "Hi Karen,
I'm replying to a post of yours, that came to my email, but does not - yet - appear to be on this site .
Yes, Michael Orthofer's site is also 'The Complete Review'. He is amazing. It is a..."
Thanks Carole. I deleted it because I found the site. It looks really good. I've saved it to my favourites. Is there a particular book you recommend by the Hungarian author you mentioned?

[DrMama]

Karen wrote: "DrMama wrote: "Hi Karen,
I'm replying to a post of yours, that came to my email, but does not - yet - appear to be on this site .
Yes, Michael Orthofer's site is also 'The Complete Review'. He is a..."
Definitely 'Satantango'. Another author I love thanks to MO is Diego Maraini, eg: 'The Last of the Vostyachs' and 'A New Finnish Grammar'. I hope you find them worthwhile. Ages since I read any of them, must check for more, and maybe reread these.

[Gail]

While not in the same league as The Booker Prize, I'd like to flag up The People's Book Prize summer collection. This competition champions new authors and showcases new and undiscovered work. It places responsibility in the hands of the public to decide the nation’s next bestsellers and writers of tomorrow. This is achieved through a democratic process which empowers the public to vote in three categories: fiction, non-fiction and writing for children. In a shameless act of self-promotion, I paste the link to my debut novel The String Games which has been longlisted.
https://peoplesbookprize.com/summer-2...
You can find out about the novel here and to vote all you need to do is scroll down to add your details, tick the newsletter box and submit. It only takes a minute or two to complete the form and I'd really appreciate your support to help my novel get to the finalist stage.

[Kathy]

Gail wrote: "While not in the same league as The Booker Prize, I'd like to flag up The People's Book Prize summer collection. This competition champions new authors and showcases new and undiscovered work. It p..."
Congratulations Gail! I hadn't heard of this before. You have some wonderful reviews already. Good luck!

[Gail]

And you've been doing so well with your longlistings in the DLF Local Writing Prize, Kathy!

[Kathy]

Gail wrote: "And you've been doing so well with your longlistings in the DLF Local Writing Prize, Kathy!"
Cheers Gail! No-one more surprised than me... :-)

[Ian]

DrMama wrote: "Ian wrote: "DrMama wrote: "Hi Ian,
I hope you are well (and ... on-goingly … still … many many thanks for the 'Book Barter'!). Cheers too for this Booker List.
However … I have to say that I'm a li..."

Such an interesting post - I have Satantango on my tbr list - sounds like a strange book but interesting. Must bump it up the list - you slightly misspelled the name - it is László Krasznahorkai

[Ian]

Gail wrote: "While not in the same league as The Booker Prize, I'd like to flag up The People's Book Prize summer collection. This competition champions new authors and showcases new and undiscovered work. It p..."

Hi Gail - thanks for passing this on - I shall take a look and good luck with the book

[Ian]

Kathy wrote: "Gail wrote: "And you've been doing so well with your longlistings in the DLF Local Writing Prize, Kathy!"
Cheers Gail! No-one more surprised than me... :-)"

Oooh - keep us updated on that Kathy

[Kathy]

Ian wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Gail wrote: "And you've been doing so well with your longlistings in the DLF Local Writing Prize, Kathy!"
Cheers Gail! No-one more surprised than me... :-)"

Oooh - keep us updated on..."
Hi Ian. The prize was announced a couple of weeks ago. Congratulations go to Emma Timpany whose novel, Travelling in the Dark won. But I was chuffed to have a longlisting two years running. There'll be no submission next year though: I'll still be writing the WIP!

[Ian]

Kathy wrote: "Ian wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Gail wrote: "And you've been doing so well with your longlistings in the DLF Local Writing Prize, Kathy!"
Cheers Gail! No-one more surprised than me... :-)"

Oooh - keep u..."

Fantastic to have been shortlisted though - well done x

[Ian]

So - we now know the winners but how many of these have you read? I confess I've not got to them yet but Elif Shafak will be the first I'll read.