2021 Booker International shortlist: In Memory of Memory

[Hugh, Active moderator]

In Memory of Memory by Maria Stepanova

[Paul]

I must admit to being a little surprised to see this - generally I'm into the novel <> fiction idea, but this one felt much close to an essay / memoir than The Years say.

On the other hand, it's very impressive.

[Sam]

I second the impressive. I think it is most most unique and literary of what I have read. I think when considering this and and other examples of the ilk, we need a new evaluation for what we call fiction. There is an effect on the reader Stepanova achieves with this approach that fits my description of what happens when one reads a novel, but is a bit difficult to describe. This would be my pick as the winner right now. I will read it again if it shortlists.

[Paul]

One has to love a book that draws heavily on the words of WG Sebald ... and of the Fillyjonk (https://www.moomin.com/en/characters/...)

[Paul]

(from the main thread)

Areeb wrote: "I had been meaning to share this but kept forgetting. A very curious review I found on Amazon re. In Memory of Memory. I haven't read it yet so can't comment.

"Exceptional book but questionable translation
Reviewed in the United States on 5 March 2021

This is one of the best books written in Russian in the last 20 years. I had been waiting for its English translations for months, and it finally came out. The English text does a good job conveying Stepanova's poetic prose, but I was shocked and disappointed to notice that Sasha Dugdale skipped paragraphs, sometimes entire pages that are present in the original. That she does that is not mentioned anywhere in the footnotes. I'm really hoping for the second edition of this translation because right now it feels like the publisher does not have any respect for their readers."

There is a translator's note at the end which begins:

Maria Stepanova's In Memory of Memory is a living text and the English translation has been changed and modified from the original Russian in collaboration with the author

So sounds like the observation of changes is valid but the blame on the publisher isn't (and Fitzcarraldo aren't a Peirene who did explicitly cut down a novel from last year's list to fit their preferred length) rather an author/translator decision.

There's a lengthy writer/translator discussion here but I haven't listened to see if it comes up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Osiur...

[Areeb]

Paul wrote: "(from the main thread)

Areeb wrote: "I had been meaning to share this but kept forgetting. A very curious review I found on Amazon re. In Memory of Memory. I haven't read it yet so can't comment.
..."

Oh this sounds incredibly interesting, thank you so much, Paul. I will bookmark this and listen while reading it or after I am done with the book. i think have read one or two other books which work with a similar idea and it's always fascinating to read.

[Tony]

I think I made myself clear on this one - still, at least I've finished it!

[Stacia]

Areeb wrote: "Paul wrote: "(from the main thread)

Areeb wrote: "I had been meaning to share this but kept forgetting. A very curious review I found on Amazon re. In Memory of Memory. I haven't read it yet so ca..."

I am also going to watch that later. Thanks, Paul.

It instantly made me think of The Story of My Teeth and Luiselli's collaboration with her translator to change/modify parts of the story.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Has anyone read her newly translated poetry collection - sounds like the two are ideally read together

https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...

[Sam]

Gumble's Yard wrote: "Has anyone read her newly translated poetry collection - sounds like the two are ideally read together

https://www.theguardian.com/books/202......"

I did not read that volume but I did read some of the introduction. I also read a few of Stepanova's poems online. Here is a link to the poem cited in the article.

https://www.modernpoetryintranslation...

I am going to wait to see if she shortlists before I buy the book. I got the impression that both are recommended because of Stepaniva's talent and versatility rather than specific links between the two.

[WndyJW]

I tried again to read this last night and would have stuck with it after reading, “ This book about my family is not about my family at all, but something quite different: the way memory works, and what memory wants from me.” I enjoy books about memory so I think I will enjoy this, but I got sidetracked with a Saramago reread while waiting for my other Int Booker books to arrive.

[Tracy]

I think this is one of those books that require the reader to be in the mood to read it. More so than most other books- I had a hard time getting into it, and kept trying to find the reason it was longlisted for a fiction prize. If I’d just read it for the sake of enjoyment, I would have loved it.

[WndyJW]

Well, so far other books are calling to me and this is the year I don’t read a book because I ought to, I’m reading only what I want to.

[Hugh, Active moderator]

I was very impressed with this book, but would definitely classify it as non-fiction, so no arguments about the white cover.

[Paul]

Any arguments about the eligibility for the IB though?

Whereas I expected The Years to appear, and felt the white cover could just as easily have been blue (sky blue?) here I genuinely didn't expect to see this one on the list despite the strong pre-prize speculation.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

In simple terms the judges this year, rightly or wrongly, have largely ignored eligibility.

[Tony]

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "In simple terms the judges this year, rightly or wrongly, have largely ignored eligibility."

So, joint winners, then?

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

No - as its the 2018 mainstream Booker they are following

[Paul]

As an aside I was reflecting the other day, as I said hello to one of the judges from that year as we passed in the street, how wonderfully that 2019 decision worked. Contrary to all expectations, including mine I should say, it didn't detract from Evaristo's achievement at all, indeed I suspect the extra publicity rather helped.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

I think it was inappropriate as it was unfair on previous judging panels and also because it was immature (I don't blame the judge you mean but the Chair was I think doing it for publicity

I still remember - doing my own name dropping - Jim Naughtie telling us and 2 people from Front Row earlier in the evening - and with no knowledge of the decision - that the Chair would do something attention seeking as that was his personality, and then coming up to say "I told you so" afterwards.

But yes most of the criticism was based on some early stuff (a BBC report and a bookshop display) which had Atwood as the main/only winner with Evaristo forgotten. In practice its hard to see how Evaristo could have a higher profile than she has now - with a big biographical book to come later this year- and if anything its the Atwood book which people have forgotten won.

[Paul]

Yes that's the good bit - if you asked someone who won the 2019 Booker, most would answer Evaristo.

I keep plucking up the courage to try and get the goss from the judge but I don't know her that well - more very good friend of a good friend.

[LindaJ^]

I'm between a third and a half through this one. It's a book that sets the pace rather than the reader. It just is not going to allow a quick read. I like it. At times I have no clue as to the point the author is trying to make, but other times it just clicks. I've already ranked it in my top six.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Booker author and translator interview (the last one I think)

https://thebookerprizes.com/internati...

This quote seems to capture this year's longlist well

am immensely glad to see that books like In Memory of Memory, multi-genre, non-linear, probing the space between conventional fiction and non-fiction are gaining interest and attention. It’s a huge thing, and as a devoted reader of documentary fiction I am happy to see its audience is expanding

And interesting comments on the translation

Maria gave me free rein to approach the book as I wanted and this freedom, together with her brilliant sense of English helped me no end. Often if I had a problem with a phrase I would ask her how she thought it should sound in English. So I didn’t think of the book in terms of its mixed genres, but rather in terms of Maria’s own voice and how I could best capture that in English. I’ve been friends with Maria for many years and we’ve spent so much time talking together, so I could hear her voice in and through the text and I translated that.

[Tony]

Funnily enough, I got another Stepanova book in the post today: 'The Voice Over', from the CUP Russian Library. I think it has most (but not all) of what's included in the Bloodaxe book out soon, plus a lot more besides, including a number of essays on other writers.

[LindaJ^]

I finally finished today - over two weeks to complete, but not because it was a chore. I loved this book. As noted above, the book set the reading pace. My review -- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[WndyJW]

Now I want to try this book again, Linda.

[Stephen]

My copy arrived today. I'm reading it as part of an online book group read. They meet on Monday 17th May. If it takes two weeks to complete I'd better start tomorrow.

[Stephen]

What a complex challenging book.

Here is a link to a wonderful article in Harpers magazine about the book and Maria Stepanova's other two translated works, her poetry collection, War of the Beasts and the Animals and her book of essays, The Voice Over

https://harpers.org/archive/2021/06/g...

[Tony]

I have a copy of 'The Voice Over', and it's more than just essays - in fact, I think there's a fair bit of crossover with 'War of the Beasts'...

[Paul]

Now also longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for non-fiction.

[Areeb]

Tony wrote: "I have a copy of 'The Voice Over', and it's more than just essays - in fact, I think there's a fair bit of crossover with 'War of the Beasts'..."

I read it last month. It has significant excerpts from it but far from the whole thing. I couldn't care for all the poetry that much but the essays were absolutely divine. There was one on Sebald that I think all of you will really appreciate. It was so lovingly written, so poignant, so astute. I got the distinct feeling that she had plumbed his core. It is one I will keep returning to as I read more of his work.