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The Goldsmiths Prize
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2021 Goldsmiths Prize General Discussion
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Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer
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Oct 20, 2021 02:40PM
Airpods fall out of your ear? Seems odd when they are (I would assume) roughly the same shape as mine and mine can stay in for a five mile walk running after a dog up and down steep hills on rocky paths.
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Only being present for the first hour, it looks like I managed to be present for most of the meeting.As someone who hasn't read a lot of fiction that is 'experimental' or using last night's buzzword, 'innovative', I found last night disappointing. (From the enthusiasm and love for the shortlist from this group, I had been looking forward to the event.)
It would have been helpful to have hard more introductory comments from the authors to introduce someone like me to their book.
The event was geared toward readers familiar with the work and with a greater innovative reading experience.
I thought Rebecca's reading of Little Scratch came over very well and I would have liked to have heard more from Natasha Brown about Assembly.
Sorry to be a bit negative
I think we all felt the same Stephen - including those of us who have read all of the books.I have to say that the Booker Prize does it better and the Women's Prize does it so much better (but that's true of pretty well every aspect of that prize). The Women's Prize shortlist event this year was a brilliant event which really bought each book to life (and of course they also did the separate actor readings/author previews and two person interviews over three nights)
But even for the Goldsmiths, and even allowing for the fact we all have Zoom fatigue, that was a poor evening which did not reflect well on what is a very good prize and very interesting shortlist.
As you say a reading does not work if it is not bracketed by some some introductory remarks and then I think also needs some follow up questions to the author from the host to explain more of the book.
if there is one good thing from the evening I hope it attracts more people to get the audio book of Little Scratch (although as commented it is expensive)
Stephen you are not alone. The Goldsmiths is normally my favourite prize of the year but this year has been a bit of a disappointment for me. I had read and loved 3 of the books before the announcement but the 3 I read after were nowhere near as good (speaking only personally of course) and then last night’s event wasn’t what I hoped for for reasons others have already articulated.
The Goldsmiths readings USP were really the ability to mix with the authors afterwards and chat to them individually (very much not what the Booker does) so I think suffers from online. NB I think innovative is used rather than experimental since on the words of the former winner “The word 'experimental' makes the whole enterprise sound so dubious and tentative, so doomed to failure.”
The USP was the ability to be haughtily ignored by Rachel Cusk in favour of a cigarette
Who was the facilitator? I missed his name.
Mod
It’s still October but the book of the year lists are appearing…Publisher’s Weekly in the US has a top 10 with 2 Goldsmiths books - Assembly and A Shock - as well as Second Place
https://best-books.publishersweekly.c...
I liked A Shock, but calling it a masterpiece may be stretching it.
It said “his masterpiece” which could be taken as damning with faint praise! Except they have it in the top 10 books across all genres, fiction and non fiction, Anglophone and translated, in the US in 2021)
Hugh wrote: "You posted a screenshot on Twitter Wendy, which names him as Tom Lee."Good lord, I scare myself when I miss things like that!
I have paperback copies of Checkout 19 and Sterling Karat Gold if anyone in the U.S. wanted them.
It's interesting that most of us see this as a list of two halves - but disagree about which books belong in each half. For me, Sterling Karat Gold, Assembly, and little scratch are easily in my top 10 of the year. The others seem to be 3-4 star reads for me. I may be in the minority by being underwhelmed by Checkout 19.
A list of 5/6ths for me. A Shock felt a little out of place but otherwise hard to separate the other 5. Personal taste aside, A Shock and This One Sky Day do seem less “Goldsmiths” than the others, even to their authors (see Ridgway’s New Statesman interview or Ross’s comment at the readings) whereas the other 4 feel more consciously innovative in form.
Biggest consensus though seems to be Assembly. Seems almost universally liked by those who have read it - think everyone who has ranked it has it in their top 2.
I read and enjoyed Assembly, Little Scratch, and Sterling Karat Gold. I started the 2nd chapter of A Shock 3 or 4 times and just could not stick with it, I started This One Sky Day a few times, but kept putting it down to read something else, and as much as I was enjoying Bennett’s writing, I got sidetracked by other books, so I guess I’m with David about which 3 I like. I am sure I will get back to Checkout 19, but I doubt I’ll try the other two again.
I put Checkout 19 to one side as I could not deal with the lack of paragraphs! I will definitely return to it if it wins, although I hope Assembly is the winner.
Mod
Any projections on the winner? My guess would be Assembly just because I can see it having several champions and no detractors.
That would seem the obvious choice yes. Although the Goldsmiths Prize has a habit of strong shortlist, not the obvious winner.Natasha Brown has kindly invited Gumble's Yard and I to attend (on Zoom) the prize announcement tonight, which seems not to be publicly broadcast.
I'm envious of you and GY Paul, but one does wonder why the prize announcement is not available to the general public. I know I'd certainly like to watch.
Well it used to a be a private in person event pre Covid. But that is perhaps more understandable - if on Zoom could be everyone.
I think most prizes historically have a private winners event - with perhaps a broadcast of the actual final announcementIt was I have to say a really pleasant surprise to receive a message from the author of my favourite book of 2021
Needless to say, please post details and reactions!!!
Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "I think most prizes historically have a private winners event - with perhaps a broadcast of the actual final announcementIt was I have to say a really pleasant surprise to receive a message from ..."
Even if she did call you Grumble. (which is fitting)
Doesn't look like it will be very elaborate - some readings from the authors (which we've already had in public) then 'the winner is' Will be interesting if the Twitter feed beats the official announcement - iirc that happened once on the International Booker
I am predicting Sterling Karat Gold for the win
Hopefully but justice is seldom served so smoothlyI actually think Assembly (favourite) or Checkout 19
GY has persuaded me we ought to wait till it is officially announced before we post it here (it hasn't yet been announced in any case)
Sterling Karat Gold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I loved Isabel's reaction to winning, you could see how much it meant.
Justice is served. The UK's best writer wins the UK's best prize
And the first post on the pre-longlist speculation thread, back in January had 3/6 of the shortlist including the winner
I am so happy! This is the only book I have and one I have been wanting to read (and got) much before it featured on the Goldsmiths Prize. Looking forward to reading it next year and sad that it cannot be sooner. I will get Watson, Bennett and Brown too soon.
Have updated my rankings of all 54 shortlisted books over the 9 years of the prize.No surprises that there is a new entry at number 1
Wow. Not at all what I would have expected.
Another Goldsmiths - another white winner. 9 years out of 9.
It’s simply a fact Cindy - prior to this year in 8 years the the prize has had only even shortlisted 5 non white writers, and has had 4 all white shortlists and 5 all white judging panels. When you attend the shortlist readings and see the authors on stage or (like I did today) get sent a booklet with a picture of all the past winners it’s a little obvious unfortunately.
Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "It’s simply a fact Cindy - prior to this year in 8 years the the prize has had only even shortlisted 5 non white writers, and has had 4 all white shortlists and 5 all white judging panels. When you..."I understand exactly what you're saying GY. Given how strong the offerings were by non-white authors on this year's shortlist, it's quite disappointing.
They were genuinely amazed in a delighted way when the announcement was made - Leonne Ross was noticeably very happy for them also (the two are colleagues at the neighbour south London University to Goldsmiths or were colleagues as I have a feeling Leonne Ross might be shifting jobs although unsure what makes me think that).
Cindy wrote: "Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "It’s simply a fact Cindy - prior to this year in 8 years the the prize has had only even shortlisted 5 non white writers, and has had 4 all white shortlists ..."At least they had some non white judges and authors this year
Yay!! I would have been equally happy for Assembly to win, but this is wonderful news!
The Mookse and the Gripes
Books mentioned in this topic
Sterling Karat Gold (other topics)Assembly (other topics)
Checkout 19 (other topics)
little scratch (other topics)
The Hours Before Dawn (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Keith Ridgway (other topics)Claire-Louise Bennett (other topics)
Natasha Brown (other topics)
Leone Ross (other topics)
Isabel Waidner (other topics)
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