2022 Booker Shortlist Discussion

[WndyJW]

I agree, Lou. It took me a chapter or three to get used to her voice, then I couldn’t remember why it bothered me to begin with. She’s perfect for those books.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

I have just reviewed his first book

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I know realise that having win a Sri Lankan literary prize with it as an unpublished manuscript he could not get either a local or International publisher to take it on and do the editing he felt it needed. So he self published using the prize money and family and friends to help with aspects. A year later PRH took it on and cut out 100 pages or so (and I think suggested he added back some cricket explanation) and it was eventually published in India and then internationally in its new form.

Even more to my surprise the book - which is represented as the writing of a now dead journalist has a meta fictional section at the end when various people decide what to do with the manuscript. Eventually the journalists son takes it on, edits it heavily to get it publishable on the advice of a publisher (particularly to make it publishable internationally), and gets it published under a pen name of Shehan Karunatilaka

So it’s not like the author did not know his writing might need editing

[Paul]

Fun fact. He was working on a version adapted for the US market called Screwball, but it never saw the light of day.

[David]

Southpaw, I think it would be.

[Paul]

Actually Southpaw Screwball perhaps. That he bowls left handed is a feature but that he bowls Googlies rather than say left arm seam is pretty key.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Well not entirely as he bowls left arm seam, right arm fast etc etc - he can basically bowl anything and imitate the bowling action of any bowler.

It’s his double bounce ball spinning one way then the other that’s his real special

[Paul]

But has he perfected the Greg Chappell infinite bouncer

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TtaWtAx...

And anyway it is the title of the book we are talking about. It isn’t called Double Bouncer or Left Arm Seam.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

The title is also a pun on a Sri Lankan expression - go tell that to a ponytailed Chinaman

[Paul]

As is the US title to the expression “such a screwball”, it is what is so clever.

[Gwendolyn]

Paul wrote: "As is the US title to the expression “such a screwball”, it is what is so clever."

I have no idea what you all are talking about. I don’t think this book is for me…. I did quite enjoy Netherland by Joseph O’Neill, though, and there was quite a bit of cricket in that book too.

[Emmeline]

Gwendolyn wrote: "Paul wrote: "As is the US title to the expression “such a screwball”, it is what is so clever."

I have no idea what you all are talking about. I don’t think this book is for me…. I did quite enjoy..."

Somebody lent me that book three years ago and I was going to let it just fall out of the pile eventually but suddenly I keep hearing people saying how good it is!

[Paul]

Gwendolyn wrote: "Paul wrote: "As is the US title to the expression “such a screwball”, it is what is so clever."

I have no idea what you all are talking about. I don’t think this book is for me…. I did quite enjoy..."

Screwball is a baseball term so I've no idea what I am talking about either!

[Blaine]

A screw ball is a reverse curveball, made famous by a 1930's New York Giants pitcher named Call Hubbell. It is an unnatural motion, and it was said that he threw it so often that by the end of his career his throwing arm faced outward rather than inward when it hung relaxed by his side.