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sulcus
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Last year I had read 3 of the 6 shortlisted books. This year none. And I have to say, having watched last night's BBC Newsnight Review special on the Booker, I credit my decision to be vindicated. I know the list is a shot in the arm for independent and small publishers, but there was really nothing that appealed to me about any of them. Anyone on YWO read any of them and can persuade me differently? And the authors, apart from Julian Barnes, were awful at reading their own books. Nothing that would make you want to go out and buy it anyway.
"A,B&E", "Not In My Name" and "52FF" (flash fiction anthology) all available on Amazon Kindle"How a psychopath makes sweet love. I can get you ringside. Royal box even."
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sulcus
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so no one on the entire YWO site has read any of the Booker shortlist. Wonder if that says more about us or the Booker panel's choice?
"A,B&E", "Not In My Name" and "52FF" (flash fiction anthology) all available on Amazon Kindle"How a psychopath makes sweet love. I can get you ringside. Royal box even."
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Destinyschild
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I've read several from the long list, and very much enjoyed A Cupboard Full of Coats by Yvvette Edwards. It's very mature for a debut novel. I'd have liked to see it go further. DC
This post was last edited by Destinyschild, 17 Oct 2011, 18:29
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sulcus
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Quote: Destinyschild, Monday, 17 Oct 2011 18:28I've read several from the long list, and very much enjoyed A Cupboard Full of Coats by Yvvette Edwards. It's very mature for a debut novel. I'd have liked to see it go further. DC I think several of the short list were debut novelists too. Strange when last year's winner Howard Jacobsen won not for the book in question "The Finkler Question" which is exactly the same as all his other novels, but more as a prize recognising his career. Seems to have gone diametrically the opposite way this time round. Apart from Julian Barnes and he'll probably win it for the same reason. His entry is very, very short at 160 pages in hardcover...
"A,B&E", "Not In My Name" and "52FF" (flash fiction anthology) all available on Amazon Kindle"How a psychopath makes sweet love. I can get you ringside. Royal box even."
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redbreastedbird
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I'm tempted by Pigeon English and I did buy Jamrach's Menagerie... but I'm not sure I'm actually going to read it. So no, not that inspired by this year's list.
- Robin www.litro.co.uk http://redbreastedbird.blogspot.com/
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sulcus
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Quote: redbreastedbird, Tuesday, 18 Oct 2011 12:12I'm tempted by Pigeon English and I did buy Jamrach's Menagerie... but I'm not sure I'm actually going to read it. So no, not that inspired by this year's list. ha that's funny. You bought a book that you're probably not ever going to read. is that a triumph of the publisher's marketing department I wonder?
"A,B&E", "Not In My Name" and "52FF" (flash fiction anthology) all available on Amazon Kindle"How a psychopath makes sweet love. I can get you ringside. Royal box even."
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Destinyschild
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Quote: redbreastedbird, Tuesday, 18 Oct 2011 12:12I'm tempted by Pigeon English and I did buy Jamrach's Menagerie... but I'm not sure I'm actually going to read it. You must have money to burn! I buy a book per week and need to be damned sure I'm going to read it. Enjoy it? Well, that's another matter. DC
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safiaadam
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Julian Barnes wins 2011 Booker Prize with "The Sense of an Ending" (150 pages) Stella Rimington, a former British spy chief who chaired the panel of judges this year, told reporters: “We thought that it was a book which, though short, was incredibly concentrated and crammed into this very short space a great deal of information you don’t get out of a first reading. “It’s one of these books, a very readable book, if I may use that word, but readable not only once but twice and even three times.” So there you go folks. Stop wasting your time editing after reviewers tell you you've crammed too much into your opening chapters, complain about "info dump" and say they didn't follow everything so had to read it all twice. Keep it short and "readable". No worries.
Follow your bliss
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Destinyschild
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I had hoped the Booker was trying to stop being so far up its own arse but...
Quite what qualifies a former spy master to chair the judges I'm not sure. Going on the quality of that quote neither is she.
DC
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sulcus
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Just like last year, the prize is awarded to someone for their career body of work, not the book in question, which I think renders the Prize meaningless. I can't speak for this year as I haven't read any of the books, but last year's shortlist had 3 really rather daring books in their own way, "Room", "C" and the Galgut book, and byet they gave it to Jacobson's book which was exactly the same as all his other books, Jewish male middle class sexual anxiety... Tiresome
"A,B&E", "Not In My Name" and "52FF" (flash fiction anthology) all available on Amazon Kindle"How a psychopath makes sweet love. I can get you ringside. Royal box even."
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