It feels like just yesterday that this year’s Scotiabank Giller Prize longlist was announced, but apparently it wasn’t because yesterday saw the shortlist released! This will be a short post because I haven’t yet finished any of the books (the past few weeks have been crazed and reading has somewhat gone out the window in favour of watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Netflix before its disappearance yesterday). But I do have a couple of thoughts.
First of all, I’m not all that surprised by the shortlist. Unlike the Man Booker, which completely blindsided me! These are the other books I thought might have made the cut, just based on what I’ve heard about them or the author’s prominence in literary circles/on previous literary prizes:
That said, having not finished any of these yet (I’ve read the beginning of Beirut Hellfire Society, and am enjoying the style so far), I can’t say I really have any idea what I’m talking about.
I’m really pleased that Washington Black made both the Giller and Man Booker shortlists. It’s actually the one I’m rooting for on the Booker list now that Normal People has been eliminated. It seems to be a favourite amongst both literary and pleasure readers, and I’m about 70 pages in myself – really enjoying it so far (if “enjoy” is the right word to use about this kind of story).
I’m not surprised to see DeWitt’s French Exit on the list, nor Sheila Heti’s Motherhood. Both of these authors have been well received for previous books, and I’ve read a little of each book – just enough to see the style and promise.
I’m glad that An Ocean of Minutes made it to the list – I wasn’t sure about its chances, but I think the premise is fascinating, and the comparisons to Station Eleven have also piqued my curiosity. I wasn’t sure if it would be too “readable” for the award, but I’m glad it made it through.
The one I really wasn’t sure about was Songs for the Cold of Heart. It’s a rather large book, and it’s the only translated work on the list. But it has apparently been a huge seller in its original French, and sounds like it’s worth the commitment. So I’m interested to see if it will make it through to win the prize!
Based on the (very limited) reading I’ve done so far, I’m probably pulling for Washington Black, though I have a little soft spot for Songs for the Cold of Heart as well. Which I definitely won’t find time to read all the way through before the prize is announced, but hopefully I’ll get to read a bit of it!
Any of you read any of the shortlisted titles? Do you have any opinions on the books that didn’t make it to the shortlist? Any hopes or guesses about the winner? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
It’s kind of old news at this point, but I haven’t had time to weigh in on the Man Booker shortlist. Here it is:
The shortlist this year really took me by surprise. Of the six books, two I expected on the list:
Another two I thought stood a good chance:
Of the final two, one was on my possible list:
And finally one on my probably not list made it through:
I was most shocked not to see these two on the list:
I really hoped Normal People might win the prize, but I at least thought it would make the shortlist, based on the rave reviews it seems to have been getting from… well, pretty much anyone who has read it.
Now that Normal People is out of the running, as mentioned above, I’m really hoping Esi Edugyan’s Washington Black wins. Not only have I heard excellent things, but she’s the Canadian pick now that Ondaatje is out of the running, so I feel a sense of national pride. But I think either The Long Take or The Overstory will probably give her a run for her money. The Long Take because it seems the judges are really gung ho to bring books that do different things with language to the fore. The Overstory, in a normal year, would probably be the most obvious and “traditional” choice to win, but since this year seems to be a bit of a departure, I’m not as sure of its chances.
Of the remaining three, I think The Mars Room has been tipped as being readable, but perhaps not as accomplished as some of the other picks in terms of its language and style. Both Milkman and Everything Under have had very mixed reviews, though of the two of them I think Milkman probably stands a slightly better chance.
This year’s Booker is proving quite hard to call though, so I wouldn’t put money on any of my predictions this time around!
What about you guys? Any predictions? Thoughts? Feelings of outrage on behalf of Normal People? Share in the comments!