That was a great read. I was initially disappointed with Orbital, but fortunately it’s short enough to reread and reevaluate. It’s deceptively straightforward but actually beautifully written.
Thanks Emily! It's really arbitrary who they invite to the Booker parties. It's kind of down to if they remembered you reviewed some of their books once.
I don't believe deciding between novels when a prize is involved should be "a matter of taste [and] maddeningly subjective". The shortlists on the major prizes in the UK are limited to a very narrow understanding of 'literary', what one might call 'Waterstones 3-for-2 table lyrical realism', so it ends up being a toss-up between more or less identical novels.
When it comes to the Booker and others (even those claiming to be rewarding innovative fiction), I think of Beckett's Molloy keeping warm by wrapping himself in swathes of newspapers: "The Times Literary Supplement was admirably adapted to this purpose, of a never-failing toughness and impermeability. Even farts made no impression on it."
Hard agree about The Bee Sting, and I was glad it won the Nero. Also delighted about Orbital.
That was a great read. I was initially disappointed with Orbital, but fortunately it’s short enough to reread and reevaluate. It’s deceptively straightforward but actually beautifully written.
This was excellent. Had me giggling!
Thanks! Orbital really is a wonder by the way if you haven't read yet. Looking forward to The Orange Notebooks storming the Booker.
I'm so glad you decided to write up this episode, with its entertaining insights into the often opaque culture surrounding literary prizes.
Thanks Emily! It's really arbitrary who they invite to the Booker parties. It's kind of down to if they remembered you reviewed some of their books once.
I don't believe deciding between novels when a prize is involved should be "a matter of taste [and] maddeningly subjective". The shortlists on the major prizes in the UK are limited to a very narrow understanding of 'literary', what one might call 'Waterstones 3-for-2 table lyrical realism', so it ends up being a toss-up between more or less identical novels.
When it comes to the Booker and others (even those claiming to be rewarding innovative fiction), I think of Beckett's Molloy keeping warm by wrapping himself in swathes of newspapers: "The Times Literary Supplement was admirably adapted to this purpose, of a never-failing toughness and impermeability. Even farts made no impression on it."