Comments on: The Real 2009 Giller Prize Winner is…

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:44:48 +0000

Rick: You beat me too the punch with your comment — I was writing my post which is now up. Your assumptions about contenders are the same as mine, so I was surprised. If you go to my review of Pullinger’s book, you will find that I enjoyed it — I just did not think it was the kind of book that would win a Canadian literary competition. It is worth the read (and Indigo delivered it to me more quickly than 3 to 5 weeks, even though that was what they were quoting then).

By: Rick P

Rick P — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Hmmmmm. The GG went to Mistress of Nothing by Kate Pullinger. I’m assuming this is a surprise given The Golden Mean and Too Much Happiness were on the shortlist.

I usually try to read the GG winner. Amazon.ca indicates 1 to 2 months lead time and Indigo says 3 to 5 weeks.

I guess I’ll get to it eventually.

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:59:18 +0000

Thanks, dgr. I suspect it will be a long time until we are both right again. Still, nice to celebrate a year of juries making the right choice .
Thanks also for your support of Canadian work — please promote books from the longlist whenver you can (I continue to believe that Martha Baillie’s The Incident Report is the most fun read of all these books, but then I’m not an official judge).

By: dovegreyreader

dovegreyreader — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:24:14 +0000

Kevin, that’s a first for both of us this year then, my Booker tip, your Giller, congratulations on the shadowing, it’s been so good to get news of more good Canadian books

By: House of Anansi Press

House of Anansi Press — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:27:24 +0000

Hi Kevin — congratulation on selection the Giller winner. I think you were one of the few!

I’d like to get in touch with you about your review policy, but you haven’t listed any contact info on your blog. Would you mind emailing me, please?

Thanks very much,
Trish

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:24:12 +0000

Thanks, Maggie — I get awards picks right so rarely that this was a special pleasure.

By: Maggie

Maggie — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:18:36 +0000

Congratulations Shadows on your astute top pick!

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:12:42 +0000

Thanks, Rick. I do think it was the best book and I think the fact that the Shadow Jury actually reads the books — which most of the media do not — contributed to the decision. It was the right choice.

By: Rick P

Rick P — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:09:55 +0000

I just ordered the winning novel.

Thanks to Shadow Giller for all the work and insight.

This was widely reported in the press as an upset or a surprise.

Not only was Shadow Giller aligned but Kevin was quite certain they were aligned with the Main Giller Jury. So, no surprise for those on top of things.