Comments on: 2011 Man Booker Prize longlist

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:44:55 +0000

Thanks for that comment, Cheryl — I wasn’t particularly looking forward to the book but your positive thoughts have sowed some seeds. I like the thought of community portrayal — Sam Selvon’s books on immigrants in London remain on my favorites list.

By: Cheryl Collins

Cheryl Collins — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:31:54 +0000

I have to say that having read ‘A cupboard full of coats’ I thought it was an extremely good novel and it has lingered in my mind. It’s not really a crime novel as such, we soon discover who dunnit and that isn’t the focus of the book at all. Having lived in the area in which the novel is set alongside the Afro-Caribbean community it strikes me as pitch perfect.

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 21:17:27 +0000

Simon: From the five I have read so far (I’ve read The Sisters Brothers but won’t be reviewing it for a few days), this one is very different. It has some of the elements of the Hollinghurst, but delivers on them in only one-quarter of the length — and I prefer Barnes’ prose to Hollinghurst’s.

I am not as pleased as you with the list — I think from those I have read and the descriptions of others that the jury has a tilt to plot-driven books and eliminated some of the more introspective works. That is just an impression, mind you, to be confirmed or denied once I actually read the books.

By: savidgereads

savidgereads — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 21:12:32 +0000

The more I look at the list the more I like it and the more pleased I am that my guesses, well everyones really, were so wrong. I think the list is a real mix, authors who are on their 11th book to debuts, the very well known and the not and I like the mix of genres.

Currently the Birch is my ‘favourite’ however I have quite a lot of them to hand and will be reading them as and when (I am currently in the midst of Green Carnation Prize submissions, so they are taking priority) I can. I want to get to the unknown ones first interestingly.

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 22:38:37 +0000

Crake: I’ll be getting to The Sisters Brothers next week since it is the only one that I have on hand. There will probably be a bit of a break in longlisters then — I had to order eight from the UK and that normally means about two weeks in shipping time.

By: Crake

Crake — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 21:59:09 +0000

I’m looking forward to your reviews, Kevin. This year’s longlist is really packed with surprises.
Personally, I’m most intrigued by the inclusion of The Sisters Brothers.

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:48:08 +0000

Trevor: As you know, I jumped the gun on the Hollinghurst (the Canadian release date is the same as the U.S. one). I find Knopf’s response to your question interesting — I feel guilty about taking an NA ARC and reviewing it months early, effectively telling readers to buy it from the UK and not the NA publisher. I’m glad to discover that Knopf doesn’t mind.

The Barnes is also one of those books where the Canadian date is the same as the UK one (Aug. 4), not months down the road.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:41:35 +0000

A bit on the divulging your opinion before the book is out, yesterday I asked the representatives at Knopf whether they wanted me to review the Holinghurst and Barnes during the Booker hub-bub or wait until they are released here (Holinghurst in October and Barnes not until January). They said they hoped I’d be able to review both and get a discussion going during the Booker hub-bub. At least, that’s this one publisher’s preference given these particular circumstances.

By: Lee Monks

Lee Monks — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:33:40 +0000

Ha, kiss of death more like. I’ll look forward to your Barnes disquisition.

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:24:03 +0000

Lee: Come back next week when I post the review on Barnes and we’ll pick up this discussion. It hasn’t been released yet and I don’t like to engage in debate when people can’t even buy the book to confirm that you are right after all.