William Rycroft, also known as Will, who did enter twice within one minute, but have the same books on both entries — try as I can to find a way to turn this into a tie without a winner, I can’t. Everyone, including William, wasted two books with A Mercy and Netherland, neither of which made the shortlist. William had the smarts to go for two “edgy” books, 2666 and The Lazarus Project, which gave him the victory. Congratultions and I’ll be in touch about the prize.
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KevinfromCanada 
January 26, 2009 at 8:06 pm |
Ok, I didn’t win because I read your announcement too late, but I am happy that you FINALLY have a blog.
You asked me a question (on Mookse’s blog) about which Latin American author speaks to me and I am still mulling the question.
I will blog about it soon on my site.
Keep an eye out for it!
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January 26, 2009 at 10:15 pm |
Thanks for dropping in and I promise I will watch for your answer with interest. Kevin
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January 27, 2009 at 8:33 pm |
Congrats to Will! I failed to enter because I am just so out of the loop about US publishing, even though I know this a worldwide in English contest (am I right about that?) I didn’t even know Elizabeth Strout had a new book out, I’d have been onto that one in a flash.
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January 27, 2009 at 9:15 pm |
DGR: Since you know about Elizabeth Strout, have you an opinion on Jayne Anne Phllips? She has a new book out (Lark and Termite that has blurbs from Alice Munro, Tim O’Brien and Junot Diaz — which is about as good a blurb lineup as you can get. From trolling around, I see she has written three previous novels and I know none of them. I would be most interested in an informed opnion.
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January 28, 2009 at 9:13 pm |
Drat, there goes my blog-cred, never knowingly heard of her 🙂
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January 28, 2009 at 9:16 pm |
Me either, alas — there goes my cred too. She is at Rutgers, which is in Trevor’s neighborhood and he has promised to try to track her down. Stay tuned.
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January 29, 2009 at 5:09 am |
KevinFromCanada:
I love your blog, and am very impressed that you got an endorsement from Marcel Proust on your home page.. Not easy to do, obviously.
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January 29, 2009 at 2:32 pm |
Kevin, some news on tracking down Jayne Anne Phillips: no luck so far. I sent her an email because she’s on sabbatical this term (to promote her book, I presume), and I have not heard from her. So I’m not sure if she thought my contact was presumptuous and importunate or if she just hasn’t got my email yet. It’s also possible that she has received my email and means in good faith to respond but is so busy she just hasn’t gotten to it yet. I’ll wait a bit and then maybe try to contact her through her publisher or agent rather than through her university.
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January 29, 2009 at 2:33 pm |
By the way, love the Proust endorsement.
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January 29, 2009 at 3:52 pm |
I plan to change my endorsement every couple of weeks. (Just as I suspect you may change your book spines.) Stay tuned for developments.
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January 29, 2009 at 5:01 pm |
Hey, it doesn’t say Marcel, just M. It’s probably Mickey Proust, from down the road. 🙂
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January 29, 2009 at 6:35 pm |
Quite right, Stewart. Mickey Proust, author of A la cherche du temps trouve, Vol. I-VI; AuthorQuote, U.S., 2008. Available by mail order. Very good spot.
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January 29, 2009 at 8:42 pm |
New development with Jayne Anne Phillips. She has responded and said, “Sure,” I should feel free to email her once I read the book (which I told her I would do before attempting an interview). I don’t know when this is going to happen, but hopefully soon.
Thanks for bringing this matter to my attention, Kevin.
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January 29, 2009 at 9:41 pm |
Great, Trevor — thanks for following up. I look forward to both your review and the interview.
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May 11, 2009 at 5:56 pm |
Just to let you know Kevin that I have finally got around to spending some of my ill-gotten gains and the first KFC-sponsored review is now available to peruse at Just William’s Luck
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May 11, 2009 at 5:58 pm |
I just finished reading your post. Glad you enjoyed Lahiri. And a new contest — pick the IMPAC winner — will be up in a couple of weeks.
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