Former leading New Zealand publisher and bookseller, and widely experienced judge of both the Commonwealth Writers Prize and the Montana New Zealand Book Awards, talks about what he is currently reading, what impresses him and what doesn't, along with chat about the international English language book scene, and links to sites of interest to booklovers.
I don't see a parallel at all actually Rachael. The Director of the Award, Patrick Cotter, speaking yesterday said:
“With a unanimous winner at this early stage we decided it would be a sham to compose a shortlist and put five other writers through unnecessary stress and suspense. Not only were the jury unanimous in their choice of Lahiri’s Unaccustomed Earth as the winner, they were unanimous in their belief that so outstanding was Lahiri’s achievement in this book that no other title was a serious contender.” With the Montana NZ Book Awards the judges said that they did not want to "dilute the awards" by nominating a fifth title for the shortlist. There is a bog difference between the two approaches.
I agree with you, Graham. The Frank O'Connor judges were honest. Our local ones - well, there is still doubt and discussion about what really went on between Freeman, Corballis, and Elworthy. Rumours are flying. Whatever the situation really was, they strangely chose an insulting way to explain their decision. Some are saying that this whole affair has damaged the Montanas. Maybe so. It has at least shown a real need for another set of NZ book awards that genuinely acknowledges literary merit.
4 comments:
Interesting parallel here with the Montanas - except in the Frank O'Connor case they decided there would be no shortlist at all!
I don't see a parallel at all actually Rachael.
The Director of the Award, Patrick Cotter, speaking yesterday said:
“With a unanimous winner at this early stage we decided it would be a sham to compose a shortlist and put five other writers through unnecessary stress and suspense. Not only were the jury unanimous in their choice of Lahiri’s Unaccustomed Earth as the winner, they were unanimous in their belief that so outstanding was Lahiri’s achievement in this book that no other title was a serious contender.”
With the Montana NZ Book Awards the judges said that they did not want to "dilute the awards" by nominating a fifth title for the shortlist.
There is a bog difference between the two approaches.
I agree with you, Graham. The Frank O'Connor judges were honest. Our local ones - well, there is still doubt and discussion about what really went on between Freeman, Corballis, and Elworthy. Rumours are flying. Whatever the situation really was, they strangely chose an insulting way to explain their decision. Some are saying that this whole affair has damaged the Montanas. Maybe so. It has at least shown a real need for another set of NZ book awards that genuinely acknowledges literary merit.
Not an exact parallel, then, but the announcement seems to have provoked a similar response.
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