tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post3183885427132868821..comments2024-03-14T04:35:06.209+13:00Comments on Beattie's Book Blog - unofficial homepage of the New Zealand book community: Beattie's Book Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01505389626725979100noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-47666003347908472772009-11-05T13:22:13.854+13:002009-11-05T13:22:13.854+13:00Late to the discussion, but: will the new-style aw...Late to the discussion, but: will the new-style awards still have a category for books pages and book reviewers? If not, that would be a loss, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-23500016302097380942009-10-30T11:53:33.602+13:002009-10-30T11:53:33.602+13:00To have only three books on the shortlist suggest ...To have only three books on the shortlist suggest that there is but a pittance of talent in NZ - this is so wrong!Rachel Fentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10046917627054462214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-75970091230423447242009-10-27T13:05:56.571+13:002009-10-27T13:05:56.571+13:00As an editor and a writer I think the three book s...As an editor and a writer I think the three book short list seems strangely miserly and un-festive. Surely our only only adult fiction awards should be as rich a celebration of the diversity of local authors and styles as possible? Compare to the Booker - 5 shortlisted fiction titles; the Whitbread/Costa- 4 best book, 4 best first novel; the Orange Prize - 6 short-listed novels (with an extensive long list published too); The Guardian fiction prize: 13 novels shortlisted. The NZ Book Awards has to be all of these rolled into one - and a shortlist of three novels seems unrepresentative of a broad field.<br />There is nobility in admitting a mistake: I think the decision should be revised.<br />Emma NealeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-70175462604269369332009-10-22T21:23:47.540+13:002009-10-22T21:23:47.540+13:00And further [as a reader, librarian, former booksh...And further [as a reader, librarian, former bookshop worker, and general grumpy opinionated older person], there is another facet - general disgruntlement and dissatisfaction and discourse on short lists , winners and runners up does create interest. But maybe publishing a notable list- as Storylines do for children's books - would do more good - on posters, on stickers, whatever - inside bookshops and online sellers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-71907978284049787722009-10-22T15:20:13.804+13:002009-10-22T15:20:13.804+13:00It is my understanding that NZSA recommended the r...It is my understanding that NZSA recommended the retention of five for the shortlist.maggie@at-the-bay.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-31182280298751647262009-10-22T12:23:37.418+13:002009-10-22T12:23:37.418+13:00Hi Graham,
I can't improve on Fergus's let...Hi Graham,<br />I can't improve on Fergus's letter. I support him in everything he says.<br />MauriceM.Geenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-15670687231319265042009-10-22T07:43:38.446+13:002009-10-22T07:43:38.446+13:00Andrew, you should write to Anna Burtt
Awards Admi...Andrew, you should write to Anna Burtt<br />Awards Administrator<br />email: anna.burtt@booksellers.co.nz<br />or mail to:<br />C/-Booksellers NZ,<br />P O Box 25 033 <br />WellingtonBeattie's Book Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01505389626725979100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-31612165940526498952009-10-21T22:02:28.618+13:002009-10-21T22:02:28.618+13:00Again, not a person in the industry except as an a...Again, not a person in the industry except as an avid reader and buyer of books, but I, too, am very disappointed with both the curtailed shortlist and doing away with the Best First Book shortlist altogether. I feel the latter is very unfair to both the new writers and readers who are interested in seeing a focus on the new authors coming through. And, just to join the chorus, with so few opportunities to celebrate our home grown literature, cutting the NZ Post opportunity off at the knees seems a great and inexplicable shame. Bookman, if you were to post the address of those responsible for this decision, I would happily send them an email or even (so last century!) write a letter.Andrewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-40703306748628395722009-10-21T19:18:58.792+13:002009-10-21T19:18:58.792+13:00Not having a shortlist for first books is also ver...Not having a shortlist for first books is also very negative for new writers. The run up to the awards is one of the few times you see mainstream bookstores promoting NZ Fiction, especially by unknowns. How are newcomers going to build a profile when there is no opportunity to highlight them, nor any indication to bookstores which ones might be worth extra promotion?<br />A 5 book shortlist in all categories would be preferred, and shouldn't cost anything extra for NZ Post, while making a significant difference to the writers themselves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-61332970120860541492009-10-21T17:24:00.958+13:002009-10-21T17:24:00.958+13:00The present three titles seem extremely short-sigh...The present three titles seem extremely short-sighted. How many fellowships, grants, writers in residences, Prime Minister Awards for Literary Achievement etc etc are awarded to writers of fiction? Surely we could do better by our fiction writers and their publishers. A change now may inconvenience a few, but it’s not too late. <br /><br />Best wishes, BarbaraBarbara Larson, Publisher, Longacre Pressnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-24321684556773330012009-10-21T16:19:15.971+13:002009-10-21T16:19:15.971+13:007 comments? That's it? My biggest concern with...7 comments? That's it? My biggest concern with the Montana Awards over time has been how little dust they raise - I was sure last year's clipped fiction shortlist would be worth at least a middling media storm, but it was barely a one day wonder. And this business isn't getting the response I'd expected either... Are you not letting comments through, Bookman B, or are you just not getting them?<br /><br />The year I judged Montana there were non-fiction categories where we really struggled with the limitations of the shortlisting process - we could only have three titles per category, and that year we all felt there were more than three shortlist-worthy books in some areas. We wished we'd had the freedom to extend shortlists on an ad hoc basis. Likewise, though I didn't agree that last year there were only four fiction titles worthy of shortlisting, I don't doubt there's going to be the odd weak year for fiction. What bugs me about the 3 titles ceiling, aside from the basic problem that it seems to serve no one's interests, is the sheer inflexibility. Pick your judges, give them the freedom to shortlist however many books they like the most, and then encourage people to argue with their choices.David Larsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08404275205462362389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-85068509533361756892009-10-21T15:01:30.695+13:002009-10-21T15:01:30.695+13:00As a reader, reviewer, and writer about books (New...As a reader, reviewer, and writer about books (New Zealand and international), I'm happy to put my name (Craig Sisterson) in behind the comments of Fergus and others. <br /><br />I would think the idea of Book Awards is to celebrate New Zealand stories. In some ways we already place so many constraints on encouraging, supporting, promoting and celebrating New Zealand writing (of all types) - and now we're basically saying that only 3 New Zealand fiction books deserve to be highlighted each year?<br /><br />Huh?<br /><br />I can't think of a single rational reason to have only 3 books on the fiction shortlist, especially as (as some others have pointed out), the NZ Post Book Awards are (currently) our only notable book awards for adult fiction in this country. <br /><br />Is the Committee basically saying they don't think they would be able to find 5 deserving New Zealand adult fiction books each year, so we'd better just celebrate 3?<br /><br />Shame.Kiwicraighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11687089028299093360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-68551534451554962432009-10-21T13:43:47.522+13:002009-10-21T13:43:47.522+13:00As a fiction writer I was dismayed to see the shor...As a fiction writer I was dismayed to see the shortlist for fiction had been pruned to three, and that was to include anthologies.<br /><br />The opportunities for New Zealand books to gain visibility are small enough, without our Premier book awards diminishing them further. <br /><br />To me it also seems to send the message that New Zealand fiction isn't deemed robust enough or of sufficient quality to warrant selecting the traditional five finalists.<br /><br />I'll put forward my plea to the powers that be to extend the short list to five books at least.Vanda Symonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09956034768397598056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-26147142410677663282009-10-21T12:02:00.639+13:002009-10-21T12:02:00.639+13:00Fiction needs to go back up to five. Or we could h...Fiction needs to go back up to five. Or we could have a longlist of five or (up to) ten books that could be announced a month or more earlier. In terms of buzz, that gives you some suspense over which of the longlist makes the shortlist as well as putting more titles before the public.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-40051125678562934102009-10-21T09:30:31.054+13:002009-10-21T09:30:31.054+13:00I also can't understand this decision given th...I also can't understand this decision given the outrage when only four finalists were chosen last year.Rachael Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07690377694600952816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-779841262494104022009-10-21T09:28:42.650+13:002009-10-21T09:28:42.650+13:00Hello Graham, Is there any way you can post the an...Hello Graham, Is there any way you can post the anonymous comments you've received under headings like "Publisher Comments" and Librarian Comments", obviously without using their names? I think Booksellers NZ and more importantly, NZPost need to know the breadth of feeling.<br />Thanks, Heather. VUPHeather McKenziehttp://www.vuw.ac.nz/vupnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-70638154769809644112009-10-21T09:27:53.001+13:002009-10-21T09:27:53.001+13:00I did think it very odd that Fergus and I were the...I did think it very odd that Fergus and I were the only ones to comment about the three book shortlist when you ran the announcement on your blog a couple of weeks ago.<br /><br />Here's what I said at the time: "It's a shame there are only three fiction finalists. I wonder what the thinking behind that was? And I still think it's a little unfair to make the readers' choice come from the finalists instead of all published books. Other than that. I look forward to the new-look awards and good on NZ Post for all their support of NZ books."<br /><br />I also mentioned it on my blog and got supportive comments not from industry types (apart from Fergus) but from people who love books.<br /><br />I may as well declare my interest as I have a book out this year, but I would feel the same way if I didn't.Rachael Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07690377694600952816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-18950698876695262832009-10-20T22:20:23.713+13:002009-10-20T22:20:23.713+13:00Can someone tell me why Creative New Zealand is su...Can someone tell me why Creative New Zealand is supporting these awards? They should never have been helping fund the Montanas - but these new abominations even less.Birkenhead Henrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-84067257009666005572009-10-20T18:49:07.975+13:002009-10-20T18:49:07.975+13:00And what about the poor reader? There are many of ...And what about the poor reader? There are many of us who enjoy working our way through the short lists and find great authors we wouldn't normally have tried. We are not the stupid people of this world - we can deal with more than 3 books in any category! Also very often the winners are not to our personal choice but we discover gems amongst the short listsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-18082966557484424682009-10-20T17:43:49.489+13:002009-10-20T17:43:49.489+13:00And of course I don't publish anything, fictio...And of course I don't publish anything, fiction, poetry or non-fiction, but I care passionately about books,and I believe this detail in the new awards set-up is a significant backwards step.I fully support the line being taken by Barrowman and admire his courage in standing up and stating his case.Beattie's Book Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01505389626725979100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-21645346512850722142009-10-20T17:04:35.012+13:002009-10-20T17:04:35.012+13:00Ah what a grand country we live in! I was sure I&#...Ah what a grand country we live in! I was sure I'd be accused of being selfish by some anonymous coward. Maybe that's the fear that has frightened everybody else?<br /><br />Anyway, VUP also publishes non-fiction, and I hope it's clear that my case, which could equally be made for poetry of course, is in no way a slight on non-fiction. I mean, good grief!Fergushttp://www.vuw.ac.nz/vupnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-64724931260412558882009-10-20T16:58:35.233+13:002009-10-20T16:58:35.233+13:00It has to be said the new awards are disappointing...It has to be said the new awards are disappointing. They have pruned to excess. A shortlist of three for fiction is absurd. I understand the pov of wanting to amp up publicity for those few chosen, but the awards have to also function for writers who generally get very little attention for often years of work. The absurdity reaches a crescendo when we near nonfiction. The marvellous rich output is to be strangled at the throat. These awards risk being almost puritanically simplistic. As Fergus says, we have to acknowledge these are basically our ONLY adult awards. So few chosen....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-23309719623707968282009-10-20T16:52:28.677+13:002009-10-20T16:52:28.677+13:00Well done Fergus! I thoroughly agree with your arg...Well done Fergus! I thoroughly agree with your arguments, and find Lincoln's reply disturbingly self-satisfied & unhelpful-<br /><br />I think publishers should refuse to enter short story collections, novels & fiction anthologies until the fiction short list is extended to a minimum of 5. What with the previous decision only to select only 4 titles, the fiction award has lost a considerable proportion of tis mana- n/n Keri Hulme who has no self-interest in the award this year-Keri hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-45728162088113030462009-10-20T15:32:55.684+13:002009-10-20T15:32:55.684+13:00Jeez, talk about self interest and pushing your ow...Jeez, talk about self interest and pushing your own barrow(!). Non-fiction has been trimmed by more than fiction has.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com