Booker Shortlist Announced

Hi all,

Here’s a link to a NYT article about the novels shortlisted last Tuesday for this year’s Booker Prize:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/books/10book.html?em

Much of the media attention on the shortlist has focused on the fact that Salman Rushdie’s The Enchantress of Florence made it to the Booker longlist but did not survive the cut to the shortlist. According to the Times, this both “startled and delighted” British critics, an amusing observation that I think reflects the fanfare, commotion, and controversy that the Booker’s judging decisions always seems to incite.

While nobody would argue against the fact that Rushdie is an immensely talented writer, I think it’s refreshing to see some new faces on the shortlist, including two first-time novelists. After winning both 1993’s “Booker of Bookers” prize and this year’s “Best of the Bookers” award, suffice it to say that Rushdie has enjoyed his moment – or decade – in the sun. In addition, as the article points out, Rushdie hasn’t enjoyed a real critical success with any of his recent novels. The judges should focus on the best new novels each year when making their final selections, instead of allowing Rushdie’s status as the end-all-be-all to Booker-prize-winning authors to sway their decisions. They appear to have done just this.

Interestingly, however, the judges appear to feel a need to qualify the decision not to include Rushdie on the shortlist. The Independent reported that Michael Portillo, chair of the judges, said that The Enchantress of Florence “was not one of the six books for us,” but that “It does not mean it would not be for anybody else – it easily could be.” Hmm. Portillo’s statement could be an attempt to temper any outrage felt at Rushdie’s not being included among the finalists, but does he really need to qualify the decision like that?

It’s also exciting to see that this year’s final selections continue the trend of prizing works set in former British colonies (or produced by authors living in former British colonies). The shortlist includes finalists from India, Australia, and Ireland. This year’s prize winner will be announced on October 14th.

- Sophie

~ by sophieoconnell on September 16, 2008.