First of all, congratulations to Anne Enright on winning the 2007 prize with her novel The Gathering.
However, this year's prize awarding process has been more than a piece of flat pack IKEA type offering, even if by the time the award was announced all hell broke loose when it comes to controversy. The judges included Giles Foden, Wendy Cope, Ruth Scurr, Imogen Stubbs, with Chairman Howard Davies.
Yesterday in The Observer, Robert McCrum suggested it's time to "ditch the prize guys", concluding "For radical reform, the prize, the sponsorship, and probably the administration of the prize, should be transferred to an organisation that understands the subtle and complex opportunities of arts promotion. It's high time to say thank you and good night to the Man Group and to Booker's ancien [sic] regime." Man Group plc "is a leading global provider of alternative investment products and solutions". Booker plc, the original sponsor was and remains a cash and carry expert; "the leading wholesaler for caterers, retailers and business".
Davies, Chairman of the judges used the night's award ceremony to take a swipe at "book reviewers".
Giles Foden wrote this in The Guardian, last Saturday, which looks like an aim to quell the waves.
But back to McCrum's comment of "...an organisation that understands the subtle and complex opportunities of arts promotion..." In the frequently asked questions section of the Man Booker Prize site it says "Who is eligible for the prize?" Answer? "Any full-length novel, written by a citizen of the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland and published this year, is eligible for the prize. The novel must be an original work in English (not a translation) and must not be self-published."
So, nothing to rule out crime fiction there, but its apprearance is well-cloaked and daggered if even the genre somehow manages to quietly gatecrash the party, very rarely.
I've just got my hands on the latest from Minette Walters, The Chameleon's Shadow and I've just listened to her on digital radio's oneword Between the Lines programme. She was introduced as the UK's bestselling female crime author, but that's just titillation. She read from her latest novel and this reminded me of the joys and quality of her writing.
A friend recently reminded me that when the latest Walters is out, to purloin some words from Auden, I normally "Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone..." to read it. This is true. But for various reasons this year has been hectic and remains so. Thus, the latest from MW has seen the TBR pile. However, after tonight's listening it won't be long before I am fully engaged.
Ian Rankin, P. D. James and Ruth Rendell have all expressed differing opinions on the role of the crime genre within the literary world - or lack of. But why the apparent exclusion from this prize when it appears to be so open?
Go on Man Booker Prize, liven it up in 2008 and let the criminals in! Send out some invitations and do let the dog bark with some very juicy bones. There is competition in the prize world now. Don't let Richard & Judy monopolise the popular and don't ignore the quality of prose and storytelling that can be experienced in a crime novel. There are plenty of gems in this genre and to ignore them is a disservice to the reading public. You may even achieve better sales for the long and short lists if you recognise both excellent and popular writing, crime genre or other.
If the Man Booker Prize is really all about finding the next literary talent it should be upfront and say so. But its rules suggest an openness that is not reflected in its long or short lists. It's not about "...the subtle and complex opportunities of arts promotion..." per se, it's about knowing and understanding the reading public, surely? In 2007 sadly, an impasse has been reached. But perhaps that is not so sad and is a cause for celebration.
This year's winner, Anne Enright has been disserviced by the lack of interest generated in the prize and the well publicised lack of sales for all on the lists (apart from Ian McEwan's Chesil Beach). 2007 generated little to no excitement for this prize. It was less than a damp squib. It's now time for some navel gazing and serious regeneration in 2008. Any further controversy could only lead to the death of the prize (with this year being its obvious rattle phase). A prize means something if the public respect and buy into it.
It's about time that the Man Booker Prize joined the real world in real time and related to real readers. How many of us have the novels of previous winners and short/longlisters on our shelves, but never read? Go on admit it, I'm not the only one... In recent years, I haven't even bothered to buy. This year, I can't list the shortlist, such is my lack of interest (even with the controversy that mounted).
What is this all about? Do tell us openly next year before the longlist is drawn up. Above all, please don't continue to suggest an openness for the entrants that does not exist. It simply does not wash. Perhaps it's time for Procter and Gamble to be BOLD with some new sponsorship for the prize that exceeds their 2 in 1 scenario? All genres welcome...
And many of us can dream on with that last one.
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