The Giller Prize Longlist and other thoughts on literary awards in general

Question: What do Elizabeth Hay, Lawrence Hill, and Michael Winter have in common (besides the obvious fact that they’re all novelists)? Answer: they’re all on the longlist for this year’s Giller Prize and they’re all coming to WordFest. Does that mean that they will be the hot tickets this year, the authors you absolutely have to see? Well, sort of. Yes, you want to see these great writers in action. But you’d want to see them even if they weren’t up for Canada’s most lucrative fiction prize, wouldn’t you?

Prizes are always a bit of a mixed blessing. On the one hand, they raise awareness of books and authors and get people excited about reading. On the other hand, a prize like the Giller tends to call all the attention to a single book and author, which can result in other deserving books being ignored. This tendency is often exacerbated when the writers on the short list are already well known bestsellers. This year’s Giller has heavyweights on it like Michael Ondaatje, Barbara Gowdy, M.G. Vassanji and Richard Wright.  All great writers, but do they really need the recognition they’d get for earning a berth on the shortlist and/or being the winner?

Book prizes are always the subject of intense debate: should they award the best book written that year (as if there’s only one or 5 books worthy of being recognized) or should they award the best book the rest of us wouldn’t know about if that book hadn’t been nominated for a major award? Well, what do you think? While you’re making up your mind, you should, of course, check out the nominees who will be at WordFest. But make a deal with yourself: for every writer nominated for a big prize, promise to check out a writer who you haven’t heard of, a writer who’s work is lesser known but likely just as worthy.  To help you out, my next post will recommend some of the writers coming to WordFest we might not know as well as we should.

While on the subject of prizes, here’s an update from WordFest HQ: New Zealand writer Lloyd Jones can’t make it to WordFest because he’s got to be at the presentation dinner for the Man Booker Prize instead.  Jones’ book Mister Pip is a nominee. His gain is our loss. I just finished reading Mr. Pip. This is a gripping book that somehow fuses Great Expectations, a South Pacific island and a young girl’s coming of age with the vicious realities of conquest, plunder and post-colonial confusion. Ah well, maybe Jones can bring us Mr. Pip next year. Luckily, the fest still has plenty of heavy weight award winners coming, including last year’s Booker Prize winner Kiran Desai, and 2006 Prix Femina winner Nancy Huston.

Book Addicts Unite: How You Can Help Hal Blog WordFest

Okay, so last post I established that we book addicts are slowly inching toward the spotlight of WordFest! And this blog will be part of our coming out party — a place we can electronically gather to talk books, authors, publishing, readings and anything else bookish that comes to mind. So since that last post I’ve been thinking about how I can be the voice of the WordFest attendee and book lover. Luckily, some of the comments you’ve already posted have pointed me in the right direction.

Colleen Hetherington writes: “Looking forward to your comments. So often ideas occur after everyone has gone home. It will be great to carry on the conversations with someone who loves the ‘Literary Experience’.”

Yes, that’s exactly what I’m hoping for, a conversation. If there’s a topic you want to discuss in particular, let me know and I’ll get the conversation going!

Jane writes: “I am a new to WordFest. I would like more information on how to know what is happening and where in more detail. I may only be able to attend one day so I would like to make the most of it. Can you help?”

Jane, I’m new to WordFest too! Of course we welcome those just starting to come to terms with their bookish nature as well as those long time book nerds! So how can I help? I’ll be posting reviews, hints and ideas leading up to and throughout the festival. Jane and anyone else out there, if there’s a specific genre you want a recommendation in, if there’s a particular author or event you want more details about or my thoughts on, post a comment and I’ll answer your question in the blog.

In addition to furthering the conversation and answering any questions you might have, I’ll also be roaming WordFest asking authors questions on your behalf. I’ll have a question of the day to ask anyone and everyone I run into, but if you have a specific question you want me to ask a specific author, again, post it in the comments and I’ll ask it and report the answer.

So that’s how you can help me blog WordFest: by telling me what you want to know. I’m at your service, so anything you want to know or discuss, post in the comments section and we’ll get going. Meanwhile, I’ll be reading the mountain of great books by the authors who are coming. It’s a tough job, right book addicts?

Next post: The Giller Prize Long List…Thoughts and Ruminations…

Welcome to the WordFest 2007 Blog: Confessions of a Book Addict

Hello, my name is Hal and I’m an addict.

I’m addicted to books.

Okay, it’s not that bad an addiction to have. We book addicts spend a lot of time inbasements and libraries, so we’re not taking up much space. We leave other people alone.Sometimes we get called names like nerd, loser and bookworm, but we’re usually too busyreading to notice. Overall, we stay out of trouble and out of sight.

Until festival time.

Yes, author festival time is upon us. It’s the time when the book addict proudly emerges from his warren of dusty tomes. Blinking and bedazzled by the bright lights we stagger gratefully into darkened auditoriums and blissfully allow ourselves to publicly indulge in our addiction. Once a year, I’m not afraid to say it because I know I’m among friends who will understand: I’m a book addict.

This year, my pronouncement is particularly sweet. Because from now till the end of WordFest, I have the privilege of being the public voice of all you book addicts out there. I’ll indulge my addiction by reading all the great books by the authors attending WordFest and telling you about them. Then, when the fest is in full swing, I’ll get to go to all the readings, and blog about them. And I’ll get to ask my fellow writers questions about their books, attend bookish parties (an oxymoron, but oh well) and eavesdrop on who’s saying what to whom. For the next month-and-a-half, I’ll be doing nothing but thinking, talking, and writing about books.

My name is Hal, I’m an addict, and I’m proud.

Next post coming soon – Book Addicts Unite: How You Can Help Hal Blog WordFest.