Books: The Booker Prize

Discussion in 'Entertainment Lounge' started by HeathDavisSpeed, Oct 24, 2015.

  1. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    9. Vernon God Little - DBC Pierre

    Year Published:2003
    Length: ~288 pages
    Nationality of Author: Australian

    Brief Synopsis: A satire on mass shootings in the USA and American culture in general. The story revolves around a teenage boy, Vernon Little whose normal, boring life falls apart when he is strangely out-of-the-room when his friend, Jesus Navarro commits a mass shooting at his school. A freelance reporter ingratiates himself within the community and bit by bit, sells Vernon Little down the river - setting him up as a second gunman within the atrocity and using this as a method to develop both his television career and his standing within the community.

    Comments: Initially, I found the use of language in this book incredibly jarring - which made it a difficult prospect to read. Whilst it is written in a modern slightly colloquial style, I think the initial difficulty I had with it was because I started reading it immediately after the more archaic, flowery prose of Farrell - swapping between such wildly different styles was a bit tricky. Within a few chapters, I got used to the style and thereon it was an easy read. The satirical aspects of the book work quite well - whilst it might sounds in bad taste to write a satire about a mass shooting, the novel isn't really about the mass shooting itself, but uses this as the vehicle to explore the use of media and how easy it has become to believe whatever spin angle that a media source puts onto a story. This particularly becomes clear as the book progresses into the final third. None of this is particularly groundbreaking in itself, there's plenty of examples out there of satirical pokes at the use of media - though the backdrop is certainly a bit different. From what I've read on the internet about this book, a lot of the critical comments about it seem to be related to opinions some people have about Vernon Little being an unlikeable character and thus hard to sympathise with; or that the author is simply putting the boot into American culture. I don't buy this - Vernon Little is just a normal naive kid and the culture that the author is putting the boot into isn't just American culture. My main problem with the book is that to me it has a number of gaping, cavernous plot holes. There's one plot hole in particular that seems so obvious and remains unaddressed that I can't help thinking I missed something. I always had this perceived hole in the back of my mind whilst reading the book, hoping that it would be resolved at some point and it never was (and this was only one of many plot holes in my opinion). If you are prepared to suspend your disbelief, and you aren't going to baulk at the "bad taste" nature of a satire based around a killing spree, then this is well worth a read. It's worth noting that the choice of this book as the Booker Prize winner at the time attracted a fair amount of criticism and invited the suggestion that this was an example, following on from "Life of Pi" that the Booker was being 'dumbed down'.

    Rating: 8/10

    Film Adaptation: A couple of adaptations for stage, with a film having been in the works a couple of times without anything discernible happening on that front.

    Leaderboard:

    4. The True History of the Ned Kelly Gang - Peter Carey
    3. The Luminaries - Eleanor Catton
    9. Vernon God Little - DBC Pierre
    8. The Siege of Krishnapur - JG Farrell
    6. Oscar and Lucinda - Peter Carey
    7. The Ghost Road - Pat Barker
    2. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
    5. The Old Devils - Kingsley Amis
     
  2. MrPrez CM Dyer

    Vernon God Little sounds like the sort of book I would enjoy reading. May pick it up sometime.
     
  3. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    10. The Elected Member - Bernice Rubens

    Year Published:1970
    Length: 224 pages
    Nationality of Author: British

    Brief Synopsis: About a middle class Jewish family where the son was a child prodigy. He became a barrister, but started taking drugs. He's now addicted and has regular visions of silverfish infestations where ever he goes. The mother of the family has died, and this has cast a pall over the family and her domineering personality has left a deep imprint on her family. The book follows a relapse that the son suffers that sees him admitted to a mental institution. Slowly you discover the backstory which has created this dysfunctional family environment via flashback - hints of incest, the incessant pressure of being the golden boy etc.

    Comments: Written in an easy to digest style, it is quite a dark story about oppression, the weight of expectation, isolation and an element of betrayal. Despite this darkness, it isn't without a certain element of humour. I personally found the main character quite unlikeable, but perhaps that was the idea. In fact, I was kind of left with a vague feeling that the author was trying to pull particular emotional responses at various points; strong on pathos. The book is well crafted and establishes a very clear background of family dysfunction and failure despite everyone's best efforts. Despite this, it didn't wildly sustain my interest.

    Rating: 6/10

    Film Adaptation: Seems unlikely.

    Leaderboard:

    4. The True History of the Ned Kelly Gang - Peter Carey
    3. The Luminaries - Eleanor Catton
    9. Vernon God Little - DBC Pierre
    8. The Siege of Krishnapur - JG Farrell
    6. Oscar and Lucinda - Peter Carey
    7. The Ghost Road - Pat Barker
    10. The Elected Member - Bernice Rubens
    2. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
    5. The Old Devils - Kingsley Amis
     
    Last edited: Dec 4, 2015
  4. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    11. Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie

    Year Published:1981
    Length: 446 pages
    Nationality of Author: British

    Brief Synopsis: An epic tale of a boy born at the very strike of midnight upon the independence of India. This child, and any others born at the same time are gifted with supernatural powers - the closer to the stroke of midnight, the more powerful the person is. The story follows the backstory of the child's family and how various character and physical traits were handed down to him. The story then progresses through various historical events and showing the child's hand in them as he matures from boy to man.

    Comments: The book voted "Booker of Bookers" - i.e. the most incredibly incredible book to ever win a Booker Prize. Yes, it's epic, sprawling and ambitious. The details of historical events and how the child (Saleem) links into them works really well. I just really didn't enjoy the fantasy type aspects of the book - the various different children of midnight and their different powers - and the antagonist of the book (hint: is it the real Saleem or is it actually Indira Gandhi) and his hunt to track down all the other children of midnight and destroy their powers. I didn't particularly enjoy this "magic realism" or "metafiction" part, for much the same reasons as the Life of Pi, I guess. The historical parts were really interesting and led me to digging a bit more into factual history texts about India. It must have served as quite powerful intelligentsia criticism of Indira Gandhi at the time, but I certainly wasn't overwhelmed with gushing, continual praise for this and whilst I didn't find it a chore, I enjoyed other books on the list more - though as a sprawling epic, it does pretty well when it's only ~450 pages long.

    Rating: 7/10

    Film Adaptation: There is a film, it didn't receive positive critical review and didn't do well at the box office either. There's also a stage adaptation.

    Leaderboard:

    4. The True History of the Ned Kelly Gang - Peter Carey
    3. The Luminaries - Eleanor Catton
    9. Vernon God Little - DBC Pierre
    8. The Siege of Krishnapur - JG Farrell
    11. Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
    6. Oscar and Lucinda - Peter Carey
    7. The Ghost Road - Pat Barker
    10. The Elected Member - Bernice Rubens
    2. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
    5. The Old Devils - Kingsley Amis
     
    Last edited: Dec 27, 2015
  5. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    12. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro

    Year Published:
    1989
    Length: 245 pages
    Nationality of Author: British

    Brief Synopsis: The story follows the life of Stevens, a butler recently employed by an American to run the house he had been employed at for many years by Lord Darlington. Ostensibly, the plot follows Stevens as he takes a car journey - his first holiday in quite some time - down to the South-West corner of the UK. The book, through use of flashbacks, tells of the years of service that Stevens had enjoyed working for Lord Darlington and the events that took place alongside.

    Comments: Masterfully understated. I really enjoyed this book even though, in reality, very little happens in it. The author really succeeds in conveying the nature of Stevens, what makes him tick, his inner conflicts but overriding principles. The novel brings across a number of recurring themes - the importance of dignity and social constraint and convention to the role of the butler in an English house, but also how these traits and conventions have impeded him from following opportunities that were open to him. The relationship between Stevens and Darlington Hall's housekeeper, Miss Kenton, is revealed piece by piece throughout the novel until such point that you know more about the relationship then Stevens himself (written in the first person) has openly realised himself. It is also worth mentioning Stevens' approach to banter - something which in recent years in the novel's context he has seen becoming a more important part of his role as Butler. Stevens is quite incapable of 'bantering' and this provides some comic interludes in the book as Stevens attempts to developing his bantering skills. It seems unimportant at the time, and somewhat of a distraction compared to the rest of the story. Even this aspect though becomes an integral part of the theme of the novel by the conclusion. Quite simply, it is exquistely written.

    Rating: 9/10

    Film Adaptation: There is a film starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson that was quite successful at the time. I've never seen it.

    Leaderboard:

    4. The True History of the Ned Kelly Gang - Peter Carey
    12. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
    3. The Luminaries - Eleanor Catton
    9. Vernon God Little - DBC Pierre
    8. The Siege of Krishnapur - JG Farrell
    11. Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
    6. Oscar and Lucinda - Peter Carey
    7. The Ghost Road - Pat Barker
    10. The Elected Member - Bernice Rubens
    2. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
    5. The Old Devils - Kingsley Amis
     
  6. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    13. Disgrace - JM Coetzee

    Year Published:
    1999
    Length: 218 pages
    Nationality of Author: South Africa

    Brief Synopsis: A Cape Town University academic, David Lurie, seemingly addicted to sexual encounters which could jeopardise his position at the University. He also seems to develop unhealthy attachments to some of those that he has sex with. He seduces a vulnerable student in his class and plies her with alcohol. He has sex with her, and whilst not explicitly rape - it isn't exactly a balanced relationship. The student drops out of his class and before long her boyfriend is threatening Lurie. The student's father discovers the truth and informs the University. A committee is formed to review his behaviour, and whilst his colleagues try to give Lurie 'ways out' of his disgrace, he refuses to defend himself, apologise or listen to the student's statements. Lurie is unceremoniously dismissed. He takes refuge at his daughter's house, a rural farm in the Eastern Cape. Lurie eventually becomes used to the rural life, but then he and his daughter are attacked by three black men. His daughter is raped, and his face is set on fire with paraffin.

    Comments: This book amazingly manages to make an interesting story on an emotional level out of a main character who is initially incredibly unlikeable. Also unusually written in the 3rd person. I suspect there's some deliberate parallels with South African history in this in this the ageing White male (Lurie) who is used to having power and influence is gradually stripped of these characteristics. He is effectively disarmed and finds himself in a very different world in a multi-cultural environment with his daughter. There again, following the attack his powers wane further. One other theme that is wound throughout the book is the use of dogs as a symbol of social status and disgrace. As Lurie falls deeper into the hole he has dug himself, he compares himself to a dog that is beaten for following its sexual desires. The concluding scene, after the story has really concluded, Lurie is working at a local vets where he looks after a favourite lame dog which he has to decide whether to put down or not - is the disgrace of the incapable dog so much that it would better if he were put down? A masterful story of a man being broken by himself and eventually seeking any germ of redemption that he can find.

    Rating: 9/10

    Film Adaptation: Yes - starring John Malkovich, made in 2008. Haven't seen it, but the critical reviews are decent enough.

    Leaderboard:

    4. The True History of the Ned Kelly Gang - Peter Carey
    12. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
    13. Disgrace - JM Coetzee
    3. The Luminaries - Eleanor Catton
    9. Vernon God Little - DBC Pierre
    8. The Siege of Krishnapur - JG Farrell
    11. Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
    6. Oscar and Lucinda - Peter Carey
    7. The Ghost Road - Pat Barker
    10. The Elected Member - Bernice Rubens
    2. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
    5. The Old Devils - Kingsley Amis
     
  7. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    I've only got 11 of my original list left to read. The total list grows to 13 as two Bookers have been awarded since, but still.

    Worst ones I've read - still The Old Devils at the top, but really didn't enjoy The Famished Road or Midnight's Children. Something to Answer For was probably the most strange (in a not wholly terrible way). Possession by AS Byatt was interesting in a way, but I could well imagine that many would find it turgid (it's a pseudo-romance between intellectuals who find a parallel romance whilst undertaking research). Just finished JG Farrell's Troubles, which was enjoyable - a bit of a farce, perhaps. And The English Patient was a better read than I'd expected based on my experience of the film.
     
  8. Skippos SM Morgan

    Disgrace is one of the better books I've read. Took an intensive class on South African writing this year with Coetzee's partner (both now live in Adelaide). Probably the best class I've taken, the whole genre is remarkable but heart-breaking.
     
  9. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    Yeah, quality read. What sort of things do you cover in a South African writing class? And is 'South African writing' the genre you're referring to, or the more to the specific genre of Disgrace?
     
  10. Skippos SM Morgan

    It focused on the haunted history of South Africa - a close study of South African texts and an analysis of how they related to the awful history of the country with a particular focus on the abject/surreal element common within their culture. Close focuses on Gordimer's The Conservationist which I'm sure you'll eventually read being a Booker prize winner (I appreciated it without particularly enjoying it) and Wicomb's Playing in the Light which was a terrific text. We probably covered 50-60 poems/short stories as part of the course. Loved it more than anything I'd done literature wise before or after.
     
    HeathDavisSpeed likes this.
  11. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    Finished reading all the Booker winners. Moving on to try and read all the nominees now. Given that I only really read during the commute to work, this should take ~10 years. During which time, I doubt there'll have been a relaunch of CricSim. Let's see if I can beat Ashwell!
     
  12. Uppercut CB Faldo

    What did you think of the latest three? I found The Sellout really disappointing, I expected to like it but it wasn't funny or interesting at all. I thought Lincoln in the Bardo was pretty good, but not amazing. A Brief History was the best of the three but again I wouldn't say it was amazing. Would get 4/10, 7.5/10 and 8/10 from me.
     
  13. Uppercut CB Faldo

    Also read The God of Small Things, which was maybe an 8 too. I think I respect it more than A Brief History, it's much better written, but it was definitely less fun to read.
     
  14. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    I didn't enjoy A Brief History... at all. I didn't think it really hung together well as a narrative overall. The Sellout was decent, at least when it comes to the more comedic options that the Booker has served up in the past. I'd probably given the Sellout 6/10 and A Brief History 4 or 5. Not my cup of tea.

    I haven't actually read Lincoln in the Bardo yet. That won after I'd actually finished them all up.

    Interestingly, the one that seems to have stayed with me the most (in some ways) is the first winner - PH Newby's Something to Answer For. It's just a really odd book - unreliable narrator, hard to know whether what's going on is happening at all. I don't think it's the best Booker at all, but it has some stayability.
     

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