Religion and Ethics Forum

General Category => Literature, Music, Art & Entertainment => Topic started by: Nearly Sane on September 02, 2021, 10:39:31 AM

Title: 40 years of Booker prize judges dishing the dirt
Post by: Nearly Sane on September 02, 2021, 10:39:31 AM
Fascinating stuff.


https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/sep/06/bookerprize.40years
Title: Re: 40 years of Booker prize judges dishing the dirt
Post by: Steve H on September 02, 2021, 12:01:39 PM
A mere 13 years after publication!
I've read one-and-a-half Booker winners: 'Schindler's Ark' by Thomas Kennealy, which won outright in 1982, and 'Sacred Hunger' by Barry Unsworth, which shared the prize with 'The English Patent' by Michael Ondaatje in 1992.
Title: Re: 40 years of Booker prize judges dishing the dirt
Post by: Robbie on September 05, 2021, 09:11:49 PM
I read
Title: Re: 40 years of Booker prize judges dishing the dirt
Post by: Aruntraveller on September 06, 2021, 09:40:40 AM
I've read more than I realised: Heat & Dust, Midnight's Children, Staying On, The Line of Beauty, The Blind Assassin and The God of Small Things.

As I look at it there is quite a sub-continent bias going on.
Title: Re: 40 years of Booker prize judges dishing the dirt
Post by: jeremyp on September 06, 2021, 12:19:53 PM
As I look at it there is quite a sub-continent bias going on.

Since, for most of its history, the Booker prize has been open only to people who are citizens of the Commonwealth and Indians form a sizeable proportion of Commonwealth citizens (more than half, in fact), all else being equal, we would expect Indians to win the prize more than half of the time. Of course, all else is not equal.
Title: Re: 40 years of Booker prize judges dishing the dirt
Post by: Aruntraveller on September 06, 2021, 12:49:11 PM
Since, for most of its history, the Booker prize has been open only to people who are citizens of the Commonwealth and Indians form a sizeable proportion of Commonwealth citizens (more than half, in fact), all else being equal, we would expect Indians to win the prize more than half of the time. Of course, all else is not equal.

I realise that. I only meant there is a bias going on in my own reading habits.
Title: Re: 40 years of Booker prize judges dishing the dirt
Post by: Alan Burns on September 06, 2021, 03:14:42 PM
I recall browsing in a well established bookshop in Thirsk.   The owner advised me to stay clear of the Booker prize winners and look in the section devoted to younger readers - "far more enjoyable reads", he said.  And I had to agree with him!
Title: Re: 40 years of Booker prize judges dishing the dirt
Post by: Robbie on September 06, 2021, 05:56:16 PM
I read

?

I have read lots of Booker prize winners or shorlisted often because they are widely reviewed so I know what int getting into.   Most of the time  ;).