The Booker Prize Project (Part 3)
The Booker Prize Honour-Roll 2001-2004
2001 - Peter Carey, True History of the Kelly Gang
I started reading this, and could not get through more than the first few pages. Again, it seemed to be one of those cases where I could appreciate the craftsmanship behind the book, but not the finished product. I think it was the story-line that I did not find particularly attractive (although as an Australian alumni, I have great affection for tales of Australia's history and lore).
2002 - Yann Martel, Life of Pi
A slim book, this one, and yet I could not sit down to finish it. There is something disconnected about it, like reading a complicated product manual that is jargon filled and which you don't really understand. To be fair, I have not gotten further than the first few pages, so this is an impression formed on relatively short acquaintance.
2003 - DBC Pierre, Vernon God Little
I just bought this book and plan to read it after I finish Cloud Atlas and The Line of Beauty, from the 2004 Booker nominees list.
2004 - Allan Hollinghurst, The Line of Beauty
I am reading this now. So far, it's a tumultous romp, very uninhibited and yet written with great control. The depiction of drugs and homosexual liaisons may be disturbing to some readers (and they feature rather prominently) but Holllinghurst knows how to use these to further his plot and construct his character, rather than just adorning the book.
In Summary
There are a fair few Booker winners that I have not read yet, especially the earlier ones. Of the more recent winners, I have attempted to read most but have not always found them to my liking. I suppose that a book-lover does not always love ALL books, not even prize winning ones.
I have been looking at the lists of nominees, and I have read a number of those that did not go on to win the Prize. In some instances, I may even venture to say that I have enjoyed these more than the winning books (or at least, have been motivated to read the non-winning nominees, while the winners were not appealing enough to get me started).But that's for another post.
2001 - Peter Carey, True History of the Kelly Gang
I started reading this, and could not get through more than the first few pages. Again, it seemed to be one of those cases where I could appreciate the craftsmanship behind the book, but not the finished product. I think it was the story-line that I did not find particularly attractive (although as an Australian alumni, I have great affection for tales of Australia's history and lore).
2002 - Yann Martel, Life of Pi
A slim book, this one, and yet I could not sit down to finish it. There is something disconnected about it, like reading a complicated product manual that is jargon filled and which you don't really understand. To be fair, I have not gotten further than the first few pages, so this is an impression formed on relatively short acquaintance.
2003 - DBC Pierre, Vernon God Little
I just bought this book and plan to read it after I finish Cloud Atlas and The Line of Beauty, from the 2004 Booker nominees list.
2004 - Allan Hollinghurst, The Line of Beauty
I am reading this now. So far, it's a tumultous romp, very uninhibited and yet written with great control. The depiction of drugs and homosexual liaisons may be disturbing to some readers (and they feature rather prominently) but Holllinghurst knows how to use these to further his plot and construct his character, rather than just adorning the book.
In Summary
There are a fair few Booker winners that I have not read yet, especially the earlier ones. Of the more recent winners, I have attempted to read most but have not always found them to my liking. I suppose that a book-lover does not always love ALL books, not even prize winning ones.
I have been looking at the lists of nominees, and I have read a number of those that did not go on to win the Prize. In some instances, I may even venture to say that I have enjoyed these more than the winning books (or at least, have been motivated to read the non-winning nominees, while the winners were not appealing enough to get me started).But that's for another post.
Labels: Books
posted by gentleice the deptfordian at 9:54 AM
<< Home