Winner Predictions & Summary | International Booker Prize 2020
Vložit
- čas přidán 24. 08. 2020
- It's Kamil here. In just two days as of recording this video, the 2020 International Booker Prize is announced. Therefore my project of reviewing all thirteen novels would be incomplete if I didn't end it with some sort of summary and the winner's predictions.
All Reviews:
The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree by Shokoofeh Azar
Review: • The Enlightenment of t...
Goodreads: / 35708940
The Adventures of China Iron by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara
Review: • The Adventures of Chin...
Goodreads: / the-adventures-of-chin...
The Discomfort of Evening by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, Michele Hutchison (Goodreads Author) (Translator)
Review: • The Discomfort of Even...
Goodreads: / the-discomfort-of-evening
The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa, Stephen Snyder (Translator)
Review: • The Memory Police by Y...
Goodreads: / the-memory-police
The Eighth Life: for Brilka by Nino Haratischwili, Charlotte Collins (Translator),
Review: • The Eighth Life by Nin...
Goodreads: / the-eighth-life
Tyll by Daniel Kehlmann
Review: • Tyll by Daniel Kehlman...
Goodreads: / tyll
Mac and His Problem by Enrique Vila-Matas, Margaret Jull Costa (Translator), Sophie Hughes (Translator)
Review: • Mac and His Problem by...
Goodreads: / mac-and-his-problem
Red Dog by Willem Anker
Review: • Red Dog by Willem Anke...
Goodreads: / red-dog
Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor
Review: • Hurricane Season by Fe...
Goodreads: / temporada-de-huracanes
Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin
Review: • Little Eyes by Samanta...
Goodreads: / little-eyes
The Other Name: Septology I-II (Septologien #1-2) by Jon Fosse,
Review: • The Other Name: Septol...
Goodreads: / the-other-name
Faces on the Tip of My Tongue by Emmanuelle Pagano, Jennifer Higgins (Translator), Sophie Lewis (Translator)
Review: • Faces on the Tip of My...
/ faces-on-the-tip-of-my...
Serotonin by Michel Houellebecq
Review: • Video
Goodreads: / serotonin
#internationalbooker2020 #finestfiction #translatedfiction
I've enjoyed the hell out of this review series, thank you for all the time and effort!
Thank you Jennifer, I didn't know you were watching, I remember you doing Women's Prize for Fiction series back in the day, and that is still the best review series here on youtube.
Hello. I enjoy you a lot. And you're quite good to look at. - SD
I read all the shortlisted books too. My personal favorite also was The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree. I absolutely adored that novel. Everything in it, the characters, the world the narration. I think it was brilliant. But I am also partial. My husband is Iranian and I love Iran and its culture. That's why I personally cheer for TEoTGT. The second place for me took Tyll. I love the way he told the story. How we had to piece together the timeline and how Tyll was never at the center and we saw only glimpses of him here and there. I enjoyed it a lot. However, when it comes to the hurricane season and the discomfort of the evening, those books weren't my cup of tea. I'm just not the reader for them. I literally wanted to cry every time I had to pick up and sit and read the discomfort of the evening. It was so depressing with no hope. Just suffering, just pain, and darkness. The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree, for example, is a hard and painful book to read too, but it has hope, I saw kindness and love in people. That's why I loved it. I saw how strong the human spirit is. With the discomfort of the evening. I saw nothing of that sort. Only pain and misery. I strongly disliked that book. And I didn't even finish the Hurricane Season. For the same reason. (I might give it another go though when I am in the right mood and in the right state of mind for it. Just because I see how many people enjoyed this book. The Hurricane Season I mean). But I am no great mind. I am just a very average reader. So it's just my personal experience and opinion. I know some people will appreciate it and it's great, just I didn't. China Iron was just okay for me. I wanted it to be longer and I wanted more. Sorry for this super long comment. I really enjoyed your video. I hope you're having a great day 🌞
Thank you for a very thoughtful comment. I understand why somebody might not like The Discomfort of Evening, I was reading the last couple dozen of pages with the expression of shock on my face, and wasn't sure initially what to think of it. It grew on me though.
I think though, that Hurricane Season is very different, violent but realistic while Rjinveld's novel reads like a dark tale. Nonetheless, it looks like we both enjoyed a lot at least two novels - Tyll and TEoTGT, and I agree with you, Iranian culture is mindblowing, it's really sad that now the country is a theocracy and the regime is limiting and censuring the arts and culture. Have a good day.
I guess im asking the wrong place but does anyone know of a way to log back into an instagram account?
I was stupid forgot my login password. I appreciate any tricks you can offer me!
@Christopher Terrence Instablaster :)
@Alvin Leo Thanks so much for your reply. I found the site through google and im in the hacking process atm.
I see it takes a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Alvin Leo it did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy:D
Thanks so much you saved my ass !
Great summing-up of the prize season, Kamil! It's been a real pleasure to hear all your thoughts about the books as you've read and reviewed them. I think for any reader it is rare to find a group of books chosen by a panel of judges where you end up admiring most of them. I highly doubt the larger political controversies have a bearing on which book the judges will select as the winner - surely they'll just consider the texts themselves rather than which makes the biggest political statement at this moment in time. But who knows what happens behind closed doors?! I agree with your most likely candidates. And I'm relieved I didn't bother reading Houllebecq. 😅
Thank you Eric, I think it's hard getting away from being influenced by political controversies, even if subconsciously. Surely that wouldn't be a first award where political statement place a role. I really don't think that the texts themselves are the only spectrum books are looked at, ever, regardless of the type of award.
Have you ever read anything by Houellebecq, not that you are missing much, I'm asking out of curiosity.
@@WhatKamilReads Perhaps you're right and even if it's not overtly discussed or thought about there is some subconscious influence. But if judges have integrity they'll stick to the remit of looking for excellence in writing over political concerns.
I've not read anything by Houllebecq and I'm sure it'd be an interesting exercise but I'm not sure I have the energy or patience. 😅
I don’t blame you :)
Huge congrats on this project. The time and energy you've taken on reading and analysing the books as well as editing the videos has been exemplary and a fabulous resource for this prize. I've only read Enlightenment and Hurricane Season but I agree that Enlightenment probably ticks all the boxes for a typical booker winner. We shall see what happens!
Thank you so much, that is very nice to hear. Yes, Enlightenment is such a booker book that it might win, but if judges decide to go with something less Booker-ish, it might actually work against the chance of Azar's novel.
Thank you so much for this video! I’ve been following your reviews for this though I’ve yet to catch up on some. Your analysis is fascinating and on point. Out of these, I’m most excited to read Till.
Thank you so much, that is lovely to hear.
so excited to hear what happens tomorrow. i'm so grateful you were able to put this project together and review all the amazing entries.
Thank you so much, that’s kind of you
The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree was very raw, informative and interesting. I feel it has a strong chance too. Hurricane Season has been on my TBR since I saw it on the longlist. I would love to read it. I also plan on reading The Eighth Life this fall. I've heard nothing but good about it. Interested in learning about Georgia.A country I don't know a lot about. You did well covering this prize Kamil. Excellent work!
Thank you Didi, I did spend quite some time doing it. I think you'd enjoy The Eighth Life, there are some issues I had with it but overall it's a very good novel. In terms of Hurricane Season, you'll fly through it, it's a tiny book and hard to put down.
@@WhatKamilReads Thanks for the encouragement!
Fantastic video. I am so behind in reading for this that I have no horse in the race, despite owning a few of these. I’m looking forward to the announcement and thank you for all the time and focus you put into this project. It’s very exciting!
Thank you Sarah, it's better to have no horse, than to have a "black" one... I should make one day a video with my idioms lapses or english language mistakes in general :) that would be a ton of fun.
Thank you so much for this project . Highly engaging and stimulating. Really enjoyed your insights
Thank you so much, that is nice to hear that.
Thank you so much! Such a great project, I have had the best time following along :) For myself I absolutely loved Hurricane Season - the pace and the rawness of it is just breathtaking. Although I did think - surely a book this confronting can't win the booker prize? I guess we will see! Thanks again :D
Thank you Hannah for your kind words. The book even more confronting won I guess, and that is something that I appreciate.
Such a great analysis! In an effort to not be too impulsive, I'll wait for tomorrow's announcement but I think I'm adding The Other Name and The Memory Police to my TBR first.
Oh that is great to hear. Would love to hear what you think about those.
I just came by in the hope of seeing those famous pink shorts. Still waiting, Kamil! :D
I think the Japanese snooze-fest will take the prize home, because people just can't get enough of those dystopian stories. As if reality wasn't strange enough... I'm just rooting for the lesser known female authors.
Thank you for taking on this time-consuming project, and although I'm not interested in all those books I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on them.
hhahah, oh my, maybe one day :). I agree, I think it would be great if Azar or Cabezon Camara won, and thank you for watching.
Filmed a very similar video yesterday. My personal favourite is Hurricane Season, but I think either The Discomfort of Evening or The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree may win. I wish I'd liked Tyll more than I did, but it was just an OK book compared to the other ones on the shortlist - although it's interesting to hear your analysis and why it might be the winning title!
Let me go ahead and watch it
Well how interesting...I would have liked No Name to win but as it won’t now, I think I liked the Memory Police. That book had its problems but I think about it all the time...it said so much. But how brilliant that there have been so many excellent books this year.
Exactly, we were very lucky with this years list.
The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree is the only one I've read, just haven't found the time for the others. The Memory Police, Hurricane Season & The Eighth Life were on my radar.
Hopefully that one wins
Oh and, I meant to say, I just received an advance copy of Septology III-V which Fitzcarraldo are publishing in October. I'll be eager to see how he elaborates on and develops his ideas and imagery in this further instalment.
Oh, I envy you, looking forward to hearing your take on it.
Thanks very much for all your efforts with this project - I feel so much better read just by watching your videos! I am in total agreement with everything you said and also think Azar will win. Also agree about Ducks - I’m on p800 and progressing slowly but it is so immersive! The funny thing about the 1983 prize is that Waterland was much better than Shame and must have been close to winning!
Haha that’s sweet of you to say that. So happy to hear you are enjoying Ducks. I loved Waterland, never got around to reading Shame though.
Serotonine and Little Eyes were also in my bottom 3.... I just have a hard time believing that there weren't better books out there. My top three would be Hurricane Season, The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree, and then China Iron (I personally wonder if the last year's winner being from Oman will affect Greengage Tree's chances, but it's hard to tell since this prize is younger than the Main Booker Prize).
The top three exactly the same as mine, as they say great men and women think alike :)
That is an interesting thought regarding Omanian winner.
You did a great job with all of this, Kamil! See you on Twitter for the announcement.
Thank you Nicola, I’ll be there for sure
Do you have a link to the guardian article that you mentioned? Not long to the winner announced, looking forward to seeing which one they pick.
Its an article from 2008 nothing to do with this years award. The tile is “Tears, tiffs and triumphs: 40 years of Booker prize judges dish the dirt” google it and you’ll get to it
I sadly didn’t get to all the longlist, I missed The Other Name: Septology I - II, Red Dog & The Eighth Life. I was very disappointed was Houellebecq, I know he can write interesting books but this wasn’t it. I have a feeling that Houellebecq and Schweblin were longlisted because of their popularity. I had problems with My Faces on the Tip of My Tongue, but it was the fact that i’m sure it was abridged. I really want Hurricane Season to win... might do a video on the topic too. I would be happy with China Iron and Greengage Tree winning as well.
The Septology is brilliant, and I think you might like The Eight Life too, but that one is definitely a commitment. I really was impressed with Faces on the Tip of My Tongue but I also would prefer to read it in the format it was originally published in.
I am very interested in reading The Septology still and one day I might even try The Eighth Life but as you said, that will require some commitment
I am ok with anyone winning too. We agree on Hurricane Season but somehow the dark horse for me is The Discomfort of Evening because for a debut book and a young writer that was pretty powerful. The writer might grab with extra emotions from the judges but I can bet it wasn't the judges' personal favorite.
Tyll for me was my personal favorite because of the clear translation writing it was smooth reading the book and if the judges are looking for a marketable book that's the one plus a Netflix adaptation coming up that's good money.
And your comment on Red Dog is exactly the same as mine 😁. It was the first book I started with on the project. I'm losing track now. So yeah, Hurricane Season or The Memory Police my prediction
I would agree with The Discomfort but I think it's a bit too much out there, I mean too controversial for the winner. Having said that though the jury panel is bold and young enough to make that call.
Good point on Netflix adaptation coming up being the factor in favor of Tyll , but also it might act against it if Judges decide to select a different one just because Tyll is the book which will receive the publicity regardless of winning or not winning the award, due to that Netflix show.
@@WhatKamilReads yeah you are right choosing Tyll might be the obvious choice coming from the perception of the public. This might propel the judges to pick a different book.
However, over the years there has been complains of booker prize winner books been difficult to read for the public (except the controversial double Booker prize winner 2019). Tyll ticks that box.
@@victoranolu4376 a very sound point.
"The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree" & "Hurricane Season"!!!
Same :)
I agree so much that this year's list is very strong. From the ones I read, I really disliked Serotonin, and not impressed by Little eyes or the memory police, but any could win
We seem to have a similar look on those
I only read Tyll by Daniel Kehlmann, so I cannot really judge or guess. Kehlmann's novel is fascinating, with the historic placement of the mythological character. Tyll "travelled" to South Africa in the early colonial days and became a figure in local Afrikaans stories too - that is why I was so interested in Kehlmann's take. I look forward to your response to the winner tomorrow!
Yes, I think it might be that Tyll will take it all. Victor Anolu commented above that the upcoming Netflix adaptation might act in favor of the book, but also it might act against it if Judges decide to select a different one just because Tyll is the book which will receive the publicity regardless of winning or not winning the award, due to that Netflix show.
@@WhatKamilReads Netflix adaptation! O my! That will be something to see. One becomes a tad cynical about the prize and prizes in general: not just the best book of the bunch, but marketing and relationships and politics are all involved to some degree ...
@@coenraadwalters1990 absolutely and I don't mind that as long as the entry criterium is the literary aspect of the book.
Samanta Schweblin is one of the best contemporary writers out there. However, I must agree and say that "Little Eyes" (or "Kentukis" -its original name in Spanish-) is not her best work. I really recommend you to read "Siete casas vacías" (not sure if it has been translated), "Fever Dream" and "A Mouthful of Birds". You'll immediately notice that "Little Eyes" is far from her usual style.
I did red Fever Dreams and she is great in it, but this is a short-form and "A Mouthful of Birds" is a collection of short stories, I do think she is a great writer, Kentuki is just not her best work.
I’m currently reading Hurricane Season as part of #WomenInTranslation.
How do you like it, Jacqueline?
You have a strange way of pronouncing 'China' and 'binary'.
And those wouldn’t be the only words I pronounce strangely :)
@@WhatKamilReads True :) You put emphasis on some words in strange places. I wonder why..Might be that you aren't a native, but your English is efficient on the whole.
Dana P. Thank you, and of course I’m not native, I live in a non-English speaking country, and I started learning English when I was 12 years old or so... pronunciation will most probably hunt me till my death bed. Articles too, we don’t have them in Polish so it doesn’t come naturally to me.
@@WhatKamilReads Nice to know you are Polish as well :) I kinda suspected it because of your name but you might just have ancestors here. I'm an English teacher, but then again I don't have over 10,000 subscribers. Mind-boggling! Congrats! :)