People are literally having nervous breakdowns and going into apoplexy because John Banville won the Booker. I mean – the op-eds I’ve read are so doom-laden that they sound kind of insane.
Here’s John Sutherland’s response to the raging controversy.
This guy sounds like he needs to go on medication.
My dad loves John Banville – and therefore, I think it’s awesome he won the prize. And I think it’s great that literary types are FREAKING OUT about it. One of my favorite things in the world is a good old-fashioned literary dustup!!
The guy who needs to go on meds: “they selected an icy and over-controlled exercise in coterie aestheticism ahead of a shortlist, and a long list, packed with a plenitude of riches and delights. ”
What a pretentious ass. “Coterie aestheticism.” What kind of a bonehead uses words like that?
He seems really undone by the whole thing! It’s so awesome!!
Isn’t it hysterical? Like, “how could they possibly pick something *I* don’t approve of?!?!?” It’s like everybody getting pissy about Pinter winning the Nobel Prize based on his political persona when they haven’t even read any of his plays.
(which admittedly, I haven’t, but then again I’m not the one shouting that he didn’t deserve it, either.)
I did enjoy John Banville’s remembrance of his previous nomination – “On that occasion I was so drunk that if I’d won the prize I wouldn’t have been able to stand up. This time I was much more careful, I went for a walk during the day and drank lots of water.”
And his answer to the question – So, what will you spend the prize money on?
“Good work and strong drink”
Harold Pinter’s plays are great. He’s one of my favorites and I’m really happy he won. The second I heard he won, I was like: ooooh, let’s hear people start roaring! Why this is unfair, stupid, why it’s Anglo-centric and they should have gone with a limping bisexual Inuit author, why he’s an asshole for his politics, why his plays aren’t good – whatever – you can’t please everyone. The guy has been writing ground-breaking drama since the 1960s. He has such a distinctive style that to say “Pinteresque” actually means something in the theatrical community.
Good for him! I’m glad he won.
peteb – hahahaha Leave it to the Dublin novelist!
Yeah, and Emily, you’re right – that is exactly the tone of that third op-ed:
“I cannot believe that they did not go with MY choice.”
Yeah, well last time I checked Bill Murray didn’t have an Oscar for Lost in Translation – and he was my personal pick – so you can’t always get what you want, dude!
Oh, and I guess – whether or not you like Pinter’s plays – and a lot of people don’t – you can’t argue with the fact that the guy has been contributing to his particular realm for decades – you list his plays out and they practically take up 2 pages.
It’s the people who want to argue with his level of accomplishment that I think are boneheads.
Can’t you get past your own personal issues with the guy and admit that whatever you think of his work or his politics – he’s a giant in his field?
Bah. Dilettantes.
haha.. learning from experience.. beautiful.
and I’ve just read the first example you noted of the publishing house apoplexy, from the Independent – “the prissy little mouse”, indeed.
Totally – everyone is FREAKING. I don’t know why I love it – I haven’t even read any of those books, I just love arguments like this. I love when people get all bent out of shape over stuff like this.
I think it’s good for literature, ultimately.
That’s what bothers me the most about a lot of the reaction. I think the guy’s a Class-A asshole. His poetry is positively atrocious. I mean, he makes Jewel look like Syliva Plath. But I’m not about to pass judgement on whether or not he’s worthy of a *literary* award based on a handful of insipid op-eds in The Guardian.
In fact, I might just go pick up one of his plays in reaction. Any you recommend?
Like when Toni Morrison won the Noble Prize – I remember the brou-haha back then. And a lot of it was very harsh, and painful to read – … but I think talking about this stuff is actually good for literature. I don’t know – just a sense I have.
The Dumb Waiter is my favorite of his plays.
Here’s an excerpt.
Again, a lot of people don’t like Pinter. It’s like Beckett – he brings up the same polarized response. I just think he’s awesome – I would love to work on his plays, but I’m so not a “Pinteresque” type.
A lot of Quentin Tarantino’s stuff is inspired by Pinter – that same kind of blunt matter of fact dialogue – but with the underlying sense of doom and danger …
He is one of the most copied playwrights around – and he never gets the credit.
I have Ishiguro’s nomination and some of Banville’s previous work physically on the “to read” pile.. and it astounds me that, for some, who were uninvolved in the decision, the criticism is that, slight paraphrasing – “Oh, he’s too difficult a read to win.”
???
I’d suspect, without checking any references, that the same people would be guilty of accusing other media of dumbing down. [/irony]
blunt matter of fact dialogue – but with the underlying sense of doom and danger …
Kind of like Kevin Smith but with an underlying sense of doom and humor.
Ugh, if Pinter’s stuff is anything like Kevin Smith movies, I’m not touching it. I think he’s one of the most over-rated directors *ever*.
Oh no, I don’t know. I was just playing off Red’s comments. I think Kevin Smith has great dialogue; he’s one of my favorites. But, each to their own.
emily – hahahah No, not like Kevin Smith at ALL.
Pinter is all about menace. Unspoken menace. Some of his plays are literally frightening to read. And the danger is never spoken – but everyone knows it’s there.
Okay, I eally didn’t think there was an iota of a chance I’d be able to contribute to this – and I may be proven correct:
(nine beers later – after a colleague’s going away party and being stuck back at work…)
However –
At least Kevin Smith doesn’t pretend to be a great director (even with what whomever says about him) – did you see his college appearances on cable? His first meeting with studio execs after Mallrats they told him he had to stop thinking like he was just getting together with some friends to have fun and make a movie — and he said “what do you mean? why not? I made that movie with $60,000 — and now you want to give me $2 million – of course I’m going to have fun!” I give him credit for that.
As for the Booker – buddy Boyd bringing in the sponsor’s ties to an SEC investigation – yeah, Red, as usual, you are correct. You kind of remind me of my sister in that regard. (drat!)
How big a big deal is the Booker – I happen to be reading Remains of the Day this week (I like the way that sounds) and the jacket says it won the Booker.
Are there odds? Can we bet this in Vegas?
is john banville a limping inuit?
that independent.co.uk article isn’t even really on topic! they spend most of it with pseudo-investigative reporting on SEC issues. bad form!
sorry for the triple post, but i just couldn’t pass this up:
//For the judges of the 2005 Man Booker Prize to have rendered down the precious wealth of fiction presented to them into this tinny medallion counts as an achievement of some sort.//
…as does that sentence.
don’t hate the playa, baby, just hate the game.
Don’t hate the playa, baby, just hate the game
Sheila has links up to the storm of literary controversy surrounding the selection of John Banville’s The Sea for the Man Booker Prize, which I guess is a big deal for several people with no sense of perspective (in fairness,
I have absolutely nothing of merit to contribute, but just wanted to say the following line made me smile:
One of my favorite things in the world is a good old-fashioned literary dustup!!
Dork! :)
Personally, I’m delighted. Banville is an important writer and deserves the prize.
And John Banville has the first sentence of his next book in mind already –
‘Of all the things we gave them that they might be comforted, dawn is the one that works.’
dave – the Booker Prize is a very big deal. Very big indeed. Which is why everyone is freaking out right now about the winner.
bryan – i agree with you.
I’m glad that someone won who no one expected to win. I was a bit sick of it being assumed that Zadie Smith was a done deal.
Dearest: I think The Sea is one of
Banville’s best yet. I haven’t read the other finalists [nor do I intend to]. The Booker is akin to our National Book Awards, or the Pulitzers–most of the winners are forgotten within months. So, in spite of his winning the Booker, it is still a good book, and I would recommend it to you. love, dad
dad – thanks! I will be sure to pick it up.
btw he has a wonderful account of the day, Booker Day, in today’s Irish Times.. which includes a comparison of himself to one small but determined duck battling against five shrieking gulls for a morsel of bread.
peteb – that piece you sent me was just genius. his observations on being photographed and the constant references to alcohol – hahahaha – i suppose it’s not really funny, but still, it is.
Oh.. I think it is funny, Sheila, and intended to be so. :)
one small but determined duck.. indeed.