Comments on: 2009 Shadow Giller Winner

By: Trevor

Trevor — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:05:28 +0000

By the way, Isabel, I’m thrilled to be involved again!

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:42:13 +0000

He will be invited back next year, Isabel — I meant to include that note when I posted our results but will now have to let it wait until I post on the “real jury” results.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:40:10 +0000

I had a blast, Isabel! And thanks for the well wishing for next year!

By: Isabel

Isabel — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:48:41 +0000

It sounds like you had fun!

Hope you are invited for next year’s Shadow Jury.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:46:40 +0000

Fellow Shadow Jury member Alison sat on a panel for The Globe and Mail discussing the Giller shortlist. Way to go, Alison! It is very interesting reading. Click here to read it. You'll notice I strongly disagree with John about The Year of the Flood, and I also disagree that The Winter Vault should win. It had its moments, surely, and you could see the ambition, but I'm not one who thinks ambition is that important if the execution fails. Obviously, there's plenty of room to debate how well this book was executed. I'm sympathetic to both The Golden Mean and The Disappeared, but I stick by my pick of The Bishop's Man as the best constructed and subtly substantial of all the books. It is also ambitious, and MacIntyre pulls it off. I want to reemphasize, though, that this is a list worth reading. I was so disappointed in 2008's Booker prize that I didn't get too involved in prize juries this year, but I'm glad I did with this one.