Comments on: Orange Prize Longlist

By: Colette Jones

Colette Jones — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 11:59:49 +0000

Interesting, Kevin and Lisa. I did not find The Spare Room soppy at all, and I didn’t find Helen (author or character) to be judgemental. I had never heard of Helen Garner prior to reading the book though, so maybe that was an advantage. It seemed to me a book about a really good friend being able to think the unthinkable and say the unsayable. I did not see a moral high ground or anything like that.

By: Lisa Hill

Lisa Hill — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 10:19:08 +0000

*chuckle* Great minds think alike!

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:07:06 +0000

Lisa: I checked your review of The Spare Room and would have to say we would be in complete agreement, if I had finished the book.

By: Lisa Hill

Lisa Hill — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:21:50 +0000

*chuckle* At least I made it to the end of the Garner, Kevin! (http://anzlitlovers.wordpress.com/2009/04/25/the-spare-room-by-helen-garner-read-by-heather-bolton/)
Seriously, I too am sooo tired of the Tragic Issue at the core of the story; I think it links to The Misery Memoir pioneered by Angela’s Ashes and pop-psychology navel-gazing in general.
I haven’t read any of ‘em except Wolf Hall which would be a worthy winner IMO, but look forward to reading some reviews of this list with interest.
Lisa

By: Trevor

Trevor — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:31:42 +0000

Let us pause for a moment and cheer the absence of Dame Peggy Atwood’s The Year of the Flood from the long list of 20.

Great point, Kevin! I notice also that it lost in the first round of the tournament of books today too — to a lesser seeded book even.

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:24:33 +0000

Let us pause for a moment and cheer the absence of Dame Peggy Atwood's The Year of the Flood from the long list of 20. Tends to restore my faith in juries. And, of course, Trevor's perceptiveness. I haven't read The Help and don't intend to -- Kerry's review is persuasive enough. I'll put forward the hypothesis that it is this year's version of The Spare Room by Helen Garner from the year previous. Those who loved it, really, really loved it -- I tried to read the Garner (it is really just a novella) and the soppy sentimentality had me putting it down halfway through. If I did try The Help I am pretty sure I would have exactly the same response.

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:31:06 +0000

There’s been a lot of griping about the lack of accuracy and research in The Help. If you check out this year’s Tournament of Books, you’ll find some of the discussion there.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:53:42 +0000

I wondered about that too, Kerry. Though all I know of The Help is what I see of its marketing. Anyone read it?

By: Kerry

Kerry — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:37:42 +0000

The Help??? The Orange Prize just became less prestigious in my eyes.