Comments on: Orange Prize http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews Book reviews of contemporary literary fiction and modern classics. Sun, 20 May 2012 18:41:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: KevinfromCanada http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/orange-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-2727 KevinfromCanada Sun, 31 May 2009 02:29:39 +0000 http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/?page_id=1031#comment-2727 I read Molly Fox's Birthday today, Colette, and while I loved the first half I am afraid for me it wandered into nowhere in the second half. That's probably a reflection of two things. One is that I was more interested in the "drama" part of the book than exploring the family conflicts/relationships which take over the book. The other is that I'd just finished reading Alice Munro's <i>The View from Castle Rock</i> (stay tuned for a post in a few days) and Madden is no Munro when it comes to exploring family. I am intrigued at both the variety and quality in this Orange shortlist and I agree with your kudos to the jury. Compared to last year's Booker where the judges attempt to get different types of titles meant some mediocre works were there, these are not just very different, they are very good (well, I didn't like <i>Home</i> that much, but I know that's mainly me). The final choice will be most interesting. I read Molly Fox’s Birthday today, Colette, and while I loved the first half I am afraid for me it wandered into nowhere in the second half. That’s probably a reflection of two things. One is that I was more interested in the “drama” part of the book than exploring the family conflicts/relationships which take over the book. The other is that I’d just finished reading Alice Munro’s The View from Castle Rock (stay tuned for a post in a few days) and Madden is no Munro when it comes to exploring family.

I am intrigued at both the variety and quality in this Orange shortlist and I agree with your kudos to the jury. Compared to last year’s Booker where the judges attempt to get different types of titles meant some mediocre works were there, these are not just very different, they are very good (well, I didn’t like Home that much, but I know that’s mainly me). The final choice will be most interesting.

]]> By: Trevor http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/orange-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-2725 Trevor Sun, 31 May 2009 00:12:26 +0000 http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/?page_id=1031#comment-2725 I'm glad you've been going through this list for me, Kevin and Colette. I'm not sure I'll make it to any but <em>Home</em>, which I've been planning to read since it came out. In fact, it is the reason I read the <em>Housekeeping</em> and <em>Gilead</em>, but I enjoyed them so much I wanted to let them stand alone for a while before adding to them. I'm not worried <em>Home</em> will dilute the experience, but it will change it. By the way, sorry for being unresponsive here everyone. We are in the middle of moving <em>and</em> are on a mini vacation to the Berkshires. Hopefully by the middle of next week all will be back to a good routine (though in a new place). I’m glad you’ve been going through this list for me, Kevin and Colette. I’m not sure I’ll make it to any but Home, which I’ve been planning to read since it came out. In fact, it is the reason I read the Housekeeping and Gilead, but I enjoyed them so much I wanted to let them stand alone for a while before adding to them. I’m not worried Home will dilute the experience, but it will change it.

By the way, sorry for being unresponsive here everyone. We are in the middle of moving and are on a mini vacation to the Berkshires. Hopefully by the middle of next week all will be back to a good routine (though in a new place).

]]> By: Colette Jones http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/orange-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-2717 Colette Jones Fri, 29 May 2009 06:34:52 +0000 http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/?page_id=1031#comment-2717 I look forward to your review of Molly Fox's Birthday, Kevin. Unfortunately it is more forgettable than the others for me so it has fallen down to 4th on the list, but I'd be happy if any of my top 4 won. 1. Home 2. The Wilderness 3. Scottsboro 4. Molly Fox's Birthday 5. The Invention of Everything Else 6. Burnt Shadows I look forward to your review of Molly Fox’s Birthday, Kevin. Unfortunately it is more forgettable than the others for me so it has fallen down to 4th on the list, but I’d be happy if any of my top 4 won.

1. Home
2. The Wilderness
3. Scottsboro
4. Molly Fox’s Birthday
5. The Invention of Everything Else
6. Burnt Shadows

]]> By: KevinfromCanada http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/orange-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-2715 KevinfromCanada Thu, 28 May 2009 23:58:24 +0000 http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/?page_id=1031#comment-2715 Burnt Shadows is my favorite -- but Molly Fox's Birthday may overtake that now that it has finally arrived. Given that I never pick a prize winner, I would say that I have doomed Ms. Shamsie. Burnt Shadows is my favorite — but Molly Fox’s Birthday may overtake that now that it has finally arrived. Given that I never pick a prize winner, I would say that I have doomed Ms. Shamsie.

]]> By: Colette Jones http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/orange-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-2712 Colette Jones Thu, 28 May 2009 21:36:06 +0000 http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/?page_id=1031#comment-2712 I've finished reading the shortlist now and the only one I didn't like is Burnt Shadows, which means it will probably win. I’ve finished reading the shortlist now and the only one I didn’t like is Burnt Shadows, which means it will probably win.

]]> By: Colette Jones http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/orange-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-2642 Colette Jones Fri, 22 May 2009 16:48:42 +0000 http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/?page_id=1031#comment-2642 I loved The Wilderness. Does the Orange have some good judges this year or what!?! I loved The Wilderness. Does the Orange have some good judges this year or what!?!

]]> By: Colette Jones http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/orange-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-2492 Colette Jones Wed, 13 May 2009 14:27:29 +0000 http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/?page_id=1031#comment-2492 I've now read Scottsboro and would recommend it highly. It weaves fact and fiction seamlessly. Though I can picture the events being made into a film, it is not overly dramatized nor overly sentimental, both of which must have been tough to avoid given the subject matter. Excellent. I’ve now read Scottsboro and would recommend it highly. It weaves fact and fiction seamlessly. Though I can picture the events being made into a film, it is not overly dramatized nor overly sentimental, both of which must have been tough to avoid given the subject matter. Excellent.

]]> By: KevinfromCanada http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/orange-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-2235 KevinfromCanada Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:25:04 +0000 http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/?page_id=1031#comment-2235 A very interesting Bloomsbury initiative, although <i>Burnt Shadows</i> is a book that I would not want to try reading on the computer screen, but then I am an aging curmudgeon. Bloomsbury is also testing a very interesting program of making electronic versions of their catalogue available to libraries at low cost -- nice to see a company trying to make technology work for readers, instead of against them. A very interesting Bloomsbury initiative, although Burnt Shadows is a book that I would not want to try reading on the computer screen, but then I am an aging curmudgeon. Bloomsbury is also testing a very interesting program of making electronic versions of their catalogue available to libraries at low cost — nice to see a company trying to make technology work for readers, instead of against them.

]]> By: Trevor http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/orange-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-2229 Trevor Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:21:58 +0000 http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/?page_id=1031#comment-2229 Something worth checking out: Bloomsbury will have <em>Burnt Shadows</em> available for download for 24 hours, starting April 22, 12 noon BST. Check it out <a href="http://bloomsbury.com/Orange/Default.aspx" title="Bloomsbury Offer" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Unfortunately for me and many others, this is available in the UK only. Something worth checking out: Bloomsbury will have Burnt Shadows available for download for 24 hours, starting April 22, 12 noon BST. Check it out here. Unfortunately for me and many others, this is available in the UK only.

]]> By: KevinfromCanada http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/orange-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-2224 KevinfromCanada Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:56:48 +0000 http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/?page_id=1031#comment-2224 I think this is a very good shortlist as well -- I too have only read two (<i>Home</i> and <i>Burnt Shadows</i>). The latter is my "sleeper of the year" book for 2009 -- it is interesting that my blog review of it is getting a handful of googled searches every day -- looks like it might be hitting the book club agenda, which is a boon for sales. I have <i>Molly Fox's Birthday</i> and <i>Scottsboro</i> on my list but may not get to them until post-Prize since I am having trouble buying both. I think this is a very good shortlist as well — I too have only read two (Home and Burnt Shadows). The latter is my “sleeper of the year” book for 2009 — it is interesting that my blog review of it is getting a handful of googled searches every day — looks like it might be hitting the book club agenda, which is a boon for sales. I have Molly Fox’s Birthday and Scottsboro on my list but may not get to them until post-Prize since I am having trouble buying both.

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