The ten finalists for the 2013 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award have been announced.
- City of Bohane, by Kevin Barry
- The Map and the Territory, by Michel Houllebecq
- Pure, by Andrew Miller
- 1Q84, by Haruki Murakami
- The Buddha in the Attic, by Julie Otsuka
- The Tragedy of Arthur, by Arthur Phillips
- Swamplandia!, by Karen Russell
- From the Mouth of the Whale, by Sjón
- The Faster I Walk, the Smaller I Am, by Kjersti A. Skomsvold
- Caesarion, by Tommy Wieringa
The only one I’ve read is Swamplandia! (my review here), but I have The Map and the Territory on hand due to the BTBA. I’ve also been meaning to read The Buddha in the Attic.
It is good to see “The Tragedy of Arthur” finally get some recognition. I thought it was a wonderful novel.
I have not read a single one — unusual for me and the IMPAC because in many years I have read half the shortlist when it is announced. Part of that is explained by the five translated works on the list (since I tend to be late in getting to the translated works that I do read). And I guess also that four of the other five (Russell, Murakami, Barry and Miller) I have been aware of but don’t seem to fit my tastes. So I’ll just be a watcher in 2013.
I was wondering if we might have the pleasure of reading your reviews of the list, Kevin, but I’m with you here. Many of these hold interest, but I’ve got other things on the plate.
I ve read three 1Q84 ,from the mouth and caesarion ,The Skomsvold is on my wishlist and I own pure and city of bohane already so quite pleased with this list and wonderful to see so much translation ,all the best stu
Houellebecq. AGAIN. Don’t they know there are other French writers than him?
I’ve read and enjoyed the Houllebecq, read everything Murakami has ever had translated into English, including this, and thought it a very minor work of his (but oddly his big break-out in English), and read half of Russell. I thought the Russell very well written, I just found the storyline of no interest. I’ve got the other seven, so am considering reading the list, but at the moment I’m plodding through The Island of Second Sight, which while no longer than the Murakami, is so much slower going I’m not sure how far I’ll get.
I admire your conviction to get through The Island of Second Sight. I have a copy, so I need to crack it open and give it a shot, but it’s just so uninviting a volume.
The ones above I’m most curious about is the Barry and the Sjón. I’ve had my eyes on them for a while now, feeling they might fit a yearning, but I haven’t got them yet.