Steven Langdon's Blog: The Write Stuff - Posts Tagged "giller-prize-2018"
Giller Prize 2018
I have now finished all five of the books on the Giller Prize shortlist for 2018. Overall, this is one of the best, most diverse set of selections that I can remember -- great job, Giller jury members! There is a wide range of genres, a good mix of writers (three women, two men, with differing backgrounds) and a combination of settings both abroad and in Canada.
For those of us who read our fiction in English, there is a particular treat -- a translation of one of the most popular Quebec French-language novels of recent years. "Songs for the Cold of Heart" by Eric Dupont is a sweeping saga that goes from Riviere du Loup in 1919 to New York, then contemporary Berlin and Rome, built around fascinating characters, sharp humour and an intricate and engaging plot. It's a long book (604 pages) and some of its format works better than other parts (I found the letters sent back and forth between two of the characters a little tedious at times.) But it is so sharp-edged and rooted in the cultural milieu of Quebec -- yet also able to capture the ethos of other parts of North America and Europe -- that I found the novel was a surprising delight to read.
Another trans-Atlantic story is "French Exit" by Patrick deWitt -- though this book has no Canadian connection. Like "The Sisters Brothers," a previous Giller classic, this novel has its dark undertones but also represents a comic romp of eccentric characters and unexpected plot turns. Frances, the acerbic widow whose fortune has fled, escapes by ocean liner to France with her hapless adult son -- and there they draw about their lives a bizarre set of diverse people, whose interactions keep you laughing out loud. To say nothing of her cat, Small Frank, who she feels contains the soul of her dead husband. I enjoyed this book, laughed a lot, was touched by its dark underlay -- but it does not have the depth and strength of feeling of Dupont's novel.
A completely different genre is "An Ocean of Minutes" by Thea Lim. This is a first-rate dystopian novel built around time-travel to escape a spreading disease in America. Polly and Frank are lovers on vacation in Texas, when the flu-like disease begins to spread -- and to get specialized medical attention for Frank, Polly agrees to time travel years ahead to work for a mega-corporation for a set period. The two lovers agree where and when they will meet -- but arrangements go awry. Polly's struggles to overcome her period of bondage are compelling reading, as she seeks to re-find Frank in the future. This, too, is an excellent book -- with much to say about the treatment of contemporary migrants in America, the power of corporate might and the unexpected intricacies of love over many years.
"Motherhood" by Sheila Heti is a complete contrast to all three of these novels. Its narrator is the sole voice in the book, which is a long rumination on whether or not she should become pregnant and have a child. Back and forth her feelings sway, influenced by her partner, and her memories of her mother, before she finally makes a decision. There is no dialogue, virtually no plot -- but this is still a powerful book. It presents the internal workings of a woman's mind in all its intricacies, affected by dreams and changes in her body -- coming to terms with the nature of her relationship with her partner and with the legacy of how her mother treated her. Unlike Dupont's saga or Lim's account of struggle against external forces, this novel is almost a soliloquy.
Any of these books would be a worthy Giller winner, but for me, my preference is "Washington Black" by Esi Edugyan. As I wrote in my earlier review, this story of how an eleven year old slave on a harsh Barbados plantation managed to become a scientific innovator on the other side of the world is emotionally powerful and deeply imaginative. This is a grand coming of age tale of Washington, dramatically emphasizing the equality of all people and the brutality of slavery. Beautifully written, this would be my Giller choice for 2018.
For those of us who read our fiction in English, there is a particular treat -- a translation of one of the most popular Quebec French-language novels of recent years. "Songs for the Cold of Heart" by Eric Dupont is a sweeping saga that goes from Riviere du Loup in 1919 to New York, then contemporary Berlin and Rome, built around fascinating characters, sharp humour and an intricate and engaging plot. It's a long book (604 pages) and some of its format works better than other parts (I found the letters sent back and forth between two of the characters a little tedious at times.) But it is so sharp-edged and rooted in the cultural milieu of Quebec -- yet also able to capture the ethos of other parts of North America and Europe -- that I found the novel was a surprising delight to read.
Another trans-Atlantic story is "French Exit" by Patrick deWitt -- though this book has no Canadian connection. Like "The Sisters Brothers," a previous Giller classic, this novel has its dark undertones but also represents a comic romp of eccentric characters and unexpected plot turns. Frances, the acerbic widow whose fortune has fled, escapes by ocean liner to France with her hapless adult son -- and there they draw about their lives a bizarre set of diverse people, whose interactions keep you laughing out loud. To say nothing of her cat, Small Frank, who she feels contains the soul of her dead husband. I enjoyed this book, laughed a lot, was touched by its dark underlay -- but it does not have the depth and strength of feeling of Dupont's novel.
A completely different genre is "An Ocean of Minutes" by Thea Lim. This is a first-rate dystopian novel built around time-travel to escape a spreading disease in America. Polly and Frank are lovers on vacation in Texas, when the flu-like disease begins to spread -- and to get specialized medical attention for Frank, Polly agrees to time travel years ahead to work for a mega-corporation for a set period. The two lovers agree where and when they will meet -- but arrangements go awry. Polly's struggles to overcome her period of bondage are compelling reading, as she seeks to re-find Frank in the future. This, too, is an excellent book -- with much to say about the treatment of contemporary migrants in America, the power of corporate might and the unexpected intricacies of love over many years.
"Motherhood" by Sheila Heti is a complete contrast to all three of these novels. Its narrator is the sole voice in the book, which is a long rumination on whether or not she should become pregnant and have a child. Back and forth her feelings sway, influenced by her partner, and her memories of her mother, before she finally makes a decision. There is no dialogue, virtually no plot -- but this is still a powerful book. It presents the internal workings of a woman's mind in all its intricacies, affected by dreams and changes in her body -- coming to terms with the nature of her relationship with her partner and with the legacy of how her mother treated her. Unlike Dupont's saga or Lim's account of struggle against external forces, this novel is almost a soliloquy.
Any of these books would be a worthy Giller winner, but for me, my preference is "Washington Black" by Esi Edugyan. As I wrote in my earlier review, this story of how an eleven year old slave on a harsh Barbados plantation managed to become a scientific innovator on the other side of the world is emotionally powerful and deeply imaginative. This is a grand coming of age tale of Washington, dramatically emphasizing the equality of all people and the brutality of slavery. Beautifully written, this would be my Giller choice for 2018.
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