This is a genuinely difficult choice; but, since you're already rooting for Barry, I'm hoping Linda Grant's latest, The Clothes on Their Backs, earns the thing. Thought Still Here ought to have at least made the shortlist in 2002; so, mebbe this will both correct that overslight as well as give her work the kind of international exposure I believe it deserves.
She spent several years in Canada; and, typically, given our cadre of CanLit cronies, was eloquently shunned; thus, there's that added attraction (for me. I reviewed Still Here and, natch, am happy to see she's still there and going strong making the shortlist; when she emailed me and lauded the reading of the book I'd done, it turned my month into an airwalking one).
This is a genuinely difficult choice; but, since you're already rooting for Barry, I'm hoping Linda Grant's latest, The Clothes on Their Backs, earns the thing. Thought Still Here ought to have at least made the shortlist in 2002; so, mebbe this will both correct that overslight as well as give her work the kind of international exposure I believe it deserves.
ReplyDeleteShe spent several years in Canada; and, typically, given our cadre of CanLit cronies, was eloquently shunned; thus, there's that added attraction (for me. I reviewed Still Here and, natch, am happy to see she's still there and going strong making the shortlist; when she emailed me and lauded the reading of the book I'd done, it turned my month into an airwalking one).