Thursday 14 October 2010

READ ALL ABOUT IT! COMEDY WINS MAN BOOKER PRIZE!

Yes, the Booker prize has finally been awarded to a British writer of humour.

I have not yet read Howard Jacobson's winning entry, but - nevertheless - I find it's success hugely encouraging, because the only book I have ever written is basically humorous, and I have pretty much given up all ambitions to get it to an agent, let alone publisher.

Don't get me wrong, I have never had delusions about winning accolades for it, I just think that the whole bloody business may be lightened up a bit by giving writer's writers a good kick up the arse with a not-so-subtle indication that their tortured and tortuous scribblings may be being ousted by offerings which the general public could - after about 42 years - actually enjoy reading.

Mr Jacobson seems to believe (as I do) that no good or useful fiction can be written without a very strong element of humour. Indeed, he goes so far as to assert that all novels actually began as humorous ones, before being hi-jacked by the sort of depressive introspects that have been winning this prize since it was first awarded, all those years ago.

Good on you Howard, and congratulations too.


5 comments:

  1. Don't give up Tom!
    That's great for Jacobson, I haven't read anything by him but your point is a good one. I know I keep coming back to Oz in my comments but I'm going to do it again. The latest lit gong here went out to Peter Temple who writes crime/gumshoe genre novels and that raised a few eyebrows - crime - literature - can they be the same thing? These decisions have been good because they loosen things up a bit.

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  2. Haven't read Jacobson. (but I will)...was rooting for Emma Donaghue's ROOM

    Jack is five.
    He lives in a single room with his Ma.
    The room is locked.
    Neither Jack nor Ma have a key

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  3. I've not read his books, but he's a great journalist. I think I've also seen him on TV (?).

    Don't like the dust cover! Dullsville.

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  4. I wonder if he feels a lot of pressure in writing the next one? I know, shouldn't think like that!

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  5. Ha! I sound a bit bitter in the above, but didn't mean to! Good point too, Sarah T - they are STILL sniffy about J.K. Rowling's success too, let alone Edgar Wallace.

    Is that the tag-line, J?

    I agree about the cover, Cro - that would NOT get me buying the book.

    He sounds very unpressurised to me, Amy, but expect his agent will be applying it, after the fuss has died down.

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