The Scotsman takes an interesting look at the year that was - month by month - in books. It makes for a fascinating chronological view of the big things that happened this year, including the many European festivals that I so nearly attended but then missed.
After scanning their list, there were a few "ack!" moments that reminded me of a book I was so hot to read in January but have now failed to get my hands on. Two mentioned regrets that I hope to get to next year:
- The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters by G W Dalhquist
- Darkmans by Nicola Barker
What interested me most about this look back though, is seeing all the "big book prizes" for the year listed in one place. Such a simple idea. Such an obvious one. But I've never seen it done before. Toss in the National Book Award winner Denis Johnson for Tree of Smoke and it serves as the perfect look at the schizo year we just completed:
- The Man Booker: The Gathering by Anne Enright*
- The International Man Booker: body of work by Chinua Achebe
- The Orange Prize: Half of a Yellow Sun Chimamanda Ngozie Adochie*
- The Costa Award: The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney*
- The Guardian First Book Award: The Beautiful Tings That Heaven Bears by Dinaw Mengestu*
- The Saltire Award: Day by AL Kennedy*
- The John Llewellyn Rhys Prize: The Carhullan Army by Sarah Hall*
- The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction: The Road by Cormac McCarthy
I've starred the books I've not yet read. A shame that I've read so much this year and yet, so little of all this. My complete list of books I wish I'd read in 2007 is forthcoming.
