Sorry, but another spot of international award news: the Orange Prize has been announced. This is an annual award for the best novel written in English by a woman; with £30K as the winnings it's rather desirable, for the kudos as well as the moolah.
Last year it was Andrea Levy for the utterly brilliant Small Island, this year it’s Lionel Shriver (she changed her name from Margaret Ann when she was 15 apparently, though why to Lionel is anyone’s guess) with her book We need to talk about Kevin.
It conjures instant connotations of Booker Prize winner Vernon God Little in that it’s about an unlikeable school boy who kills a bunch of people, but it’s from the mother’s point of view and unusual in that she is extremely and honestly repulsed by her murderous offspring.
But I won’t go on. Go and have a look at the Independent’s story, which went up three hours ago as I write this, or if you’re feeling parentally challenged yourself (I’m having quite a good sprog day as it happens, hurrah) and have a strong stomach, have a look at the Ruthless Reviews er, review.
08 Jun 05 | Filed by Kathy | Add your comment (1 so far)
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Comment by claire ~ June 13, 2005 6:10 PM
According to the Guardian (which has the best books website bar none - sorry Leafsalon!): 'Shriver was christened Margaret Ann, but changed her name to Lionel as a teenager. "I thought I would prefer to be a boy - but it didn't work out," she told the audience when she and other shortlisted authors read their work to last week's Guardian Hay book festival.'
Claire Gummer
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