Comments on: Leah MacLaren on literary prizes

By: Henry Pelifian

Henry Pelifian — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:21:21 +0000

Modern publishing appears to have embarked upon group think to deliver the best and brightest in literature. They presume to know the market, what makes a profit and they know what constitutes good writing. The best writing can never be determined by a group and it is their powerful opinion of the moment that determines what is on the book selves.

By: zsuzsi

zsuzsi — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:26:40 +0000

“I just got a new glue gun and have an opening on Friday afternoon.”

Just in time for Halloween!

More to to topic: “The Golden Mean” is a brilliant book, btw. It’s just a bit depressing that all five Giller nominated books look as if the were designed by the same gloomy designer, making them all seem kind of . . .similar. Annable Lyons’ is pretty sui generis, though.

By: Lija

Lija — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:15:57 +0000

No no no, I line up to BORROW the prize books from my friends. Impoverished and all that.

By: Steven Galloway

Steven Galloway — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:31:32 +0000

Zsuzsi, you’re in luck. I just got a new glue gun and have an opening on Friday afternoon.

By: zsuzsi

zsuzsi — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:14:21 +0000

Steve, I gotta get me some extensions. Can I book an appt?

By: melanie

melanie — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:43:34 +0000

I like checking out the award nominees for the very reason Dave mentioned: to introduce me to Canadian authors I might not have heard about. And McLaren putting herself in the same sentence as the word “impoverished” is painfully annoying.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:22:25 +0000

Leah McLaren’s dumb.

By: Steven Galloway

Steven Galloway — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:21:08 +0000

I do Annabel’s hair. It takes a long time, so I’m very happy someone’s noticed. George, I’ll be in Newfoundland in the spring. I could do wonders with that crimson frazzle of yours.
You’re welcome, Canada.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:47:39 +0000

For the most part, a good-ish article I agree with. Gotta say, though, can McLaren really count herself “an impoverished minority” as a writer of books? She who also wrote, “Forget comfort food, give me comfort clothes”?? Dude, if you live in Toronto and have a steady column for the Globe in which you often write about buying things, I very, very, very much doubt you are “impoverished.”

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:32:23 +0000

I like reading some of the books listed for some of Canada’s major prizes not because they may be prize winners, but because I like being exposed to books I might not otherwise know about. And, it isn’t like I’m being lead blindly either. If the book doesn’t interest me, I won’t read it (thank you Joseph Boyden). Prize list or no prize list.

Now. If only someone could tell me who Annabel Lyon is.