Comments on: Don’t mention the B-word (til after 10.30pm) http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2005/10/10/dont-mention-the-b-word-til-after-1030pm/ Sinéad Gleeson's blog Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:40:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Denny Boy http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2005/10/10/dont-mention-the-b-word-til-after-1030pm/#comment-484 Denny Boy Sun, 16 Oct 2005 14:01:52 +0000 http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2005/10/10/dont-mention-the-b-word-til-after-1030pm/#comment-484 Belated congrats to Banville. Those who know me will know that I consider him to be Ireland's greatest writer, not only du jour but also of the last 40-50 years. No one else comes even close. The behaviour of the British literary establishment towards his triumph is nothing short of disgraceful. It's gutter politics, of course – ever since he had the temerity to offer an honest appraisal of McEwan's "Saturday" in the NYT. Today's Independent on Sunday managed to avoid giving him more than a thumbnail mention. (On the other hand, the IOS has now become a tabloid in spirit and content as well as format, so we shouldn't be too surprised.) I'd like to think that there's a sea-change (pun intended) taking place in the book world, but will hold my breath another while. We still have to void our system of an awful lot of "shopgirl vomit" and other mediocrity that passes for literature. Good on yer, Banville! Belated congrats to Banville.

Those who know me will know that I consider him to be Ireland’s greatest writer, not only du jour but also of the last 40-50 years. No one else comes even close.

The behaviour of the British literary establishment towards his triumph is nothing short of disgraceful. It’s gutter politics, of course – ever since he had the temerity to offer an honest appraisal of McEwan’s “Saturday” in the NYT. Today’s Independent on Sunday managed to avoid giving him more than a thumbnail mention. (On the other hand, the IOS has now become a tabloid in spirit and content as well as format, so we shouldn’t be too surprised.)

I’d like to think that there’s a sea-change (pun intended) taking place in the book world, but will hold my breath another while. We still have to void our system of an awful lot of “shopgirl vomit” and other mediocrity that passes for literature.

Good on yer, Banville!

]]> By: Subtext Whore http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2005/10/10/dont-mention-the-b-word-til-after-1030pm/#comment-479 Subtext Whore Wed, 12 Oct 2005 09:58:00 +0000 http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2005/10/10/dont-mention-the-b-word-til-after-1030pm/#comment-479 There's something of an unexpected, up-yours, rebelliousness about Banville's win. I'm glad he won, relieved that Mr Barnes didn't, but fail to understand the buzz surrounding Ishiguro’s <em>Never Let Me Go</em>. I might start reading it again. Reading five Booker shortlisted titles simultaneously probably does none of them any good. There’s something of an unexpected, up-yours, rebelliousness about Banville’s win. I’m glad he won, relieved that Mr Barnes didn’t, but fail to understand the buzz surrounding Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go. I might start reading it again. Reading five Booker shortlisted titles simultaneously probably does none of them any good.

]]> By: Joe P http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2005/10/10/dont-mention-the-b-word-til-after-1030pm/#comment-478 Joe P Wed, 12 Oct 2005 08:36:27 +0000 http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2005/10/10/dont-mention-the-b-word-til-after-1030pm/#comment-478 Wonderful to see John Banville at last picking up the Booker. Long overdue. Wonderful to see John Banville at last picking up the Booker. Long overdue.

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