Friday, October 17, 2008

Australia-Asia Award Longlist.-FAILED, Four Out of Ten. Dull

Excitement Before the Fall

Bravo! Cried Tragic, dashing up the spiral staircase to see if there was the smallest snifter left in the whiskey decanter to celebrate.

"My DARLING. My Darling!" He yelled, startling poor Mrs. T. who was buried under a pile of dirty linen produced by our many sprogglings. "Yes, beloved", said she, alerted by Tragic's frothing mouth to an announcement of import.

"Wonderful news Darling one. The Sandpipers have come-up with a prize that could finally put an Australian Literary Award on the global map- it sounds so very very promising......" .

Tragic was exhilarated by the announcement, earlier this year, of the birth of the Australia-Asia Literary Award. An off-spring of the Western Australia Premier's Awards, it is for a book-length work of literary fiction written by an author resident in Australia or Asia, or a work primarily set in Australia or an Asian country. It carries a not insignificant prize $110,000 Australian Dollars, making it the nation's richest prize for a single work. If the work has been translated into English then the prize is to be split $88,000 to the author and $22,000 to the translator.

Tragic was excited for a number of reasons.

First, the prize recognises that Australia is not just some far-flung literary outpost of Old Europe, or a State of America in-waiting, but an integral part of the Asian region. Second, he was looking forward to being exposed to selection of new regional writers. Third, it had the potential to raise awareness of Australian writers beyond our shores. Fourth, the prize money was not miserly, encouraging authors and publishers to get motivated. Fifth, it had an element of cultural elegance and class about it. It was exciting. Refreshing almost. The catchment area could have been spread to New Zealand, which has many fine writers and our Pacific neighbours to add extra spice, but still , it seemed pretty cool.

Fast forward. Book Award Tragic STARDATE Time, 19th October, 2008. Having absorbed, processed and pontificated on the Nobel, Booker and US Nationals, Tragic had a moment to consider the Longlist of the inaugural Australia Asia Literary Award, announced on 0ctober 17th, Perth, WA Time Be still my beating heart he cried!

Mrs T. came rushing down the spiral , Bach Remedy in hand, as Tragic's soul was rent apart and a Munch scream chilled the air.

“Oh cruel jest! Thou teasers of we who thirst for literary sustenance! Oh thee who build us up, butter-cup just to tear us down.......”, he cried out to the half-remembered Foundations classic tune.

Recycled Longlist is DULL DULL DULL! ARRRRGGHH!

Yes, the Tragic knows that there has been a lot going on, but really!

What can be said is that the Australia- Asia Literary Award Judges certainly have an eye for quality, as every single book on the long list of twelve has previously made the short lists of one, or more awards. Several have also taken out main prizes.

The judges, and their advisors, appear to have merely flicked through every list of vaguely relevant Literary awards over the last year to glean a long-list, which has got 'recycled and lazy' written all over-it. Tragic is not privy to the list of 111 books submitted by publishers but surely there must some Asian talent not yet widely known deserving a place on the long list? Failing this, an as yet unheralded Australian talent? What about the many fine Aboriginal writers?

No such luck. Here it is for all those who missed the few column inches that the announcement gleaned:

A New Booker or Pulitzer?

Launching the award in April, Western Australia's then Premier, Alan Carpenter (left, in happier times), said he hoped it could grow into an award comparable to the Booker or the Pulitzer prizes for writing.

"It is a relatively small amount of money, but in terms of literary awards around the world it is big time," he said.

A chance of emulating the Booker or Pultizer? Not based on this list.

To be up there with the big boys the Australia-Asia will have to show a bit more depth, style, literary panache and regional knowledge to impress. Exciting selections that have that literary 'wow' factor and illumine the award scene, not merely recycle or seek to flatter by imitation.

The Tragic has no objection to any worthy work being nominated for multiple awards. But an entire list of the books that have either won or previously shortlisted when we were hoping for something fresh?

Just the One Translated Work Then?

There is only one translated work on the list, Haruki Murakami's, After Dark, and this, from an already popular author who has eight works translated into English.

How broad minded or pro-active is that? So much for exposure to new talent.

Where is the original Asian component? If this list is to be believed the entire reading population, from Bejing to Lahore to Hobart spend their time reading Aussie authors or the few well-promoted writers from the Indian sub-continent.

Listed Indian born Indra Sinha (left), now lives in Southern France, according to the British Council Contemporary Writers data-base. Tragic has much time for him due to him activist bent.

His work, Animals People, is familiar to all who follow the Man Booker and Commonwealth Writers Prize. It was shortlisted for the former back in 2007 and won the Best Book in the Commonwealth Writer's Europe and South Asia category. It was on Tragic's Booker Shortlist reads, last year's, and he felt it was far more enjoyable than the eventual winner The Gathering. Good book, but for the inaugural recipient our new prize wouldn't we prefer something not already recognised by another major??

Quel cultural cringe Baby.

Longlisted, Moshin Hamid, was born in 1971 in Lahore, Pakistan, where he grew up. He then attended Princeton University and Harvard law school, worked for several years as a management consultant in New York and as a freelance journalist in Lahore, and now lives mainly in London.

Moshin Hamid's fine book, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, was also short listed for last years Booker and this years James Tait Black Memorial, one of the UK'S oldest prizes. It was one of three winners of the 2008 Ainsfield-Wolf award in the USA. Somewhat recycled, although the book is set entirely in a single evening in an outdoor cafe in Lahore, Pakistan, a plus.

Yes, whilst the authors are not resident in their respective nations both the aforementioned books are based in Asia, meeting the criteria. But , Come On Come On , as the long since disgraced Gary Glitter once sung - not exactly daring choices.

That leaves Japan's (Tokyo based?) Haruki Murakami (right) as the other non-Australian rep, although Michelle De Kretser was born in Sri- Lanka before coming to Australia, aged 14. After Dark, is the only title that Tragic has not previously covered in Lit Award World over the last year.

Tragic read is looking forward to After Dark. It previously came to his attention when it was listed as a New York Times Notable Book in 2007.

Apparently the trademark characteristics of his books work well across the East and West: a short and simple hard-boiled style that captures signs of the abyss lurking behind the ordinary and trivial, usually based on young protagonists' growing-up. Sounds like the sort of the thing the new award might have aspired to.

That said, a review, by Seo Dong-shin,- in The Korean Times, entitled 'Murakami Wanes in After Dark', wasn't encouraging:

But ``After Dark,'' which marked Murakami's 25th year as a writer, comes across rather dull compared to his other signature works such as ``The Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World'' or “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.''
The slow-paced novel deftly delivers a sense of alienation and hidden longings of the characters, as well as the strange interconnectedness between them. But one cannot help but feel that something is missing and out of balance.

Oh, dear.

Of the twelve listed authors only four live outside of Australia, as far as Tragic can tell, and that includes New York based Ceridwen Dovey. Of Asian writers, only one still lives in Asia. This not to dispute a writers right to live where they like, or to reflect on their lived experiences in their art, but is there no-one else?

The Rest of a Recycled Pack

Ms.Dovey's (left), Blood Kin, albeit a fine erotic and chilling first work, seems to have a tenuous link to the awards criteria. The subject matter is set in a deliberately ambiguous country. Could be Asia?

Ms. Dovey, was educated at Northern Sydney Girls High after coming to Australia from South Africa with her parents. She left to study at Harvard in 1999 and lives in New York and has spent a far bit of time in South Africa judging from her publicity.

Apparently, her mum and dad still live in Sydney- a connection of sorts.

Blood Kin has already been widely recognised. It won the South African Sunday Times Fiction Award ,( Coetzee was shortlisted) and the University of Johannesburg Prize (SA claimed her as their own of course). The book was shortlisted in the 2008 Commonwealth Writers' Best First Book Africa category and is currently short listed for the Dylan Thomas Young Writers Prize in the UK. Ceridwen, was also shortlisted for the Prix Femina (Etranger category - 2008) and the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. Done the award rounds really.

Ms. Dovey may well have the right of Australian Residency, Tragic does not know, in which case perhaps owes a conditional apology. The difference between a Resident, as specified in the award criteria, and the 'Right of Residency', is possibly too thin to call, particularly if there was a challenge filling-out a list of twelve. Nothing personal against the author just doubts about an appropriate connection to the award criteria.

J.M. Coetzee's (right), Diary of a Bad Year is also on the list. Tragic loves Coetzee, the South African author who settled in Adelaide and became an Australian citizen a few years ago. Tragic is currently re-reading Elizabeth Costello. Delicious. The closest he has yet to come to Diary, is a review in the New York Review of Books. Sounds promising. The subject matter certainly seems to meet the awards guide lines. Fact is that the book has already been knocked-out at the short list stage in the Victorian and NSW Premier's Literary Awards- the judges there didn't feel it was good enough. It was also a runner-up to Blood Kin, in the South Africa Sunday Times Award Not up to standard elsewhere, but might meet WA'S.

Matthew Condon's, The Trout Opera, already failed to take out the top prize in the authors home State of Queensland losing out in the Queensland Premiers to Victorian Helen Garner's, The Spare Room (not on the long list- possibly not nominated or eligible). It also made the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction short list won by Michelle de Kretser (below left), The Lost Dog also nominated for the Australia-Asia.

Tragic didn't like The Dog very much, merely a matter of taste of course. It did not engage and got put down for long periods between reads. Still, it wasn't a bad book but surely it has had it's day in the sun? He will buy Ms. De Kretser's work again, suspecting it was he who didn't get it, not she who didn't produce.

The Lost Dog, was long listed for this years Man Booker but didn't make the final cut. Steve Tolz's, A Fraction of the Whole, did make the Booker shortlist but not the Australia Asia longlist. Lost Dog, also won the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction , and the 2008 NSW Premier's Book of the Year. Hmmm.

Alex Miller's, Landscape of Farewell, is not in Tragic's humble view one of his best works. Tragic borrowed it from the library, read-it, thought about, discussed it with the Tragic Book Guild, and returned it to the library in double-quick time. It was short listed for the Miles Franklin, it did not win, nor did it deserve to. It was also short listed for the 2008 Christina Stead. Love your stuff though Mr. Miller.

Rodney Hall's, Love Without Hope, was also on Tragic's Miles Franklin short listed novels reading list. Not bad. Not great. Some memorable moments but as a winner of the inaugural Australia-Asia? Seemed a bit like the games Tragic witnessed of the great Plugger Lockett in the twilight zone - had seen better days.

Mirielle Juchau's, Burning In, which despite an already admirable award finalist pedigree has yet to get past the post first. It was short listed for the Prime Minister's Literary Award, the 2008 Nita Kibble and was Highly commended in the 2008 inaugural Barbara Jefferis. Tragic has, despite a number of admittedly half-hearted attempts, not got his hands on a copy yet.

David Malouf's, The Complete Stories, gathers up 31 one of his stories in an epic collection from the last 25 years. It was short listed for the Prime Minister's as well- won incidentally, as it has been mentioned so much, by The Zookeeper's War by Steve Conte (not on the list).

Tragic is not too sure how many of the short stories have been published before, little matter. Malouf castes his literary shadow over us mere mortals, his work to be relished only with the finest vintage. But doesn't the award state that it is for ' a book-length work of literary fiction' ? Did Tragic miss, something, perhaps misunderstood something, as he often does since passing 50? Does a collection of short stories, however fine, meet the definition?

Apparently. Most literary awards have a separate category for short story collections. Good politically correct inclusion nonetheless.

Finally, Janet Hospital Turner's, Orpheus Lost, made it too the Longlist stage of the Miles Franklin, but no further.

FAILED. Four Out of Ten. Not good enough
A few months is long-time globally these days, and, no less so in Literary Award Land, where, for his sins, the Tragic dwells most every day. This may be part of his problem, being a little too close to the Literary Award scene when most will neither notice, nor care, that the inaugural Australia- Asia is so ho hum. Perhaps he is looking at these processes through eyes dimmed by familiarity when it may be oh so fresh to others.

Too what extent it is legitimate for prior Literary Awards to act as a 'filter' for subsequent awards is mote point. Good books do deserve to be rewarded. For books of literary merit to be noticed by the wider public always takes a great deal longer that the latest Stephanie Myers. 'Best of breed' works set a benchmark to be emulated. So, does it matter that the inaugural Australia-Asia has merely listed previously recognised works?

Well, yes it does. If this award is seeking to break new ground and win respect on the global literary scene, it needs to actually come-up with something new and show that it has it's own distinct character and perspective.

Since the Australia-Asia award was originally announced there has been a change Government in the State (Labor to Liberal or to translate for the Tragic's legion of American followers, Democrat to Republican) and the Resource sector, on which the State's recent wealth spurt has been build, is collapsing by the day. Tragic knows this too be true, his Superannuation having halved in recent times.

This raises two points. First, would a Liberal Government have ever had the imagination to have set-up such an award? To the best of Tragic's knowledge he is unaware of any Liberal or National Government initiating a State based literary award (and he is willing to taken to task on this point, but be gentle).

Second, given the current decline of the prospects of the mining sector would a WA State Government of any ilk have put up $110,000 for a Literary Award? ($110,000, Australian, is currently worth less now than when Tragic started writing 20 minutes ago).

These are valid points only in as much as Tragic now regrets raving about the award to anyone who would listen. Perhaps, given the extremely disappointing long list, it may have been better if the recession had hit earlier and plans for the award shelved until a little more effort at authenticity could be mustered.

Whilst there is no doubting the quality of some of the listed titles, the whole process smacks of laziness underscored by a distinct lack of imagination. It will do Australia few favours in the region with the Indian, Pakistani, Japanese and 'literary award aware ' English reading public already familiar with listed titles.

A list dominated by Australian authors? That's certainly reaching out the hand across the water.

Opportunity Lost

Tragic is not sure what hand their Judgeships, Melbourne literary critic Peter Craven, Pakistani-born author Kamila Shamsie and the Hong Kong-based founder of the Asia Literary Review Nury Vittachi, were handed. He was hoping, in vain it seems, that they would have offered a slightly more enlighted view of the Region's literary offerings or at least unearthed some Australian delights. It is perhaps encouraging, in some small way, to think that Australian books dominate the reading lists of the Asian Literati's bed side tables too- a bit depressing as well.

Before any one pipes up, “who would you have nominated then, smarty pants?” Tragic is unable to name Asian authors who might have been worthy of inclusion, it is not his area. He was hoping that the Australia-Asia Literary Prize would lead the way. Fat chance.

Pulitzer of Booker status? Not really.

An opportunity lost? There is always next year, if the money holds out. First try, though, FAILED, four out of ten, not good enough. Tragic is so very very sad.

As always Tragic offers commentary in the spirit of democratic debate, a personal opinion. He is always pleased to be proved wrong when it comes to his beloved Literary Awards. Whether anyone else cares in slightest remains to be seen.

The winners will be announced on 21st November. The Tragic is not holding his breath for an invite to the ceremony.



Posted by 'Book AwardTragic' at 9:54 PM
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