Courtesy: Matt Todd, A Novel Approach
Lisa of ANZLitLovers has hit the ground running with two reviews this week – and she says that already she is going to find it hard to choose between the two. That augurs well (or badly, depending on your point of view!) for our judging, doesn’t it?
Anyhow, here are links to Lisa’s reviews:
- Jamil Ahmad’s The wandering falcon (Pakistan)
- Amitav Ghosh‘s River of smoke (India)
Have you read either of these books?
Whispering Gums 
I’m afraid I haven’t read either but the reviews show they must be two fascinating books. I’d be inclined towards River of Smoke first off.
Ha Catherine! I’m thinking the Ahmad, partly because I’m not sure that I’ve read many Pakistani writers, and because I haven’t read Ghosh’s Sea of poppies and I’d sort of like to read it first. So much to read eh?
Yes! I need another beach holiday!
Copy that … or, in my case, a mountain one.
It’s such a privilege that you’re so close to Asia that you’re exposed to a far greater variety of literature than we who’re stuck here in N.Am. I’m really curious about the Man Asian Lit Prize, something that is not being mentioned at all here. We know about the Man Booker, and the Man Booker International, but not much of the lit. scene in Asia. Just wondering, is Michael Ondaatje well known Down Under? He was born in Sri Lanka but has been a Canadian for decades now. Also, there’s Rohinton Mistry… we have quite a few South Eastern Asian born writers who have made their home in Canada. BTW, when will the Man Asian Prize announce its winner?
Yes, we probably are lucky, Arti — though availability is still a bit of an issue even for us here.
And oh yes, we are aware here of Ondaatje and Mistry as being from the subcontinent but now living in Canada. I’ve read works by both, and they are well-known among readers here.
I believe it will be announced in March, 15th I think.
I’ve read Jamil Ahmad and I agree entirely with the review – it’s utterly brilliant, very possibly the winner.
Oh thanks MarkBooks, and welcome. It’s always good to have confirmation. I look doubly forward to reading it now.