ANZ LitLovers LitBlog

The following is from the press release:

The  2012  shortlist for the International IMPAC DUBLIN Literary Award has been announced.  Ten novels were shortlisted, including two in translation and two first novels.

Managed by Dublin City Libraries, the IMPAC DUBLIN Award is worth €100,000 and is the world’s most valuable annual literary award for a single work of fiction published in English.

1. Rocks in the Belly by Jon Bauer (Australian). Scribe Publications (First Novel).  See my review, and ‘meet’ Jon Bauer at Meet an Aussie Author here.

2. The Matter with Morris by David Bergen (Canadian). Harper Collins, Canada, see Trevor’s review at The Mookse and the Gripes.

3. A Visit from the Goon Squadby Jennifer Egan (American) Alfred A. Knopf, see Trevor’s review at The Mookse and the Gripes.

4. The Memory of Love by Animatta Forna (Born in Britain, raised in Sierra Leone) Bloomsbury Publishing   See my review.

5. Even the Dogs by Jon McGregor (Scottish) Bloomsbury. See my review.

6. Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes (American) Atlantic Monthly Press (First novel)

7. Landedby Tim Pears (British) William Heinemann

8. Limassol by Yishai Sarid (Israeli) Translated from Hebrew by Barbara Harshav Europa Editions

9. The Eternal Son by Cristovão Tezza, (Brazilian) translated from Portuguese by Alison Entrekin, Scribe Publications

10. Lean on Pete by Willy Vlautin (American) Faber & Faber
You can read more about the shortlist here.

“This is a shortlist of high quality literature that includes two first novels and two novels in translation that readers might not otherwise get the opportunity to read”, says Lord Mayor Cllr. Andrew Montague “These ten novels have been shortlisted from a total of 147, nominated by 162 public library systems in 45 countries worldwide and represent the best of readers’ recommendations.”

“The 2012 shortlist is a mix of well known writers e.g. Jennifer Egan, David Bergen, Jon McGregor, and new comers such as Jon Bauer and Karl Marlantes. Both Rocks in the Belly and Matterhorn are first novels”, says Margaret Hayes, Dublin City Librarian. “All of these books have been warmly received and critically acclaimed. The issues they cover are serious and include; war, the music industry, addiction, bereavement – loss of a son and of a limb, raising a Down Syndrome child, the devastating effect on children of neglect and perceived neglect, coming of age. There are however, plenty of moments of tenderness, humour and hope throughout.”

The 10 shortlisted titles were nominated by public libraries in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, The Netherlands and the USA.

The 2012 shortlist is truly international, including authors from Australia (Jon Bauer), Brazil (Cristovao Tezza), the USA (Jennifer Egan, Karl Marlantes and Willy Vlautin), Canada (David Bergen), Britain (Tim Pears, Animatta Forna and Jon McGregor) and Israel (Yishai Sarid). The two novels in translation are The Eternal Son by Cristavao Tezza, translated from Portuguese, and Limassol by Yishai Sarid, translated from Hebrew.

Some of the shortlisted novels have already received awards e.g. A Visit from the Goon Squad was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction 2011 and The Memory of Love received the 2011 Commonwealth Writers Prize.