28 February 2008

The Best of the Bookers

I've just started a new project; I plan to read every Booker Prize winner, beginning with the first - P H Newby's Something to Answer For (1969). I see I'm not the first:


This idea has been prompted by Man Booker's announcement that there is to be a competition to choose the best from all 42 winners (there were joint winners in 1974 and 1992).

The radio warned that Newby's book is the only one out of print and would be difficult to obtain. But I had it reserved from Lincolnshire Libraries within 5 minutes of the broadcast, and it sits on my desk as I write.

I'm looking forward to reading more of Iris Murdoch, V S Naipaul, Peter Carey and the like. As for John Berger and Keri Hulme, let's just say that I'm trying not to prejudge.