Booker judges give 'patchy' Rushdie the thumbs down
Salman Rushdie, by far the biggest name on the Man Booker prize longlist, has been snubbed as the judges whittled down the names from 13 to a six-strong shortlist of "page-turners".
The Enchantress of Florence was the favourite to win the prize before the announcement of the shortlist. Midnight's Children, which won the award in 1981, was this year voted the best of the Bookers in a public poll.
"I think Rushdie's writing is patchy, to be honest," said broadcaster Hardeep Singh Kohli, a member of the judging panel. "He has written some good books and some not-so good books. There is no doubting the man's massive intellect. But I have never known a book split the public so much as Midnight's Children. People will secretly confess to not finishing. Others will secretly confess to hating it. For others, it is the one book they would take to their grave."
The Enchantress of Florence was the favourite to win the prize before the announcement of the shortlist. Midnight's Children, which won the award in 1981, was this year voted the best of the Bookers in a public poll.
"I think Rushdie's writing is patchy, to be honest," said broadcaster Hardeep Singh Kohli, a member of the judging panel. "He has written some good books and some not-so good books. There is no doubting the man's massive intellect. But I have never known a book split the public so much as Midnight's Children. People will secretly confess to not finishing. Others will secretly confess to hating it. For others, it is the one book they would take to their grave."
posted by temporal at 9/09/2008
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