Congratulations to Michael Redhill whose book Bellevue Square is the winner of the 2017 Giller Prize!
As many of you may already know, the Shadow Giller also chose Bellevue Square as our winner. If you’re interested in knowing how this came about, visit the home of the Shadow Giller, Kevin from Canada.
For a replay of the Giller event in Toronto and a video of Michael Redhill’s speech, visit CBC Books.
My thoughts on the winner this year: Bellevue Square is an amazing book that hooks you from the first page. The word Kim used in her review of the book is “zinger”, which I think suits it perfectly. However… Son of a Trickster would also have been a wonderful choice. So, please read them both. And while you’re at it, add on Michelle Winters’s debut novel I Am a Truck, which may have been the closest book to my heart on the shortlist this year.
Here are the links to all my reviews from the shortlist.
Thank you to my fellow jurors, Kim and Alison, as well as our adjudicator and cheer-leader, Mrs. KfC! Lovely to work with all of you.
What do you think of the Giller winner this year? Have you read any of the books? Which ones tempt you most?
Consumed by Ink 
I saw the summary article yesterday that said this one was your second choice, but still good. I see one person liked Cusk better than the others, but she didn’t score very highly.
I think this is the book that should win, but there were two others that I feel more emotional about. When you’re trying to choose the “best” book, it’s hard to separate your personal preferences and emotions from the process!
Alison liked Transit more than Kim and I did. There again, this could just be a matter of style preference. Certainly, there are no bad books here. 🙂
Yes, I understand. When I do my top books and my If I Gave the Award books, I try to balance between books that I responded to and books that are actually better in a literary way.
It’s hard to do!
ILl admit I was sad to see Bellevue win, just because I wanted son of a trickster to win so bad! But it was the only book out of the five that I had read, which probably explains my allegiance to it.
And congrats on guessing correctly! How often has that happened to the Shadow Giller jury?
I was very torn between the two. In a comment I just made, it’s hard to keep your own personal preferences and emotions out of the process of choosing the “best” book. I think you’d also like Bellevue Square! 🙂
I just went back into the archives at Kevin from Canada, and discovered that the Shadow jury agreed with the real jury in both 2014 (Us Conductors by Sean Michaels) and 2009 (The Bishop’s Man by Linden MacIntyre). Not as many times as I was expecting!
still impressive though!
So Naomi, what is on your reading stand now that your Giller Prize reading is completed?
I have to admit it’s a nice feeling to be able to move on to other things. Although, I haven’t quite finished with the prize-list books, at least I can read them on my own time now.
A few books have been sent to me over the past couple months that I haven’t had time to read, so I’m hoping to start getting them read! And there’s always the library – now that I work there, it’s even harder not to come home with too many books!
You work there now?? Fantastic! Is it overwhelming?! 🙂 What a dream job! Congrats Naomi!
Thanks, Penny! It’s the perfect job for me. 🙂
I haven’t read any of the shortlist but just bought copies of all of them the other day … can’t wait to read them all and see if I agree with the winner! The book definitely sounds great!
I hope you enjoy all of them! You’ll have to let me know when you’re done!
Thanks! I’m sure I’ll post reviews or something. I think my 2018 reading will be great!
Is your blog still up and running? When I try to visit it, I can’t seem to get there.
It is! But under readinginwinter.wordpress.com
Oops, I just realized my profile was linking to the wrong thing – it’s fixed now!
There you are! 🙂
I guess in the end I was relieved that Cusk didn’t get it, even though she is talented. I needed something a bit of a quicker-more action read, and it sounds like Redhill’s novel is just the thing! I heard the author read from Bellevue Square just last month here. I’m glad for him as it sounds like the prize and $$ will help him. He’s a good reader & speaker. Seems a bit funny.
I agree! Bellevue Square is a LOT more fun than Transit.
Great job picking the winner! Such a fun thing for you to be a part of and as always, I enjoy your reviews! Working in the library must just stoke your book enthusiasm!
I love both – the shadow Giller and the library! I have to confess, it’s hard to leave work without a couple of unplanned books. 🙂
I bet!! It must be so tempting to take books home everyday