1969 was a significant year for me! I was in the last year of school, about to leave home to go to uni in a big city, moon landing, my father died. I wrote a poem about it, “The Summer of ‘69”. It’s in my collection The Summer We Didn’t Die. I read Muriel Sparks’ The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie around this time
Great as usual, Bob. I love character studies as well. This project of yours is so interesting. All these emergent properties in your reading. Oh shit the “old” Murdoch dropped. Makes me want to figure out how the heck Giller Prize stuff is selected. The Longlist and shortlist is baffling to me.
Thank you so much! :) And yeah, it’s been really interesting for me so far too! Ah yeah, different prizes will do it quite differently, but sometimes if there’s a set of criteria, that can really make a huge difference, especially if it’s something quite rigid like ‘must engage with X topic’, where good books might not make it because they aren’t as explicit as other books at covering that topic.
Good for you for going back. I am going back to old Nobel winners. (The earliest are Scandinavian snoozes). This is where you find out if something holds up over time.
It was how I discovered Galsworthy's Forsyte Saga, which is far less known in the US than the UK. Some from other countries perplex me, I literally fell asleep reading Patrick Modiano, wheras I am generally a big fan of contemporary French lit. (As for Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen's poetry/lyrics are far superior. But we all love Bob.)
@@BobTheBookerer it’ll be interesting to see which book you feel should have won vs the actual winner though… least that’ll be my approach, since I’m terrible at guessing winners! 😆
@@illustratorsam Yes! I think when I get to the end of them all, I might run through them all and select my winners, to see how different it would have all been if I was the only judge!
@@BobTheBookerer Hah! Not sure he has ever even read a winner! My MIL buys him a book for his birthday each year, tends to be an Australian novel or Environmental NF, he's an Environment Officer with National Parks so is often out Bush somewhere :D
I wasn't alive in 1969 either, but I'm ageing so rapidly I'm not sure how much longer that will be true for. Wait, if I don't pick up my washing I get a trip to France?! Not sure how that works, but I'm down for trying it. The Public Image sounds like the best type of terrible, that is a car crash I want to read.
Hahaha, yes! I wasn’t born then, but I think my knees were. Yeah, I’ve heard you get an airline voucher or something. 😂 Yes! The Public Image is a riot- you can tell Spark has almost no time at all for her main character, and it’s brilliant to watch her eviscerate her flaws, but be very funny whilst doing it.
I was alive in 1969 but still reading Beatrix Potter and Dr Seuss. I did really take to Muriel Spark in my teens though and haven't read one of hers for forty years, so your discussion made me think I should pick one up. Oddly I feel disinclined to return to Iris Murdoch.
Ahh, I hope you enjoy her if you go back to her! I can imagine Spark being a fun author to read as a teen! And that’s fair about Iris- I’ve loved a few of her books, but she also just has a lot 😂
@@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711 Haha, yes! I remember reading a lot of Ian McEwan when I was a teenager, and feeling like I was reading real clever ‘adult’ books.
I really wanted to like The Nice and the Good, mostly because it was my first Murdoch and I’ve always assumed I’d love her books, but I need to read more to find something I like. What do you think is her best pre-Booker book?
As the only author I’ve read out of these Iris wins it for me but I would like to get to some Muriel Spark eventually and The Impossible Object sounds intriguing too.
I love these deep dives! - Personally I think The Nice and the Good is Murdoch's best - I guess in 1969 the judges played it safe when there were more interesting titles?
Thanks! And it’s a fun book! I think they probably were- Newby’s book feels like a safe winner- nothing too controversial for the time, whereas Murdoch’s involves a lot of awful people being awful 😂
@@BobTheBookerer I really don't. I think I was reading murder mysteries back then. I have the Sparks and Murdoch TBR now though. Jen The Librarian is reading all the female authors short/ long listed for The Booker Prize, so I got sucked in.
I’ve not yet, but they’re on the list (I need to read The Van eventually for the prize, but I want to read the whole trilogy anyway). Have you read them?
The 1969 Booker is a bit of an oddity. I think (I may be wrong) that Something To Answer For is the only Booker winner no longer in print, and it has not been in print for a while. Posterity has probably rightly remembered The French Lieutenant’s Woman as being the best book from that year. I think it is the only one still shifting any units and it made it’s way onto the a-level curriculum at some point I think. Interestingly this was vetoed at the time by Rebecca West… there is a quote somewhere of her dismissing John Fowles for having no talent and undertaking foolish enterprises, hence explaining why it didn’t make the shortlist. I’m not sure history has been all that kind to Ms West and the early Booker winners…
Ooh, that’s really interesting- thanks for that information! And yes, it wouldn’t surprise me if it was the only one out of print- it hasn’t lived on in the memory much! And I don’t know that book, so I’ll have to check it out. Thank you!
I was already be in 69. I was 6. I remember the moon landing but not the Booker prize. 69 was also the first year The “ Troubles” began to impact my life even though we were in rural Tyrone.
Figures in a landscape was my favourite of that list. The interesting part was you don't know what war it is, although it seems perhaps the Vietnam war?
@@BobTheBookerer also the ending to impossible objects hit me like steam train. I didn't know what to do with myself after and sat silent in a dark room for a long time after 😶
Sssshhhh, no one can know I’m 87. I’ve read 6 of hers, but she released like 27 or more, and that’s not including plays, poetry and philosophy. I think The Sea, The Sea and The Black Prince are good starters, personally!
1969 was a significant year for me! I was in the last year of school, about to leave home to go to uni in a big city, moon landing, my father died. I wrote a poem about it, “The Summer of ‘69”. It’s in my collection The Summer We Didn’t Die. I read Muriel Sparks’ The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie around this time
Oh wow, that’s a huge year! And very sorry to hear that.
I really want to check out The Prime…- it’s one of her biggest but I’ve still not read it!
Love anything Muriel Spark writes!
Yes! I’m slowly getting more into her work, but she is brilliant!
Great as usual, Bob. I love character studies as well. This project of yours is so interesting. All these emergent properties in your reading. Oh shit the “old” Murdoch dropped.
Makes me want to figure out how the heck Giller Prize stuff is selected. The Longlist and shortlist is baffling to me.
Thank you so much! :) And yeah, it’s been really interesting for me so far too!
Ah yeah, different prizes will do it quite differently, but sometimes if there’s a set of criteria, that can really make a huge difference, especially if it’s something quite rigid like ‘must engage with X topic’, where good books might not make it because they aren’t as explicit as other books at covering that topic.
And the topic for the first Bob the Bookerer Short Story Prize is
"If you picked up the washing on time we wouldn't be on this trip to France"
LOL
Hahahahahah, I need to write that now! 😂
Good for you for going back. I am going back to old Nobel winners. (The earliest are Scandinavian snoozes). This is where you find out if something holds up over time.
Thank you! And ooh, I can imagine that’s a really mixed bag! Any unexpected gems so far?
It was how I discovered Galsworthy's Forsyte Saga, which is far less known in the US than the UK. Some from other countries perplex me, I literally fell asleep reading Patrick Modiano, wheras I am generally a big fan of contemporary French lit.
(As for Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen's poetry/lyrics are far superior. But we all love Bob.)
@@TK-kf8zc Oooh, interesting! Haha, oh goodness- not the biggest endorsement for Modiano! And I always forget Bob Dylan’s in there!
The Impossible Object & The Nice and the Good sound like books I may enjoy. You’re selling me on reading all the shortlists 🤓
Yes! They’re good fun! And there are a lot of shortlists to read, as I’m finding- it’s something like 300+ books haha
@@BobTheBookerer it’ll be interesting to see which book you feel should have won vs the actual winner though… least that’ll be my approach, since I’m terrible at guessing winners! 😆
@@illustratorsam Yes! I think when I get to the end of them all, I might run through them all and select my winners, to see how different it would have all been if I was the only judge!
My Brother-in-law was born in Nov 1969! Share's a bday with the Booker!
Ah wow! Maybe he should be the Bookerer! 😂
@@BobTheBookerer Hah! Not sure he has ever even read a winner! My MIL buys him a book for his birthday each year, tends to be an Australian novel or Environmental NF, he's an Environment Officer with National Parks so is often out Bush somewhere :D
@@kimswhims8435 haha, fair enough! And those are good presents to receive!
I wasn't alive in 1969 either, but I'm ageing so rapidly I'm not sure how much longer that will be true for.
Wait, if I don't pick up my washing I get a trip to France?! Not sure how that works, but I'm down for trying it.
The Public Image sounds like the best type of terrible, that is a car crash I want to read.
Hahaha, yes! I wasn’t born then, but I think my knees were.
Yeah, I’ve heard you get an airline voucher or something. 😂
Yes! The Public Image is a riot- you can tell Spark has almost no time at all for her main character, and it’s brilliant to watch her eviscerate her flaws, but be very funny whilst doing it.
The year I was born, and it does look like a long time ago. A nice selection of books.
Oh nice! That’s pretty cool, though- and yeah, it’s a fun list!
Fascinating.
Thank you so much!
I was alive in 1969 but still reading Beatrix Potter and Dr Seuss. I did really take to Muriel Spark in my teens though and haven't read one of hers for forty years, so your discussion made me think I should pick one up. Oddly I feel disinclined to return to Iris Murdoch.
Ahh, I hope you enjoy her if you go back to her! I can imagine Spark being a fun author to read as a teen! And that’s fair about Iris- I’ve loved a few of her books, but she also just has a lot 😂
@@BobTheBookerer I think Muriel made me feel smart and sophisticated!
@@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711 Haha, yes! I remember reading a lot of Ian McEwan when I was a teenager, and feeling like I was reading real clever ‘adult’ books.
How coincidental, I just bought a two volume collection of her works! Only ever read The Prime of Miss Brodie. Short is sweet.
@@TK-kf8zc Oh nice! I hope you enjoy them! I really want to read more of her work!
Keep the book visible on the screen when you’re talking about it
I was 100% distracted by Glenda's dazzling beauty whilst watching this video.
Hahahah, she’s such a scene-stealer!
@@BobTheBookerer 😂😂😂
I really wanted to like The Nice and the Good, mostly because it was my first Murdoch and I’ve always assumed I’d love her books, but I need to read more to find something I like. What do you think is her best pre-Booker book?
Ahh, totally fair! I've not read any of her non-Booker ones yet, but I've heard a lot of love for The Bell!
As the only author I’ve read out of these Iris wins it for me but I would like to get to some Muriel Spark eventually and The Impossible Object sounds intriguing too.
Yes! Iris and Muriel are always good fun! I was so intrigued by The Impossible Object- I think I might re-read it soon as I still have some questions!
Loved this podcast.
Thank you!
What a lovely video! I think I'd be most interested in The Impossible Object.
Should I start reading Iris Spark and Muriel Murdoch? 😅
Thank you! And I think you’d enjoy The Impossible Object! I can give you my copy when I see you!
Haha, yes! I think you’d enjoy them both!
@@BobTheBookerer Aw that would be wonderful, Bob! 😄
I love these deep dives! - Personally I think The Nice and the Good is Murdoch's best - I guess in 1969 the judges played it safe when there were more interesting titles?
Thanks! And it’s a fun book! I think they probably were- Newby’s book feels like a safe winner- nothing too controversial for the time, whereas Murdoch’s involves a lot of awful people being awful 😂
@@BobTheBookerer I think that's why I like her books so much
@@thebobsphere7553 Haha, same here! She’s both so generous and so unsparing in her depictions of awful people. 😂
Laughing my 🍑 off. I was 19 in 1969... seems like yesterday.
Ah lovely! Do you remember the early days of the prize being set up?
@@BobTheBookerer I really don't. I think I was reading murder mysteries back then. I have the Sparks and Murdoch TBR now though. Jen The Librarian is reading all the female authors short/ long listed for The Booker Prize, so I got sucked in.
@@judybrown1624 oh lovely! And that’s a great project- I’ll check out Jen’s challenge!
Have you read the Barrytown triology by Roddy Doyle?
The Snapper
The Commitments
The Van
☘️👋☘️📚☕️🫖📖👓📕
I’ve not yet, but they’re on the list (I need to read The Van eventually for the prize, but I want to read the whole trilogy anyway).
Have you read them?
The 1969 Booker is a bit of an oddity. I think (I may be wrong) that Something To Answer For is the only Booker winner no longer in print, and it has not been in print for a while. Posterity has probably rightly remembered The French Lieutenant’s Woman as being the best book from that year. I think it is the only one still shifting any units and it made it’s way onto the a-level curriculum at some point I think. Interestingly this was vetoed at the time by Rebecca West… there is a quote somewhere of her dismissing John Fowles for having no talent and undertaking foolish enterprises, hence explaining why it didn’t make the shortlist.
I’m not sure history has been all that kind to Ms West and the early Booker winners…
Ooh, that’s really interesting- thanks for that information! And yes, it wouldn’t surprise me if it was the only one out of print- it hasn’t lived on in the memory much!
And I don’t know that book, so I’ll have to check it out. Thank you!
I have had _How Late It Was, How Late_ on my shelf since about 1994. I am going to read it soon. No, really.
Haha, oh wow! I need to read it too- maybe we should buddy read it to make sure we actually do it!
@@BobTheBookerer That is an idea. I'm pretty booked up till January, but after that I'm game if you are.
@@BookishTexan so am I, so that’s perfect for me!
I think I’ve had it on the shelf since it won too - and never read - there may be a lot of us!
I was already be in 69. I was 6. I remember the moon landing but not the Booker prize. 69 was also the first year The “ Troubles” began to impact my life even though we were in rural Tyrone.
Ah nice! And I’m sure the first Booker was much smaller news! And crikey, I hadn’t thought about the timings of that, but yeah, I hope you were okay!
Figures in a landscape was my favourite of that list. The interesting part was you don't know what war it is, although it seems perhaps the Vietnam war?
Yes! I think you’re right! It felt like that for me!
@@BobTheBookerer also the ending to impossible objects hit me like steam train. I didn't know what to do with myself after and sat silent in a dark room for a long time after 😶
no need to lie about your age bobs, we know you're ancient - have you read most of murdoch's books? where should one start from?
Sssshhhh, no one can know I’m 87.
I’ve read 6 of hers, but she released like 27 or more, and that’s not including plays, poetry and philosophy. I think The Sea, The Sea and The Black Prince are good starters, personally!