GOLDSMITHS PRIZE Speculation / “OULIPO” Techniques!

Oops, the announcement day is Wednesday the 26th!

Books mentioned
THE FOUNTAIN IN THE FOREST -White (Uses Oulipan techniques and my favorite to win!
THEIR BRILLIANT CAREERS - O’Neill
JOTT - Thompson
MURMUR - Will Eaves
CRUDO - Lang
KUDOS - Cusk
THREE DREAMS IN THE KEY OF G - Nash (sadly not eligible this year)
A VOID - Perec
SPHINX - Garréta

Join the MOOKSE AND GRIPES forum on Good Reads for lots of interesting discussions on book prizes!

[Happyoccurrence]

This was such an informative video- I love it so much, thank you!

[neilhutchinson]

Fascinating stuff Peg and some very interesting possibilities there. I will be reading all the shortlisted books whoever appears! 👍😁

[MarcNash]

Many thanks for the shout pout Peg! Much appreciated.

I really enjoyed Fountain In The Forest, but I use it as an example in my discussion of experimental fiction: how many (in this case oulipo) elements does it take for a book to be deemed experimental? The oulipo movement wanted their books to read 'normally', so that the elements almost weren't noticed, so that brings into question purpose, function and therefore degree of experimentalism? All stuff that obsesses me.

I think this year's list is more experimental than last year's which I really couldn't see as doing anything to advance the possibilities of the novel.

[EricKarlAnderson]

Loved this and your excitement about the prize. I'm so eager to read The Fountain in the Forest now.
I wasn't the biggest fan of Cusk's Outline so haven't read the other two books in the series - though I do admire that aspect you talk about of being anti-confessional.
Yay for Crudo! And I've read the first part of Murmur and really enjoy it.
I also really expect to see Lucia by Alex Pheby on this year's list when it's announced.

[shawnbreathesbooks]

This was fab! ! You so know how to transmit your ardor, you bibliomaniac you! Addict, oh what an addict. Carry on! BTW, what lipo-macallit is this? 😻😻😻😍😍😍

[josmith]

Some really interesting books as you would expect from this prize and I think the Republic of consciousness might be even better!

[CurtisBooksandFilms]

Can't wait for this one. Hopefully it will save us from the disappointments of the Booker.

[gudulla]

You really made me want to read the fountain in the forest! I simply can’t wait. I read Perec’s book, it was amazing that he could pull it off, as in French the -e is necessary in most verbal endings and in adjectives to feminine gendered nouns - but he did, brilliantly

[neilhutchinson]

Well done Peg! Crudo and Kudos I expected but well done on picking out 'Murmur'. Did you watch the live streaming of the event? 😀