Good review, Valerie. I think I agree with you that the best story won, although for me it's pretty close between Rag Love and Dennis Noble for second.
I was surprised by Jon McGregor's story snatching the runner-up spot. The ending seems like he just hit a word count or something and hurriedly threw the story in a different direction and then stopped.
From your review it sounds like you didn't hear the readings. If you get a chance, they're well worth a listen (the podcasts might still be available on the R4 website?). They're very well read, and Tim Piggott-Smith does a great job with Dennis.
yeah, I'm with you about the end of Jon's story. It was one of those things where I stopped and reread and wondered if I was missing something and then scratched my head a bit. I hate endings myself, so I can feel his pain, but it was indubitably the weakest point.
I've missed the podcasts now - I'm such an idiot, I meant to downloads them after the prize was announced, but I totally forgot and iPlayer has taken them down. Typical (of me, not iPlayer!).
Valerie O'Riordan is mostly to be found scavenging chocolate from vending machines. Here's a brief and messy biography [click].
I'm a writer and editor. My chapbook, Enough, is published by Gumbo Press (May 2012), and is available both in paperback and for the Kindle. I'm also a creative writing workshop leader. Click on the links for details and for info on how to sign up to the workshops (do sign up!). Contact me at valerie.oriordan at gmail.com and follow me on Twitter. Go on.
I'm also a book reviewer and co-editor of Bookmunch, which combines two of my passions - reading and free things. Click here to see an up-to-date list of my reviews.
2 comments:
Good review, Valerie. I think I agree with you that the best story won, although for me it's pretty close between Rag Love and Dennis Noble for second.
I was surprised by Jon McGregor's story snatching the runner-up spot. The ending seems like he just hit a word count or something and hurriedly threw the story in a different direction and then stopped.
From your review it sounds like you didn't hear the readings. If you get a chance, they're well worth a listen (the podcasts might still be available on the R4 website?). They're very well read, and Tim Piggott-Smith does a great job with Dennis.
Hey Dan,
yeah, I'm with you about the end of Jon's story. It was one of those things where I stopped and reread and wondered if I was missing something and then scratched my head a bit. I hate endings myself, so I can feel his pain, but it was indubitably the weakest point.
I've missed the podcasts now - I'm such an idiot, I meant to downloads them after the prize was announced, but I totally forgot and iPlayer has taken them down. Typical (of me, not iPlayer!).
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