Peter Carey

While I was caught by "Ned Kelly" I thought it was sensational, it had a really vivid style and bounced along well, due to the book being written as though it was being spoken aloud. (Though of course he pinched the no commas technique from Saramago) Fantastic to have spun this out of just a scrap of a document written by Kelly. Having said that though, about two-thirds through, I'd had enough of it and have still not finished it. Problem for me was, not being Australian and knowing the story, the interesting bit is the end, with the fatal shootout and as I got nearer to it, I realised that of course, this couldn't be written in journal form by Kelly, thus leaving the book without the real meat of the story. My fault rather than the author's I think, I may go back and finish it. AS for Atonement, I gave up on that much earlier. The Briony character was interesting, but I didn't really want a country house Evelyn Waugh novel from McEwan. Just found other books that grabbed me more and I began reading them instead. I don't often leave books unfinished, by the way - probably three in the last ten years (those two and White Teeth) - maybe I am very out-of-kilter with critical opinion. For what it's worth, I think Carey's book was better, and McEwan probably lost out as a result of Amsterdam (hardly a novel at all) winning previously.

...Atonement should have won...!

I started to read "Oscar and Lucinda" and loved it then I ended up feeling really sick and ill when the cruel bits started and had to stop....I'll want to read the Ned Kelly though..everyone'll get it for Christmas I bet Marcus have you read "Enduring Love" I loved that it's crafted.. the opening chapter's more like a poem.