The Winning Orange Segment...

...is Barbara Kingsolver for The Lacuna.

And I have to say that I'm quite shocked by it, though not in the least disappointed.  I was sat in front of my computer, refreshing the screen every three seconds, my mind a constant mantra of Wolf Hall, The White Woman on the Green Bicycle, Wolf Hall, The White Woman on the Green Bicycle. I had pretty much convinced myself that either of these two books was going to win...so when Kingsolver's name popped up my mouth dropped open.  I'm not sure why, because I read The Lacuna with particular relish and shortlisted it myself yesterday.  If there was ever a book to beat Wolf Hall in narrative scope and historical vision I'm glad it was this one (although Roffey would have satisfied me too).  I'd be lying if there wasn't also an element of relief in there; I was in a cold sweat that there was going to be a repeat of 2006 and the book I liked least was going to carry off the Bessy.  

But I know you don't really want to know who won the *actual* Orange Prize, because there are more important matters at hand. Who have I picked as my own personal winner?  You will remember my shortlist from yesterday... well, I have contemplated, and paced about, and harangued Esther with my dilemma until I was no longer sure of the soundness of any of my opinions.  Finally, however, stood in front of my Orange Prize bookshelf an hour ago, I made a decision and was relieved by the certainty that it was the right one.  I'm giving my alternate Orange Prize 2010 to Sarah Waters' The Little Stranger.

Probably the first question you're asking yourselves is the first question I asked myself: What?! Not Wolf Hall?  It's a good question, and difficult for me to answer.  But first I want to say why Sarah Waters.  For me, Waters is amongst the most gifted writers working today, and often doesn't get the recognition she deserves from the critical establishment.  Yet her novels are a consistent challenge to expectations and she utterly, utterly inhabits character, period and place in every one of them.  I thought The Little Stranger her best novel to date in these respects, because of the texture and clarity of the prose, the taut, sure plotting, the steady and powerful build-up of tension and the enormous, clever cathartic release of the ending.  More than that, I want to honour Waters as a consummate entertainer: she is so gorgeously readable.  Everything she does is sumptuous. 

Yes, giving my own virtual Bessy to Sarah Waters means that I can't give it to Hilary Mantel and that hurts me little.  But the truth is that it is impossible for me to bring the full weight of my feelings about Wolf Hall to bear on my judging.  This is because Wolf Hall was one of those once-in-a-lifetime perfect reads for me; just looking at it still makes me vibrate with anticipation and happiness.  I know though that the excitement it engenders is as much personal as it is literary, and that I love it as much if not more for how it feeds directly into my own interests in historical fiction, historical narrative and (non-fiction) historical writing.  How to put this: when I read Wolf Hall I brought a lot of myself to the table, and it gave back to me in equal measure, but I know that a lot of my pleasure was in the feedback of my own feelings and understandings.  My admiration for The Little Stranger, in comparison, is whole and complete in itself, and I feel as though it exists in the world without me.  I'm not sure I'm explaining it very well, but there it is, the reason that it's my winner.

So, who wins your personal Orange Prize? And are you pleased with the official result?

~~Victoria~~

Comments

[Danielle]

I've only read The Little Stranger from the longlist, but I have to agree with your sentiments about Sarah Waters. It's my favorite book of hers as well (though still have Tipping the Velvet to read) and the story was so pitch perfect (though she is always a great storyteller--in all the aspects of her writing--plot, pacing and all the little details). I am looking forward to reading Wolf Hall, and now may have to pick it up sooner than later. In terms of anticipation and which books I'm looking forward to reading The Lacuna was high up on my list and I had just a few days ago ordered a UK copy (as it is in paper there but not yet over here). I was very pleased to see a novel of historical fiction win and I think it is one that I'll enjoy reading.

[Jodie]

Yes to everything you said about 'The Little Stranger', but I'm on tenderhooks waiting for you to talk about The Lacuna here because for me it was good, but just too obvious in its wish to teach to take the prize and I'm wondering what I missed that you saw. It probably didn't help that I found its themes and approach so easily comparable to 'Wolf Hall' because as you say 'Wolf Hall' is one of those once in a life time perfect reads.

[Teresa]

Wolf Hall and The Little Stranger are the only books on the list that I've read, and I loved them both, but I also would have given the prize to Waters. Wolf Hall had a few niggling flaws, but Little Stranger was just about perfect, as far as I was concerned.

I haven't read the Lacuna, but I'm strangely disappointed that it won because I'm one of possibly two people in the world who did not like Poisonwood Bible and all the praise heaped on it has given me an irrational aversion to Kingsolver.

[nomadreader]

I still haven't read Wolf Hall or The Little Stranger (I know, I know!), but I look forward to both. I did not love The Lacuna, and I'm disappointed it won, even thought I loved the idea of the novel. I'm glad you're pleased with the result!

[Charlotte]

Coming in as a huge Wolf Hall fan, I am happy that The Lacuna won. Mantel's been feted and will continue to be and I'm thrilled that Kingsolver got the recognition. Now I just have to read it!

I also loved The Little Stranger - I thought it was perfect in every way and Waters' talent left me gasping.

[Buried In Print]

Intriguing exploration of the complex process of the personal and analytical aspects of choosing a literary winner: I hope the judges -- the ones who chose The Lacuna and not The Little Stranger -- took as much care in weighing their reading experiences!

[Texan99]

Oh, dear. I already have a daunting pile of books to read, and now I find your site. Well, I've bookmarked it and will have to get around to reading as many of your recommendations as I can!

I read your reviews of "Master and Commander" and "HMS Surprise" and was only sorry not to see "Post Captain," perhaps my favorite of the entire series. For me, the series drops off a bit after "Desolation Island," until you get to "The Letter of Marque," which is wonderful.

I think you might enjoy O'Brian's first novel, "Testimonies." After that he wrote a handful of (for my taste) not very successful novels before he struck on the excellent Aubrey/Maturin series, but "Testimonies" is something quite out of the ordinary.

[Mystica]

I like Sarah Waters writing - there is an element of mystery to it as well which was intriguing for me particularly in The Little Stranger.

I found Wolf Hall tedious (I may get stoned for this) but that is just my personal opinion only..... long winded as well. Sorry!