Archive for February 14th, 2008
Thursday, February 14th, 2008The Costa Book Award Project
I was very excited when Sharon of Ex Libris told me she was going to host The Costa Book Award Project. My goal is to read all of the winners from Novels and First Novels categories. I love reading from the award lists, and these perpetual challenges are perfect for me - low key, no stress!
Below are the books I’ve read and what I hope to read in 2008.
Read previous to the challenge:
White Teeth, by Zadie Smith (read in 2001; unrated)
Books I hope to read in 2008:
What Was Lost, by Catherine O’Flynn (First Novel 2007)
The Tenderness of Wolves, by Stef Penney (First Novel 2006)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, by Mark Haddon (Novel Award 2003)
Behind the Scenes at the Museum, by Kate Atkinson (First Novel 1995)
The Queen of the Tambourine, by Jane Gardam (Novel Award 1991)
Below is the complete list of winners. As I read books from the list, I’ll cross them off, and provide date read, rating, and link to review.
2007
- First Novel Award - What Was Lost by Catherine O’Flynn
- Novel Award - Day by A L Kennedy
2006
- First Novel Award - The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney (completed April 5, 2008; rated 5/5; read my review)
- Novel Award - Restless by William Boyd
2005
- First Novel Award - The Harmony Silk Factory by Tash Aw
- Novel Award - The Accidental by Ali Smith
2004
- First Novel Award - Eve Green by Susan Fletcher
- Novel Award - Small Island by Andrea Levy
2003
- First Novel Award - Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre
- Novel Award - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
2002
- First Novel Award - The Song of Names by Norman Lebrecht
- Novel Award - Spies by Michael Frayn
2001
- First Novel Award - Something Like a House by Sid Smith
- Novel Award - Twelve Bar Blues by Patrick Neate
2000
- First Novel Award - White Teeth by Zadie Smith (read in 2001; not rated; no review)
- Novel Award - English Passengers by Matthew Kneale
1999
- First Novel Award - White City Blue by Tim Lott
- Novel Award - Music and Silence by Rose Tremain
1998
- First Novel Award - The Last King of Scotland by Giles Foden
- Novel Award - Leading the Cheers by Justin Cartwright
1997
- First Novel Award - The Ventriloquist’s Tale by Pauline Melville
- Novel Award - Quarantine by Jim Crace
1996
- First Novel Award - The Debt to Pleasure by John Lanchester
- Novel Award - Every Man for Himself by Beryl Bainbridge
1995
- First Novel Award - Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson
- Novel Award - The Moor’s Last Sigh by Salman Rushdie
1994
- First Novel Award - The Longest Memory by Fred D’Aguiar
- Novel Award - Felicia’s Journey by William Trevor
1993
- First Novel Award - Saving Agnes by Rachel Cusk
- Novel Award - Theory of War by Joan Brady
1992
- First Novel Award - Swing Hammer Swing! by Jeff Torrington
- Novel Award - Poor Things by Alasdair Gray
1991
- First Novel Award - Alma Cogan by Gordon Burn
- Novel Award - The Queen of the Tambourine by Jane Gardam
1990
- First Novel Award - The Buddha of Suburbia by Nicholas Mosley
- Novel Award - Hopeful Monsters by Nicholas Mosley***
1989
- First Novel Award - Gerontius by James Hamilton-Paterson
- Novel Award - The Chymical Wedding by Lindsay Clarke
1988
- First Novel Award - The Comforts of Madness by Paul Sayer
- Novel Award - The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
1987
- First Novel Award - The Other Garden by Francis Wyndham
- Novel Award - The Child in Time by Ian McEwan
1986
- First Novel Award - Continent by Jim Crace
- Novel Award - An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro
1985
- First Novel Award - Oranges are not the only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
- Novel Award - Hawksmoor by Peter Ackroyd
[Note: The issuance of a Book of the Year award began in 1985. Between 1971 and 1984, categories shifted and awards were not given in all categories. ]
1984
- First Novel Award - A Parish of Rich Women by James Buchan
- Novel Award - Kruger’s Alp by Christopher Hope
1983
- First Novel Award - Flying to Nowhere by John Fuller
- Novel Award - Fools of Fortune by William Trevor
1982
- First Novel Award - On the Black Hill by Bruce Chatwin
- Novel Award - Young Shoulders by John Wain
1981
- First Novel Award - A Good Man in Africa by William Boyd
- Novel Award - Silver’s City by Maurice Leitch
1980
- Novel Award - How Far Can You Go? by David Lodge
1979
- Novel Award - The Old Jest by Jennifer Johnston
1978
- Novel Award - Picture Palace by Paul Theroux
1977
- Novel Award - Injury Time by Beryl Bainbridge
1976
- Novel Award - The Children of Dynmouth by William Trevor
1975
- Novel Award - Docherty by William McIlvanney
1974
- Novel Award - The Sacred & Profane Love Machine by Iris Murdoch
- First Book Award - The Life & Death of Mary Wollstonecraft by Claire Tomalin
1973
- Novel Award - The Chip Chip Gatherers by Shiva Naipaul
1972
- Novel Award - The Bird of Night by Susan Hill
1971
- Novel Award - The Destiny Waltz by Gerda Charles