Congratulations to Evie Wyld on winning this year’s Stella Prize for her novel The Bass Rock.
According to the chair of the judging panel, Zoya Patel, the book is “consuming and perplexing”, adding that it…
“forces the reader to think and engage with the unique narrative structure, but in a way that feels effortless, so engaged are you by the story. This is a novel that demonstrates the author’s versatility of style, with the separate narrative parts each having an individual voice. And yet, at no point does the book feel disjointed. Instead, it is as though Evie Wyld has chosen each and every word with precision, building a novel that is a true work of art.”
You can read the full announcement, made tonight, on the Stella Prize website.
Unfortunately, I haven’t read this novel, although it’s been in my digital TBR for quite some time.
In fact, eagle-eyed followers of this blog might have noticed I abandoned my project to read all the books on the Stella Prize shortlist. There’s just been too much going on in my life to commit to reading so many books in such a short space of time. Maybe next year!
Anyone read The Bass Rock? Did you like it? Would you recommend it?
Reading Matters 
This is a book that I have been meaning to read for SO long. To be fair, I’ve heard great things.
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I’ve only heard good things too.
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Theresa has read it: https://theresasmithwrites.com/2020/07/07/book-review-the-bass-rock-by-evie-wyld/
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Thanks, Lisa. I have many British friends who have read & loved this. It’s kind of been one of those books I’ve been saving up to read when I’m in the right mood…
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I don’t think I’m going to be in the mood for ‘another’ book on this theme…
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I know what you mean. The thing that no one seems to get is that these kinds of stories are preaching to the converted. The people (read MEN) who should be reading these books will never pick them up.
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I’m waiting for it to arrive, but I loved her All the Birds, Singing.
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I haven’t read that one, but I loved her debut novel: https://readingmattersblog.com/2009/12/10/after-the-fire-a-still-small-voice-by-evie-wyld/
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And I haven’t read that one.
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I can’t wait to read this. I loved All the Birds, Singing!
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Hi Naomi, I haven’t read that one (although it is also in my digital TBR), but I loved her debut novel: https://readingmattersblog.com/2009/12/10/after-the-fire-a-still-small-voice-by-evie-wyld/
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That’s good to know!
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Brilliant news! This was so overlooked by UK prizes. I also loved All The Birds, Singing.
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I’ve only heard good things about this book, Laura, so I will look forward to reading it in due course. I still haven’t read All The Birds, Singing. I got slightly put off by the controversy surrounding her Miles Franklin win but I think enough water has passed under the bridge now…
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What was the controversy? I didn’t realise she’d won anything for All the Birds and I’m glad to hear she did – it’s one of the best books I’ve read in the last decade.
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What was the controversy? I didn’t realise she’d won anything for All the Birds and I’m glad to hear she did – it’s one of the best books I’ve read in the last decade.
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She won Australia’s most prestigious literary award, the Miles Franklin, in 2014. I think it was felt the award should go to an Australian writer who lives in Australia and has limited opportunities to win prizes, not someone in the UK who has access to lots of different lit awards. 🤷🏻♀️
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Ah, OK. Fair enough. Wish she had had more recognition from UK awards though!
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Well, how about that? The only one of the books on either of the lists that I read, and that’s the one that wins! Brava to her. It was a very good novel!
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Just read your review, Davida, and the first I’ve seen that hasn’t absolutely loved it. Good food for thought, by the sounds of it.
For those interested, here is Davida’s review: https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2020/08/28/scottish-shadows/
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Thanks, darling! It was really good, but you know… no two people and all that. I’d be happy to read more of her books. I like her style.
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I’ve only read her debut novel and I really loved it… https://readingmattersblog.com/2009/12/10/after-the-fire-a-still-small-voice-by-evie-wyld/
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