The Stella Prize 2020 winner is announced tonight (tune in for the live announcement here).
A reminder of the contenders –
- See What You Made Me Do by Jess Hill (nonfiction)
- Diving Into Glass by Caro Llewellyn (memoir)
- There Was Still Love by Favel Parrett (novel)
- Here Until August by Josephine Rowe (short stories)
- The Yield by Tara June Winch (novel)
- The Weekend by Charlotte Wood (novel)
My prediction is based on a combination of logic (because that’s clearly important when it comes to literary prizes!) and my heart’s desire.
I’m ruling out Diving Into Glass on the basis that they won’t pick a memoir two years in a row (note that I haven’t read this book, despite memoir being a favourite genre. I started it, I wasn’t immediately drawn in, I returned it to the library…and then COVID-19).
I’m ruling out The Weekend (even though I loved it) – I reckon they’ll share the love and Wood has won before.
See What You Made Me Do is an important book, it’s topical, and everyone should read it but for all those reasons, I think it’s a stretch to win (note that I’m only halfway through this book – again, COVID-19 derailed me, and I had to switch to something lighter).
So that leaves me with The Yield, Here Until August, and There Was Still Love. All are worthy winners. I loved the layers in The Yield. I loved the consistency across the collection in Here Until August. I loved the warmth of There Was Still Love.
When Kim reviewed There Was Still Love recently, she said it was a ‘balm for the soul’. Yes, it is. And I think we all need that right now. Fingers crossed for Favel, that’s my winner.
I’d better not make a prediction seeing as I only read one, and didn’t like it. I’d admire the Stella though so I probably should make a point of reading the winner.
I’ve pretty much read all of the shortlisted books, and I’ve read all the winners with the exception of Tracker…which feels so big and challenging. I have it (and was actually at the Prize announcement that night) but I really don’t know when I will get to it.
I was dubious when Tracker was selected, but on reading it, I was a convert. It is magnificent!
The year that Tracker won (2018) was probably my least favourite shortlist – it seemed like the judges were going for books so ‘alternative’ that I feared that it would turn readers off (the de Kretser was the most mainstream title that year). As much as some people might joke about the tastes of the middle-aged-womens book group, they sure do spend a lot of money on books and things like prize shortlists are easy sales at Readings!
The year that Tracker won, I was cheering for Coleman’s Terra Nullius. But I have a poor record at getting these things right!
Terra Nullius was certainly an amazing combination of SF and Indig.Lit. Unlucky to be up against Tracker. You do have to read it, you know
Hi Kate, I agree with your thoughts. I would be happy if either Tara June Winch or Favel Parrett wins.
I have to say that this year more than any other I wouldn’t mind if any of the shortlisted books won! admit that I have felt more strongly about some books in previous years….).
Brave girl, Kate. I have only read Wood and Winch, and though I liked them both, I’d go for Winch. I’m reading Parrett in May or June with my reading group.
Brave or silly, I don’t know! I always take a stab at these things and I’m always wrong!
I love reading books for awards and try to predict the winner. Good luck with your choice.
Thanks Anne (less than an hour away from knowing if I’m right!).
Absolutely agree with Kim about There Will Still Be Love and will join you in crossing my fingers. I read it before the pandemic and I suspect it would make me cry now. I love your logic idea. I always think prizes are decided by committee and may well be the decision of those who should loudest.
I figure there must be some weighing up of fiction vs nonfiction vs memoir vs short stories, and being ‘fair’ to all genres?! (that’s the ‘logic’ or ‘science’ of these things).
Thanks for the link. I would love Favel to win it, but I reckon it will go to The Yield. I haven’t read The Yield myself (it’s on Mt TBR) but having seen so many wonderful reviews of it I can’t help but think it ticks a lot of literary prize boxes. But then again (covering my back here) maybe they’ll give it to a short story collection seeing short stories haven’t won the Stella yet.
It crossed my mind that the Prize hasn’t gone to a short story collection – this would be worthy, it’s a solid collection with some interesting and wonderful stories.
I’m reading this after the announcement but There Still Was Love definitely remains my must read from the shortlist.