Nobel Prize in Literature 2014
- Thread starter Stewart
- Start date
redhead
Blahblahblah
Looks like I'm stuck for a few days at least. None of his books seem to be online yet, hopefully this prize will fix that. He really came out of nowhere, going from not on the betting list to winning! I'm satisfied with the surprise candidate. I'm also a little shocked they gave it to another French writer so soon after Le Clezio.
Damian Kelleher
Reader
I am happy with it because I am in search of a new writer and he seems to fit the bill in terms of what I like.
So I will buy some more, and hopefully he will be my discovery of 2014.
So I will buy some more, and hopefully he will be my discovery of 2014.
Daniel del Real
Moderator
I've only read one brief autobiography called Un Pedigree which comprehends the time from his childhood to the moment his first novel is published. Very well crafted, evocative of memories during the German occupation. I quite liked it.
Damian Kelleher
Reader
I think his nobody status says more about us than about him.
Well said. I still cringe at the le Clezi-who type headlines that appeared in the American press when the previous French writer won. Disappointing and dismal.
Well said. I still cringe at the le Clezi-who type headlines that appeared in the American press when the previous French writer won. Disappointing and dismal.
Going to guess the Swedish have a word that relates to 'life-world' as I'm not sure what that actually means.
The only book by Modiano that I've ever seen in English was a US import from David Godine publishers that I always refused to buy due to the high price on it for a slim paperback from overseas. Sort of wish I had now.
That book was called Missing Person and, incidentally, it's the one Peter Englund, in a post announcement interview, has highlighted as the entry point for Modiano.
Heteronym
Reader
No it doesn't; I never cease reading great writers: perhaps he doesn't belong in that category. I just read the first pages of Missing Person in Amazon, and it's basically Raymond Chandler-level literature. Compared with what I've read lately: José Saramago, William Gass, Alexander Theroux, Vladimir Nabokov, his prose is mediocre.
Daniel del Real
Moderator
By the way, in an interview after the announcement Englund said that they weren't able to talk to him.
In Spanish he is widely translated, probably 10 titles available by Anagrama.
In Spanish he is widely translated, probably 10 titles available by Anagrama.
Never heard of him, even though I am french speaking. Should be easier to find his books in french than in english. Anybody have any suggestions on where to begin? I was thinking of starting with La Rue des Boutiques Obscures which won the Goncourt in 1978
redhead
Blahblahblah
That's funny because one of the things I consistently hear about Chandler was how good his writing was. Even if it's not up to snuff with Gass or Nabokov, such a prose style is good enough for the prize, especially considering Modiano consistently write detective-esque stories. Maybe he's not one of the best of the best, destined to be remembered later on, but from the little I've read of him (about the same as you) he seems like a good enough winner (although maybe that opinion will change once I read his work...)
Edit: lol saw some other people ranting about this post on a certain other forum. Because too I'm lazy to register there, I'll post this here. Just wanted to make this more clear, I'm not trying to say prose isn't important, but it is not the end all be all. If the story and themes of a book are handled deftly enough, I don't see why it not having the best prose style in the world should mean that its author is out of the running for the prize, especially when said prose style enhances the mood of the novel. At least give the poor man a read before you judge him!
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Daniel del Real
Moderator
I think his first novel La Place de l'Étoile should be a safe choice.
redhead
Blahblahblah
I think the academy recommended that one as a good entry point.
Just ordered used copies of La Place de l'Étoile and la Rue des Boutiques Obscures. Looking forward to reading him. I'm glad that the Academy chose a writer whose works I am not familiar with. He is apparently a bit hard to find. I contacted my local bookshop and they only had digital copies of his books.
Piece about him in the London Review of Books http://www.lrb.co.uk/v22/n23/michael-wood/j-xx-drancy-13-8-42
I hope this win prompts more English translations of his works. Sadly, very few of them have been translated into English. I have always wanted to read more of his stuff (I like WWII lit, i.e. Jiri Weil, Kertesz, Lustig, Semprun) but have been unable because I do not speak French. I did see Lacombe Lucien, a movie I happen to like very much.
About nine of his books have been translated into English but most were done so years ago in very very small numbers, which means that they are ridiculously expensive (i.e. cheapest copy of Night Rounds is $65 on Amazon/Abebooks/Alibris).
About nine of his books have been translated into English but most were done so years ago in very very small numbers, which means that they are ridiculously expensive (i.e. cheapest copy of Night Rounds is $65 on Amazon/Abebooks/Alibris).
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Cleanthess
Dinanukht wannabe
I think that Accident Nocturne is a good entry point into Modiano for those who like Borges or Saramago's Last Year of Ricardo Reis. Accident Nocturne is a mystery novel, but a very original and different kind of mystery novel.