Your video came out before midnight South African time. I bought the last copy at my local bookshop this morning. It’s sold out everywhere here. Congrats to Damon.
I wanted Great Circle as well, but knew it wouldn’t win, the shortlist was really its prize. I haven’t read The Promise, but I’m surprised that a book on race from as complicated a place as South Africa by a White author wouldn’t have had certain hurdles to being named the winner. Can you speak to how or why that wasn’t an issue for this book?
I think this was an issue for this book, and personally heard a lot of talk about Damon Galgut being a white author discussing race. Personally, I would have preferred a black South African author on the longlist in general, however, The Promise does an incredible job at pointing out the areas in which white people have low self-awareness and the ways they may still be contributing to a problem. He really shines a light on biases that you may not realize you had and it's uncomfortable, but I think it's also very necessary to feel that. I talk more about it quite a bit in my review of the book, but it does contain spoilers, so if you are thinking about reading the book, you may want to do that first. I also think that by reading it, you'll understand why so many think that it is worthy of the Booker Award.
@@FreshlyReadBooks I recommend the eBook purchase of it a few months ago at my public library and I guess I was the first one who did, as it’s popped up in my queue unexpectedly. I’m looking forward to reading it.
Your video came out before midnight South African time. I bought the last copy at my local bookshop this morning. It’s sold out everywhere here. Congrats to Damon.
The look on Galgut’s face was on level with “did the principal just call my name over the PA?”
The perfect way to describe it!
No surprise there. Thank you for your reviews. It’s been fun to see other people’s opinions.
Loved your reaction!! I've really enjoyed your reviews!
hell yea congrats on two in a row.
thanks!
I wanted Great Circle as well, but knew it wouldn’t win, the shortlist was really its prize. I haven’t read The Promise, but I’m surprised that a book on race from as complicated a place as South Africa by a White author wouldn’t have had certain hurdles to being named the winner. Can you speak to how or why that wasn’t an issue for this book?
I think this was an issue for this book, and personally heard a lot of talk about Damon Galgut being a white author discussing race. Personally, I would have preferred a black South African author on the longlist in general, however, The Promise does an incredible job at pointing out the areas in which white people have low self-awareness and the ways they may still be contributing to a problem. He really shines a light on biases that you may not realize you had and it's uncomfortable, but I think it's also very necessary to feel that. I talk more about it quite a bit in my review of the book, but it does contain spoilers, so if you are thinking about reading the book, you may want to do that first. I also think that by reading it, you'll understand why so many think that it is worthy of the Booker Award.
@@FreshlyReadBooks I recommend the eBook purchase of it a few months ago at my public library and I guess I was the first one who did, as it’s popped up in my queue unexpectedly. I’m looking forward to reading it.