M-Net has announced the shortlists for its annual literary awards, which include four Blake Friedmann clients. These prizes are awarded in South Africa to authors of novels written in English, Afrikaans and African languages. This year the lists include Caine Prize winner Henrietta Rose-Innes's NINEVEH; the 'King of South African Crime Fiction' Deon Meyer's, 7 DAE; Michiel Heyns's LOST GROUND which has already won the Sunday Times Award, and Finuala Dowling's witty and moving HOMEMAKING FOR THE DOWN-AT-HEART. The winners will be announced on Friday, 19 October at an awards ceremony in Johannesburg.
Previous winners of the award include Ivan Vladislavic, whose novel, DOUBLE NEGATIVE, won last year at the 50th anniversary of the prize.
Click here for the full shortlists.
Praise for NINEVEH (Henrietta Rose-Innes)
'This is a thought-provoking, densely imagined work of fiction in which no detail is out of place. It is a seamless and unusual blend of different modes of writing - the comic, the gothic and the social realist. It will appeal to any reader willing to ask questions and probe beneath the surface of our familiar urban reality.' -- Rob Gaylard, Cape Argus
'A gripping, thrilling allegory of a troubled nation, NINEVEH is executed with wit, panache, precision and something that I can only call wounded love for the country the author calls her home.' -- Neel Mukherjee
Rose-Innes's writing is as entertaining as it is subtle - a rare combination. ' -- Steven Amsterdam
Praise for 7 DAYS (Deon Meyer)
'Sleekly done crime thriller, layered with the cultural complexities of South Africa.' -- Joanne Wilkinson, Booklist
'Meyer is good with sexy plot complications…but the book's main strength is in its characters…Griessel is flawed but likable, and his trials give a bittersweet edge to a strong mystery.' -- Kirkus Reviews
'Superior prose and characterization' -- Publisher's Weekly
Praise for LOST GROUND (Michiel Heyns)
'LOST GROUND is among the finest books to have been published in the last few years. Well-written, engaging and almost perfectly paced.' -- M Blackman, Sunday Independent
'LOST GROUND is deceptively packaged as a crime novel, but landing explosively in the heart as only literature can, Heyns's wonderful book has a reach wide enough to hold even the fussiest and most easily bored of readers.' -- Karin Schimke, The Star
'The short review of this book is simply this: it's remarkable...It's hard to know how Michiel Heyns does it -- part magician, part juggler and fine linguist, he presents a novel that is as mysteriously alluring, yet as simple as the photo of some smalltown street on the cover.' -- Jane Rosenthal, Mail & Guardian
Praise for HOMEMAKING FOR THE DOWN-AT-HEART (Finuala Dowling)
'This is a delightful and comforting read for anyone who has tried to juggle her own needs with those of a family. Most especially, though, it is perfect for the home-maker who may very well be down-at-heart.' -- Janet van Eeden, Witness
'It is a swift read, but full of complexity and challenge....graceful and thoughtful.' -- Jane Rosenthal, Mail & Garden
'Brilliantly funny.' -- Diane Awerbuck, TimesLive