The Costa Book Awards 2008 - Who the judges chose and why!

The Costa Book Awards, one among the most prestigious awards in UK, announced its category award winners on 6 January 2009. The award, which is considered by many as a more populist literary prize than the Booker, merits the greatest works from UK and is also open to writers from the Republic of Ireland. The awards selected one winner in each of these five categories as per their customary procedure: Novel, First Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's Book, and each winning author received a whopping sum of £5,000! Culturazzi take a look at who the judges chose as winners and why:

The Costa Book Awards, one among the most prestigious awards in UK, announced its category award winners on 6 January 2009. The award, which is considered by many as a more populist literary prize than the Booker, merits the greatest works from UK and is also open to writers from the Republic of Ireland. The awards selected one winner in each of these five categories as per their customary procedure: Novel, First Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's Book, and each winning author received a whopping sum of £5,000! Culturazzi takes a look at who the judges chose as winners and why:

2008 COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD WINNER

Sadie Jones - The Outcast

The novel describes a son’s suffering and isolation after his mother drowns in a pool. Set in a London suburb during the late 1940s and the 1950s, the novel's protagonist is Lewis Aldridge, a seven year old boy who is under the care of strict, disciplinarian father, and a stepmother, who’s kind hearted but too self-centered to be able to help Lewis in his sorrow. His repressive family life and the authoritarian nature of the postwar English society, push him into a life of alcohol, misery, and rage, leading eventually to his tragic self-destruction. The novel was Shortlisted for the Orange Prize for fiction 2008, but lost to Rose Tremain’s widely acclaimed book last year, The Road Home.

What the Costa judges said: "This books portrayal of pain makes it a riveting and heartbreaking read - it's rare for a first novel to be this assured."

Why we think it’s worth a read: Because the book reminds many of Ian McEwan’s Atonement – now didn’t we all love that one? Besides, this in contrast to Atonement has a cheery happy ending that gives our weepiness its worth

2008 COSTA NOVEL AWARD WINNER

Sebastian Barry - The Secret Scripture

The novel is set in the early part of the 20th century during the time of the Civil War and the Irish Revolution. Roseanne McNulty, an old woman stepping close to her 100th birthday gives accounts of her past life spent in the small town of Sligo from a mental hospital. Her story is curiously studied by Dr. Grene, who is investigating the reasons of her admission in the hospital. Odd puzzles emerge when Dr. Grene realizes that Roseanne’s story is flecked with strange mysteries and uncertainties. What Barry produces in the process is an exquisite story that is graceful, baffling and enchanting. The Secret Scripture was the bookies' favorite to win the Man Booker Prize 2008 and was left narrowly behind The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga.

What the Costa judges said: "This exquisitely written love story takes you on an unforgettable journey - you won't read a better book this year."

Why we think it’s worth a read: Because, we can assure you the language is gorgeous.

2008 COSTA BIOGRAPHY AWARD WINNER

Diana Athill - Somewhere Towards the End

91 year old Diana Athill writes about her living in a series of short essays with her attention to old age.The book  undertakes old age, illness, declining capabilities, and caring or being cared for amongst other things. As Diana Athill points out in her first chapter, book after book has been written on being young and many more on procreation, but there are few on what she calls "falling away". “Ninety may be the new 70, but it is also seriously old, and no picnic,” notes the renowned editor turned writer in her book. An intellectually dynamic and vivacious woman, Diana’s memoir is full of people and stories that are festooned with her wry, sharp and honest voice.

What the Costa judges said: "A perfect memoir of old age - candid, detailed, charming, totally lacking in self-pity or sentimentality and above all, beautifully, beautifully written."

Why we think it’s worth a read: Surely her “eyepoppingly honest” biography has got to be interesting if:  A) She’s 91 and never been married,  B)  She's never been short of excitement.

2008 COSTA POETRY AWARD WINNER

Adam Foulds - The Broken Word

Adam Fould’s The Broken Word is written in the form of verse fiction – like Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, and Vikram Seth’s The Golden Gate. Rare to the world of literature today, Adam Fould brings back the charisma of it in his “verse novella". Largely set in 1950s Kenya during the Mau Mau uprising (which was the mutiny organized by Kenyan rebels against the British colonialist rule), this poem-novel focuses on the effect the uprising had on the British colonizers. The protagonist is Tom, who returns to his family's East African farm after public school in England, before he is quickly trampled on by bloodshed of the rebellion.

What the Costa judges said: "It is a rare achievement to write a poetry book that the reader simply can't put down. Readers of poetry and fiction alike will be swept along by its chilling narrative."

Why we think it’s worth a read: Adam gave up his fork-lift-truck driving job as a warehouse assistant after he won the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award 2008. And it sounds like he earned it.

2008 COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD WINNER

Michelle Magorian - Just Henry

Best known for her 1981 wartime novel Goodnight Mister Tom, Michelle Magorian’s most recent novel Just Henry is a story about a 15 year old who is obsessed with cinema and film. It’s the post-war year of 1949 and Henry lives with his mother, stepfather, half sister and manipulative grandma in a house that is full of conflicts. Going out to seek his harmony in the movies, Henry meets Mrs. Beaumont who lends Henry a camera for his school project in a cinema queue. When Henry processes a picture he has taken, he is led into a shocking discovery that will turn his life upside down. This 700 page novel makes a great teen read and a rediscovery of childhood for the older generation.

What the Costa judges said: “This is a master storyteller at work with the sort of descriptive writing that is a joy to read. Just Henry is a soaring, uplifting warm bath of a book - a wonderful roller-coaster of a story which we all absolutely loved."

Why we think it’s worth a read: Magorian's best known novel Goodnight Mister Tom was made into a 1998 BAFTA award-winning TV film attracting 14 million viewers , and that says a lot. Moreover she loves French Cafe songs, European films, writing and acting. Brownie points for being so very Culturazzi!

These make the list that bagged the enormous prize for last year. But all is not over yet! The five writers will now go forward for the ultimate prize, The Costa Book of the Year, to be announced at an awards ceremony on 27th January. Any picks on who is to win? They all sound great to me!