Thanks to all of you who participated in International Anita Brookner Day. I had a lot of fun seeing what you all came up with and was gratified that so many of you had a positive experience. And I still have hope for those who weren’t instant fans. Many of the qualms that some had with the Anita Brookner novel they read and reviewed didn’t stem from Brookner’s writing ability but rather from disappointment in her characters. And therein lies my reason for hope. When I first read Brookner I was not just disappointed with ther characters I was frustrated as all get out. I mean really, who are these passive, depressed people. But I found that those people kind grew on me. I never wanted to be them, and still don’t, but I became fascinated in reading about them. This isn’t to suggest that those of you who wrote less than positive reviews are all going to become fans, but it is to suggest that your journey with Anita may not be over.
And speaking of that journey. Anytime you post a review of a Brookner novel, just let me know and I will include it on the IABD blog and archive.
On to the prizes:
Best Review: Danilo Abacahin
He doesn’t blog, but based on this review he should. I particularly liked the way he organized his review around the reactions he had recorded in his diary while he read Undue Influence.
Best non-Review: Peta Mayer
Peta’s list of 10 Things to Expect from a Brookner Novel was insightful and funny. It confirmed some things I already thought (the walking) and made me ponder some things I hadn’t (eros).
Best Picture of a Pet Reading Brookner: Julia at Pages of Julia
Of course all of the pet pictures were cute as can be. But the one that really stood out was Julia’s. Her cute pooches are clearly Brookner fans.
Participation Prize: Ted at Bookeywookey
Special Prize for inspring the judges to come up with another prize: Jack at The Windy Sea of Land
Simon suggested that Jack deserved a prize for starting a blog just to join in IABD. I totally agreed and so we created another prize category just for him.
Winners:
You have until August 8th to pick a paperback (any paperback, it doesn’t have to be Anita Brookner) and email me with your choice and your mailing address. onmyporch [at] hotmail [dot] com
If you are outside the US you can make your choice from The Book Depository. If you are in the US you can choose from TBD or Barnes and Noble.
The Recap
We ended up with 31 reviews of 14 novels. Did you ever see that skit on Sesame Street where everyone ended up bringing potato salad to the picnic. Well, Hotel du Lac was the potato salad of IABD.
The Bay of Angels (2001)
Michelle Foong
Wendy Mayer
A Closed Eye (1991)
Bookeywookey
My Porch
Family and Friends (1985)
The Truth About Lies
Hotel du Lac (1984)
Another Cookie Crumbles
Boston Bibliophile
Fig and Thistle
Novel Insights
Pages of Julia Blog
Savidge Reads
Stuck in a Book
Incidents in the Rue Laugier (1995)
Books and Chocolate
Erich Mayer
Roses Over a Cottage Door
Leaving Home (2005)
A Book Sanctuary
Luvvie’s Musings
Lewis Percy (1989)
Bibliolathas
Look at Me (1983)
Nonsuch Book
Savidge Reads
The Next Big Thing (2002)
Luvvie’s Musings
A Private View (1994)
This Windy Sea of Land
Providence (1982)
My Porch
The Rules of Engagement (2003)
Gaskella
Park Benches & Bookends
Silencing the Bell
Telecommuter Talk
A Start in Life (1981)
Citizen Reader
My Porch
Savidge Reads
Undue Influence (1999)
Danilo Abacahin
hogglestock 
I should have my review of Making Things Better (The Next Big Thing) up next week. Alsa, I'm not an instant fan, but I can certainly see why you and Simon like her so much, and I'm glad you gave me the push I needed to finally read her work.
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Congratulations to everyone and I agree with you, Thomas, that photo of Julia's lovely dogs was my favourite as well!
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Aiiii, what fun and how exciting! Ritchey & Hops say thank you, and I hope it won't go to their heads. Now I get to go SHOPPING. Thank you Thomas. Thank you for recognizing my darlings. :) And thanks for the celebration and my introduction into this unique author.
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Aiiii, what fun and how exciting! Ritchey & Hops say thank you, and I hope it won't go to their heads. Now I get to go SHOPPING. Thank you Thomas. Thank you for recognizing my darlings. :) And thanks for the celebration and my introduction into this unique author.
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Congratulations to all the winners. I'm looking forward to reading all the reviews. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to participate as I've just got back from a month holiday. I actually didn't get much reading done. The only Brookner I've read is Look at Me and I loved it.
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Looks good, thank you for the review, I always have a hard time trying to figure out what to read next.
Come see my blog if you get a chance http://www.ynyogaposes.com
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You're awesome, Thomas and Simon – thanks!!
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Here's my review of Making Things Better (The Next Big Thing). Thanks again for hosting this. I do think I'll be back again next year.
http://readywhenyouarecb.blogspot.com/2011/07/making-things-better-by-anita-brookner.html
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Hahahaha, I don't really like potato salad that much but I love the analogy. What a fantastic level of participation! Congrats to the winners and Thanks Thomas and Simon for hosting this challenge.
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I am always always willing to give any author a go so I enjoyed participating. Ok so I wasn't an instant fan but its not over till its over.
Thanks to you and Simon for organising it so well
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