Having reviewed the last book on the Walter Scott Prize shortlist for 2012, it is time for me to give my opinion on whether the judges got it right. Of all the books in the shortlist, would I have picked On Canaan’s Side to be the winner?
For me, this is a much more clear-cut decision than for my last feature, where I compared the books on the shortlist for 2014. For that list, I felt that all the books were excellent, but I chose Life After Life for its combination of inventiveness and sense of history, acknowledging that the winner, An Officer and a Spy, was an excellent historical novel.
For 2012, however, I can honestly say that I didn’t enjoy most of the books on the shortlist, or I enjoyed them only mildly. The one book that I enjoyed wholeheartedly was that year’s winner, On Canaan’s Side by Sebastian Barry, about an Irish woman emigrating to the United States during the Troubles. I also thought that Pure was very interesting and showed a strong sense of the period. The books I enjoyed least were The Stranger’s Child and The Sisters Brothers.
So, for 2012, I agree with the judges. If I had picked the winner from this group, it would be On Canaan’s Side.
What? Me Read? 
I haven’t read all of the 2012 books yet, but it seems to be one of the weaker shortlists. Based on the books I’ve read so far from the list, I would have chosen On Canaan’s Side too, although I did enjoy The Sisters Brothers a lot more than you did, I think.
Yes, I think it was much weaker.
Since I’ve just added On Canaan’s Side to my TBR on the recommendation of several people when I reviewed Days Without End, I’m glad to hear you feel it was a worthy winner. I enjoyed Pure and it has left some images for ever in my head of the cemetery, but it didn’t quite reach ‘great’ status for me. I haven’t read the other ones you mention, though I think The Sisters Brothers is lurking on my Kindle…
I think you’ll like it.
I haven’t read the others, but I liked both On Canaan’s Side and The Sisters Brothers. I’d probably go with On Canaan’s Side, though – it’s more my kind of book. Too bad the list wasn’t very enjoyable. Hopefully the next one will be better!
I didn’t really like the casual violence of The Sisters Brothers.