Reino de Redonda reading list (2014)

REDONDA COAT OF ARMS

Less than eleven months from now, the Redonda group read, hosted by Richard of Shea's Zibaldone, is in full swing. Redonda is of course the island kingdom of Rey Xavier I.

The reading (and watch) list is pretty solid. It includes book and film masterpieces from the Duke of Deshonra, the late Duke of Vértigo, Duke of Miraflores, Duke of Colores, Duke of Megalópolis, etc., and from the king himself.

Plenty of time to decide which royalty to read.

The Guardian 100 greatest non-fiction books

The Guardian came up with the 100 best nonfiction books in 2011.

 They introduced the list, thus: "After keen debate at the Guardian's books desk, this is our list of the very best factual writing ... "

Under the category "Travel" they included The Rings of Saturn by W. G Sebald. Which is really odd since the book is fiction. In several instances the novel is hardly factual at all.

Walking books

Two reading lists featuring walking:

Walking While Reading

Ten Outstanding Books That Combine Walking and Thinking

S.E.A. Write Award

The S.E.A. Write Award, or Southeast Asian Writers Award, is a recognition given yearly to a poet or writer in Southeast Asia since 1979. It is given to an author from each of the ten nations comprising the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It can be given to recognize a single work or an enitre oeuvre of the author. The winners in each country are chosen by their peers.

Here's the list of recipients of S.E.A. Write Award from the Philippines:


1979 Jolico Cuadra

1980 Nick Joaquín

1981 Gregorio C. Brillantes

1982 Adrian E. Cristobal

1983 Edilberto K. Tiempo

1984 Virginia R. Moreno

1985 Ricaredo Demetillo

1986 Jose Maria Sison

1987 Bienvenido N. Santos

1988 Rio Alma (Virgilio S. Almario)

1989 Lina Espina Moore

1990 Carmen Guerrero Nakpil

1991 Isagani R. Cruz

1992 Alfred A. Yuson

1993 Linda Ty-Casper

1994 Buenaventura S. Medina Jr.

1995 Teo T. Antonio

1996 Mike L. Bigornia

1997 Alejandro R. Roces

1998 Marne L. Kilates

1999 Ophelia A. Dimalanta

2000 Antonio Enriquez

2001 Felice Prudente Sta. Maria

2002 Roberto T. Añonuevo

2003 Domingo G. Landicho

2004 César Ruiz Aquino

2005 Malou Leviste Jacob

2006 Victor Emmanuel Carmelo D. Nadera Jr.

2007 Michael M. Coroza

2008 Elmer A. Ordoñez

2009 Abdon Balde Jr.

2010 Marjorie M. Evasco

2011 Romulo P. Baquiran Jr.

2012 Charlson Ong


Official site: http://seawrite.com/
List of winners
Wikipedia

Philippine National Artists for Literature

The title Pambansang Alagad ng Sining (National Artist) is the highest distinction given to a Filipino who gave a singular contribution to the enrichment of national art. It is given in various fields of art (Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Film, Broadcast Arts, at Architecture and Allied Arts).

The chosen National Artists are announced through a Presidential Proclamation. They will also be included in the Order of National Artists and will be honored with a collar and citation in a ceremony. There are many benefits that a National Artist will receive, such as a monthly pension, state funeral and burial, and acknowledgement in cultural events.

The Order of National Artists is administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and is awarded by the President of the Philippines after the recommendation of these two institutions following a set of criteria and guidelines.

In the category of Literature, the proclaimed National Artists since 1972 are the following. (Links go to Goodreads.)

Amado V. Hernandez

Jose Garcia Villa

Nick Joaquín

Carlos P. Romulo

Francisco Arcellana

Rolando S. Tinio*

Levi Celerio*

N. V. M. Gonzalez

Carlos Quirino*

Edith L. Tiempo

F. Sionil José

Virgilio S. Almario

Alejandro R. Roces

Bienvenido Lumbera

* Tinio is conferred the title for Theater and Literature; Celerio for Music and Literature; and Carlos Quirino for Historical Literature.

INSIGNIA OF THE ORDER OF NATIONAL ARTISTS

The award is not without controversy. In 2009, the awarding of National Artist to several individuals, including Lazaro Francisco for Literature (posthumous), was put on hold. The reason? Then President Gloria Arroyo included in the list four individuals (her political allies) who did not undergo deliberation by the final selection committee. It was greeted with protests by many, leading to the suspension of the awarding of National Artist.

Winners of the Philippine National Book Awards

The National Book Awards is yearly awarded by the National Book Development Board and the Manila Critics' Circle (MCC). The MCC is an organization of professional critics and newspaper columnists. Started by MCC in 1982, the administration of the award was transferred to NBDB in 2008.

The following lists the winners in the Fiction category, combining the winning titles for novels and short fiction in English and Filipino (Tagalog). The category is also awarded in other Philippines languages.


1981
Utos ng Hari at Iba Pang Kuwento by Jun Cruz Reyes

1982
Finalities: A Novelette and Five Short Stories by Edilberto K. Tiempo
The Praying Man by Bienvenido N. Santos

1984
Oldtimer and Other Stories by Jose Y. Dalisay Jr.

1987
Southern Harvest: A Collection of Stories by Renato E. Madrid
Tutubi, Tutubi, 'Wag Kang Magpahuli sa Mamang Salbahe by Jun Cruz Reyes
What the Hell For You Left Your Heart in San Francisco by Bienvenido N. Santos

1988
State of War by Ninotchka Rosca

1989
Planet Waves by Eric Gamalinda

1990
Herstory by Rosario Cruz Lucero
Men of the East and Other Stories by Charlson L. Ong

1991
Laro sa Baga by Edgardo M. Reyes

1992
Killing Time in a Warm Place by Jose Y. Dalisay Jr.
Pagsalunga: Piniling Kuwento at Sanaysay by Rogelio R. Sicat

1993
Tales for a Rainy Night by Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo

1994
Eros, Thanatos, Cubao: Mga Piling Katha by Tony Perez

1995
Penmanship and Other Stories by Jose Y. Dalisay Jr.

1996
Kung Wala na ang Tag-araw / Ano Ngayon, Ricky? by Rosario de Guzman-Lingat

1997
Bibliolepsy by Gina Apostol
Letting Go and Other Stories by Susan S. Lara

1998
Lassitude and Other Stories by Carlos Cortes
Mens Rea and Other Stories by Lakambini Sitoy

1999
Catch a Falling Star by Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo
A Normal Life and Other Stories by Reine Arcache Melvin
White Turtle by Merlinda Bobis

2000
Etsa-Puwera by Jun Cruz Reyes
Life Before X and Other Stories by Angelo Rodriguez Lacuesta
My Sad Republic by Eric Gamalinda

2001
Suite Bergamasque: The Boulevard Stories by Bobby Flores-Villasis

2002
Smaller and Smaller Circles by F. H. Batacan
Testament and Other Stories by Katrina Tuvera

2003
Daisy Nueve: Stories Weird, Wonderful, Whatever by Menchu Aquino Sarmiento
Feast and Famine: Stories of Negros by Rosario Cruz Lucero
Mayong ni Abdon M. Balde Jr.
The Sky Over Dimas by Vicente Garcia Groyon

2004
Hunyango sa Bato by Abdon M. Balde Jr.
People on Guerrero Street by Leoncio P. Deriada
Women of Tammuz by Azucena Grajo Uranza
Cadena de Amor and Other Short Stories by Wilfrido D. Nolledo
On Cursed Ground and Other Stories by Vicente Garcia Groyon

2006
Calvary Road: Mga Kuwento sa Balighong Panahon by Abdon M. Balde Jr.
White Elephants: Stories by Angelo Lacuesta
Ang Sandali ng mga Mata by Alvin B. Yapan
Maligayang Pagdating sa Sitio Catacutan: Mga Kuwentong Kasisindakan, Aklat 1 by Tony Perez
Malagim ang Gabi sa Sitio Catacutan: Mga Kuwentong Kasisindakan, Aklat 2 by Tony Perez
Pagluwas by Zosimo Quibilan Jr.

2007
(H)istoryador(a) by Victor Emmanuel Carmelo D. Nadera Jr.
Banyaga: A Song of War by Charlson Ong
The Jupiter Effect by Katrina Tuvera

2008
Mga Gerilya sa Powell Street by Benjamin Pimentel

2010
The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata by Gina Apostol

2011
Blue Angel, White Shadow by Charlson Ong
Lumbay ng Dila by Genevieve L. Asenjo (Citation)

2012
Better Homes and Other Fictions: Collected Prose by Connie J. Maraan
100 Kislap by Abdon M. Balde Jr.


(List Of Winners)

Man Asian Literary Prize 2012 (+ novels from the Philippines)

The 15-book longlist for the 2012 Man Asian Literary Prize longlist is announced. Nine Asian countries are represented, headed by India (3 novels) and Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and China (2 novels each). Unless there's a new sponsor for the prize, however, it may well be the final batch of longlists as Man Group backed out of sponsoring the next year's edition of the prize.

I note that no novels from the Philippines made it to the list this year and even last year. Novels by Filipinos that had been previously considered for the prize are the following (links go to Goodreads pages):

Soledad's Sister by Jose Dalisay - shortlisted, 2007
 
Ilustrado by Miguel Syjuco - winner, 2008
 
The Music Child by Alfred A. Yuson - shortlisted, 2008
 
Sugar Land by Ian Casocot - longlisted, 2008
 
Sweet Haven by Lakambini Sitoy - longlisted, 2008
 
The Descartes Highlands by Eric Gamalinda - shortlisted, 2009
 
Leche by R. Zamora Linmark - longlisted, 2009
 
Secrets of the Eighteen Mansions by Mario I. Miclat - longlisted, 2009
 
Different Countries by Clarissa V. Militante - longlisted, 2009
 
Eight Muses of the Fall by Edgar Calabia Samar - longlisted, 2009
 
Below the Crying Mountain by Criselda Yabes - longlisted, 2010

I've read the first two, am currently reading Samar's novel in original Tagalog (Walong Diwata ng Pagkahulog), and am interested in several of the titles.

Reading list: Palanca Awards (Philippines)

The Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature is a prestigious literary prize in the Phiippines. Beginning in 1951, the Awards is awarded to the best short stories in English and Filipino. Its coverage has since expanded to include other genres (plays, poetry, novel, essay, etc.) and several Philippine languages. After 60 years of existence (and counting), the Palanca has become a showcase of the best Filipino writers and the vitality of Filipino writing.

Below is a list of the Grand Prize winners in the Novel category in English and Filipino which were awarded every year starting in 1980 and then every three years starting in 1984. Several years did not produce a "Grand Prize winner/s" and these were indicated.



NOVEL IN FILIPINO

1980 Grand Prize: Gapo by Lualhati Bautista

1981 Special Prize: Mga Tinapay sa Ibabaw ng Tubig by Reynaldo A. Duque

1982 Grand Prizes: Kulang ng Isa sa Sandosena: Ba't di pa Magkasya sa Labing-isa na Lang by Victor V. Francisco; and Tutubi! Tutubi! 'Wag Kang Magpapahuli sa Mamang Salbahe by Jun Cruz Reyes

1983 Grand Prizes: Dekada '70 by Lualhati Bautista; and Ficcion by Edel Garcellano

1984 Grand Prizes: Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa by Lualhati Bautista; and Bata, Sinaksak, Isinilid sa Baul by Tony Perez

1987 Special Mentions: Mga Aninong Hubad by Cyrus P. Borja; and Mga Limbas sa Lupa ng Muhammad by Ramon V. Lim

1990 Honorable Mentions: Gagamba by Reynaldo A. Duque; and Kwadresentinyal by Rosauro Dela Cruz

1993 Grand Prizes: Bulaklak ng Maynila by Domingo G. Landicho; and Moog by Buenaventura S. Medina Jr.

1996 Grand Prize: Malaybay by Edmund Coronel

1999 Grand Prize: Ang Kaulayaw ng Agila by Lilia Quindoza Santiago

2002 Grand Prize: Kung Paano Ko Inayos ang Buhok Ko Matapos ang Mahaba-haba Ring Paglalakbay by Norman Wilwayco

2005 Grand Prize: Unang Ulan ng Mayo by Ellen Sicat

2008 Grand Prize: Gerilya by Norman Wilwayco

2011 Grand Prize: Ang Banal na Aklat ng mga Kumag by Allan Alberto N. Derain



NOVEL IN ENGLISH

1980 Special Prize: Silapulapu and The Zebut Brothers by Remmie Suaco Brillo

1981 Grand Prizes: Mass by F. Sionil José and Sangria Tomorrow by Wilfrido D. Nolledo

1982 Grand Prize: Surveyors of the Liguasan Marsh by Antonio R. Enriquez

1983 Special Prize: The Standard Bearer by Edilberto K. Tiempo

1984 Grand Prize: Vaya Con Virgo by Wilfrido D. Nolledo

1987 Grand Prize: Great Philippine Jungle Energy Café by Alfred A. Yuson

1990 Grand Prize: Bamboo in the Wind by Azucena Grajo Uranza

1993 Grand Prizes: Killing Time in a Warm Place by Jose Y. Dalisay Jr.; and Subanons by Antonio R. Enriquez

1996 Grand Prize: Recuerdo by Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo

1999 Grand Prize: Smaller and Smaller Circles by Ma. Felisa H. Batacan

2002 Grand Prize: The Sky Over Dimas by Vicente Garcia Groyon

2005 Grand Prize: Salamanca by Dean Francis Alfar

2008 Grand Prize: Ilustrado by Miguel Syjuco

2011 Grand Prize: In the Service of Secrets by Maria Victoria Soliven Blanco

Literary prizes at El Poder de la Palabra; Premio Salambó

I found a site (in Spanish) which compiles all major literary prizes in Latin America. Quite an informative site. Google Translate will come in handy for non-readers of Spanish.

El Poder de la Palabra is a website dedicated to literary writings. It contains excerpts from literary texts in Spanish, as well as biographies of writers.

I'll be featuring here some of the notable prizes. One of these is the Premio Salambó. This award is organized by Club Cultura de la Fnac and Café Salambó. It is given to the best book of fiction published in Spain in the previous year. The jury is composed of 15 renowned authors in Spain and Latin America. It is the only kind of award in Spain in which the winner is chosen exclusively by writers. The award lacks funding however. Perhaps that's the reason why no award was given in the past two years.


Winners of Premio Salambó*:

2001 Javier Cercas (Soldados de Salamina / Soldiers of Salamis)
2002 Javier Marías (Tu rostro mañana 1. Fiebre y lanza / Your Face Tomorrow 1: Fever and Spear)
2003 Juan Eduardo Zúñiga (Capital de la gloria)
2004 Roberto Bolaño (2666 / 2666)
2005 Alvaro Pombo (Contra natura)
2006 Vicente Molina Foix (El abrecartas)
2007 José María Merino (La glorieta de los fugitivos)
2008 Cristina Fernández Cubas (Todos los cuentos)
2009 -not given-
2010 -not given-



* English titles are added for the three novels available in translation. The entry on Javier Marías is corrected to indicate only the first volume of his novel. The next two volumes have yet to appear in 2002.

Carlos Fuentes's best Latin American novels of the past and present centuries

CARLOS FUENTES AT THE INTERNATIONAL
BOOK FAIR, GUADALAJARA, MEXICO, 2009
(Photo: Ivan Garcia / AFP/Getty Images)

The Mexican novelist Carlos Fuentes's top 10 lists of best Latin American novels were subjective but still worth a look for sure.

No, Bolaño was not on it. Nor were the "three or four best contemporary writers in Spanish language" he endorsed. That would be, in no order: Enrique Vila-Matas, César Aira, and Javier Marías. (I'm not sure who occupied the fourth spot. I'm almost sure it was Javier Cercas. But he was also very enthusiastic about Pedro Lemebel and Rodrigo Rey Rosa.)

The lists drawn by Fuentes were published in El País. I'm including the English titles when available.


20th century best Latin American novels:

El Aleph, Jorge Luis Borges (The Aleph)
Los pasos perdidos, Alejo Carpentier (The Lost Steps)
Rayuela, Julio Cortázar (Hopscotch)
Cien años de soledad, Gabriel García Márquez (One Hundred Years of Solitude)
Paradiso, José Lezama Lima (Paradiso)
La vida breve, Juan Carlos Onetti (A Brief Life)
Noticias del imperio, Fernando del Paso (News from the Empire)
Yo el supremo, Augusto Roa Bastos (I the Supreme)
Pedro Páramo, Juan Rulfo (Pedro Páramo)
Conversación en La Catedral, Mario Vargas Llosa (Conversation in The Cathedral)
Santa Evita, Tomás Eloy Martínez (Santa Evita)


21st century best Latin American novels:

Historia secreta de Costaguana, Juan Gabriel Vásquez (The Secret History of Costaguana)
En busca de Klingsor, Jorge Volpi (In Search of Klingsor)
Oír su voz, Arturo Fontaine
El desierto, Carlos Franz (The Absent Sea)
Las muertes paralelas, Sergio Missana
Amphitryon, Ignacio Padilla (Shadow Without a Name)
El síndrome de Ulises, Santiago Gamboa
Abril rojo, Santiago Roncagliolo (Red April)


See also: Fuentes's 1981 interview at the Paris Review. Also his recent interview (bilingual) at Literal magazine where he talked about Vlad, his latest book about vampires, and political issues in Mexico.


(via By the Firelight)