Gekoski on Banville

Man Booker judge Rick Gekoski, whose own book I loved, offers his post-ceremony comments on the recent award-winning novel by John Banville:

"Might I offer a single piece of advice to those who read The Sea and find it difficult, or uncongenial? Read it again, slowly and carefully. If you still don’t like it, fine, that’s a matter of taste. But it seems to me impossible that you could deny its distinction.

The experience of being a judge has been immensely enjoyable, utterly memorable, and we have been lucky enough to come up with a terrific winner. It’s rather restored my faith in the Man Booker Prize."