NZ Post Book Awards judges loved their task

As the call goes out for judges for next year’s NZ Post Book Awards, the five-strong team of 2010 recall the highlights of their experience, answering questions posed by The Read.

Left to right: Neville Peat, Charmaine Pountney, Paul Diamond, Elizabeth Smither and Stephen Stratford.

What surprised you most about the role?
Stephen Stratford: The convenor’s role was huge this year, much bigger than before. That’s a good thing as it was a result of greater media interest with a new structure and new sponsor. The media attention may not be the same next year as it won’t have the novelty factor.
Charmaine Pountney: The sheer number and quality of first rate New Zealand books. I knew that we had good fiction, because that is what I read a lot, but I was unaware of the variety in non-fiction and illustrated non-fiction.
Neville Peat: The length of time it took to read the books – 170 titles are a heck of a lot of reading!
Elizabeth Smither: It seemed a long time between the short list and the function, but when you got to the Awards you could see all the work that had gone into the dinner and event. It was a superb evening
Paul Diamond: Being appointed Maori language adviser as well as a judge, I was very surprised when there were no entries in the Maori language category! But this made me curious about why there were no entries, and provided the opportunity to begin an ongoing and constructive conversation about Maori language writing and publishing.

A quirky reading highlight or memorable moment?
SS: Discovering Anna Taylor’s Relief was a major thrill. Of the decade, not just of the year.
CP: The amount of knowledge I took in over six months! Two non-fiction titles were particularly surprising: I knew Elsie Locke, but had no idea until I read her autobiography how much she had packed in to her life. Gerald Hensley’s Beyond the Battlefield about World War ll NZ diplomacy I found fascinating.
NP: Books I hadn’t seen but crossed with my own experiences, like Pip Desmond’s book – I know a lot of the people who are in it, who helped coach gangs in basketball for instance.
ES: The sheer volume of reading was horrific! Worse still, I had to hide the books all around the house, under beds and things, so they didn’t get seen.
PD: It was quite poignant at the awards ceremony to see the authors behind the books we'd read and discussed many months earlier, and to hear them talk about their work.

How was the work load?
SS: Massive but one doesn’t complain. It is a labour of love – though it is nice to be paid – and it’s not just the dedicated time reading, it’s also the non-dedicated time the judging consumes, e.g while making dinner, talking to friends, reading the newspaper, the books are constantly present. Mostly in the background, but not always.
CP: Our rural postie got the worst part of it – carrying all the heavy packages in from the van! It constricted my social life at the time, but the reading load was manageable.
NP: I calculated it would take six to eight months to read everything from cover to cover. Fortunately some titles ‘select themselves out’ in the early stages!
ES: It was intense. When we got through all the books we had to read the 16 finalist books again which was even more demanding.
PD: It's pretty heavy, but I think it's great that all judges have the opportunity to read and have a view about the whole range of books, and not just ones in certain genre.

Something you learnt that has stayed with you from your experience as a judge this year?
SS: How astute my fellow judges are. All four are very, very impressive people.
Also I learned about the Wild at Heart lounge at Wellington airport where you pay $17 or so to sit in a poor person’s Koru Lounge. It is wonderful.
CP: A lot more about NZ history. The theft of Tuhoe land I was interested in because I was conceived in the Ureweras, and also books about Parihaka, Jerusalem, the School for the Deaf and a business history. Art books were a treasure trove… and cooking… But I can honestly say all the books I read had something the interested me.
NP: The way the judges worked harmoniously.
ES: The Supreme winner was very substantial and it piled up the evidence word on word to devastating effect, allowing the gathering of evidence to speak for itself. It was absolutely scrupulous and in no way emotional, but I got a strong feeling the author did not like certain characters.

The Read found one theme recurring: judges commenting on how the panel enjoyed their discussions
CP: I think I was surprised and delighted by the quality of the judges discussions; we argued, but it was civilised and interesting. I learnt about the physical qualities of books and trends in NZ book criticism.
NP: I think the continuity of one or two judges between years might carry on the harmony of this panel. Anna Burtt was brilliant and she helped set the climate for the panel.
ES: I was honoured to be a judge, and what surprised me was how amicably all the judges worked together. A pleasant experience.
PD: It was a wonderful thing to be part of a group which managed to balance strong views with respect for each others' views so well. It was a robust, but very satisfying process.

And final suggestions for events going forward from the convenor:
Stephen Stratford:
1) Rolling over. In the previous awards system there was (almost) always one judge recycled to maintain continuity. From memory that worked well and when it wasn’t implemented the results were disastrous. We’re talking Stonedogs.
2) The MC - Jennifer Ward-Lealand should have the job for life.
3) The Booksellers NZ organiser - Anna Burtt should have the job for life or for as long as she can stand it, whichever comes first.

So...fancy being a judge yourself?!

2011 JUDGES INFO & APPLICATION FORM