kykNET-Rapport Boekpryse: Onderhoud met Mike van Graan

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Die kortlys van die eerste kykNET-Rapport Boekpryse is pas bekendgemaak en die wenners word op Vrydagmiddag, 21 November aangekondig by ’n geselligheid in Kaapstad.

Mike van Graan was een van die beoordelaars van die Niefiksie-kategorie.

Mike van Graan

Koop Portraits of Power by Kalahari.com.

Koop Tales of the Metric System by Kalahari.com.

Wat beteken die instelling van die kykNET-Rapport Boekprys vir die Afrikaanse boekbedryf?

As with all prizes (and the higher the credibility of the associates/sponsors, the more relevant these comments), this prize is about recognising and rewarding excellence, as well as with the pursuit of excellence of writing in Afrikaans. The Afrikaans market is probably the largest reading market in the country, which is great for Afrikaans writers; this prize helps to build or consolidate the brand of such writers in this market, and perhaps provide them – where needed – with some attention from other markets which may lead to their works being published in other languages. In short, great for writers, and particularly to have a major television network and print media outlet as the sponsors. In addition to the prestige and any monetary value, these sponsors will provide invaluable media exposure.

Jy het so pas deur die Afrikaanse boeke wat uitgewers as hul beste van die jaar beskou, gelees. Is ons boekbedryf in 'n goeie fase of is daar kommer?

There are a few ways in which the publishing industry can be evaluated: the excellence of the writing being published, the ability of the industry to sell and sustain itself in the market place, the selection of works for publication and what this means, etc. In their own right and in their particular categories, some books may have more “value” and merit, but when measured against other books, they fall far short. So, it may be that books from too many different “genres” within the non-fiction category were provided for evaluation (like comparing apples with tomatoes), so that it may not be a fault of the industry, or the writers, or the market as such, but more with the nature of a new prize trying to find its feet.

Is daar gemeenskaplike temas wat opval in die boeke wat vir die prys(e) ingeskryf is?

In my view, there were at least six different groupings of books:

a. Short stories

b. Historical research

c. Christian religion

d. Autobiographies/Biographies

e. “Self-help”

f. Contemporary history/international

So, rather than the books' affirming one or two central themes within or for the Afrikaans-speaking community, I think the variety of books spoke to the heterogeneity of this community, ie that there are numerous interests and perspectives within this community, which is as it should be!

Kan jy kortliks verduidelik wat die boeke op die kortlys prysenswaardig maak?

The shortlisted books have quite varying qualities, but two of them display outstanding research (which may make them more niche market books), one is very entertainingly written (and so is accessible to a broader market), and one combines narrative and pictures, with the pictures amplifying and texturing the words. On the whole, the shortlisted works confirm a high standard of writing ability, research, imagination and the capacity to provide new insights for the reader.

Wie is die skrywers, Suid-Afrikaans of internasionaal, wie se werk jy die graagste lees?

Writers whose works (their writing and/or their content) I really enjoy are those of Mark Gevisser, Chimamanda Adichie, Deon Meyer, Justin Cartwright and Imraan Coovadia, among others.

Is daar (’n) boek(e), fiksie of niefiksie, wat jy gereeld herlees?

The reference books that I regularly go back to have to do with cultural policy and the reports that tell the stories in which arts and culture need to be practised – the Human Development Reports of the United Nations, the Mo Ibrahim Index on Governance, the reports of the African Bank, etc.

 

Lees meer oor die kortlys van die kykNET-Rapport Boekpryse

 

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