Long List Gets Short Shrift

Last week, Canada’s $40,000 Giller Prize for Literature attempted to amp up the amount of attention it receives from press and public by announcing its first-ever “long list” of nominees. Unfortunately, they chose to release the list while a huge group of Hollywood stars was in town for Toronto’s celebrated film festival, and the Giller barely made the back pages. Moreover, some observers are asking why the Giller needs a long list at all.