I was delighted to be asked by The Bookseller to sit on their 2018 judging panel, to help evaluate the best in Crime and
Thriller for the 2018 ‘Nibbies’ [aka The British Book Awards]. As an advocate
for the biggest selling
fiction genre in the
UK, how could I refuse?
The British Book Awards are organised by The Bookseller and after
our reading, the judges met up at London’s Groucho Club, where the debating
continued until the various judges agreed to the winners.
And soon, I found myself dusting down my tuxedo and heading into
London, for the awards, hosted at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel opposite Hyde
Park, in Park Lane. I often attend events and meetings in this part of London;
and when I do, I have found the services of a rather fine hotel that is
reasonably priced (for this area of London), and is anonymous - but is a 30
minute walk along the Bayswater Road from The Grosvenor.
This was my first time as a ‘nibbie’ judge, and the first time I
found myself at the British Book Awards, and what a splendid event, for there
is comfort to be in the company of fellow bibliophiles, many of whom I’ve known
for more years than I would admit to without my lawyer present.
The main themes of the evening (talking points) were, Axel Scheffler when
receiving Illustrator of the Year Award, gave a most passionate and personal
speech about his horror of the so-called Brexit. Pan Macmillan have kindly
uploaded the speech HERE
Later Philip Pullman
mirrored Axel’s thoughts with his acceptance speech for Author of the Year, and
received a standing ovation as Lee Child
presented him with his award, which we recorded here –
Though the Oliphant in the Room, was debut novelist Gail
Honeyman, with her novel ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS PEFECTLY
FINE, winning several awards, and here she is
on the podium –
Though the moment when legendary publisher Tim Hely-Hutchinson was
honoured at the end of the evening was
poignant, and we captured
some video >
So after thanking my hosts from The Bookseller, it was time to head
off to my hotel.
I walked back
purposefully, working off the dinner and the excesses of my Gin consumption from
tonight’s British Book Awards. As I traversed the
Bayswater Road, I felt like a swarthy version of Ian Fleming’s aristocratic
Secret Agent, complete with Tuxedo and a purposeful gait, in my stride.
I reflected upon a most enjoyable evening bumping into people I’ve
known for many years. Though I’m principally known for my obsessive interest in
Crime & Thriller, the Nibbies (British Book Awards) however cast a much
wider net, taking in all sectors of British Publishing.
As I walked along the Bayswater Road, I thought about espionage fiction, and
the judging for Ian Fleming Publications and the Crime
Writer’s Association, with
the Steel Dagger. As I walked in the early hours back to my Hotel, I smiled
thinking of John Le Carre’s The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, which the CWA
awarded “The Dagger of Daggers” in 2005 – see here
Though dressed more as James
Bond; Bayswater reminded me of George Smiley and of course Alec
Leamas, as John Le Carre once described the semi-Soviet anonymity of Bayswater:
“They
walked to her flat through the rain and they might have been anywhere — Berlin,
London, any town where paving stones turn to lakes of light in the evening
rain, and the traffic shuffles despondently through wet streets.”
Read More Here about the anonymous spies in London, and where they reside.
When I arrived at my
anonymous hotel, just off the Bayswater Road, but before Notting Hill, I looked
in the mirror recalling one question that made me ponder.
Over dinner I got
talking, and was asked “……so why do you enjoy Crime & Thriller Fiction
so much, it can’t be healthy for the mind, the volumes you read?’
I smiled like Tom Ripley “....because
it relaxes me, it calms me and makes me think. I find the more disturbing, the
better, and therefore the more calming...” I replied laughing.
Sometimes we need
distraction, at other times Crime and Thriller Fiction makes us think, and
realise how fortunate we are, compared to the very worst that this reality has
to offer. Pick up a newspaper if you wish to challenge my thinking.
Later, my assertion
was reinforced by writer Matt Haig who was one of the award presenters, for he
thanked those in publishing for the help they give, because reading is good for our mental well-being.
I winked at my colleague who had enquired at my
obsession with Crime & Thriller Fiction, gesturing at Matt Haig
“Besides, we get to see Philip Pullman sitting
on the table next to us.” I
continued gesturing to the table next to ours.
It might sound a bit weird, but reading does help us manage
reality, for as Stephen King once said ‘life is not a support
system for the arts, it’s the other way around’
And a tip of the hat to Crime Writer Cathi Unsworth, for spotting the reason why I stay just
“off the Bayswater Road”
Photos and Text (c) 2018 A Karim
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