Prose dominates literature award nominations

Take note – story published 8 years ago

Poetry is traditionally the preferred means of expression for Latvian literati, however as the Latvian Literature Yearly Award (LALIGABA) contestants show this year, prose has experienced a sort of a revival, reported Latvian Radio Monday. 

On March 21 the LALIGABA award contestants were announced in five categories - poetry, prose, children's, translation, and debut. 

Among the nominations are three books from the "We. Latvia. The 20th Century" series of historical novels, initiated by Gundega Repše.

"In a way you could say it's like manufacture - that all the authors have to write these novels. However it's very interesting how differently the authors do what seems like the exact same task - each depending on what sort of creative individual he is and his thinking type.

It is a sort of an experiment, there has never been anything of this sort in Latvian literature," Anda Baklāne, chairwoman of the jury of the award, told Latvian Radio.

The three books - Nora Ikstena's Mātes piens (Mother's Milk), Māris Bērziņš' Svina garša (The Taste of Lead) and Guntis Berelis' Vārdiem nebija vietas (No Place for Words) - have been nominated in the prose category, alongside Inga Žolude's Stāsti (Stories) and Vlads Spāre's Tu nevari dabūt visu, ko gribi (You Cannot Get All You Want).

Prose is dominating in children's literature as well, with only one poetry book among the four nominees, while four women are dominating the Debut category. 

While poet Jānis Rokpelnis was named the recipient of the Latvian Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement. Rokpelnis noted in good humor that he's "not too disappointed" about the award.

The awards will be handed April 21 at the Spīķeri Concert Hall. Here are all the nominees

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