Fi Glover

What attracted you to judging the Orange Prize for Fiction?
Well, what an honour!  Having been a fan of the books chosen in previous years, I was chuffed to be asked to take part in the selection of this year's winner. Any prize that encourages reading should be embraced with open arms and a big warm hug. And a prize that celebrates two things women do so well – reading and writing – only added to the appeal. I also applaud the sentiment of the anonymous benefactor who bestowed the money to the Prize – simply that reading books sustained her life as a wife and a mother.
 
What’s the most enjoyable aspect of the judging process?
The sheer diversity of the books i have read, from tales of adventure, through those of adversity–- and from all corners of the world, what a wonderful palette! It is easy to keep returning to authors that you like – and I am a creature of habit in that respect so this has been a head stretching exercise.
 
The most challenging?
Simply being able to read all the books in the time allotted – not an easy task and sometimes a very daunting one. Not enough hours in the day … and sometimes the night too. I found the task of distilling the longlist down to the shortlist to be much harder than I imagine and felt a sense of loss that several of the books didn't make it through this part of the process.

How differently do you read when you’re judging to when you’re reading for pleasure?
Very very differently and one thing that I had not considered at the beginning was how differently I would feel reading all the books and knowing that a public discussion would then ensue. Although I have read hundreds of books prior to interviewing the authors, I have never read with the intention of then submitting my opinion about a book in front of a collective of extremely intelligent and opinionated fellow judges!  It made me read in a much less reflective, and more critical way – not something that I always enjoyed to be honest.
 
What was the impact of reading so many novels in such a short time?
Poor eyesight and an exasperated partner – my head hurts!
 
Anything else you’d like to tell website visitors?
Pick something from the longlist or the shortlist that you would never normally pick – and I hope you won't be disappointed. If you are then just pick another one....