2008 Winners: French-language
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Fiction
Non-fiction
Poetry
Drama
Children’s Literature – text
Children’s Literature – illustration
Translation – French to English
Marie-Claire Blais, Naissance de Rebecca à l'ère des tourments
(Les Éditions du Boréal; distributed by Diffusion Dimedia) (ISBN: 978-2-7646-0578-3)
Biography
Since the publication of her first novel in 1959, Marie-Claire Blais has won numerous awards, grants and honours. Her track record at the GGs is impressive: four times a finalist, four times a laureate. Translated into several languages, well known to young readers - especially the classic A Season in the Life of Emmanuel - her work is hailed by the public and critics alike. In 2006, this seminal contemporary author became the first Francophone to receive the Matt Cohen Award from the Writers' Trust of Canada for a lifetime of distinguished work. Originally from Quebec City, she now lives in Westmount, Quebec.
Jury's comment
The heart of a world in all its maledictions and beauty, the inexhaustible outpouring of life in the darkness of an end that began a long time ago, this breathtaking paroxysm of a novel turns any commonly held vision upside down. Marie-Claire Blais' transcendental prose illuminates the depths of the characters with an extraordinary light of survival.
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Pierre Ouellet, Hors-temps : poétique de la posthistoire
(VLB éditeur; distributed by Les Messageries ADP) (ISBN: 978-2-89649-037-0)
Biography
Poet, essayist, novelist and researcher, Pierre Ouellet is impressive in the quality, diversity and number of his publications. Professor in the literary studies department at UQAM, the Canada Research Chair in Esthetics and Poetics, founder and member of the Centre interuniversitaire d'études sur les lettres, les arts et les traditions, and a guest teacher and researcher the world over, Pierre Ouellet won his first GG two years ago for À force de voir : histoire de regards. He lives in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.
Jury's comment
Pierre Ouellet does an exceptional job of combining the inspiration of poetry with the rigours of philosophy. He positions himself at the dawn of post-history and, through the power of language, reveals a dazzling vision of the future. He blends the political, dreams and intimacy into a critical reflection of immense lucidity.
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Michel Pleau, La lenteur du monde
(Les Éditions David; distributed by Prologue) (ISBN: 978-2-89597-081-1)
Author photo by Studio Photo Élégance
Biography
Michel Pleau has devoted his life to literature. The recipient of many awards, this poet gives lectures, takes part in public readings, leads creative writing workshops, mentors young poets in their writing process and contributes to several reviews, including Possibles and Art LeSabord. Michel Pleau is literally present in the Quebec landscape as well: an island in the Caniapiscau reservoir in the north of Quebec bears the name of his collection La traversée de la nuit. Winner of the 2007 Résidence d'écriture Québec-Paris, he wins his first GG with La lenteur du monde. Michel Pleau lives in his hometown, Quebec City.
Jury's comment
In La lenteur du monde, Michel Pleau uses simple, moving images that go straight to the heart. He shapes words like a sculptor carves, with painstaking care, to give us moments of pure beauty and flashes of luminous landscape. He evokes the nostalgia of childhood in language as refreshing and bracing as the wind.
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Jennifer Tremblay, La liste
(Les Éditions de la Bagnole; distributed by ERPI-Diffusion du Livre Mirabel)
(ISBN: 978-2-923342-19-1)
Biography
After meeting Dany Laferrière, Jennifer Tremblay abandoned literary research to become a writer herself. She made the right decision. Tremblay works in many genres, writing short stories, poetry (Histoires de foudre), novels (Tout ce qui brille), and children's literature (including Madame Zia). From 2000 to 2003, she scripted close to 100 episodes for Les Chatouilles as well as a number for Bouledogue Bazar, two children's programs on Radio-Canada. In 2004, with Martin Larocque, she founded and became editor of Les Éditions de la Bagnole. Her first play has earned her a first GG. Originally from Forestville, Quebec, Jennifer Tremblay lives in Sorel, Quebec.
Jury's comment
Absolutely inspired. The author proposes a simple, syncopated tale of everyday to-do lists in which the essential and the ordinary are inextricably entwined. Jennifer Tremblay achieves the universal with economy and lucidity.
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Sylvie Desrosiers, Les trois lieues
(Les éditions de la courte échelle; distributed by Diffusion du livre Mirabel)
(ISBN: 978-2-89651-067-2)
Author photo by Thomas Desrosiers
Biography
Novelist, prizewinning children's author and a writer of collections of humour, Sylvie Desrosiers has also worked as a journalist, written for television and film (coauthored Nez Rouge), contributed to the magazine Croc under the pen name of Éva Partout and helped organize galas for the Just For Laughs Festival. Several adventures of her “Notdog” series (more than 400,000 copies sold) have been translated into Chinese, Spanish, Greek and Italian. Her Au revoir, Camille! won the Prix international du livre Espace-Enfants, in Switzerland, as the “book that every child should be able to offer his parents.” This is the first GG for Sylvie Desrosiers, who lives in Longueuil, Quebec.
Jury's comment
Sylvie Desrosiers has written a profoundly moving story about the difficult relationship between a father and son. The book takes us on an extraordinary adventure in the far North, a place where magic is closely connected to reality. A gentle reflection on courage, forgiveness, life, love and death.
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Janice Nadeau, Ma meilleure amie
text by Gilles Tibo
(Québec Amérique; distributed by Prologue) (ISBN 978-2-7644-0519-2)
Author photo by Yanick MacDonald
Biography
In 2004, Janice Nadeau won her first GG and together with Marie-Francine Hébert was awarded the Prix Marcel-Couture at the Salon du livre de Montréal, the first time a children's album received the prize. Her talent has been seen around the world thanks to her posters for UNESCO's World Book and Copyright Day 2006 and for Corteo by the Cirque du Soleil (reproduced in New York on a 51-storey-high banner). With Ma meilleure amie, she wins her second GG as well as the Grand Prix for illustration in the 2008 Concours Lux. Originally from Gatineau (Hull), Janice Nadeau lives in Montreal.
Jury's comment
Janice Nadeau uses a quiet, sober approach to illustrate the delicate subject of death. Her brushstroke evokes ashes and dust, and the restrained use of colour imbues Ma meilleure amie with an emotional charge that goes straight to the heart.
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Claire Chabalier and Louise Chabalier, Tracey en mille morceaux
(Les éditions les Allusifs; distributed by Gallimard/Socadis) (ISBN: 978-2-9228-6866-1)
French translation of The Tracey Fragments by Maureen Medved (House of Anansi Press)
Photos: Claire Chabalier (left), Louise Chabalier (right)
Photo of Claire Chabalier by La Presse Canadienne Images/Benoît Desjardins
Biography
Natives of Manitoba, sisters Claire and Louise Chabalier both opted for professions linked to language and literature. With an education in French and English language and literature as well as in translation, and a certified member of the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes du Québec, Claire works as a translator in the private sector. Louise, who works as an editor with literary and academic publishers, has been involved in editing all of the works published by Les éditions Les Allusifs since its foundation. Since 2005, the Chabalier sisters have translated three novels, including Jamais est l'écho de toujours, a translation of Never's Just the Echo of Forever by Barry Callaghan. With Tracey en mille morceaux, they have won their first GG. Claire lives in Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot, Quebec and Louise lives in Mascouche, Quebec.
Jury's comment
This extraordinary feat of fragmentation, already a tour-de-force in English, ran the risk in translation of appearing juxtaposed, assembled artificially in an attempt to reproduce the original welter of words. But the fluidity is natural, and the tension is constant and palpable. The translation avoids any vulgarity or obscenity - a work utterly lacking in complacency or concession.
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