The Booker Prize 2024 Shortlist

Here are the 6 novels shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize! Some I was really hoping to see and others are... a surprise! A new video is up on my YouTube channel reacting to the list as it's revealed alongside summaries, thoughts and feelings on each book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmHZojDMnpI

Overall I'm happy with this group as it includes an interesting mixture of narrative techniques and subject matter. Some books are deeply meditative and poetic in style. Others have a more thrilling plot while also reflecting about the past and humanity. All of them are innovative in their approach to storytelling.

It's great to see five female authors included. Especially exciting that there's an Australian author given there's not been representation from Down Under on the Booker list in recent years. Only one English author which I'm sure some will take issue with but I think it's perfectly fine.

In my opinion “James” is a new classic in how it both honours and re-envisions a classic American novel. It's satirical and sharp in relating a truly adventurous tale while deftly steering between humour and heartbreak. I was mesmerised by “Stone Yard Devotional” as its protagonist retreats from the world giving a deeply thoughtful meditation on choices, guilt and the intention to do good in a world fraught with problems. I'm currently reading “Creation Lake” with my online book club. It took me a bit to get into this unique mixture of spy story/essay but I'm now really enjoying its overly-confident narrative and meditation on our human motivation.

I read “The Safekeep” with my online book club last month and this suspenseful story contains great twists and turns while also giving a new view of the longterm repercussions of WWII. It's also great to see some queer representation on the list! I got totally swept up into “Orbital” reflective poetic style following six astronauts circling our planet. It veers between meditations on the beauty/fragility of our world and the curious details about everyday life on a space shuttle. As for “Held” which I gave up on reading... I'm going to try it again but I was initially put off on its lack of character development and overly ponderous philosophical passages. Who knows? Maybe I'll feel differently revisiting it like with “Study for Obedience” last year. We shall see...

Also, I'm truly shocked “My Friends” isn't on the shortlist. I LOVED Matar's novel and it's definitely one of my top reads of the year. Such a poignant story about belonging, friendship and a love of literature. However, it's not short of award attention as it won this year's Orwell Prize for Fiction and was recently listed for the National Book Award in Fiction.

I've really enjoyed reading and discussing all the books listed for this year's list and I'm looking forward to even more chat about them in the lead up to the winner being announced on November 12.

What do you think of the shortlist? Any you are eager to read? Let me know all your thoughts!

The Booker Prize 2024 Longlist

The Booker Prize 2024 longlist has been officially announced and here are the 13 novels nominated for this year's award! It's quite an exciting group of books which includes some novels I've already read and loved. A new video is up on my YouTube channel discussing each book and the longlist as a whole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wyJx5_eDyk

I've read 5 of these thus far and I'm currently reading another. I'm especially thrilled to see Matar's “My Friends” included as I've been predicting it will win this year's Booker ever since I read it earlier this year. It's also fantastic that Everett's “James” is on the list as this is a brilliant homage to a classic and a new classic itself. Also, absolutely wonderful to see “This Strange Eventful History”, “Orbital” and “Headshot” included as I think they're all excellent.

The novels on the list differently approach common themes such as community, faith, family, trauma, war, the environment and friendship. They also use a variety of styles and incorporate different forms of genre including the caper, the spy novel, the family saga, the ghost story, the thriller and gothic fiction.

There are three debut novels on the list (“Wild Houses”, “Headshot”, “The Safekeep”) – I'm especially eager to read Colin Barrett's first novel since I think his short story collection “Young Skins” is excellent. I read Bullwinkle's novel while on holiday recently and I was surprised to find a story about female boxers so engaging. I've heard van der Wouden's novel is influenced by du Maurier's “Rebecca” but it's more queer and this makes me so excited to read it!

Authors Percival Everett, Samantha Harvey, Claire Messud, Rachel Kushner, Hisham Matar and Richard Powers have all been previously listed for the Booker Prize. There's a high proportion of female authors on the list with only five male authors included. It's great to see stories from many different backgrounds, cultures and nationalities.

Two books aren't released yet: “Creation Lake” and “Playground”. I know this always frustrates readers but it's possible that the publishers will push forward their release dates now. I'm most sceptical about Kushner's new novel since I had mixed feelings about “The Mars Room”. However, I'm SO excited to read Powers' new novel since I loved “Bewilderment”.

What do you think of the list? Any recent favourites included? Any you're eager to read first? Will you be ambitious enough to read the entire longlist? Any books you're disappointed not to see on the list?

The Booker Prize 2023 Shortlist

Here are the 6 novels shortlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize! A new video is up on my YouTube channel where I give my live reaction to each book as I discover it's been listed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MID-r2k20l8

It's a really surprising group – even though I predicted three of them. An interesting diversity of styles and subject matter. It includes two debut authors and three authors named Paul! As it's been commented on social media, there are more writers named Paul than female authors on the list!

I’m very happy to see “Prophet Song”, “Western Lane”, “The Bee Sting” and “If I Survive You” here. I’m a good way through Murray’s doorstopper and I love the twists and complex view of family life that’s formed through their varying perspectives. I’m reading this with my new online book club and we’re having such interesting conversations about it.

I’ve not read “This Other Eden” yet but looking forward to it. Now… I did not finish “Study for Obedience” after only 40 or so pages. It felt way too tedious to be worth it. But keep in mind the judges have read all 6 books at least three times. Sooo… maybe it’s worth a revisit. Should I? Or I might not bother.

I’m very sad “In Ascension” didn’t make the cut and I’m also currently reading “The House of Doors” and I’m shocked it didn’t make the list.

What do you think of the list? Any favourites, disappointments or books you're looking forward to? Let's get discussing and it will be exciting to see which book wins late in November.

The Booker Prize 2023 Longlist

Here are the 13 novels longlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize! A new video is up on my YouTube channel discussing an overview of this list and each of these books.

I've only read 2 so far but I'm absolutely thrilled to see “In Ascension” receive this recognition. It's one of my favourite books that I read this year and loved it so much I immediately read it again. MacInnes' tale is a soul-searching journey that inspires wonder! I also recently read debut novel “Western Lane” as part of my Summer Reading list. There's a quiet power to this story narrated by an adolescent girl who has recently lost her mother. It describes in aching detail how she and her father avoid dealing with their grief by losing themselves in the sport of squash.

The judges considered 163 submissions to arrive at this list. The group includes three previously listed authors: Sebastian Barry, Paul Murray and Tan Twan Eng. There are four debut novels including “Pearl”, “All the Little Bird-Hearts”, “If I Survive You” and “Western Lane”. A number of the authors are also poets – which isn't surprising given that Mary Jean Chen is one of the judges. There's great Irish representation with authors Sebastian Barry, Elaine Feeney, Paul Lynch and Paul Murray!

I read the first two stories in “If I Survive You” earlier this year and loved them but got distracted by some other required reading I had to do. So I'm eager to return to this book of interconnected short stories. Given that they centre around the same family and area I guess it can be counted as a novel. Books of short stories aren't usually eligible for the prize but there are plenty of examples of such books from previous years that have made the list. Personally I love this form of fiction.

The rest sound fascinating as well with a number I've been meaning to read including “A Spell of Good Things”, “Old God's Time”, “Study for Obedience”, “This Other Eden” and “The House of Doors”. I've not previously come across most of the other nominees so I'm eager to explore them. The only novel I'm slightly hesitant about is “The Bee Sting” - not because of the size (though it is the longest book on the list at 643 pages), but because I read Murray's previous novel “The Mark and the Void”. For me, it was interesting but not very successful. However, I've not yet read his previously listed novel “Skippy Dies” which most seem to agree was a better novel. Nevertheless, I do like the sound of this new book about a family's fall from affluence so I'm willing to give it a try.

I am SHOCKED not to see “Demon Copperhead” on the list. This novel has been snatching trophies everywhere and it's one of my favourite books from the past year. I know it doesn't need any more promotion, but quality is quality. It's also a shame Zadie Smith's new historical novel “The Fraud” and debuts “The New Life” and “Mrs S” didn't make the list. But who knows? Maybe some of the longlisted books I've not read yet will become new favourites. We'll see and I'm eager to dive into this tempting reading pile.

What do you think of the longlist? What are you planning on reading first?

The Booker Prize 2022 Winner

It's been really interesting following the Booker Prize this year. It highlighted some books which were already recent favourites including “Small Things Like These”, “The Colony”, “The Trees”, “Nightcrawling” and “Glory”. But it also encouraged me to pick up other excellent novels such as “Booth”, “Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies” and this year's deserving winner “The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida”.

I had the great privilege of attending the celebration and announcement for the prize. Before the event began of I was able to see the authors looking at the one-of-a-kind special editions of their novels. I also had a little talk with Shehan Karunatilaka beforehand and I got to ask him a question at the press conference after the ceremony. You can watch a video of this and my vlog about the rest of the evening here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMeaGY-hefA

I had lovely chats with Maddie Mortimer, Percival Everett, Elif Shafak, a judge of next year’s Booker International Prize and some fellow bookstagrammers. Dua Lipa led us in singing happy to Alan Garner who was on a video call. I lost my glasses and found my glasses. It was all quite a whirlwind!

Since the protagonist of Karunatilaka’s novel is a gambler it felt appropriate to place a bet on “The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida” and it was my favourite to win. So it paid off, but moreover I'm thrilled with this result as the novel is such an entertaining and insightful story. It's a suspenseful mystery, a reckoning with Sri Lanka's war torn history, a creepy ghost story and a moving meditation on the meaning of life. I’m glad more people will be discovering it now.

Have you read Maali Almeida yet? What do you think of the result?

The Booker Prize 2022 Shortlist

Here are the 6 novels shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize! A new video is up on my YouTube channel discussing all these books and fun info about the list as well as the exciting news that the Booker is sponsoring me to follow this year's shortlist: https://youtu.be/rJeF4NoymaA Yes, she is official! This is a lovely thing which will allow me to engage with readers even more than I usually do about this prize season, but I'll continue to give my honest thoughts about the nominated books and the list as a whole.

I correctly predicted that 4 of these novels would make the shortlist and I've read 5 of them. I'm thrilled Bulawayo, Everett, Keegan and Karunatilaka made it! Their novels are extraordinarily clever, emotional and excellently written. Moreover they are all a JOY to read. Though this novel by Strout isn't my favourite or one of my personal tops from the longlist or my fav from the Lucy Barton series (the 4th novel in the series “Lucky by the Sea” will be published in the UK on Oct 6th), I love her writing and this is a very moving and deceptively simple story. I've not read Garner's short novel yet but I've heard such mixed opinions I'm so intrigued to get to it.

It is a shame “The Colony” by Audrey Magee and “Nightcrawling” by Leila Mottley didn't make the shortlist. I loved both of these and would encourage anyone who hasn't yet read them to get to these as well. There are also other books from the longlist I've not read yet which I'm still intending to explore.

What do you think of the list? Any favourites, disappointments or books you're looking forward to?

I'm looking forward to following this exciting prize season even more closely!

The Booker Prize 2022 Longlist

It's heeeere! The 13 novels longlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize have been announced. A new video is up on my YouTube channel discussing all these books.

Some I'm thrilled to see and some are surprises. I predicted only 3 but I've read 6 of them and I'm eager to explore more of these novels!

The judges considered 169 submissions to arrive at this list. Amongst these authors are the youngest and oldest authors to ever be listed for the Booker. Leila Mottley just turned 20 last month and Alan Garner is 88. There are also 3 debuts.Amongst the authors are 6 Americans, 3 British, 2 Irish, 1 Zimbabwean and 1 Sri Lankan. It's a shame there aren't any Australian, New Zealand, Canadian or Indian authors represented.

I'm very excited “Glory” by NoViolet Bulawayo, “The Trees” by Percival Everett, “Small Things Like These” by Claire Keegan, “The Colony” by Audrey Magee & “Nightcrawling” by Leila Mottley listed. All inventive, moving and utterly enthralling stories. I'm going to say it now... while I love Elizabeth Strout's writing I don't think “Oh William!” is her best so I was quite shocked to see it listed but feel free to argue with me.

I'm most looking forward to reading “Booth” by Karen Joy Fowler, “The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida” by Shehan Karunatilaka & “After Sappho” by Selby Wynn Schwartz but if I have time I'm hoping to get to all the titles I've not read yet.

It’s really difficult to see what books might be frontrunners to win this early on especially since I’ve not read all of them yet. But if I had to make a guess I think “Glory” or “Small Things Like These” have a strong chance of taking the crown.

What do you think of the list? Any favourites, disappointments or books you're looking forward to?

Let the games (and reading) begin!

The Booker Prize 2021 Winner

I've been following the Booker Prize even more closely than usual this year reading all 13 novels on the longlist. Despite issues creeping up regarding the prize (see my rant video) I still appreciate how this book award highlights some of the best novels of the year. Some of my personal favourites include “Klara and the Sun”, “Bewilderment”, “Great Circle” and “China Room”. This year's finale was held in person but it was a much smaller affair than usual and broadcast online so if you want to watch the entire award ceremony with me in my library I filmed a reaction video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9r4WhDfayg Towards the end of the video I also asked Galgut some questions immediately after his win.

From the moment I finished reading “The Promise” by Damon Galgut I knew this is a very special novel. I filmed a video trying to articulate my feelings and reaction to it, but there is so much to say about this book that I feel there will continue to be debate and discussion surrounding it for many years to come. There's a haunting quality to it which has stuck with me long after having read the book. The characters that loom large in my memory aren't so much the main protagonists of the family we follow, but the voices which are absent. It's extraordinary how Salome who is denied receiving ownership of the home which is promised to her year after year continues to be such a strong presence though we only see her in the background of each section.

Equally, the youngest child of the family Amor who is a kind of moral compass of the story takes such a strong role in the novel. As the years go by she has a better understanding of how both her family and the country are poisoned by racism and this is something she is unable to change. As a consequence she retreats from both while also retreating from the narrative itself. We get few details of her life and though I wanted to know more about Salome and Amor's stories I understood why we're denied them. The reader is trapped in the racist mentality of this family which is slowly dying off as we follow funeral after funeral. We can't escape this point of view anymore than the family members themselves and I think Galgut is saying how these pernicious attitudes can't simply be shaken off no matter how much politics and society progress. It's a bold statement and an emotionally impactful way of conveying this message using an entirely unique style of narrative.

So I'm very happy with the result of this year's prize though my favourite novel from the group “Bewilderment” didn't win. But, for me, this book award isn't about winners or losers. It's about encouraging discussion, closer reading and taking another look at books we might initially dismiss. The award has definitely done that this year and I'm grateful for everyone who has engaged in discussions with me about the books. What do you think about the winner? Have you read it or are you eager to read it now? Did you have a favourite you were hoping would win? Let's keep the conversation going.

The 2021 Booker Prize Shortlist

It's always interesting to see how the Booker judges will cut their list of novels down by more than half to arrive at only six titles for a shortlist. While last year there was surprise at the absence of Hilary Mantel, this year some will be taken aback that former Booker Prize winner and Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro isn't included. I was hoping to see his book on the list – not because of his reputation – but because “Klara and the Sun” is a novel that's really stuck with me and that I've continued to think about many months after finishing it. However, this year's shortlistees are far from unknown. Richard Powers and Damon Galgut have been nominated for the Booker Prize before and Patricia Lockwood's debut novel “No One is Talking About This” was also shortlisted for this year's Women's Prize for Fiction. It's brilliant that this year's prize will raise the profile of critically acclaimed authors Anuk Arudpragasam, Nadifa Mohamed and Maggie Shipstead. Although this is another year where the old school Booker followers can roll their eyes at half the shortlistees being American, the novels in this group really address a wide range of topics and utilize a compelling mixture of writing styles to tell a unique story. 

Though I preferred some of the other longlisted novels over “A Passage North” and “No One is Talking About This” I certainly appreciate many things about these books and agree they are worth a second look. I loved the way that “The Fortune Men” immerses the reader in the point of view of a sympathetically flawed figure from history who was a victim of the United Kingdom's racist injustice. “The Promise” provides an utterly unique narrative which shows the other side of racism in South Africa by locking the reader into the prejudiced perspective of a white family in the years before and after Apartheid. “Great Circle” presents a dual storyline in two different time periods which asks pressing questions about the way history is interpreted while dramatizing an arresting and adventure tale. “Bewilderment” creatively shows a beautifully tender father and son relationship while addressing some of the most pressing issues we face today especially concerning climate change and the extinction of species. It's going to be very difficult trying to determine which novel the judges might pick as their winner. You can watch me discuss more of my thoughts in a reaction video I made about the announcement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ5Cq-CTdnk

What do you think about this group of books? Are you interested in reading some or all of them? If you've read them all which is your favourite?

The 2021 Booker Prize Longlist

I can never help getting swept up in the excitement of a new Booker Prize list and the longlist for this year's main award has just been announced. It's an interesting group with many well established writers and previously Booker-nominated authors. There are only two debuts which is a big change from last year's prize list which included a lot of new voices. There's a fairly even gender balance and a range of nationalities are represented although, as always in recent years, most of the authors are British or American. I didn't do so well with my predictions for what would be listed but two really strong contenders I was certain we'd see are here - “Klara and the Sun” by Kazuo Ishiguro and “The Promise” by Damon Galgut. They're both utterly absorbing and thoughtful novels which also tell a gripping story and have left a lasting impression on me. I've also read “A Passage North” by Anuk Arudpragasam which is an extremely compelling book in its deliberations about human nature and the specific concerns of post-civil war Sri Lanka. However, it did feel too ponderous in some sections. I also felt “No One is Talking About This” by Patricia Lockwood gives a very humorous and, later in the book, an emotional account of the dilemma of living a life that's mediated through the internet, but it didn't move me as much as it has some other readers. 

Out of the remaining novels on the list I'm most looking forward to reading “The Fortune Men” by Nadifa Mohamed and “Bewilderment” by Richard Powers. With Powers I felt “The Overstory” was mostly compelling and made a striking statement overall but was a tad too bloated so the fact that his new novel is slimmer feels like a good sign. I'm also highly anticipating “An Island” by Karen Jennings as it sounds like it gives another interesting slant on South African politics by telling the story of a man's interrupted solitude. The stories of “China Room” by Sunjeev Sahota and “Great Circle” by Maggie Shipstead sound so absorbing I'm looking forward to getting stuck into them. I first heard about “The Sweetness of Water” by Nathan Harris because it's on Obama's Summer reading list so it'll be interesting to see if this novel will become better known in the UK because of this award. I'm very partial to Anne Tyler's fiction and “A Town Called Solace” by Mary Lawson has been likened to her books so I'm sure I'll enjoy this novel. After reading “Outline” by Rachel Cusk I didn't feel motivated to carry on with reading that trilogy but I would be keen to give her writing another try by reading “Second Place” though it has received some rather critical reviews. Finally, I've been wanting to read historian Francis Spufford's writing since his debut novel made such a splash and I do enjoy alternate histories in fiction so I'm looking forward to “Light Perpetual” as well. 

That gives me quite a reading list for the next few months! I'll see how much I can get to before the shortlist is announced on September 14th. What books on the list are you keen to read? What novels are you disappointed didn't make the list? Will you take on the challenge of reading all 13 or pick and choose? 

The Booker Prize 2020 Winner

Another year of the Booker Prize and another year where the result has utterly surprised me! But this time I am absolutely thrilled with the judges' decision. After closely following the International Booker Prize earlier this year and the book I liked least on the list “The Discomfort of Evening” won I lost confidence in my ability to predict Booker winners. Added to that was the fact that half of the main Booker Prize shortlist this year didn't work for me so I had resigned myself to the idea that the judges' tastes don't align with my own. So I held little hope that my two favourites on the list “Burnt Sugar” and “Shuggie Bain” held a chance of winning. But I was wrong. Douglas Stuart's debut novel has won! 

This brilliantly moving book is based on Stuart's own experience of a Glasgow childhood marked by poverty and addiction. Yet it portrays both the environment and its people in such a warm-hearted and dynamic way that he's really brought this time period and region to life. Douglas Stuart also has the distinction of being the second Scot to ever win this prize. The first was James Kelman in 1994. Coincidentally, just earlier this week “Shuggie Bain” was also shortlisted for the National Book Awards but it lost out to “Interior Chinatown” by Charles Yu.

Since a physical ceremony wasn't possible this year, the announcement was made online in a “ceremony without walls” last night. I filmed a live reaction video to this and participated in a press interview with Stuart afterwards where I got to ask him a question. You can watch this here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxu5dYhyQFY

It was wonderful to hear from chair of judges Margaret Busby that the judges' decision was unanimous. And it was also very exciting to hear that Stuart is almost finished completing his second novel also set in Glasgow which will be called “Loch Awe”.

Have you read “Shuggie Bain” or are you interested in reading it? What do you think of this year's result?

The 2020 Booker Prize Shortlist

I haven't had the time to read as much from this year's Booker longlist as I normally would. I'm very busy reading lots and lots of books as a judge on the Costa Book Awards, but I have read six novels from the longlist including Hilary Mantel's giant end to her trilogy “The Mirror and the Light”. And what a surprise that this bookies' favourite hasn't made the shortlist! It's a shame in a way as it'd have been exciting for Mantel to be the first author to win the Booker three times. However, the novel certainly doesn't need the attention a book prize can give it as much as some of the other novels on this shortlist – 4 of which are by debut novelists. Equally, Dangarembga and Mengiste are authors who haven't received as much attention as Tyler, McCann or Reid. But, if I consider the novels I think are the most accomplished and my favourites, I'd have picked “The Mirror and the Light” and “Such a Fun Age” over “This Mournable Body” and “Real Life”. 

I'm so happy “Shuggie Bain” made the shortlist and I know it's a popular favourite and probably the most likely novel to win at this point. Of course, I can't really make that judgement yet till I've read all the books from the shortlist. I'm very eager to read “The New Wilderness”, “Burnt Sugar” and “The Shadow King”. I'm torn about whether to give “Real Life” another try as I simply didn't enjoy the first 50 pages I read from the novel. But there are so many competing opinions about it I'm almost curious to try finishing it just to see where I fall in the debate. The winner is currently scheduled to be announced on November 17th (that's later in the year than it's usually announced so more reading time!) but, as we all know, event dates can easily change this year. 

I'll be very interested to know what you think of the list. Let me know in the comments if you've read any of these six novels, what you think of them or which books on the list you're most eager to read. 

The 2020 Booker Prize Longlist

The longlist for this year's Booker Prize has been announced and there are a lot of surprises here. Probably the novel readers will be least surprised to see is Hilary Mantel's giant final volume in her Cromwell trilogy. But this isn't the only novel on the list which completes a trilogy because we also have “This Mournable Body” by Tsitsi Dangarembga – which, if you can believe it, is part of a series of books even longer in the making than Mantel's novel. Dangarembga has been writing about her fictional character Tambu for more than thirty years. Recently the BBC named her novel “Nervous Conditions” one of the top 100 novels that shaped the world so it's really interesting to see her continuing influence now. Since I've only read four of the books on this list, I have to say, personally the novel I'm most happy to see here is Sophie Ward's novel “Love and Other Thought Experiments”. As I talked about in my video about the best books I've read this year so far, it is such a thought-provoking and original novel like nothing I've read before. So I'm overjoyed more people will be reading and discussing this book.

Overall, I'm very excited about this list as there are several books I've been really wanting to read and a few I've not heard of – there's always surprises on the Booker list and even moreso this year. I think most people will remark that there aren't many big well known authors on the list – except Hilary Mantel, Anne Tyler and Colum McCann. And the main reason for that is because eight out of these thirteen novels are debuts. There are also nine female writers and four male writers. I've made a video where I talk through all these novels. Four of them haven't been published in the UK yet, but they will all be out before the shortlist is announced on September 15th.

I must admit, I’m disappointed that Ali Smith’s “Summer”, Paul Mendez’s “Rainbow Milk”, Joyce Carol Oates’ “Night.Sleep. Death. The Stars” and Monique Roffey’s “The Mermaid of Black Conch” didn’t make this year’s list. I'd love to know in the comments what you think about the list as a whole and what you're most eager to read from it.

The Booker Prize 2019 Winners

Well this was a result I never expected! What a shock when chair of the judges Peter Florence announced there would be two winners of The Booker Prize this year because they are “two novels we cannot compromise on.” And it was a further surprise when those winners were announced to be “The Testaments” and “Girl, Woman, Other”. Maybe it’s the year of doubles with the recent Nobel Prize in Literature being awarded to both Olga Tokarczuk (for 2018) and Peter Handke (for 2019) – a decision which was controversial in a different way. Certainly there’s a strong love and respect that many readers have for Margaret Atwood, but it seems a curiously unnecessary thing for her to share the award with Bernadine Evaristo. Atwood herself said when receiving the prize “I kind of don’t need the attention.” Her stature and popularity will be little affected by this win, whereas it will be a huge boost to Evaristo who has produced several well-regarded novels but doesn’t have the same kind of national or international reputation. In the press conference after the award was announced Evaristo said “I’m not thinking about sharing it. I’m thinking about the fact that I’ve got here with it.”

I’m thrilled that “Girl, Woman, Other” has won the award since I loved this novel so much. Given the enormous anticipation for “The Testaments” I assume most people who were desperate to read it have now done so. Hopefully, those readers and readers who follow The Booker Prize winners to guide them in what to read next will now read “Girl, Woman, Other” as well. I’m eager to continue discussing it and plan to reread it at some point. I don’t think the prize being awarded to two authors detracts from the significant fact that Evaristo is the first black woman to win the Booker, but it would have been nice if she’d been able to stand in the spotlight on her own.

Personally I feel that if the award had to go to two novels I would much preferred to see it given to Lucy Ellmann and Bernadine Evaristo because I thought “Ducks, Newburyport” is a more accomplished novel than “The Testaments” and she’s an author whose reputation equally deserves to be enhanced. However, there is hope in the fact that “Ducks, Newburyport” is also shortlisted for The Goldsmiths Prize – an award that rewards fiction which breaks the mould or extends the possibilities of the novel form. While “The Testaments” is an engaging and moving read it certainly doesn’t do anything wildly inventive in its structure or style. Maybe recognition from The Goldsmiths Prize will highlight how “Ducks, Newburyport” is such an edgy and exciting novel while also being a deeply pleasurable read.

It was also thrilling to attend The Booker Prize ceremony for the first time this year and witness all the excitement in action. I had a wonderful time speaking with journalists, publishers and authors including Lucy Ellmann and Elif Shafak. It was a thrill to see such a grand event being held in the name of literature and regardless of the controversy I’m glad that the prize has sparked so much discussion and engagement with all the excellent novels listed this year. Whoever wins a book award doesn’t matter to me as a reader because what the prize has already done is encourage me to read both “Girl, Woman, Other” and “Ducks, Newburyport” – I’m not sure I’d have got around to reading either novel without the prize’s encouragement. And now I can continue encouraging other readers to pick up these great books as well. You can watch my video about attending the Booker Prize ceremony here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqNe4R4K7bg

The 2019 Booker Prize Shortlist

The Booker Prize shortlist has been announced and here are the six novels!

I’m ecstatic to see “Ducks, Newburyport” included! It’s a hilarious and immersive story and the narrator is really an everyman/everywoman of our time. Also thrilled to see “Girl, Woman, Other” as its filled with such rich tales and characters who make me want to reread the novel to better understand this wonderful latticework of storytelling.

Also very happy to see “10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World” as its such a moving tale about marginalized people’s lives. I have to admit, I wasn’t as struck with the story in “An Orchestra of Minorities” as some other people have been. It’s creative storytelling and a poignant tale, but the distinct narrative voice grew irritating and felt too grandiose to me.

I’m geekily proud to have guessed 4 of the 6 novels correctly as I discussed in my video about recent Booker Prize reading. As with all book prize lists, there will be some novels I’m sad didn’t make the cut. Particularly “Lost Children Archive” since this novel was also only longlisted for the Women’s Prize. It’s a shame that this tremendous novel probably won’t end up winning any major prize. It’s also a shame “Lanny” or “Frankissstein” didn’t make the list because these novels are so audacious and innovative in their storytelling making them such fun and so clever. Then there is the meditative brilliance of “Night Boat to Tangier” and I’m sad that Kevin Barry won’t be getting wider recognition.

I still have to read “Quichotte” & “The Testaments”, but having just reread “The Handmaid’s Tale” I’m so excited to read Atwood’s new novel!

What do you think about this list? Have you read any? Will you read them now? What novel do you want to win?!