The Booker Prize 2024 longlistees on the book that inspired them to become a writer

With just a few days to go until the shortlist is announced, we asked some of the authors nominated for this year's prize to tell us about the book that set them on the path to becoming a writer

What makes a writer? It’s a million-dollar question. And while there’s rarely a single answer, many authors can point to pivotal moments in their lives that lit a path forward. Often, it’s another writer’s book that serves as the catalyst – a story that opens a door, revealing a vast landscape of fiction beyond. 

For some, it was the first time they saw their own world reflected on a page – a moment of recognition that made them realise their experiences and opinions were worth documenting. For others, it was the brilliance of a classic novel, the brutal elegance of its prose, or how it turned their understanding of fiction on its head.  

Here, we asked the Booker Prize 2024 nominees about the books that inspired them to put pen to paper. These are the books that made them want to be a writer – and led them to this year’s longlist.  

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Watch this year’s Booker Prize shortlist announcement

In just three days’ time, on Monday, 16 September, the shortlist for the Booker Prize 2024 will be announced, with the 13 longlisted titles whittled down to a final six.

You can be among the first to discover which books have made the shortlist by joining the livestream of our announcement event, which will be broadcast live from Somerset House in London. Watch it on YouTube (you can set a handy reminder now), or follow along on the Booker Prizes Instagram channel from 7pm BST.

Don’t miss out on this exciting moment, as we edge closer to discovering this year’s Booker Prize winner! In the meantime, we’d love to hear your shortlist predictions in the comments below.

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