I’ve read Prophet Song. I feel it is about more than what appears to be about. In the moment I realized that, it took my breath away. I might have even whispered “wow” to myself as I closed the book.
I was very suprised by the shortlist. I agree that The Bee Sting is a good choice. I've read all of the shortlist except Prophet Song, and am a little mixed about the choices. I am pleased that This Other Eden is on the shortlist. It was an outsider for me, and the narrative was a brutal read. I loved the way the community is remembered through the art that survives. I loved Sebastian Barry's Old God's Time and Tan Twan Eng's The House of Doors, and had expected House of Doors to be on the shortlist and really hoped Old God's time would make it. A totally different panel would make different choices and that's why the shortlist is interesting. My friend just said that if it wasn't controversial it would be more like choosing a book to read as part of a book club, and I thought that was an interesting way of looking at it.
Reading “ Prophet Song”. So far, a very subtle and mesmeric narrative about Ireland imperceptibly sliding into becoming a totalitarian State. So far, so good.
Boom! Cannot wait to digest some of these, and am admittedly irrationally curious to hear Robert Webb’s thoughts. Congratulations to all those who got listed for the prize; it must be momentous.
Western Lane is fantastic in ways small and large. I'm disappointed but not surprised that If I Survive You and Some Other Eden made the shortlist. They typify some aspects of modern literature, but they don't transcend it and they certainly aren't "marvels of form". I knew In Ascension never had a chance to win, but it is lovely and patient and thought-provoking. Pearl is also excellent, and consistently surprising. I'm looking forward to reading the other three on the shortlist, but they've been harder to get my hands on.
Only one really good book among the six: Study for Obedience. It's so disappointing, because there were other great books on the longlist: A Spell of Good Things, The House of Doors, All the Little Bird-Hearts, Pearl.
I'd love to see one day again the Booker juries free of actors and, yes, even poets, and let the critics and the novelists and other beautiful literary people make the selections, based on literary merit first. Till then, we'll get this kind of unpleasant surprises, boring high-school level books such as "Western Lane".
It was unpleasant to see them on the longlist, knowing how many other great books have been discarded by this jury of actors, but to see them on the shortlist it's almost a slap on our face.
What a joke Booker has become. :(
I hope Study for Obedience will win. Or at least " If I Survive You", the first story was great, even if the next weren't as good.
I'll preface my observations by saying that I was shocked in 2020 when Mantel's The Mirror and the Light was not shortlisted. This year, I am flabbergasted that the judges have not shortlisted either Sebastian Barry's Old God's Time or Tan Twan Eng's The House of Doors. This is the first year that I have read the longlist prior to the shortlist being announced. I don't think I'll do this again, because the two books I enjoyed the most haven't been shortlisted!
A friend of mine listened to the latest podcast yesterday and messaged me to express astonishment that I can recall the plot, etc, of most shortlisted books across more than 50 years. Here's my reply..........Although the Booker Prize gets a lot of (undeserved) stick from some quarters, I think the fact that I can recall, fairly clearly, the plots, etc of most of the 321 books, is testament to the quality of the books which make the shortlist each year, and by extension, to the quality and thoroughness of the selection process.
A good year for guys named Paul
😂
I’ve read Prophet Song. I feel it is about more than what appears to be about. In the moment I realized that, it took my breath away. I might have even whispered “wow” to myself as I closed the book.
I was very suprised by the shortlist. I agree that The Bee Sting is a good choice. I've read all of the shortlist except Prophet Song, and am a little mixed about the choices. I am pleased that This Other Eden is on the shortlist. It was an outsider for me, and the narrative was a brutal read. I loved the way the community is remembered through the art that survives. I loved Sebastian Barry's Old God's Time and Tan Twan Eng's The House of Doors, and had expected House of Doors to be on the shortlist and really hoped Old God's time would make it. A totally different panel would make different choices and that's why the shortlist is interesting. My friend just said that if it wasn't controversial it would be more like choosing a book to read as part of a book club, and I thought that was an interesting way of looking at it.
Reading “ Prophet Song”. So far, a very subtle and mesmeric narrative about Ireland imperceptibly sliding into becoming a totalitarian State. So far, so good.
So glad to hear you're enjoying it so far, Christopher!
I have just bought 2nd hand copies of ALL your books ! A wimter's reading there...
Boom! Cannot wait to digest some of these, and am admittedly irrationally curious to hear Robert Webb’s thoughts. Congratulations to all those who got listed for the prize; it must be momentous.
Western Lane is fantastic in ways small and large. I'm disappointed but not surprised that If I Survive You and Some Other Eden made the shortlist. They typify some aspects of modern literature, but they don't transcend it and they certainly aren't "marvels of form". I knew In Ascension never had a chance to win, but it is lovely and patient and thought-provoking. Pearl is also excellent, and consistently surprising. I'm looking forward to reading the other three on the shortlist, but they've been harder to get my hands on.
Shortsighted short list!
Only one really good book among the six: Study for Obedience. It's so disappointing, because there were other great books on the longlist: A Spell of Good Things, The House of Doors, All the Little Bird-Hearts, Pearl.
I'd love to see one day again the Booker juries free of actors and, yes, even poets, and let the critics and the novelists and other beautiful literary people make the selections, based on literary merit first. Till then, we'll get this kind of unpleasant surprises, boring high-school level books such as "Western Lane".
It was unpleasant to see them on the longlist, knowing how many other great books have been discarded by this jury of actors, but to see them on the shortlist it's almost a slap on our face.
What a joke Booker has become. :(
I hope Study for Obedience will win. Or at least " If I Survive You", the first story was great, even if the next weren't as good.
I'll preface my observations by saying that I was shocked in 2020 when Mantel's The Mirror and the Light was not shortlisted. This year, I am flabbergasted that the judges have not shortlisted either Sebastian Barry's Old God's Time or Tan Twan Eng's The House of Doors. This is the first year that I have read the longlist prior to the shortlist being announced. I don't think I'll do this again, because the two books I enjoyed the most haven't been shortlisted!
A friend of mine listened to the latest podcast yesterday and messaged me to express astonishment that I can recall the plot, etc, of most shortlisted books across more than 50 years. Here's my reply..........Although the Booker Prize gets a lot of (undeserved) stick from some quarters, I think the fact that I can recall, fairly clearly, the plots, etc of most of the 321 books, is testament to the quality of the books which make the shortlist each year, and by extension, to the quality and thoroughness of the selection process.
Awaiting it