Your weekly edit
This week, we pick out some of the best Booker-nominated debuts, plus books for fans of The Traitors, a quiz to help you choose a Booker film adaptation to watch, and your audiobook recommendations
11 of the best Booker-nominated debuts
Maybe it’s the time of year, but we’ve been thinking about firsts a lot this week. First-time novelists specifically. To be nominated for the Booker Prize is impressive at any stage of a writer’s career, but to be longlisted, shortlisted or win for a first novel is something else.
Debuts have featured on Booker long- and shortlists through the decades but, interestingly, 2020 stands out. Eight of the 13 novels longlisted that year were written by first-time novelists – the most in the prize’s history.
Glasgow-born Douglas Stuart went on to win with his heartbreaking debut, Shuggie Bain. Reflecting on his win recently, Stuart told us, ‘To win the Booker made me feel like I hadn’t been entirely delusional, and that I had been right to walk away from the security of my fashion career and trust my dreams.’
As well as dreams, behind every great debut novel are usually doubts and many, many drafts, not to mention an inbox swollen with rejection letters. Shuggie Bain, famously, was turned down by around 40 publishers before it found its way into print. Like Stuart, the other writers on this week’s reading list defied the odds and handled the pressure, before being nominated for the Booker Prize with their debuts.
What to read, watch and listen to this weekend
Here are eight books from the Booker Library that are oozing with ambition and betrayal, perfect for anyone caught up in the drama of The Traitors, as series 4 in the UK builds towards its nail-biting climax. This is one of many reading lists in our back catalogue of book recommendations: you can catch up with all the others here.
For indecisive film enthusiasts
Over 70 Booker-nominated books have been adapted for the screen. If you fancy a film this weekend, but don’t know what to watch, our personality quiz will help you decide!
As Substack subscriber Monica says, ‘There is nothing better than a comfy chair, warm blanket, hot tea, and a good audiobook in winter’. But sometimes the reason an audiobook is best is that it allows us to make a dent in our TBR pile and our to-do list, at the same time. This list of listening recommendations – curated by our subscribers – is a great resource if you’re pondering what to listen to next, whether you’re going to fully immerse yourself or multitask.
Which books will keep you company this weekend? And do you have a favourite Booker-nominated debut? Let us know in the comments.
Keep em coming!
Omg! What a beautiful selection!! Almost all are my favorites 💎📚💎.