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So the Booker Prize longlist is announced.

This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud
Enlightenment by Sarah Perry
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
Playground by Richard Powers
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange
Wild Houses by Colin Barrett
Held by Anne Michaels
Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner
James by Percival Everett
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
My Friends by Hisham Matar
Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel



Does any one have any strong feelings about individual books you loved, weren't a fan of, point of view on the presence of so many American authors, happiness at 8 women/5 men, lack of any African authors, other thoughts?

I have only read James and recommend it wholeheartedly, and, no, you don't have to have read Twain to enjoy and value it. I'm interested in reading Claire Messud's and Hisham Mitar's novels.

You?

I recently finished Stone Yard Devotional. Slow, contemplative and I absolutely loved it!

JanGlen wrote: "I recently finished Stone Yard Devotional. Slow, contemplative and I absolutely loved it!"

Good to know. I loved The Weekend by Charlotte Wood, so was thinking of picking this up.

I liked James very much, right now I am reading Orbital, after that I am planning My Friends and Held.

I really like this longlist overall. I have read Orbital, which I liked but it is very dreamy and philosophical in a way. It’s not going to be for everyone. I DNF James. I was so bored by it.

I’m currently reading Wild Houses, which I’m enjoying, and waiting for library holds on many others.

I have read 3, Hisham Matar's My Friends was excellent, I've been wanting to read his memoir The Return for a while, so jumped at the chance to read his novel, especially as it is a study of friendship in exile.

After reading So Much Blue and Erasure this year, both excellent, I was up for reading Pervival Everett's James and loved it, a thoroughly entertaining and thought provoking author.

The third one I've read was Orbital, which was unique and interesting, and while thoughtful, nit string characters or story so has stayed less with me. I'm intrigued by the Australian author Charlotte Wood.

Claire wrote: "I have read 3, Hisham Matar's My Friends was excellent, I've been wanting to read his memoir The Return for a while, so jumped at the chance to read his novel, especially as it is a study of friend..."

I checked So Much Blue out of the library for the second time, after loving James and Erasure - both read this year - and am hopeful it hits the same notes for me.

Thanks for the post Carol. I haven't read any yet but am familiar with most authors nominated and hope to try some of the books.

Was surprised and pleased me was that almost 60% of authors nominated were woman. 7/12 Yay!!

It's actually 8/13 women authors, how fantastic! The lack of any black authors stood out for me though.

I haven't read any of these books. I really liked an earlier book of Charlotte Wood The Natural Way of Things (dystopia) and really did not like one by Hisham Matar In the Country of Men

Hannah wrote: "It's actually 8/13 women authors, how fantastic! The lack of any black authors stood out for me though.

Hannah thanks for catching this. You're correct on both counts. I didn't realize that James and The Safekeep were together on 1 line....so I came up with 7/12 and not 8/13 female authors - both about 60%.

You're also very observant and correct about the lack of black authors - though 2 of the male authors are black or black ancestry and another male is Aboriginal making 3 of 13 visible minorities or about 25%. Could be higher but they are making some headway.

I wasn't familiar with many of the authors and hope to read some nominated books. When I visited the Booker Website today, I was pleased to see many more authors from new countries around the world on the long listed. Often, I've found the Booker to be very UK (primarily England) and U.S. dominated. I was pleased to see 3 debut novels for a total of 7 authors who have never been nominated for a Booker before.

The shortlist will be announced on September 16, 2024 and the winner on November 12, 2024 so we have lots of time to read our personal choices.....which is a good thing!! :)

The Booker Shortlist was just announced and 5 of the 6 authors are women and 5 countries are represented.

The following is from a BBC on-line post:

The 2024 Booker Prize shortlist has been announced, with the largest number of women represented in its 55-year history.

Five of the six-strong shortlist are women, with authors from five countries represented, including the Netherlands for the first time.

The list includes former Women's Prize winner Anne Michaels, American writer Percival Everett and British author Samantha Harvey

Each short-listed author receives £2,500 and the winner, announced on 12 November, will win £50,000.

The prestigious prize is open to works of fiction written in English by authors anywhere in the world and published in the UK or Ireland.

The shortlist in full:

James - Percival Everett (US)
Orbital - Samantha Harvey (UK)
Creation Lake - Rachel Kushner (US)
Held - Anne Michaels (Canada)
The Safekeep - Yael van der Wouden (Netherlands)
Stone Yard Devotion - Charlotte Wood (Australia)