2026 Booker Prize speculation > Likes and Comments
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In early votes it’s in the top 10 books appearing in predictions.
Hard to predict given the diversity of possible tastes on the panel.I think it is pretty good year for my likings.
I'd be disappointed not to see Good People on the longlist.
BookerMT2 wrote: "Hard to predict given the diversity of possible tastes on the panel.I think it is pretty good year for my likings.
I'd be disappointed not to see Good People on the longlist."
I expect to put it on my prediction list if I make one, although I haven't read it.
I liked that in his video, Ben really considers the role that publishers play in the longlist. I don't think this is something many readers weigh when they make their predictions. Ben certainly certainly goes deeper into it than I am willing to get on my own, but it's interesting to listen to someone else explain it. I'm currently reading Son of Nobody, which I've seen a few people dismiss as a possible contender, but so far, I think it has some qualities that could appeal to the judges. And I'm eager to read Transcription, although my library hold likely won't come in before the longlist is announced.
CJ wrote: "I liked that in his video, Ben really considers the role that publishers play in the longlist. I don't think this is something many readers weigh when they make their predictions. Ben certainly cer..."I am reading Son of Nobody and agree with you but I am only 25% in. The novel may take a bad turn but with given the ambition, a certain judge, the topical release of Nolan's film, and Martel's first novel in ten years, it seems this is tailor made for this year's Booker.
I think John of John by Douglas Stuart will definitely make the longlist, and maybe Vigil by George Saunders, though it's too much like Lincoln in the Bardo to win even if they love the book.I did really like John of John.
So far I think I am the only one who has not raved about John of John. I can see that it had qualities that would make it popular in the group but aside from Stuart's name, I don't see much positive about the novel. I will reread it if it makes the list but I did not cafe for the book.
Sam wrote: "So far I think I am the only one who has not raved about John of John. I can see that it had qualities that would make it popular in the group but aside from Stuart's name, I don't see much positiv..."We all like different books for different reasons, so I can understand your feelings, Sam. I didn't really like Shuggie Bain, was shocked when it won. It was just too much unrelieved bleakness for me, though I felt sorry for Shuggie and his siblings and for Agnes.
There are a couple of hefty books I have questions about. I am pretty sure The Coast of Everything by Guillermo Stitch 760pp is not eligible despite being on sale in UK bookshops and favorably reviewed in TLS, because it is a U.S. Anyone have any other info?Second, The Rouse 1260pp by China Miéville would be eligible if submitted, or has the recent changes affected its eligibility?
I'm not suggesting either of the above are worthy but both have gotten positive press.
The Coast of Everything was publish June 16, 2026, so yes.The Rouse will be released on September 16, 2026, so just making it eligible. The cover of The Rouse is gorgeous! I think it's eligible, I should say. I don't know anything about recent changes. It seems like it's going to be a big deal.
Bella wrote: "The Coast of Everything was publish June 16, 2026, so yes.The Rouse will be released on September 16, 2026, so just making it eligible."
But the press was a U.S. press for Coast. Wouldn't the novel need a British press imprint?
Sam wrote: "So far I think I am the only one who has not raved about John of John. I can see that it had qualities that would make it popular in the group but aside from Stuart's name, I don't see much positiv..."I haven’t raved either
Bella wrote: "The Coast of Everything was publish June 16, 2026, so yes."The only publisher I see for this is based in the U.S. so it would not be eligible.
I do not bring up those monsters just to torture Paul. I still admire and like to read thick well written books. My first recently published five star book this year was the first English translation of Effingers by Gabriele Tergit 864pp which is still one of my favorite books of the year among the newly published I read. So I have hopes that the two I mentioned are good books even if not Booker nominated.
Rachel wrote: "Bella wrote: "The Coast of Everything was publish June 16, 2026, so yes."The only publisher I see for this is based in the U.S. so it would not be eligible."
Thank you. I only checked dates, so good to know. Did not even think of publishers.
Jamad wrote: "Sam wrote: "So far I think I am the only one who has not raved about John of John. I can see that it had qualities that would make it popular in the group but aside from Stuart's name, I don't see ..."What didn't you like about it, if you don't mind saying?
Bella wrote: "Jamad wrote: "Sam wrote: "So far I think I am the only one who has not raved about John of John. I can see that it had qualities that would make it popular in the group but aside from Stuart's name..."For me it was an okay read but it seemed bloated and meandering. Possibly it was the wrong book at the wrong time for me. I suspect it will be longlisted but it isn’t going on my list of 13.
Sam wrote: "I do not bring up those monsters just to torture Paul. I still admire and like to read thick well written books. My first recently published five star book this year was the first English translati..."Have to admit I thought of Paul when I put The Rouse on the listopia 😀
Bella wrote: "Jamad wrote: "Sam wrote: "So far I think I am the only one who has not raved about John of John. I can see that it had qualities that would make it popular in the group but aside from Stuart's name..."I didn't care for the regional setting/dialect element. I feel that approach cliched and so many books take the approach, I feel there has to be more to them for me to appreciate them. I did not like the characters. If you have read it, I think you will know what I mean there. Finally I felt the story contrived. I don't want to reveal specifically what I meant so as not to spoil but I lost my suspension of disbelief.
Sam wrote: "So far I think I am the only one who has not raved about John of John. I can see that it had qualities that would make it popular in the group but aside from Stuart's name, I don't see much positiv..."I enjoyed it for what it is, but it wasn't a 5 star read for me personally. Way too much Calvinism. It did however manage to do something that no other book has done for me, and it's very much a thing tailored to someone like me: I'm a USian who learned Scottish Gaelic as an adult, and while reading John of John I found myself questioning my own position as an outsider to native Gaelic-speaking communities, like Stuart is (albeit, being Scottish he's a bit closer than I am, but still an outsider), and the perceptions I have about those Gaelic-speaking communities, how true they really are. Stuart's portrayal, I found, agreed awfully well with my perceptions, so in turn I found myself questioning how true they really are and how distorted they are as being an outsider's view. To Stuart's credit he kind of acknowledges this bias in his afterward, where he states the book is not intended to be an ethnography.
Also, I am amused by various comments online I've seen so far of people saying, "It's depressing/it's set in a depressing locale, so of course it'll win."
Sam wrote: "Bella wrote: "Jamad wrote: "Sam wrote: "So far I think I am the only one who has not raved about John of John. I can see that it had qualities that would make it popular in the group but aside from..."Yes, I've read it, and I understand what you mean. Thanks so much. Appreciate your thoughts.
I loved the setting, but the contrivance, yes, I can see that well.
Sam wrote: "Bella wrote: "Jamad wrote: "Sam wrote: "So far I think I am the only one who has not raved about John of John. I can see that it had qualities that would make it popular in the group but aside from..."I agree with you. There didn’t seem to be anything new there. I can think of 20-30 Booker eligibles that I have read that are, to me. “More worthy”.
CJ wrote: "Sam wrote: "So far I think I am the only one who has not raved about John of John. I can see that it had qualities that would make it popular in the group but aside from Stuart's name, I don't see ..."For me, it was very atmospheric, not depressing. I like the misty, rainy atmosphere. Did not like the Calvinism at all. That's more bleak to me than the fog, rain, and mist. Do not like organized religion, and Calvinism is one of the worst to me. It's so totally without joy of any kind and seems to thrive on being that way.
I can't agree with those who think it'll win simply because it can be depressing. Less wasn't depressing and it won. The character was a might depressed, but the book was anything but.
Rachel wrote: "Bella wrote: "The Coast of Everything was publish June 16, 2026, so yes."The only publisher I see for this is based in the U.S. so it would not be eligible."
Thank goodness for that! Last China Miéville I read I gave up after 50 pages, so 1200 pages would be torture.
Jamad wrote: "Sam wrote: "I do not bring up those monsters just to torture Paul. I still admire and like to read thick well written books. My first recently published five star book this year was the first Engli..."So it's not eligible? I will take pleasure in deleting it if so!
Paul wrote: "Jamad wrote: "Sam wrote: "I do not bring up those monsters just to torture Paul. I still admire and like to read thick well written books. My first recently published five star book this year was t..."Think the Mieville is eligible Picador
Paul wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Bella wrote: "The Coast of Everything was publish June 16, 2026, so yes."The only publisher I see for this is based in the U.S. so it would not be eligible."
Thank goodness for th..."
1200 pages? Wouldn't read it!
According to the publisher, the Coast of Everything is 760 pages. The book I'm most excited about is the new Vollmann coming out in August. A Table of Fortune. But no UK publisher. Slightly over 3,000 pages.
Paul wrote: "Thank goodness for that! Last China Miéville I read I gave up after 50 pages, so 1200 pages would be torture."I really liked the first two Miévilles I read - Embassytown and The City & the City - but I didn't get on with Perdido St. Station, so I'm not interested in the rest of his Bas-Lag books, bleh - but this doesn't sound like it's set there, so I'm intrigued...
Lascosas wrote: "According to the publisher, the Coast of Everything is 760 pages. The book I'm most excited about is the new Vollmann coming out in August. A Table of Fortune. But no UK publisher. Slightly over ..."
Well I can see it may be of use as a table :-)
Gunpowder, Fiction & Plot prediction video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZyMO...The flags are a nice touch. Here is his list transcribed:
John of John (Stuart)
Son of Nobody (Martel)
The Disappearers (James)
Good People (Sabit)
The Palm House (Riley)
Said the Dead (Ní Ghríofa)
Where Are the Kings (Ryan)
Sky City (Crooks)
Astronaut! (Aristide)
Female Life on Planet Earth (Khadivi)
Arborescence (Davis)
Keshed (Hennigan)
Uprising (Anam)
Railsong (Bhattacharya)
Hi can someone pin the link to the listopia
It’s the first post.
First post but you have to go back to page 1 - you may need to use a browser in desktop mode to go back. There is no way we can keep posting it at the top of every page of 50 comments because new pages can appear at any time of day or night and moderators are not informed when it happens.
Rendezvouswithbooks wrote: "Hi can someone pin the link to the listopia"If you're on the app, you can click the arrow in the top right corner and it will reverse the order of the thread and bring you to the first post.
Thank you Rachel. Got it 😊
As the Trustee of a Fiction prize which featured it I am contractually obliged to disagree :-)
Think it was us at the Republic of Consciousness and the Desmond Elliott Prize that voted fiction
The James Tait Black Memorial Prize, National Book Circle Critics Award and An Post Irish Book Award went non-fiction (specifically biography in first two cases).
And the Gordon Burn Prize and Rathbone Folio Prize were pleased to say they didn't have to make a call - and in the former case in particular the ambiguity was a positive factor.
Actually I think the new one is possibly further from fiction that Ghost in the Throat, but I'd still have it as eligible, and were it still small press published welcome it for our prize.