Poll

Two books I haven't read, but I did try The Luninaries (as I said in Round 1, I didn't get far mostly because of other hints and not because I was disliking the book).

But which of these do I most want to read? Wizard of the Crow.

Two books heavy on symbolism - in one physical deformities representing political commentary, the other a plot almost entirely based around celestial/astrological interactions.

Both hugely ambitious, but only one reall succceds in my view.

Much as I admire Catton this is an easy choice for me.

This is impossible, as I haven't read the Thiong'o but I did enjoy the Luminaries.

I've read the first part of Wizard - it's brilliant. But so is The Luminaries.

Rather surprised how close this is - I assumed Luminaries only got through round 1 as it had such an easy draw.

Of all the Booker winners in recent years Luminaries is the one I have not read as comments from friends who have didn't inspire me, but sounds like I ought to give it a try.

But - adding to my comment - ultimately this is a one-off Booker winner vs. a novel that makes its author a perennial favourite for the Nobel Prize.

(and as we have discovered in recent years, the odds are a surprisingly - even suspiciously - good guide to who really is in contention. The main evidence usually cited against this - the short-odds on Dylan - actually now make the case even stronger)

This argument doesn't stack up. Catton might easily have won with her debut novel, The Rehearsal, and I'd be happy to put money down that she'll hit the shortlist again very soon, and go on to win countless awards...32-yr old who won the Booker with only her second novel (published aged 28) versus 79-yr old publishing since 1964...Catton 50% Booker-win rate per book? Hmmm...

True but we're not - I understood - voting on the novels she may well write in the future. We're voting on the 2nd novel from the young writer who will almost certainly get better, vs. the masterwork from the 70+ year old near-Nobel laureate.

But I definitely need to check out Luminaries - as I said real-life (as opposed to virtual) friends who had read it didn't inspire me to do the same, but it's been interesting to see how well it has been received on here amongst a group with of reliably (the odd aberration - cough Sellout cough - aside) impeccable literary taste.

Indeed - but no Nobel Prize is ever awarded to a single novel; rather it's a judgement of a writer's work - usually a writer of advanced age - in its entirety. So bringing the Nobel up is surely largely irrelevant. As is the subsequent comparison between Nobel and Booker Prizes. Catton will be a Nobel candidate one day - and no single volume will account for that.

Yes, all fair points.

Anyway, do give The Luminaries a go, be interested to see what you thought...

I will although the MBI looms large on the horizon.

Samantha Schweblin hotly-tipped for that...

Including by me - and I haven't even read her book - but Oneworld do seem to know the buttons to press with the Man Bookerites

Although if Krasznahorkai is allowed to enter (the old MBI judges actually cited books which at the time hadn't been officially published in the UK and are now eligible this year) it may be a fight for 2nd place