Newsflash!

[Penny]

We have a new moderator - VAL - I am so glad to have an extra person to watch over the group with me. Val is a regular contributor to the group and I am sure will be an asset to the smooth running of our little gathering!!

[Jen]

Thank you, Val!

[Juniper]

excellent! it's always a great help to have more than one moderator - for both the mods and the group members!! congratulations, val! :)

[Val]

Thank you Jen and Jennifer.

This is a good group and very friendly, so there is little 'moderating' to do. I think a better title would be facilitator, which is what Penny has been doing and I am very happy to assist with.

[☮Karen]

Val has always been very helpful and seems to have read A LOT of these books, so thanks Val!

[Diane]

Very good!

[Jessica]

Very cool!

[Penny]

speech given by Elif Shafak at the Baileys prize short list event
quite an interesting point of view on the need for women's prizes which has sometimes come up for discussion

http://www.womensprizeforfiction.co.u...

[Val]

The winner is The Glorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney.

[Penny]

Yes and what an achievement for a debut novel!

[Val]

I think it is interesting that both the 2015 Booker judges and the 2016 Baileys judges went for edgy, sweary, lowlife novels, neither of which are perfect, but both are definitely exciting.
(The Green Road and A Little Life were listed for both awards and won neither.)

[Val]

Goodreads has a problem with fake accounts which they do not yet know what to do with on a mass scale.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...?
This group seems to be a victim of this, but I do not have time to check all new or newish members right now. What I would like to do as a quick solution is to remove all members who have made zero comments, but send a message to all members first inviting them to comment once somewhere in the group threads before I take any action. I think that should mean that any human members of the group who want to stay, but just read the discussions, can do so.
I don't know that these fake accounts are malicious, but I am suspicious.
What do other members think?

[Karen]

Do what you think makes sense.

[Drew]

I think you're on the right track, Val.

[Penny]

I hadn’t heard of this but it may be good to do that. Unfortunately we may lose a few members but it will be their choice

[Tasha]

I think that makes sense and sounds fair.

[Lisa]

Sounds fair

[Val]

Mods in other groups are going through new members individually and reporting them if they look suspicious. Some of ours have already been removed, thanks to that process. It is a bit time consuming, but I have decided that it would be better to do the same. It means no real people will be deleted from the group membership, even if they don't want to participate, but it will take me longer.

[Tasha]

Thanks for all your work on this, sounds time consuming but worth it in the long run.

[Penny]

the winner will be announced this evening (British Summer Time) I wonder if any of us will guess the winner!

[Jen]

I feel like it's going to be either An American Marriage or The Silence of the Girls.

But for the record I think the best of the bunch is Milkman!

[Penny]

you think they ll go with Milkman ? I dont know if a previous winner has also won the Booker - pretty sure not. I haven't read the 3 you suggest but An American Marriage seems to have had a lot of hype

[Jen]

Penny wrote: "you think they ll go with Milkman ? I dont know if a previous winner has also won the Booker - pretty sure not. I haven't read the 3 you suggest but An American Marriage seems to have had a lot of ..."

No, I don't think Milkman will win - but I do think it was the best book.

[Val]

I agree with Jen about Milkman.
Tayari Jones was interviewed by Channel 4 News and came across well, but I was not that keen on the book.

[Jen]

The winner is An American Marriage!

[Penny]

Yep! I got it right now I really ought to read it!

[Penny]

This year's shortlist has been announced !

The 2020 shortlist is as follows.

Dominicana by Angie Cruz
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel
Hamnet by Maggie O’ Farrell
Weather by Jenny Offill


anything you think got missed?

[Jessica]

Of these I've read Girl, Woman, Other and Weather. Of the 2, I preferred Girl, Woman, Other.

The longlist books I read that didn't make the cut are The Dutch house, Girl, and Djinn Patrol and the Purple Line. Of those, my favorite was The Dutch House.

[Val]

I've read "Girl, Woman, Other", "A Thousand Ships" and "Weather". My favourite of those is "Girl, Woman, Other", but I'm sure that "The Mirror and the Light" and "Hamnet" will be strong contenders based on previous books by those two authors.

[Kirsten]

Val wrote: "I've read "Girl, Woman, Other", "A Thousand Ships" and "Weather". My favourite of those is "Girl, Woman, Other", but I'm sure that "The Mirror and the Light" and "Hamnet" will be strong contenders ..."

I listened to the abridgement of GWO on BBC Radio 4 and have put it on my TBR because of how it sounded.

[Val]

It is hardly a 'Newsflash' now, but:

The Prize was awarded to Hamnet by Maggie O’ Farrell


I found it almost impossible to choose a favourite from these three:
The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
Hamnet by Maggie O’ Farrell
but thought Maggie O’ Farrell would benefit most from the extra publicity,
so I am very happy with the judges choice.

[Carol]

Did anyone else go the zoom shortlist readings earlier this week leading up the announcement? I really enjoyed them.

[Val]

Carol wrote: "Did anyone else go the zoom shortlist readings earlier this week leading up the announcement? I really enjoyed them."
I went to some of them.

[Carol]

Val wrote: "Carol wrote: "Did anyone else go the zoom shortlist readings earlier this week leading up the announcement? I really enjoyed them."
I went to some of them. This might seem irrelevant, but I have tw..."Event that's lots we're enjoying. I'd go again.

[Penny]

Hello Everyone
the group now needs a new moderator as I am not able to continue - Val had taken over the bulk of the work and did a wonderful job. Is anyone willing to take on the group?

[Jessica]

Penny wrote: "Hello Everyone
the group now needs a new moderator as I am not able to continue - Val had taken over the bulk of the work and did a wonderful job. Is anyone willing to take on the group?"

Sorry, seeing this months later. I would be happy to help out.

[Penny]

Newsflash!!

the lovely Jessica has agreed to step in and be our new moderator! I'm so pleased !!! lets give her lots of support and keep our little group running!!
thank you Jessica!

[Jessica]

Penny wrote: "Newsflash!!

the lovely Jessica has agreed to step in and be our new moderator! I'm so pleased !!! lets give her lots of support and keep our little group running!!
thank you Jessica!"

Glad to help out. Thank you!

[Carol]

So the Longlist for this year is out a few surprises and I was surprised Still Life wasn’t on it, but sure I’ll enjoy many of these. https://womensprizeforfiction.co.uk/f...

[Penny]

Carol wrote: "So the Longlist for this year is out a few surprises and I was surprised Still Life wasn’t on it, but sure I’ll enjoy many of these. https://womensprizeforfiction.co.uk/f......"

yes Carol - I'm actually surprised by a lot of the books on the list. It's quite an eclectic mix!

[Carol]

Penny wrote: "Carol wrote: "So the Longlist for this year is out a few surprises and I was surprised Still Life wasn’t on it, but sure I’ll enjoy many of these. https://womensprizeforfiction.co.u..."
Yes, several of these I’ve not heard of or seen mentioned on any predictions. Will see what makes the shortlist, not long to wait it’s the 27th April

[Carol]

Hello all, I see the Womens Prize are hosting the online shortlist readings again this year, I’ve been the last few years and enjoyed. £27 though, I don’t remember it being that expensive last year? https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/womens...

[Royce]

Carol Thanks, I saw this last year virtually and really enjoyed it. Just registered for this year’s event. I don’t remember the price BUT loved how,the actor/actress read from the selected novels. Fantastic!

[Carol]

Carol wrote: "Hello all, I see the Womens Prize are hosting the online shortlist readings again this year, I’ve been the last few years and enjoyed. £27 though, I don’t remember it being that expensive last year..."
It was great wasn’t it, really well done. I suspect I will end up booking for this years event. Would love to go to the in person event one day

[Carol]

2023 Shortlist has been announced https://youtu.be/zF2CzSjch_8
Demon Copperhead
Fire Rush
Black Butterflies
Pod
The Marriage Portrait
Trespasses

I’ve read three and really enjoyed those so I’m pleased with the shortlist. 😊

[PaulaJA]

I’m happy with the shortlist. 4/6 were on my wish list. I didn’t like ‘Pod’ very much but can see why it’s there. I will read it again. The only one I have not read is ‘Fire Rush’. I didn’t really want to read it, but so many people have loved it, so I will now try it.

[Carol]

PaulaJA wrote: "I’m happy with the shortlist. 4/6 were on my wish list. I didn’t like ‘Pod’ very much but can see why it’s there. I will read it again. The only one I have not read is ‘Fire Rush’. I didn’t really ..."
I have Pod, Fire Rush and Black Butterflies to read, but can’t find an audio version of Black butterflies on Audible or Borrowbox so May have to hang on for that one. I’d be happy with Demon or Trespasses winning. I though Demon was incredible.

[Carol]

Hurrah! Very happy with Demon Copperhead as the winner 🏆

[Penny]

Yes - I m starting it soon - anyone else?

[Carol]

I really enjoyed it Penny, hope you do as well. Have read all the shortlist now except Pod, which I’m about a third of the way through. Thought there were all excellent this year, but Demon has stuck with me the most.