2021 Booker Prize Speculation Showing 551-600 of 1,196

[Robert]

*know

[Robert]

I’m using the mobile so I can’t edit or look at previous posts so sorry If the news was already written down

[Cindy]

Robert wrote: "I’m using the mobile so I can’t edit or look at previous posts so sorry If the news was already written down"
Well, that's a start!

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

No I did not know that - where did you see it Robert

[Cindy]

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "I have just started "Bewilderment" by Richard Powers - it seems likely to be a strong contender but has the publication date issue

So far it is giving me some vibes of a "Living Sea of Waking Drea..."

I have an ARC of Bewilderment. This brief review has moved it up my TBR pile.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Review might be a little rich as I have only read a few pages

[Paul]

Cindy wrote: "I am 3/4s of the way through Leone Ross' Popisho (This One Sky Day for those in the UK) and think is is absolutely wonderful. I am not one for magical realism normally, but this is a thing apart. I..."

With you on that. Had the pleasure of hearing her read from it in person this month.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

That was a complete shambles of an event though - it took place a week earlier than advertised when the tickets were sold

[Robert]

Max from manbookering asked them on Twitter- then he shared it on Instagram

[Neil]

I am about 100 pages into Bewilderment. I wasn’t getting Living Sea… vibes but that might be because I didn’t really like that book and therefore didn’t make any effort to remember it.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Neil wrote: "I am about 100 pages into Bewilderment. I wasn’t getting Living Sea… vibes but that might be because I didn’t really like that book and therefore didn’t make any effort to remember it."

I guess I was thinking simply of the early theme in this one (first 30 pages or so) of things missing/disappearing (the mum, the dog, Fermi's Paradox) and the obvious links to climate change and specie extinction

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Robert wrote: "Max from manbookering asked them on Twitter- then he shared it on Instagram"

he got an answer from the Booker prize - wow! They normally don't even reply to requests to say e.g. what time the shortlist is being announced on the day of the announcement itself.

[Neil]

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "Neil wrote: "I am about 100 pages into Bewilderment. I wasn’t getting Living Sea… vibes but that might be because I didn’t really like that book and therefore didn’t make any effort to remember it...."

Yes, that makes sense now you say it - I needed reminding. It is building on The Overstory, definitely.

[Cindy]

Paul wrote: "Cindy wrote: "I am 3/4s of the way through Leone Ross' Popisho (This One Sky Day for those in the UK) and think is is absolutely wonderful. I am not one for magical realism normally, but this is a ..."

I saw your review Paul. Spot on!

[WndyJW]

Thanks, Robert. I need to start Popisho next, I think.

I liked The Overstory, loved Lanny, have no memory of Flowers of Algernon since I read it over 40 yrs ago, and I’m in the minority who liked Living Sea of Waking Dreams, although I liked it more after I finished it then while reading it if that makes sense, so I think I would like Bewilderment.

[Jo]

Loved One Sky Day or Popisho.
I am SO jealous of everyone has an ARC of Bewilderment. That and Cloud Cuckooland are the books are most want to read. Overstory is extraordinary.

I have just finished The Promise by Damon Galgut. I lived in Pretoria before moving to UK. It felt very nostalgic with all the South African references. I think if you aren't South African quite a substantial portion of the book will not have the same impact. I really want my UK friends to read it as ot explores racial conflicts and inequalities is such a sensitive manner. I was not overly keen on the spiritual references. Thought it was a very well written novel with great characterisations. Stereotypes I absolutely recognise. It reflects the South African experience accurately. Booker contender in my opinion.

[WndyJW]

I’m so jealous of everyone who regularly receive ARCs. Do you request ARCs, Jo? I don’t know how easy it is to get them, but I know all the publishers want in return are honest, preferably enthusiastic, reviews.

This speculation discussion is making me even more eager to see what makes the Longlist, but often books that many here think should make it don’t and I want to read the books this groups loves, not only the books the Booker judges select.

Speaking of who are the judges this year? Have we discussed that yet?

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

It’s fairly easy Wendy - you just sign up to NetGalley.

[WndyJW]

Do they send ARCS to everyone who requests them or do they want to see samples of previous reviews first?

[WndyJW]

I received my first book from Netgalley! I read the suggestions for increasing the chances of getting requested titles and thought I would never get a title, but I did: Stella.

I’m not sure how often I’ll request titles, but I wanted to try it.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

I am going to add Quichotte to my list of books which Bewilderment is reminding me of.

[Paul]

Longlist 27 July

Shortlist 14 September

Winner first week of November

[Cindy]

Just woke up and saw that Paul. Sounds like what we might have expected, perhaps a bit later than usual, no?

[Cindy]

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "I am going to add Quichotte to my list of books which Bewilderment is reminding me of."

Oh. Really? That makes me less excited for it, regrettably.

[Neil]

Gumble’s Yard is worrying me. He keeps adding books I have read and not enjoyed to a list of books a new book by my favourite author is reminding him of!

Meanwhile, I am counting up the number of previous Powers’ books it is building on. The Overstory, Generosity, The Time Of Our Singing (slightly tenuous), possibly The Echo Maker.

[Cindy]

WndyJW wrote: "Do they send ARCS to everyone who requests them or do they want to see samples of previous reviews first?"

Wendy, I am in a distinct minority of continuing to read almost exclusively physical books. NetGalley and Edelweiss offer e-books, often many months in advance publication dates. I request physical ARCs from the library marketing teams at various publishers, I attend (virtually these days) many book festivals which offer physical ARCs and so on. As GY said, if you're fine with e-books, then it's fairly easy to get yourself approved (especially if you post reviews).

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

The Quichotte link is I think very clear. The protagonists in both read a very famous (and IRL) science fiction short story (actually its two short stories in Quichotte) and the plot of the book then explicitly follows that short story. And both books are in part a homage to science fiction and how this much-maligned genre tells us something about our world today and particularly our future.

But it does not have most of the Rushdie tics that I think is why some people struggled with Quichotte

The links to Overstory (plot and ideas as well as the strengths and weaknesses) are very clear though. I think if you liked one you would like this and if like me you both loved and hated Overstory you will love and hate this for the same reasons.

[Cindy]

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "The Quichotte link is I think very clear. The protagonists in both read a very famous (and IRL) science fiction short story (actually its two short stories in Quichotte) and the plot of the book th..."

No surprise, like you I loved and hated Overstory. At least Bewilderment is much shorter!

[Jo]

@Wendy As you see it's very easy :) but I don't always get the books I am really hoping for (I.e. Bewilderment) And like Cindy I prefer a hard copy but am adjusting to ebooks. Better for the environment too.

So pleased dates are out at last! Constantly refining my Longlist.

Anyone read Lisa Taddeo's Animal? About to start.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

I started it but decided against it - I will read it if its longlisted but otherwise not

[Sam]

Jo wrote: "@Wendy As you see it's very easy :) but I don't always get the books I am really hoping for (I.e. Bewilderment) And like Cindy I prefer a hard copy but am adjusting to ebooks. Better for the enviro..."

I sampled Animal. I find Taddeo's appeal to be more from her feminist views than writing chops. I am cautious of her since I feeo she gets a bigger push in publicity than her writing warrants, but that is just a personal prejudice. I will be interested in your opinion of the book.

I was all about ARC's till I realized they added a pressure to me to finish and review. I no longer seek them and prefer to wait till publication. Occasionally, I will be envious, but I am also relieved having not read even more less than satisfying books. I find with new books, I find about 20% books I like, 20% books I don't, with the rest being average, forgettable, or inspiring indifference. The more new books i try, the more I increase the middke percentage. The more classic or respected authors I try, the increase in likes and dislikes, so I am trying to dabble more in the classics. The cost is not being able to chat about newest books, but I chat too much anyway.

[Paul]

Cindy wrote: "Just woke up and saw that Paul. Sounds like what we might have expected, perhaps a bit later than usual, no?"

I think about what expected - a bit more margin than 2019 and similar to 2020; 7 weeks for long-short vs. I think 6 pre 2019 being more typical.

Longlist 27 July (2020 27 July; 2019 23 July)

Shortlist 14 September (2020 15 September; 2019 3 September)

Winner first week of November (2020 19 November; 2019 14 October)

[WndyJW]

I thought I would hate e-reading, but after reading Ducks, Newburyport on Kindle I realized I quickly adjusted. I would prefer books, but if I have no other choice I don’t mind e-books. I just received the e-book of Lucy Ellmann’s new essays and I will read it on Kindle so I don’t have to wait.

I probably won’t request books from Netgalley very often for the same reasons Sam listed: I don’t want to feel pressured to read a book I’m not enjoying and my reviews are just very brief summary and if I liked it or loved it, not the style likely to have publishers hoping I request their next promising book.
Plus I won’t know what to request since I don’t see familiar authors and my favorite publishers don’t participate.

[WndyJW]

I hope the Longlist is promising. I have loved the Bookers for so long. I can call my husband (not a reader or a talker) and ask him to guess what time of year it is and he knows it’s Booker season.

[Tracy]

Jo wrote: "@Wendy As you see it's very easy :) but I don't always get the books I am really hoping for (I.e. Bewilderment) And like Cindy I prefer a hard copy but am adjusting to ebooks. Better for the enviro..."

I read Animal. Her style is odd- even with Three Women, which was nonfiction. I wasn’t impressed at first, and considered abandoning it. By the end I was glad I stuck with it, and I liked it a lot.

[Areeb]

WndyJW wrote: "I thought I would hate e-reading, but after reading Ducks, Newburyport on Kindle I realized I quickly adjusted. I would prefer books, but if I have no other choice I don’t mind e-books. I just rece..."

You will find UK publishers on the UK NetGalley. Plus a lot of indie presses do offer e-ARCs/review copies, if not on NG then directly on request.

Publishers are not at all exacting, there is not threshold of eloquence or requisite critical engagement. In fact, the big publishers don't care. As long as word is going out and it's favourable, it's fine. Only thing that matters on Netgalley is your ratio and even that gets overlooked most of the time.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Unless it’s Canongate and you give them a three star review in which case you are blackballed

[Jo]

I was waiting for that GY! That comment felt inevitable. 😀

[Paul]

On that I was looking other day at what the publisher's see when approving a request. They can see your profile, including of course the % of reviews vs ARCs, although I don't think they can see the avg rating given.

But actually a key piece of information is their history with you including % of past requests accepted/turned down. Which may mean if you're turned down for one book, for whatever reason, then increases chance you are turned down next time. Ie each time Canongate refuse it is even more likely they will refuse next time.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

For any one interested - my review of "Bewilderment"

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Neil]

I will be interested tomorrow when I have finished reading it myself.

[Paul]

Eric the Lonesome Reader's prediction video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJY18... - seems to predicting 14 from the text:

The Promise by Damon Galgut

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

The High House by Jessie Greengrass

The Performance by Claire Thomas

This One Sky Day by Leone Ross

The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr

Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

Lean Fall Stand – Jon McGregor

The Great Mistake – Jonathan Lee

The Magician – Colm Toibin

Tenderness – Alison Macleod

Palmares – Gayl Jones

Chronicles From the Land of the Happiest People on Earth – Wole Soyinka

Bewilderment – Richard Powers

[Paul]

I've read 4 of those - This One Sky Day should be there but Klara and the Sun, Open Water and Lean Fall Stand are a long way from my longlist even of those I've read.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

I have read 9 of them.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

The two on the list I do not recognise don’t have a single written review on Goodreads so would be fairly left field choices.

To be fair to a Eric I do not think he has a great track record of predicting the Booker does he?

But it would be good if we could record these predictions here as people find them - as I think this group’s views on those could give a Delphi style prediction.

[Robert]

Once the booker foundation give me the go ahead to use the logo mine will be up as it’s ready.

The booker is always a reflection of society’s issues so my list contains books about:

Climate change
Race relations
AI
Gender issues
Political unrest

If I’m not mistaken smaller indies can take part due to reduced fees for them???

As for my track record I usually guess 4/6 titles

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

I found one more on a You Tuber called Letz Talk About Books

It feels like mainly list of books likely to be pretty heavily tipped (except possibly the last two) - I have read (in a few cases started reading) 10 of these.

It’s also I think rather (if not entirely) U.K./USA authors

I typed on my phone so apologies for typos

Detransition, Baby - Torrey Peters
Assembly - Natasha Brown
China Room - Sunjeev Suhota
Klara and the Sun - Kazuo Ishiguro
Fake Accounts - Lauren Oyler
Open Water - Caleb Azumah Nelson
Harlem Shuffle - Colson Whitehead
Lean, Fall, Stand - Jon McGregor
Luckenbooth - Jenni Fagan
2nd Place - Rachel Cusk
One Sky Day - Leonne Ross
Sorrowland - Rivers Solomon
Caul Baby - Morgan Jenkins

[Paul]

I suspect I won't read any more eliglble books before the longlist so my longlist, based only on ones read and my preference:

1. Sterling Karat Gold
2. Aphasia
3. The Things We've Seen
4. Assembly
5. Checkout 19
6. This One Sky Day
7. The Yield
8. Second Place
9. Dead Souls
10. Mrs Death Misses Death
11. Luckenbooth
12. Diary of a Film
13. My Phantoms

Hot tipped books that don't make my list (descending order) - Trascendent Kingdom. Lean Fall Stand, The Living Sea of Waking Dreams, Klara and the Sun, No One is Talking About This
(Open Water my low rating is for the audiobook)

[Roman Clodia]

I've read 6 and can't say I'm particularly excited about any of them.

But I have ARCs of Bewilderment and The Magician so there's hope yet ;) I'm especially looking forward to Magician, a fictional life of Thomas Mann and, presumably, a companion piece to Toibin's The Master about Henry James.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

6 of which list RC?