The Mookse and the Gripes discussion
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Booker Prize for Fiction
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2021 Booker Prize Speculation
Just too late for Booker 2021 with a 7 October publishing date but Burntcoat by Sarah Hall is powerful and emotionally-charged - currently on NetGalley: review here www.goodreads.com/review/show/4107000684One to watch, I'd say.
@GY I was seriously intrigued by The Magician so it's a pity it hasn't obtained a glowing review. Just finished Watson's Little Scratch. Innovative. Intelligent. Insightful. 5* Read for me. Each page is remarkable and there are quite a few very clever little tricks. It is visually beautiful to look at on the page. A real delight. I would not be surprised to see it on the longlist and overall think it deserves a place. Especially true in comparison to last year's choices as I felt this is better than quite a few of the longlisted books.
About to start Razorblade Tears...
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The Magician has a lot of glowing reviews - I think it is only GY and me who have any struggle with it.
Jo wrote: "@GY I was seriously intrigued by The Magician so it's a pity it hasn't obtained a glowing review. Just finished Watson's Little Scratch. Innovative. Intelligent. Insightful. 5* Read for me. Each ..."
I second what Neil says re other reviews of The Magician and would also say I enjoyed it (just wanted more Magic)
So pleased re Little Scratch - I was disappointed to not see it on the Women's List and would have preferred it won the Desmond Elliot Prize. I would recommend the audiobook also to get more of a feel for the main character and how the author conceives of the book.
Neil wrote: "The Magician has a lot of glowing reviews - I think it is only GY and me who have any struggle with it."I did see that yes - I am still going to read it when it is published later in the year. That is what is so brilliant about these discussions: different books appeal to different readers and I appreciate the mutual respect for opinions.
I am not a massive football fan but found I was enormously excited for last night's match. However, that anticipation is nothing in comparison with the MASSIVE excitement I feel for the longlist announcement.
It is interesting looking at author's appearances scheduled at Edinburgh Book Festival compared to books suggested in the topic, both for who will be there or not and where and when they are showcased. I have no idea if there is any significance to these appearances and whether the author makes the Booker list, but it is fun to speculate. Here's the link if interested.https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-fest...
Tickets for the shortlist readings on sale on Wed 14th July. Both for tickets in person and also for an online livestream (NB latter isn't free). Event is on Sun 31st Oct at 7.30pm (UK time).Live stream:
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/wha...
In person:
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/wha...
That is odd (but welcome) as they had previously implied on their website that the shortlist reading were being moved this yearIs there a time for the sale?
The online one is 10am on Wednesday. Not sure re in person as only shows pre-sale to members at 10am on TuesdayInteresting talk also between Evaristo and the judge I'm pretty sure championed her on the jury that year, Afua Hirsch, to launch Evaristo's new book Manifesto in which:
She charts her creative rebellion against the mainstream and her life-long commitment to the imaginative exploration of 'untold' stories. And drawing deeply on her own experiences, she offers a vital contribution to current conversations around social issues such as race, class, feminism, sexuality and aging.
I’m not familiar with Thomas Mann’s life at all, but I love Toibin, The Testament of Mary is one of my favorite books, and The Story of the Night is one of the few, maybe only book that made me cry, not get choked up, but lock myself in my room and cry, so I’ll read The Magician.
Toibin is a master. Have you read The Blackwater Lightship, Wndy? I remember exactly at which point I cried reading that. The Story of the Night is probably my favourite Toibin but I remember it less well than some others.
I read The Blackwater Lightship in 2014 and marked it as a Favorite. I just updated my tags while seeing what I said about it. Toibin write women better than most male writers, which I’ve heard him attribute to living around so many women.
Have you read The Magician, Ang? Or is it on your TBR?
The blackwater lightship is the only Toibin I like. I find his style too dry
😂 to make things worse the testament of Mary forms a part of that tiny pile of books I cannot stand ( The Testaments, The Alchemist, How Late it was, How Late, Prozac Nation, Such a Fun Age, Uneducated, Little Fires Everywhere, Tuesdays with Morrie)
Toíbín seems to polarise opinions like few other authors! I seriously wonder if I can make it to the end of The Magician.
WndyJW wrote: " Have you read The Magician, Ang? Or is it on your TBR?"It won't be published until September but I have preordered it. I don't do ARCs.
I'm only 8% in but am enjoying The Magician. I don't know much about Mann's life but Toibin seems to be interpreting it through his later fiction.
Just finished "Intimacies" RC - I can see why you liked it so muchMy ignorance but had not realised the author was married to Hari Kunzru (an author I like a lot) - this seems to have a lot of similar themes to his novels but a very different style (I found this deliberately restrained and I don't think anyone would use that word about "Red Pill" for example)
Oh, Robert! I had hoped this break could be amicable, but I see you intend to cruelly torment me!
Robert wrote: "😂 to make things worse the testament of Mary forms a part of that tiny pile of books I cannot stand ( The Testaments, The Alchemist, How Late it was, How Late, Prozac Nation, Such a Fun Age, Uneduc..."I'm mostly with you ... but not about the Testament of Mary. I'm still annoyed about Such a Fun Age.
WndyJW wrote: "Oh, Robert! I had hoped this break could be amicable, but I see you intend to cruelly torment me!"It's a nasty part of my character (not really)
Nicole D. wrote: "Robert wrote: "😂 to make things worse the testament of Mary forms a part of that tiny pile of books I cannot stand ( The Testaments, The Alchemist, How Late it was, How Late, Prozac Nation, Such a ..."That book made me so angry - it could have been great but the terrible writing, stereotypical characters and misguided ending just made me want to throw the book away, actually I did do that in my video - and I defaced the cover
I would be shocked if it was considered but I just read and absolutely loved "Double Blind" by Edwyn St Aubyn. I seem to be largely alone as its being widely panned but I thought it was the most entertainingly intellectual (but also preposterous) novel I have read all yearhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "Just finished "Intimacies" RC - I can see why you liked it so muchMy ignorance but had not realised the author was married to Hari Kunzru"
Ha, Red Pill is an unrestrained extravaganza! I actually 1-starred my first Kitamura, A Separation, but would like to revisit it in the wake of Intimacies. Will check out your review.
Neil wrote: "Toíbín seems to polarise opinions like few other authors! I seriously wonder if I can make it to the end of The Magician."After a good start I'm starting to lose interest now in The Magician - it's starting to feel panoramic and superficial, his first book, Buddenbrooks, has been written and feels like it's been ticked off Toibin's checklist of things to do :(
I am enjoying the final 100 pages a lot more if that helps.
You are both correct
Paul wrote: "Tickets for the shortlist readings on sale on Wed 14th July. Both for tickets in person and also for an online livestream (NB latter isn't free). Event is on Sun 31st Oct at 7.30pm (UK time).Live..."
Hi Paul.
Thank you SO much for sharing. Just booked two front row seats. I couldn't be more thrilled!!!
Well done for grabbing those! The front row seats are great - and also good for legging it quickly to the front of the book signing queue. That's if signings are back - actually they probably won't be I guess.
I will be in the front row also with two of my daughters
And your twin who you no doubt bought a ticket for?
Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "I would be shocked if it was considered but I just read and absolutely loved "Double Blind" by Edwyn St Aubyn. I seem to be largely alone as its being widely panned but I thought it was the most en..."I really liked it too, although I can't say that I loved it. It was certainly brilliantly written and also certainly preposterous.
Paul wrote: "The Magician is off my list if it does make the longlist.There's an extensive Rooney extract in the New Yorker this week - https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/20... for those ..."
I just read it. I actually thought it was quite good.
Paul wrote: "Tickets for the shortlist readings on sale on Wed 14th July. Both for tickets in person and also for an online livestream (NB latter isn't free). Event is on Sun 31st Oct at 7.30pm (UK time).Live..."
Just booked a livestream ticket for this and for the Sally Rooney event on September 7th. Best those of us across the pond can do, really.
I'm wondering whether this may be the first Booker in 36 years to have a trans person on the longlist, since Detransition, Baby broke the seal on the Women's Prize earlier this year.
Cindy wrote: "Paul wrote: "The Magician is off my list if it does make the longlist.There's an extensive Rooney extract in the New Yorker this week - https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/20......"
That's interesting to hear. I liked Normal People but honestly, don't understand the hysteria surrounding the Rooney books. I will definitely be reading her latest when it is published.
Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "I will be in the front row also with two of my daughters"I will see you there.
I hope so although I fear that we may be back in lockdown by then and the event at best at reduced capacity
Cindy wrote: "I just read it. I actually thought it was quite good"So did I - its interesting that I have read 4 novels this week and yet when I first awoke this morning the characters that struck in my mind and slightly blended into my dreams were from the Rooney story. That's her real skill - creating characters people care about. Not sure its literary and certainly don't see this making the Booker this time but most Bookshops in the UK will be relying on Rooney to drive people into the shops (the other big September book is of course Osman - but I suspect that does a lot better for the supermarkets etc).
Anyway I will be attending her in person reading event on the eve of the publication. That's the same week as the Women's Prize shortlist readings so will be a great week.
Paul wrote: "Time for some proper predictions:8. Many of the choices will be "obvious" after the event based on a complex analysis of the judges' past history that would put Ted Rogers to shame."
I found this from last year by me - would this count as an example
"The Shadow King - with a very enthusiastic back cover blurb by one of the judges, an author published in an anthology by the chair of the judges, and a book which draws in Homeric epics, so appealing to a third judge"
Yes that one - up there with Constant-In-Opal and the holiday to Turkey from Ted Rogers fame (see wiki link).
In my defense though I posted that to last year's equivalent to this thread on 18 July ie 9 days pre the longlist so "before the event"Followed 2 days later (a week before longlist) by
"Just finished Shuggie Bain. I could even see it as a winner "
Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "In my defense though I posted that to last year's equivalent to this thread on 18 July ie 9 days pre the longlist so "before the event"Followed 2 days later (a week before longlist) by
"Just fin..."
I was so confident Shuggie would/should win I placed a little bet - I am not the betting type at all - and then promptly used my winnings to buy more books. Of course! :)
Before the longlist was published?
I think we did last year have some after the event "we ought to have guessed Book X would appear because the title is an anagram of one of the judge's cousin's name" type hindsight - but perhaps I am making that up!But well done Jo on your bet (odds don't exist pre longlist though GY so presumably long or shortlist stage - indeed last year I recall thin odds for longlist)
But all predictions last year cower at the feet of me calling, days after it was published, the Booker and the Women's Prize for Mermaid of Black Conch.
Paul wrote: ""I could even see as a winner""That's of course English understatement for it may well win - and at that time there were 200+ books in potential contention not 13 so I don't think it was a bad prediction (a little like yours of GWO the year before).
Not sure anyone saw Milkman coming.
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The Mookse and the Gripes
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There is basically only one story in the U.K. (or at least English) news currently and a book about the possibility of redemption after penalty miss 25 years previously goes beyond topical to ridiculously serendipitous."
Does Panenka's plot involve Panenka switching to being a football coach, taking his team to a major final and a penalty shootout, then encouraging the young players in his team to take a penalty, which they inevitably miss, therefore ensuring Panenka's "redemption" comes from his name no longer being associated with penalty misses but rather theirs?
If so it really is remarkably prescient.