2021 Booker Prize Speculation Showing 951-1,000 of 1,196

[Robert]

Last year I attended a zoom chat with Jan Carson and she said no matter how stupid or irrational the change is, listen to your editor because they know best. She said this because she had to rewrite a whole chapter of her upcoming book as her editor said the viewpoint of the character had to change

[Sam]

Having finished A Passage North, I would certainly be happy to see it on the list. I have not seen much support for the novel from others though. Philosophic fiction may not be popular this year.

I read the first half of The Living Sea of Waking Dreams. If it does not develop a major flaw, this is the first book that would disappoint me if it were not listed. The book has that wonderful Zeitgeist element we want and some memorable lines.

[Paul]

Though in this case the UK and US editors seem to have had a different view, and it isn’t a title which obviously works in the UK not the US or vice versa due to language. (There was a financial services company launched recently that called themselves Nonce Finance and then wondered why everyone in the UK was a bit disturbed - https://blog.polygon.technology/nonce...)

[Roman Clodia]

Paul wrote: "Nonce Finance"

I sort of shouldn't laugh but... :))

[Paul]

Even the FT splashed the story as they thought it was so funny (the fact Nonce is apparently a term in cryptocurrency is oddly fitting)

[Chris]

Paul wrote: "There was a financial services company launched recently that called themselves Nonce Finance ..."

Well, I learned a new word today.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Sam wrote: "I read the first half of The Living Sea of Waking Dreams. If it does not develop a major flaw, this is the first book that would disappoint me if it were not listed. The book has that wonderful Zeitgeist element we want and some memorable lines..
..."

Sam I think if you liked the first half you are likely to like the second. It feels like another book that divides opinion (certainly fairly sharply between me and Paul/Neil - the two people I most discuss books with - when we all read an ARC at the same time some months back) - but I do not recall our views changing from one half to the other.

In some ways I think Flanagan was very lucky to get one Booker already so much as I loved this (and think it would be great to discuss alongside Bewilderment in particular as there is so much in common) I would not be too upset if it missed out and we know the Booker has developed an anti-Antipodean bias recently.

Assembly for me is the non-negotiable especially now we know for sure it was submitted. (I guess we can take that for read for Living Sea also given its a free entry)

[Paul]

I think my view changed to an extent as the novel wore on as it got more and more random and incoherent. if anything I perhaps liked it more as it went on when I accepted it was one of those so-awful-it-is-good books and started to find it rather amusing.

[Cindy]

I really liked Living Sea of Waking Dreams, but I do agree that it did shift direction (or that's how it felt to me) in the second half. I'll be curious to see if Sam agrees, given how much he liked the first half.

I think Assembly is a very interesting submission. No question it works as a complete book, despite its length, and it is blisteringly powerful. But I can't imagine it actually winning.

[Debra]

Paul wrote: "I think my view changed to an extent as the novel wore on as it got more and more random and incoherent. if anything I perhaps liked it more as it went on when I accepted it was one of those so-awf..."

The mix between the realistic and surrealist elements of the book felt disjointed to me. I get the symbolism, but the book felt too real to be surreal and too surreal to be real.

For what it's worth, I was blown away by the ending and I'm glad I stuck with the book.

[John]

I really hope (as an Australian) that Living Sea of Waking Dreams and/or The Yield at least get longlisted. They were both highlight reads for me last year. Very much looking forward to reading Assembly , Leone Ross’s This One Sky Day, Powers's Bewilderment (although think I may be waiting awhile for it to release here down under).

Haven’t managed to read as much as I would like this year so far (work and other family commitments) but with the Booker season upon us, I’m excited and hope to get through the longlist and hopefully discover some unexpected treasures.

I get what Paul says about the unevenness of Living Sea, I felt that also, but for some reason I didn’t experience it as random or incoherent, more as a tension that perhaps reflects the chaos and difficulty of meaningfully responding to our strange times. For me the past few years have felt like a chaotic mess of realism ( Covid and climate change are very real) and surreal (much of the response to all of this). Might give Living Sea another read if it gets listed to see if my original impression and regard for it still hold up.

[WndyJW]

I’m in the loved it camp of Living Sea of Waking Dreams. I was also fortunate to get a really striking edition, that I still think was intentional, the hardcover is a vibrant lime green feather pattern, under a plain boring black dust jacket. A message to make sure to look for beauty. I posted photos on my profile page.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

One book that in the face of it would seem very likely to get longlisted is Chronicles from The Land of the Happiest People on Earth. Can Obiama countenance not listing Nigeria’s Nobel prize winner with his first novel for 49 years?

Has anyone though had a positive experience of reading it?

[Tracy]

I just finished Nightbitch, and very much enjoyed it, despite a few incidents I didn’t care for. Most exciting for me is that the author lives in Iowa City, and given her descriptions of place in the book, it’s certainly set there. The Natural History Museum she describes is one of my older son’s favorite places.

I don’t know if it will be long listed, but it was worth the read.

[Paul]

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "One book that in the face of it would seem very likely to get longlisted is Chronicles from The Land of the Happiest People on Earth. Can Obiama countenance not listing Nigeria’s Nobel prize winner..."

I can't really see how they can longlist that and maintain any credibility. It's not a "lifetime achievement in essays, poetry and plays" prize.

[Neil]

I really want someone to love the Soyinka and talk about it here so I can see what I missed. It was a rare DNF for me.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

I am 15 percent into the Soyinka and floundering I have to say.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Tracy wrote: "I just finished Nightbitch, and very much enjoyed it, despite a few incidents I didn’t care for. .."

Agreed - I just came across this interview which I really enjoyed and thought was very detailed

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment...

[Sam]

I had hopes for Soyinka, but fears as well. IMO, the nomination would be primarily based on the weight of the author's reputation and would be useful as a promotion for the global prestige of the Booker. But I would have two considerations; the book must be readable and a personal appeance must be guranteed. I have noticed the initial burst of publicity that preceded the novel has not been sustained, but publicity for Ishiguro has also quieted, so that may not be significant.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

I think personal appearances cannot be guaranteed for any author. At the moment I don't see the Women's Prize shortlist readings happening for example unless several authors are prepared both to ignore advice in their own country and spend 10 days in a quarantine hotel. Things will I think be worse by November.

I can I think opine with more confidence on the book's readability - I don't think it is - without a lot of knowledge - at least based on Paul/Neil/Roman Clodia's views and my own experience of the first 15%.

[Sam]

A quick aside-- I am in the U.S. and have almost enough books either preordered or library reserved in September for a separate longlist. I can't help but think that some of these would do better if they weren't competitively released. These were in edition to Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth

Assembly
Lean Fall Stand
Beautiful World, Where Are You
Bewilderment
Cloud Cuckoo Land
The Wrong End of the Telescope
Matrix
Harlem Shuffle

[Hugh, Active moderator]

I have also been reading The Living Sea of Waking Dreams, and while I found it quite impressive I didn't like it as much as The Narrow Road to the Deep North. For me the first half was stronger - although I could see what Flanagan was doing with the symbolic elements, I found the disapperances increasingly distracting. For me the best parts were the most realistic ones, i.e. the experiences of the dying woman.

[WndyJW]

I agree with that Hugh, although like you I understood the disappearances. I’m afraid to read The Narrow Road to the Deep North, I can’t see how that story could be told without depictions of real suffering.

[Paul]

The interesting point with The Narrow Road to the Deep North is that Flanagan's dad died the day the book was finished. It is not widely known as Flanagan was very discrete about this and did not mention it in any interviews or otherwise draw any attention to the fact.

[Lark]

Assembly isn't coming out in the US until September and Little Brown rejected my Netgalley plea. I'm really looking forward to reading it when I can.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Interestingly Flanagan’s mother also disappeared one limb at a time but he is being equally discreet about that.

And Paul what you say is interesting but … they bombed Darwin.

[Debra]

lark wrote: "Assembly isn't coming out in the US until September and Little Brown rejected my Netgalley plea. I'm really looking forward to reading it when I can."

I would be happy to mail you my copy.

[Areeb]

WndyJW wrote: "I agree with that Hugh, although like you I understood the disappearances. I’m afraid to read The Narrow Road to the Deep North, I can’t see how that story could be told without depictions of real ..."

Narrow Road is incredibly bleak and depressing, especially all the railroad scenes. I found the book itself quite mediocre, frequently tedious, and strongly believe that Ali Smith should have won that year. As a result, I am apprehensive about reading Living Sea.

[Lark]

Debra wrote: "I would be happy to mail you my copy.
..."

Debra, that's marvelous! Thank you! I've really been hankering to read this. I'll contact you via DM.

[Hugh, Active moderator]

It is a long time since I read Narrow Road, so I can't be sure I'd feel the same way if I reread it now.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Areeb wrote: "WndyJW wrote: "I agree with that Hugh, although like you I understood the disappearances. I’m afraid to read The Narrow Road to the Deep North, I can’t see how that story could be told without depi..."

It really bares no resemblance to the Booker winner (my main issue with that was that it felt like reading a script for Tenko and I could not see how it was telling a new story in any way).

Flanagan is nothing if not versatile - for example First Person or Gould’s Book of Fish are both very different from his other books (if not most other books)

[Robert]

True Gould’s Book of Fish is the novel David Mitchell wished he could write (and I a Mitchell fan)

[Neil]

I have read 6 Flanagan books and really enjoyed 4 of them. The two I haven’t liked are the two we are talking about here.

[John]

Fascinating to read the different opinions and reactions to Flanagan’s novels. Very much agree that each of his works are very different, even in style. That versatility that Gumble mentions is quite distinctive.

There’s just something about Sea of Waking Dreams that struck a chord with me in the midst of 2020. Gould's also a wonderful read. Road to the Deep North, I agree with many of the views here, for me not one of his stronger works, but I still do admire it. Although sounds like Hugh prefers Narrow Road to Sea of Waking Dreams.

[Debra]

John wrote: "Fascinating to read the different opinions and reactions to Flanagan’s novels. Very much agree that each of his works are very different, even in style. That versatility that Gumble mentions is qui..."

You made an interesting observation earlier in the thread about a "tension that perhaps reflects the chaos and difficulty of meaningfully responding to our strange times" -- and point to the world's surreal response to the very real problems of climate change and Covid.

For me, that helps put the disappearances into better perspective. And I don't mean just symbolically, but more in terms of my feelings/reaction to them (this tension, you refer to). The disturbing/jarring/macabre nature of the disappearances made it really hard for me to "enjoy" the book -- but I guess that was the whole point.

[John]

Debra wrote: You made an interesting observation earlier in the thread about a "tension that perhaps reflects the chaos and difficulty of meaningfully responding to our strange times" -- and point to the world's surreal response to the very real problems of climate change and Covid.

Debra that was my impression on a first read. I'm keen to give it another read though as I do from time to time find my reaction to a novel change on revisits. I'm interested in exploring or at least being open to Paul's read on this that it is actually a flawed messy structure. Perhaps it's both :) I did find the disappearances jarring and disruptive, but my interpretation is that this is intentional. But clearly doesn't quite work in that way for many readers.

[Sam]

I am all fired up with The Living Sea. I actually stopped reading this morning, saving myself the last two chapters to savor tomorrow. For the novel got better and better. I am amazed at how well Flanagan cleverly incorporated present literay hot topics into this novel with subtlety and originality. He can be heavy-handed as well as subtle but I think he chooses when and how quite well. Again, I am amazed at the number of quotable quotes. I also love how the novel is constructed with self'-contained sentences, paragraphs and chapters. The comparisons with No One is Talking about This are apparent. (See how I managed to bring one of my favorite books this year into the discussion) This is my number one book at present.

I may be able to read one or two more before longlist day. They will be Second Place and Maxwell's Demon. I'll add my picks to the eligible list Sunday evening or Monday. I feel quite content with my Pre Booker reading. I don't feel overwhelmed or tired and am ready for the judges picks, whatever they may be. I enjoyed our discussion in preparation. We still have left some books either undiscussed or briefly mentioned.
Ruth Ozecki, Miriam Toews, Willy Vlautin, Nathan Harris (present Oprah pick) are just some of the names. Five days and counting.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

I loved it too Sam and John - if nothing else I think it’s inclusion will generate a fun debate. And I agree it with Lockwood would be interesting as would it with Powers (for different overlap).

[Debra]

Sam wrote: "I am all fired up with The Living Sea. I actually stopped reading this morning, saving myself the last two chapters to savor tomorrow. For the novel got better and better. I am amazed at how well F..."

The best is yet to come. For me, the ending more than made up for my other reservations about the book.

[Tom]

By the way, I also have a copy of Assembly I’m happy to mail to anyone in the US who can’t get ahold of one. Trying to pay it forward after Cindy shared Cloud Cuckoo Land with me.

[WndyJW]

I wrote about the situation with Flanagan’s dad dying the day he finished the book, but deleted it for fear of getting off track in the Booker thread. I don’t think Flanagan was that discreet about to though, I read a few different interviews in which he talked about writing it for his dad and his dad dying the day Flanagan finished the book.

I love Gould's Book of Fish: A Novel in Twelve Fish. After finishing the book I read about the copy with plates of paintings of fish and ordered that edition too.

I ordered a proof for Assembly on abes so I have to order the published edition when it’s available.

[James]

There’s a scene in Narrow Road that made me weep in the middle of a pizzeria when reading it

[Paul]

I was being a tad sarcastic with the reference to his discretion.

With this latest book and I can sort of get the idea that a book with the attention span of a gnat reflects our social media world post Covid but it feels to me like an excuse for poor writing.

But I agree that he is a versatile and impressive author and look forward to what he does next. Just hope this one doesn’t make the Booker list, particularly given the prize has already picked another week Flanagan.

[WndyJW]

Weak Flanagan? I didn’t feel like The Living Sea.. was all over the place. He did tackle a few issues, but they tied together: trying to control people and things over which we have no control, failing to to make changes that are in our control; humans being blind to the obvious and necessary parts of the world: how could so many fail to notice the woman’s missing body parts we might ask, how could so many not notice whole species going extinct? I think I saw the forest, after wandering through the trees, as the book was ending though.

[Nicholas]

I just finished The Living Sea of Waking Dreams and Fake Accounts in quick succession and am feeling some type of way about their relative depictions of social media.

At the end of the day, they are both quite critical of its effects on society and on their female protagonists. But whereas Oyler's perspective seemed to come from a place of personal, and deep, experience with social media, Flanagan's felt cursory, scolding, and sneery. I question whether he has spent as much time engaging with social media as he has expounding upon it.

I found Fake Accounts clever, nuanced, and hilarious. I'd love to see it make the long list, though it seems like a long shot.

[Paul]

Yes the sneery, grumpy old man tone of Flanagan's book was another issue I had with it.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Told you it’s inclusion would lead to fascinating debates. Even it’s potential inclusion is dominating the longlist discussion.

I am not sure I think Oyler’s book quite strong enough to make the longlist - I think she is a better critic than an entirely coherent novelist - but it’s a fascinating book. But given it was missed from the women’s prize longlist - a real shame as her and Lockwood on a shortlist panel would have been brilliant - I would be pleased to see it get recognition.

[WndyJW]

I was cruelly mocking you’re rong misspeling of weke, Paul.

[Paul]

WndyJW wrote: "I was cruelly mocking you’re rong misspeling of weke, Paul."

I think that's about how long it takes him to write the books.

[WndyJW]

Now you’re just being mean. Read Gould's Book of Fish: A Novel in Twelve Fish before you write Flanagan off completely.

I often confuse Flanagan and Keneally.