2023 Booker Prize speculation Showing 1,001-1,050 of 1,356

[WndyJW]

Congratulations, Jo! I hope you have perfect weather Thursday and a lovely honeymoon.

[Paul]

Many congratulations.

[Jo]

Thank you all - here are my predictions:
The New Life – Tom Crewe
Hungry Ghosts – Kevin Hossein
In Memoriam – Alice Winn
Chrysallis – Anna Metcalfe
North Woods
Victory City
Losing the Plot
The Romantic
Old God’s Time
A Spell of Good Things
The Covenant of Water – Abraham Verghese
The Fraud
The Seventh Son – Sebastian Faulks

Of these, I really hope Hungry Ghosts, North Woods, In Memoriam and The New Life make it!

[Stephen]

Best wishes for a great day tomorrow Jo.
Amd great list!

[Cindy]

Jo, I've been wondering why more people have not been talking about Victory City. I didn't love the novel but it seems to me that, given the events of last summer, Rushdie is going to have a lot of support.

You don't think Demon Copperhead will be longlisted?

[Jo]

I liked Demon Copperhead. It is well written and has an important message. Great take on David Copperfield. I just didn't think it was enormously original.

[Cindy]

Jo wrote: "I liked Demon Copperhead. It is well written and has an important message. Great take on David Copperfield. I just didn't think it was enormously original."

Ah, ok. I understand.

[David]

Will the longlist be announced at midnight BST again? If so, we are less than a week away.

Is anyone aggregating predictions as in years past?

[Dylan]

David wrote: "Is anyone aggregating predictions as in years past?"

Yes! I've aggregated the predictions from this thread and any YouTube videos I came across. So far, I've collected 21 lists and these are the results so far:

12 Votes:
Demon Copperhead

11 Votes:
Victory City

10 Votes:
In Memoriam
The Fraud

9 Votes:
Birnam Wood

8 Votes:
[No books.]

7 Votes:
The New Life
August Blue
This Other Eden
Hungry Ghosts
Small Worlds

6 Votes:
Cuddy
The Covenant of Water
Soldier Sailor
The House of Doors

[Nicholas]

Excited for the final countdown!

I've only read three and a half eligible books. I loved The New Life and would be thrilled to see it on the list. I liked Demon Copperhead and expect it will make the list, but also wouldn't be that shocked if it turned out to be the big snub – having been passed over by the judges in favor of less-previously-feted books.

Chain-Gang All-Stars offered memorable scenes and characters but I found it a bit heavy-handed. In Memoriam (the one I'm only halfway through) is affecting but I am reading it fresh off the The New Life and I find it much more familiar and simple in comparison.

I've lurked on this thread for months now and the books you all have got me most excited to read are: Soldier Sailor, Fire Rush, Riambel, Grimmish, and – despite the mixed review from folks here – The Maniac because his previous book is my favorite of the past few years.

Bring it on!

[James]

I’m not sure it will be at midnight this year. Last year it was announced midday BST, I believe

David wrote: "Will the longlist be announced at midnight BST again? If so, we are less than a week away.

Is anyone aggregating predictions as in years past?"

[Mohamed]

Can't believe we are just one week from the big announcement, and I did not write down my prediction list yet!

[Mohamed]

Well here it is my list. It is a mix between books that I read and loved and other that feels like will be on the list.

Hungry Ghosts
Demon Copperhead
The New life
Soldier Sailor
The Maniac
The House of Doors
Mister, Mister
Victory City
Hangman
Biography of X
Losing The Plot
The Vaster Wilds
Birnam Woods

[Mohamed]

other works that i feel will appeal to the jusdges:

The Fraud
Promise
The east indian
Limberlost
Take what you need
Tom Lake
In the land of milk and honey
August Blue
North Woods

[Mohamed]

'I hope to offer readers a snapshot of the most ambitious writing from different parts of the globe that the judges have come across this year.'⁠
⁠
Meet Mary Jean Chan, #BookerPrize2023 judge.⁠

Seems that we will have Indian, Milesian or Australian novels this year

[Mohamed]

in the the interview with Esi Edugyan, she mentioned that reading V. S. Naipaul’s In a Free State, gave her a visceral reaction saying that It is a work of great brutality, giving an unvarnished view onto lives corroded by inequity, humiliation, the long shadow of colonialism

Does it mean that Hungry ghosts is on the list?

[Mohamed]

I hope to offer readers a snapshot of the most ambitious writing from different parts of the globe that the judges have come across this year, with the caveat that ‘ambitious’ need not mean that a novel must be thematically complex or epic in scope. Sometimes, a short novel can prove to be as ambitious as a hefty tome. Personally speaking, the most important quality I am looking for in a longlisted book concerns the way it is written. The prose must be exquisitely honed, with a unique sense of verve and style that captivates the reader from start to finish.

This what Mary Jean Chan said about what she is looking in a booker book. It brings Limberlost to my mind, Losing the plot as well.

[Owen]

They've now confirmed (via a comment on Instagram, rather than anywhere that people will actually see it) that the longlist announcement will be at 9am BST on Tuesday

[Cindy]

Owen wrote: "They've now confirmed (via a comment on Instagram, rather than anywhere that people will actually see it) that the longlist announcement will be at 9am BST on Tuesday"

Thanks Owen. I do not plan to wake up at 4 am for that so will look forward to seeing all your comments with my morning coffee!

[Cindy]

Mohamed wrote: "in the the interview with Esi Edugyan, she mentioned that reading V. S. Naipaul’s In a Free State, gave her a visceral reaction saying that It is a work of great brutality, giving an unvarnished vi..."

I personally think Hungry Ghosts is almost the most likely to be longlisted of any of the titles we've been discussing. Even though I respected it more than I loved it, I think it ticks pretty much every Booker box.

[Mohamed]

Owen wrote: "They've now confirmed (via a comment on Instagram, rather than anywhere that people will actually see it) that the longlist announcement will be at 9am BST on Tuesday"

I do not think i will sleep that night

[Hugh, Active moderator]

Owen wrote: "They've now confirmed (via a comment on Instagram, rather than anywhere that people will actually see it) that the longlist announcement will be at 9am BST on Tuesday"

9 am is awkward for me - I'll be on the move. Will try and do some of the admin in advance but it may take a while to get all of the book threads in place.

[Chris]

I loved when the list was announced at midnight, because that was 6pm on Monday for me. I work the evening shift at the library on Mondays, so I could watch the list come in and have a few of the books in hand within minutes.

[Cindy]

Derek wrote: "I really hope to see Mrs S, Mister, Mister and Shy on there. I’m expecting to see Rushdie and Tom Crewe. And wouldn’t be surprised to see Zadie Smith on there as she’s written the book Esi Edugyan ..."

That is a very interesting tidbit about The Fraud, Derek. Thanks for sharing. I hope very much to see your novel on the longlist.

[David]

I'm surprised to see The Covenant of Water show up on so many prediction lists. I wonder if many people have read it. I would be shocked to see it longlisted.

[Cindy]

I've read it David. I would not be shocked to see it on the longlist, nor not to see it. I think it has many Bookerish traits.

[David]

I might be wrong then. It just feels too much like general fiction for the Booker.

[Cindy]

It's a sprawling, sweeping historical epic that is overly long but generally quite well-written, by an author who has a strong following and is widely respected. So I could see it on the longlist. I think had it not been an Oprah Book Club pick, it would have had a much smaller, more niche readership.

[Stuart]

I’ve been in London the past few weeks for the birth of my first grandchild. Excited for that of course but also to be on the same time zone as the long list announcement! By the way, I left my Cuddy back home and wish it was on Kindle. Halfway through and really love it. Not sure what’ll be nominated but I would think Cuddy, The Last Eden, The New Life to name a few of my favorites.

[Cindy]

Congrats on the grandchild Stuart! What wonderful news!!!!

[Ben]

I'm finding it hard to separate the books I want to be longlisted from those I think most likely. I've ended up taking the following very scientific approach.

Of those eligible, these are my favourite (more or less in this order):
Mrs S
Cuddy
Soldier Sailor
Limberlost
The House of Doors
The New Life
Shy

To that I'll add a couple of books I've read, didn't love, but predict will be longlisted:
Corey Fah Does Social Mobility
Victory City

And four books I haven't read but will predict on reputation alone:
Demon Copperhead
Hungry Ghosts
The Fraud
Enter Ghost

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Derek wrote: "I really hope to see Mrs S, Mister, Mister and Shy on there. I’m expecting to see Rushdie and Tom Crewe. And wouldn’t be surprised to see Zadie Smith on there as she’s written the book Esi Edugyan ..."

That’s a fascinating tidbit Derek. I thought it was Washington Black like but had not realised it was that close.

A couple of reviews also compared it to Bridgerton so that’s another judge lined up!

[Cindy]

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "Derek wrote: "I really hope to see Mrs S, Mister, Mister and Shy on there. I’m expecting to see Rushdie and Tom Crewe. And wouldn’t be surprised to see Zadie Smith on there as she’s written the boo..."

That made me laugh out loud right at my desk!

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Chris wrote: "I loved when the list was announced at midnight, because that was 6pm on Monday for me. I work the evening shift at the library on Mondays, so I could watch the list come in and have a few of the b..."

The midnight announcement was objectively terrible though. The prize is a UK zone (publisher location, publication window, book availability are all based on the UK) - setting it to a time designed for the US was a piece of bad judgement.

[David]

This is what I’m thinking for my predictions:

- Limberlost - Robbie Arnott
- Birnam Wood - Eleanor Catton
- Enter Ghost - Isabella Hammad
- This Other Eden - Paul Harding
- Hungry Ghosts - Kevin Jared Hosein
- Demon Copperhead - Barbara Kingsolver
- The MANIAC - Benjamín Labatut
- Small Worlds - Caleb Azumah Nelson
- The Sleeping Car Porter - Suzette Mayr
- Cuddy - Benjamin Myers
- Victory City - Salman Rushdie
- The Fraud - Zadie Smith
- The House of Doors - Tan Twan Eng

[Chris]

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "Chris wrote: "I loved when the list was announced at midnight, because that was 6pm on Monday for me. I work the evening shift at the library on Mondays, so I could watch the list come in and have ..."

I agree completely. Certainly, the new time is much more accessible to the primary audience. Selfishly, I didn't want it to change.

[David]

I feel the same way. I preferred the old time (5pm for me), but agree that didn’t make sense.

[Laura]

I have to say I much prefer the announcement time this year, as last year's timing fell really awkwardly for me. That being said, I feel a bit underprepared, but out of all the books I've read, here's what I would love to see on the longlist:

- Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
- Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang
- In Memoriam by Alice Winn
- Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton

Books that I've read that I think have a chance but I wouldn't be thrilled to see:
- Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
- In Ascension by Martin MacInnes (subject to change, I'm about 75% done with the book but unless it majorly picks up in the last quarter, it's been a disappointing read)
- Juno Loves Legs by Karl Geary
- The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor

There's obviously a lot of books that are being discussed that I haven't checked out (Victory City, Hungry Ghosts, etc) which I probably won't be able to get around to unless they get longlisted. I'm excited for next Tuesday!

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

I have not seen many mentions of Fire Rush but it must have a good chance. One judge was even born in Bristol so may find the parts there resonant.

[David]

I haven’t seen Fire Rush mentioned much either, but it wouldn’t surprise me.

[David]

Dylan wrote: "Yes! I've aggregated the predictions from this thread and any YouTube videos I came across."

Excellent. Thanks, Dylan.

There are some knowledgeable people on instagram too. Here are a handful:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/CvIMFZqIL...
- https://www.instagram.com/p/CuStJ1wPr...

You may have already seen these:
- https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/my-2023...
- https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/the-boo...
- https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/2023-bo...

[Cindy]

Here is what I keep thinking: There is more or less a universe of books that are showing up on all the longlist predictions, let's say about 25 titles in different configurations. But most people acknowledge that each year they only correctly guess 5 or so of the 13 novels on the longlist. So what are the novels that no one is really talking about that are going to be on the list?? What are we missing?

[Ben]

One that's come to my attention just today is Other Names, Other Places, which has only just been published and seems pretty well received on Goodreads. Could be a surprise nominee.

[David]

Here are a few that aren’t obscure but haven’t been mentioned much in prediction lists:

- Hangman
- Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm
- The Human Origins of Beatrice Porter
- Dr. No
- Where I End
- Devil Makes Three
- Lone Women
- Last Dance at the Discotheque for Deviants
- The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa
- To Battersea Park
- Land of Milk and Honey

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Cindy I 100 percent agree.

Normally in years I feel every list I read has some books I have not heard of (and at least 1-2 ineligible) but this year on most lists I recognise every book and have either read it or consciously chosen not to read it.

To be fair on any actual longlist there are normally several books which appear in almost no predictions

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

David wrote: "Here are a few that aren’t obscure but haven’t been mentioned much in prediction lists:

- Hangman
- Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm
- The Human Origins of Beatrice Porter
- Dr. No
- Where I End
- Devil..."

Yes there are some fascinating ones there David

[Cindy]

David wrote: "Here are a few that aren’t obscure but haven’t been mentioned much in prediction lists:

- Hangman
- Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm
- The Human Origins of Beatrice Porter
- Dr. No
- Where I End
- Devil..."

Very thought-provoking. I am a big Ben Fountain fan, so I love seeing his book in consideration.

[David]

That list is a bit scattershot, but I could see any one of those books included. The Binyam in particular looks shortlist worthy (although I’ve not read it). The Warrell was longlisted for the PEN Faulkner; it looks similar to Fire Rush in the way the narrative takes cues from music.

[David]

The Fountain may not be eligible. I’m not seeing a UK publisher.

[Tracy]

The Human Origins of Beatrice Porter and Other Essential Ghosts was a five star read for me.
I also loved Dr. No and liked Lone Women quite a bit. As popular as horror is this year, I’d expect to see one scary book on the longlist, and this one would be a good choice.
I couldn’t finish The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa. Too misogynistic for me- supposedly it’s not intended that way, but I couldn’t see how. If it’s longlisted I might try again.