The Mookse and the Gripes discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Booker Prize for Fiction
>
2023 Booker Prize speculation
They have just posted that the announcement will 9am tomorrow.
Yes hardly excitement building
GY, 16 hours ago: “I have started Covenant of Water”GY, 14 hours ago: “I’m 640 pages in”
What kind of witchcraft is this, and where can I learn it?!
That’s like 40 pages a hour - hardly speed reading.
I’m seeing buzz that this is Zadie Smith’s award to lose. I’ve not read her book yet.
Where are you seeing the buzz? It’s not getting that great early reviews here - averaging 3.78. It’s good but far from brilliant. Esi E will has that clear link.
I keep seeing the Zadie in a ton of predictions. I honestly don't want to read it though lol
David wrote: "I’m seeing buzz that this is Zadie Smith’s award to lose. I’ve not read her book yet."This is a speculation list I saw online. Zadie isn't on it (although I'm eager to read her new one), but it's a good list. https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/the-boo...
I just finished The House of Doors and found it had a very nice narrative flow. I did think that it did struggle at times to try and connect the personal stories to the wider historical backdrop, but I would be more than happy to see this on the longlist over some other hyped eligible titles.I would have said that being a previously shortlisted author would bode well for Tan Twan Eng, but after last year, I'm never saying that again (I still think Stuart and Yanagihara deserved a place on the longlist far more than Strout and Fowler did!).
This is probably old news to fans of podcasts, but there is a Booker podcast that relaunched earlier this month.
I’m so out of the loop with this prize this year, but will be watching the announcement fittingly at lunch time tomorrow then get excited about the list, promise to read most of them, and end up reading maybe half of them at most, but it will be a fun project. I’ve only read a handful of eligible novels, so I’m expecting a pretty clean slate.
Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "Where are you seeing the buzz? It’s not getting that great early reviews here - averaging 3.78. It’s good but far from brilliant. Esi E will has that clear link."Two people have said it to me in conversation, and then I saw Oscar Almonte-Espinal's instagram post making that prediction. I wasn't sure if these three instances are part of a larger network of buzz or if they're just three one-offs. Incidentally, all three of mine are US-based. I wonder if the novel has been received differently here/there.
I feel the same, Yahaira.
the fraud is on quite a few lists. this guide collects some of the prediction postshttps://www.instagram.com/inkdrinkerr...
Devi I felt a strong longlist and even shortlist contender - but I do not see it as “hers to lose” I also think 155 chapters is a little excessive.
this did feel like a great year for Irish booksI'm really hoping that The Bee Sting and Falling Animals make it (or at least one of them)
I feel strangely out out of the loop this year. Last year, I spent much of June and July reading Booker hopefuls (I was far less prolific in that regard than GY). I think I'm happier for not having done that again, but my Booker knowledge is mostly second hand this year.GY, what's the final tally of the number of books you read on the Listopia?
Has anyone else read more than, say, 10 on the list? I'm sure we have other high achievers here.
Joy D wrote: "Other books I have read (or currently reading) that I would not be disappointed to see on the list:August Blue by Deborah Levy
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
The Librarian..."
Joy, I wondered about The Librarianist too. But I've been hearing very mixed things from readers. Are you enjoying it?
Derek wrote: "I’m hearing quite a few Irish authors on the list."Soldier Sailor? Old God's Time? Falling Animals? Close To Home? The Bee Sting?
78 David. Though The Bodies Fall is another Irish possibility (I have not read it but seen it mentioned).
That's a solid list of Irish contenders. I'd say Juno Loves Legs is a possibility too.
Any other rumours Derek.
I read two eligible Irish novels in the last weeks, 'Kala' and 'Service' and whilst both well-written I would categorise both as 'general fiction' rather the 'literary fiction'. All of the ones Mohamed mentions seem more likely candidates. And the Noel Regan sounds very intriguing as well.
Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "78 David. Though The Bodies Fall is another Irish possibility (I have not read it but seen it mentioned)."
I did not read it yet. But the fact that it is coming from Granta is giving it a chance
Ruben wrote: "I read two eligible Irish novels in the last weeks, 'Kala' and 'Service' and whilst both well-written I would categorise both as 'general fiction' rather the 'literary fiction'. All of the ones M..."
Thanks Ruben. Although I was not impressed by Close to home but it has some chances
I am rooting for Soldier sailor and will be utterly disappointed to not seeing on the list
Derek wrote: "I’m hearing quite a few Irish authors on the list."Derek, any details on the Irish novels? is it the ss??
Agree on both MoOn Granta they have rather too many books in contention.
maybe they're making up for the colony not winning last year
oh wow. I feel like no one has talked about study for obedience
I was looking for a Canadian book to add to my list too lol totally blanked on it even though I read it
Jen wrote: "Joy, I wondered about The Librarianist too. But I've been hearing very mixed things from readers. Are you enjoying it..."Yes, I enjoyed it. I think Patrick deWitt is a great writer, but this one is probably not as "Bookerish" as The Sisters Brothers, which was nominated a few years ago.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I didn't think the Librarianist was a booker book. it was fine?
Derek wrote: "Bee Sting is there. Rumours for Bernstein. Hope that proves to be true."No Soldier Sailor?
Just saw The Bee Sting is 656 pages long- if that, Demon Copperhead (650 pages too) and The Covenant of Water (nearly 800 pages) get longlisted, this is could be a hefty longlist!
Derek wrote: "Bee Sting is there. Rumours for Bernstein. Hope that proves to be true."@GY: are these two among your 78? If not, things aren´t looking good for you...
Mohamed wrote: "Derek wrote: "Bee Sting is there. Rumours for Bernstein. Hope that proves to be true."No Soldier Sailor?"
Can you pls give full title of "Bernstein" book?
switterbug (Betsey) wrote: "Mohamed wrote: "Derek wrote: "Bee Sting is there. Rumours for Bernstein. Hope that proves to be true."No Soldier Sailor?"
Can you pls give full title of "Bernstein" book?"
Study for Obedience
Derek wrote: "Only one novel from Faber made the list apparently."WOW!! Did not see this coming. It is demon copperhead for sure
switterbug (Betsey) wrote: "Mohamed wrote: "Derek wrote: "Bee Sting is there. Rumours for Bernstein. Hope that proves to be true."No Soldier Sailor?"
Can you pls give full title of "Bernstein" book?"
Study for Obedience
Happy to confirm Bee Sting and Study for Obedience in 78. But I hope now there is no DC and Soldier, Sailor is both the Faber book and one of the Irish crew.
Faber also Old God’s Time (another Irish one), Shy - both heavily tipped and Penance and Big Swiss (both being discussed as potentials).
Derek wrote: "I don’t think it is."this number 2 on Paul's list:
2. We will (nearly) all get upset at the exclusion of one book
I'd love to see the Eliza Clark, but some of the others seem more likely.
It is Soldier Sailor for me. Finger Crossed!
The omission of Soldier, Sailor would be this year’s Assembly
I am suddenly really hating on Demon C
Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "The omission of Soldier, Sailor would be this year’s Assembly"Let's hope it will be this year Keegan!
I had Study in Obedience in my Bookstagram Will they/won’t they I figured there that Gaby Wood might have shared her love of Paula Rego with the judges (https://www.Irb.co.uk/ the-paper/v43/n19/gaby-wood/at-tate-britain)- a Rego quote providing the book’s title and driving idea.
She is also one of the Granta authors as lives in Scotland.
It was also VERY easy to do a Dog picture for it which influenced my choice.
Any more news Derek?
Derek wrote: "Bee Sting is there. Rumours for Bernstein. Hope that proves to be true."Any other rumors Derek?
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
The Mookse and the Gripes
Books mentioned in this topic
Matrix (other topics)Elena Knows (other topics)
Falling Animals (other topics)
The Long Form (other topics)
Shy (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Brinda Charry (other topics)Rachel Heng (other topics)
Maithreyi Karnoor (other topics)
Hanna Stoltenberg (other topics)
Maithreyi Karnoor (other topics)
More...
I read it through NetGalley and did not love it. That said, I am not a sweeping saga gal, so others may disagree. I will be surprised if it hits the long list.