2022 Booker Shortlist Discussion

[Cindy]

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "Hearing rumours from sources that taking inspiration from Jeremy Hunt the Booker judges will admit their mistakes and announce a U Turn.

So I think it’s between The Colony and Maps of Our Spectac..."

BIG GRIN HERE!

[Marc]

I think I was only 30 to 40 pages into The Colony when I was utterly convinced it would be the winner.

Booker Judges... a wretched hive of scum and villainy...

[David]

Marc wrote: "Just a quick thanks to this group for inspiring me to tackle some of the long/short lists this year. It's not something I've ever attempted before (I got through 6 from the longlist; 3 of which made the shortlist). It's impressive that you all manage to read all of these books prior to the prize announcement and amidst reading other books for pleasure or other prizes at the same time."

Glad you could join in, Marc. I'm not able to do it every year based on other life commitments but I've squeezed it in the last two years. The great discussion on here usually helps :)

[Marc]

Thanks, David. I think the discussions and predictions on here are more interesting than beyond these GR "walls!"

[Mohamed]

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "Hearing rumours from sources that taking inspiration from Jeremy Hunt the Booker judges will admit their mistakes and announce a U Turn.

So I think it’s between The Colony and Maps of Our Spectac..."

This is a jock, right? A jock related to the political situation in UK now

[Marc]

Are the Queen Consort and Dua Lipa going to sing together? I mean, they're both in the same place... It just makes sense.

[Stephen]

Lol. But seriously, is anyone from the group at the event or have a contact to tell us how it is going?

[WndyJW]

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "Hearing rumours from sources that taking inspiration from Jeremy Hunt the Booker judges will admit their mistakes and announce a U Turn.

So I think it’s between The Colony and Maps of Our Spectac..."

If only!

I think Glory, it’s not UK or US, it’s political not personal, and easier to read than Seven Moons.

[Areeb]

Marc wrote: "Are the Queen Consort and Dua Lipa going to sing together? I mean, they're both in the same place... It just makes sense."

I am imagining them breaking out into a dance routine set to Levitate.

[Lee]

WndyJW wrote: "I think Glory, it’s not UK or US, it’s political not personal, and easier to read than Seven Moons."

I found Seven Moons easier to read, but then I seem to really dislike animal-related satire. Just that whole genre, nyet. :)

[Gwendolyn]

Dua Lipa is going on now…

[Paul]

Of all the songs they could have asked Dua Lipa to sing, not sure I'd have picked happy birthday (of which she sang two words)

I do worry that Alan Garner not being there in person may count against him

[Paul]

Seven Moons

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Seven moons

[Gwendolyn]

And the winner is…..Seven Moons!

[LindaJ^]

Winner - The Seven Moons

[Cindy]

Yup, not surprised. Just seemed the most Booker-esque of them to me.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Yes my gut feeling beats my head and heart

[Paul]

Disappointing choice I think - I couldn't even bring myself to write a review as I'd lost interest by the end.

[Paul]

At least I won the announcement on the thread race though!

[Cindy]

I am disappointed as well. I did like it, but it can't really be the year's finest, can it?

[Gwendolyn]

Paul wrote: "Disappointing choice I think - I couldn't even bring myself to write a review as I'd lost interest by the end."

Me too, Paul! Guess I’ll have to write the review now. I view this as a pretty safe choice from this shortlist.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Very pleased with this although still can’t tell if my views in the book were biased by getting a pre publication copy so I could finish the longlist in July.

Delighted for Ruth Killick (who just got a mention)

[David]

I'm surprisingly pleased with the choice. I think at the end, I was rooting for one of the political novels to win.

[David]

I wonder if it was a compromise choice.

[Paul]

His speech has been a bit dull so far - best he doesn't give up the day job for a comedy career based on his jokes.

And they've now had to shut him up (or try to)

[WndyJW]

I liked Seven Moons. I couldn’t finish Glory. I’m happy with this choice, although my personal answer to that question, Cindy, is no, this is not the finest fiction of the year, but then I didn’t think any of the shortlist were.

[Lee]

Too bad I don't know any posh undergound bookies where I live who take bets on literary prizes. It's a memorable if imperfect book that thrums with energy, I think it's a fine choice.

[Sonia]

The ceremony was a hot mess.

[Paul]

New entry at 22 out of 30 for me in the all-time Booker winners I've read list - and so far the 90th best book I've read in 2022. It's a reasonable winner but not an inspiring one as The Trees/Treacle Walker/Small Things would have been - and particularly disappointing for a panel who seemed to value compact books pick the most under-edited one.

Still at least Oh William didn't win.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

It was 4th on my longlist so I can’t complain

[Hugh, Active moderator]

For me it was a book that didn't entirely work, but it is good to see an Asian winner.

[Amanda]

After finishing the shortlist just last week, Seven Moons was my choice to win, so I am pleased!

[Emmeline]

Borrrrrring

[WndyJW]

I like Shehan Karunatilaka. He seems warm in interviews and he likes to talk!
Did anyone notice that he has black stripes down the middle of the fingernails on his left hand? I saw that at the Booker shortlist readings and again today at the announcement of the winner.

[David]

I saw a review that described this as a mashup of Lincoln in the Bardo and A Christmas Carol, which made me chuckle.

[Will]

David wrote: "I wonder if it was a compromise choice."

Apparently it was a unanimous decision

[WndyJW]

Milkman was the only winner I was really excited about in the last several years. I liked other winners, but Milkman was clearly the best .

[Paul]

Will wrote: "David wrote: "I wonder if it was a compromise choice."

Apparently it was a unanimous decision"

They always say that nowadays - the fun days of judges storming out seem to have gone.

Even the joint winners were apparently unanimous.

[Anita]

I predicted this successfully in my review and at thereadersroom.org.

Apparently my predicting ability supersedes my taste, because totally not a fan of the winner. For the third year in a row (would be 5 years in a row, but loved Girl, Woman, Other).

Finally got the clue that I should predict the book I like the least . . .seems like a surefire strategy. Next year, I'm betting money.

[WndyJW]

Did they say how they chose it? I watched the announcement just now, (with Camilla slowly moving behind the announcer) the man just announced the winner without any preamble.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Paul wrote: "particularly disappointing for a panel who seemed to value compact books pick the most under-edited one."

My sources briefing about a U-Turn were correct - I just misinterpreted what the U Turn would be. Big messy books are back it seems

[WndyJW]

Someone check on Paul.

[Alysson]

WndyJW wrote: "Did they say how they chose it? I watched the announcement just now, (with Camilla slowly moving behind the announcer) the man just announced the winner without any preamble."
Yes, you can see the whole Announcement here (skip the first four minutes):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhWxT...

[Jackson]

If I’m not mistaken this was Sort Of Books first Booker nomination, period. I imagine they’re quite ecstatic to win off of it.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

When he said “both horrific and humorous” I thought it was The Trees but quickly became clear it was Seven Moons

[David]

“both horrific and humorous"

Could have also been the Strout.

[WndyJW]

I moved too far ahead the first time, thanks, Alysson.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Excellent David.

[WndyJW]

Strout wasn’t horrific! Straightforward, but not horrific.