2025 Booker Prize speculation

[Paul]

Interesting and a shame. But good to know this forum can get Booker rules changed! What shall we target next?

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

So the longlist by end July challenge is back on.
Anyone else up for it?

[Paul]

Back? Did it ever go away? I managed to complete my reading of the Booker longlist this year by the end of July. Well I didn’t read any after July.

[Cindy]

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "So the longlist by end July challenge is back on.
Anyone else up for it?"

I'm up for anything on the longlist that is (a) already published and (b) out in the US by the end of July!

[Paul]

Several contenders on this year ahead preview although many already mentioned on the thread:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2...

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

This us probably a more relevant feature from what is about to become a different paper

https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...

Last year it included five of the eventual Booker list

[Ruben]

Any you haven't read yet?

[Sam]

The second list while mentioning many already mentioned is far more in the taste of the group and is inspiring in what I was beginning to think might be an weak year.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

I have read very few of them Reuben although I have ARCs of quite a few

[Cindy]

Ah! I had seen the first list but the second. Helpful!

[Mohamed]

Sam wrote: "The second list while mentioning many already mentioned is far more in the taste of the group and is inspiring in what I was beginning to think might be an weak year."

I agree with you on this Sam. It is worth mentioning that we should keep an eye for this year's October-December releases since Orbital was published in December 2023.

The second list does not include books coming in August and September. I read in FT that there's a new David Mitchelle coming in the late autumn

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Orbital was early November

Mitchell is interesting - 5 Booker listings in a row then nothing for 10 years.

[Paul]

That’s because he is the Radiohead of authors. Each book is worse than the previous one and increasingly self indulgent.

[Stephen]

I love Radiohead, or some Radiohead lol

[Erin]

Paul wrote: "That’s because he is the Radiohead of authors. Each book is worse than the previous one and increasingly self indulgent."

I did a chronological reading of his stuff, and loved everything till Bone Clocks, which I think was my favorite because it was a payoff of all the little easter eggs he'd been planting. But the ones I've read since then have been just meh. I feel like he may be at loose ends and yeah, the newer ones definitely feel a bit self-indulgent. He probably needs to go in a new direction and let the shared universe go...

[Paul]

Erin wrote: "I did a chronological reading of his stuff, and loved everything till Bone Clocks"

My review of Bone Clocks has Crispin Hershey tell Mitchell: Just rewrite your bestseller Cloud Maps, and recycle all the characters names from your old novels such as White Swan Lawn and the Hundred Springs of Dutchbloke. No need to worry about character development - all you need is two voices - "geezer" (which will do even for ladies) and "learned sage" for the poncey bits. Oh and while your advance was impressive, my agent tells me Kate Mosse got a bigger one, so chuck in a bit of stuff about Cathars. But don't worry about any research or coherent logic, just throw readers of the scent by some made-up science fiction words. Call it The Skeleton Timers. The punters will lap it up.

Stephen wrote: "I love Radiohead, or some Radiohead lol"

Yes but Pablo Honey is what we want to hear not some ambient noise from Kid-A. To be fair the title of the brilliant Anyone Can Play Guitar rather set their stall out early on, as Radiohead's response seems to be "but only we play the ondes Martenot" (unfortunately there's a reason no one else does play it).

[Mohamed]

There are also two eligible novels from Ali Smith with Gliff being published in late October 2024 and Glyph being published in September 2025

[Paul]

Mohamed wrote: "There are also two eligible novels from Ali Smith with Gliff being published in late October 2024 and Glyph being published in September 2025"

Makes for an interesting issue for the judges - not least as they are very much companion books. If they want to include them, do they list one or both, or even treat them together as one entry? The latter would be a nice idea.

(that's if Smith allows them to be entered)

Similarish issue on the International Booker where On The Calculation of Volume has to be a strong contender - but Parts I and II both eligible, and indeed published at the same time.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Given the understandable upset for those without ARC-access when books with a September date are listed I would hope they just went for Gliff

[Yacka]

Paul wrote: "that's if Smith allows them to be entered"

I remember Ali Smith saying after her last Booker shortlisted book that she is not going to do it again.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

That’s what she said to one of the ex active members of this group (Jonathan) in the signing queue - and that story has travelled widely … not sure I have ever seen it publicly and a few years back she seemed to imply the opposite to another forum member I recall.

[Owen]

Do we know when we're getting the Observer debut novelists list? Next Sunday maybe?

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

It seems like it can be any Sunday in January - but next week a possibility.

I wonder if the Observer sale will change things in future as the shared Guardian/Observer resources will disappear?

Any thoughts on this year’s contenders?

Some thoughts (more from debuts I have seen appearing on NetGalley). The first will I think be the big debut hit of the year.

Catherine Airey
Emma van Straaten
Sean Hewitt
Garrett Carr
Saba Sams (although already in grants best Novelists list so perhaps less of a “discovery”)
Salma Ibrahim
Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin
Roisin O'Donnell

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

From their 2024 list Kaliane Bradley and Colin Barrett were the big successes although Leo Vardiashvili deserved a lot more recognition.

[Cindy]

Tilt is getting a lot of buzz in the US and is showing up on many most anticipated lists.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Just looking it up - it feels a bit more WP than Booker from the blurbs (NetGalley does not have it marked as literary fiction albeit that’s far from infallible and I have missed authors like Ali Smith due to that). Anything with an earthquake interests me if only professionally.

[Owen]

I’d add Xenobe Purvis to the Observer prediction list - her debut novel ‘The Hounding’ is also on Netgalley (though I haven’t read it yet!)

[Paul]

I was looking back yesterday - felt the authors on the 2024 list didn't have same impact as previous years, but may be overly fondly remember previous years

100% agree on "Leo Vardiashvili deserved a lot more recognition"

It felt one of the weaker lists last year - I think Kaliane Bradley already had a lot of buzz and one Booker longlist

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Ferdia Lennon was a big miss for the 2024 list.

[Mohamed]

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "It seems like it can be any Sunday in January - but next week a possibility.

I wonder if the Observer sale will change things in future as the shared Guardian/Observer resources will disappear?

..."

I believe it's due next week. I might add Gurnaik Johal and Hal Ebbott

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Good call in Johal but less sure on Ebbett as I thought he was American?

[Mohamed]

I am not sure why I keep confusing him to be an Irish

[Mohamed]

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "It seems like it can be any Sunday in January - but next week a possibility.

I wonder if the Observer sale will change things in future as the shared Guardian/Observer resources will disappear?

..."
Krystelle Bamford author of Idle Grounds might be featured on the list. People are raving about it

[Mohamed]

I think one of the first title that will be on the longlist is Nesting. I just discovered in a -deleted now-tweet by Roisin O'Donnell that RODDY DOYLE was raving about it.

the tweet was: I was completely blown away by Roddy Doyle's reaction to NESTING. Still can't quite believe one of my literary heroes has actually read my ...

The blurb is:

‘Brand-new, urgent and hugely satisfying’ RODDY DOYLE 'As emotionally charged as it is brutally real.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Fascinating

I happened to read this a few days ago. It’s very good although other than the blurb I would see it perhaps more as a WP contender given its themes and given its perhaps slightly less literary (whatever that means) than I might expect for a Booker book.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And from the Guardian yesterday

https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...

[Mohamed]

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "Fascinating

I happened to read this a few days ago. It’s very good although other than the blurb I would see it perhaps more as a WP contender given its themes and given its perhaps slightly less..."

Great review Gumble! I agree on the WP , it will be shortlisted at least. Maybe booker prize longlisted as well, we had few less literary novels than this on the shortlist even .

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Well who knows with the WP - they pick so widely that every year many books people think are nailed on for the shortlist don’t even make the 16 strong longlist.

And yes for Booker feels more like a longlist chance if the chair champions it.

[Joe]

Debut novel due in June from Wendy Erkine - The Benefactors. Her 2 short story collections are well worth hunting out. Both were shortlisted for the Edge Hill Short Story prize.

[Henk]

Joe wrote: "Debut novel due in June from Wendy Erkine - The Benefactors. Her 2 short story collections are well worth hunting out. Both were shortlisted for the Edge Hill Short Story prize."

The description of this book reminds me enormously of The Dinner by Herman Koch

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Have had an ARC for some time but not got round to it given publication some way off.

[Jo]

Reading (and loving = understatement) Catherine Airey's Confessions! It has been on a few lists as a book to look out for and I can see why. Moves between NY and Ireland so reflects the US/UK. It has worked its way under my skin.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

I really liked it until the last 50 pages or so which while they probably majestic it better as a book club book rather damaged it as literary fiction

But then I thought the same (for far from dissimilar reasons) about The Bee Sting

I think it will be one of the big talked about hits of the year but probably see it as more Women’s Prize, Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize, Nero Prize, even Orwell Prize (as it gets pretty political) than Booker.

But then I did not see The Bee Sting as a Booker contender and it nearly won - albeit it did win the Nero which was my prediction all along.

[Paul]

It looks interesting but I saw worrying references in your review to the Commodore 64 (as you say the Spurs of 1980s computers) and Nathan Hill (author of perhaps my least favourite book of the 21st century).

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

The Nathan Hill was not a possible comparison and not necessarily that accurate (and the author is not American which ultimately is your issue with that and lots of other books). But the C64 is integral to the novel unfortunately

[Jo]

So having finished Confessions... I am not convinced it will make the longlist. I really did enjoy reading it though. Absolutely going to be a popular read in 2025 though.

Has anyone read The Artist by Lucy Steeds? Any thoughts? I have read it but interested to hear what others think,

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

I have not

I just reviewed Audition by Katie Kitamura which I thought was excellent.

Would make a great longlist addition although her previous work (and that of her husband) have oddly never been Booker recognised.

I know she spent many years in the UK, still spends some time there and of course is married to a UK citizen but I think not Goldsmith eligible - which is a shame as would probably win the prize otherwise.

[Owen]

So I assume the Observer debut novelists list is coming next week - or maybe they just… didn’t like any debut novelists this year

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Looks like it - as noted in the trail it seems to be any Sunday in January.

[Ruben]

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "I have not

I just reviewed Audition by Katie Kitamura which I thought was excellent.

Would make a great longlist addition although her previous work (and that of her husband) have oddly never be..."

That's great to hear, it is the novel I look forward to most this year...but no ARC unfortunately.

Surprising indeed that neither was every longlisted. Although I think Kunzru was a judge at some point...

[Ben]

I’m finding the meme-y vibe on the Booker Instagram account lately so weird.