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thank you for this list - i’ve added some titles to my tbr! the christmas tinies are v cute, and i also can’t quite imagine what a muriel spark christmas tale could be lol

I’m catching up on backlist indie this month as I have Marzahn mon amour and Mammoth to read and Solenoid still to finish (started in September 😮)

I love indie press content, thanks for putting Bleeding Fabulous on my radar!

Her reflections or collective memory may be true in a developed country like france, but it is not universal. Her reflections do not seem to be universal because the life in the post war period in a developing or underdeveloped country in Asia, Africa or Latin America is entirely different from that of an affluent developed country like France. Life in the third world countries is so pathetic with extreme poverty, unemployment, violence, crime, political suppression, clashes, mass killing etc

I’m not a great reader, I too easily get distracted when reading, and I thought that’s why I found this book a challenge - but if I read it for a longer period I would get into it an understand what was going on - if I took a break & tried to start reading again I was lost until I got hypnotised by the words. Many words I was unsure of but in looking them up I realised I got the “gist” before I confirmed it. Glad that I got through it but I still wonder if her brother didn’t sexually abuse her.

Night Watch is my favourite Sarah Waters. I must get to Wickedest as Poor was stunning.

I have a young friend who is extremely enthusiastic about Caleb Femi's work. He's never liked me more than when I told him 'The Wickedest' was due out 😊

I finished Killing Jericho last night. I liked the main character but the twist I’m not sure of. Creepy and well written. I may even read the next in the series. I’m going to read more on the Polari shortlist.

Ordered Fast, Feasting. Already had Disgraced. Will consider Blackwater Lightship.

I just finished Summertime by Coetzee and really enjoy his work.

Blue Hunger added to TBR 📖 🪱 💔 🤍 💙

Wow black water lightship is going straight on my wish list. Would be so interested to hear your overall ‘all stars’ style longlist, shortlist and winner from all the books you’ve read in this project.

“Let’s do the Time Warp again!”

Great deep dive, as always! The Blackwater Lightship is one of my fave books and , in my opinion, should have won ( I’ve read the 1999 shortlist as well)

Love this video series!! ❤

Johnathan Strange and Mr Norrell is in my top ten books of all time. I’ve read it twice with Tin Hat trio’s Book of Silk playing in the background. The perfect accompaniment. Enjoy

the way you talk about The Blackwater Lightship, oof - must read immediately, thank you!

Great Video. I was very moved by Disgrace, yes, a hard read, but should read again. I have Map of Love on shelf and have read other books by everyone except Michael Frayn. TBR gets larger!

I haven’t heard of any of these books🫣 I’ve looked up several and they are not available at my library surprisingly. I love that you are going through the Booker lists and giving us your thoughts! 🙏

What a strong list! And I agree with you that Disgrace was the right winner - yes it is grim and deeply uncomfortable reading but books like that are essential. It must be hard for a quiet meditative book to win out against a challenging and dynamic novel like Disgrace but it happened in 2024!

You said this series might be more interesting for you than anyone else but I am having enormous fun being reminded of things I read ages ago and hearing your reactions to them as a reader today.

Gliff was wonderful but I found the messages a fraction too heavily flagged. This only meant it was one fraction below perfect for me and I look forward to Glyph.

Bob the Booker in his Booker Library Candy Shop! Thanks for sharing!

What an interesting place.

Looks amazingly good!🎉🎉🎉

Saw this and thought of you of course! Looks like a wonderful display.

That is so cool! Nice to see it all in one place

Transitional sounds like it might have similarities to Vivek Shraya’s People Change.

Ooh! Just added Killing Jericho to my shopping list for my upcoming trip to London! And this list also reminded me I wanted to pick up Jon Ransom’s previous book, The Whale Tattoo.

I love that you did this video! I have been posting my reviews on my Instagram as I have been reading these books. I am currently reading The Gallopers. I have read: Greekling, Hard Drive Blue Hunger, Local Fires, Bellies, and Transitional. My favorites have been: Bellies, Greekling, Hard Drive, Local Fires, and I am enjoying the writing style of Jon Ransom in The Gallopers. I need to get a copy of The Whale Tattoo by Jon Ransom, which he won the prize for in the past. I still have the following copies on my TBR cart (which I will not get read before Friday’s winner announcement): Neon Roses, Sunburn, The Fitful Sleep of Immigrants, and Killing Jericho. I did not buy a copy of the graphic novel, but after your review, I may have to!

Thanks for putting this together, a few here for the never ending TBR!

Oh, I have Neon Roses. I need to bump it up my tbr. 😅

The only one I have read and highly recommend is Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth Some books I’m now very interested in reading now. Thanks for this Bob 🍀👋☘️

Hello Bob, I heard Waterstones Piccadilly has set up a special Booker corner. What about you gave us a tour? It would be great.

I really need to try out some Ali Smith!

we need a little countdown in the corner of the screen for how many Booker books are left lol i'm halfway through Gliff for the second time (couldn't wait for the international delivery and read the ebook in the meantime) and enjoying it even more on round two, as usual with Smith!

I think Gliff is one of my most anticipated books this winter. I was eyeing Small Rain but health/sickness topics rarely pull me in…it’s just such a depressing fact of life on earth. Thanks as always for your thoughts!

Congratulations Bob! 🎉

I received Garth Greenwell's book as an ARC, love his work, as you say Bob, intense, and emotive.

Thanks!

Ps sometimes you're on a 40 plus inch TV. Just something to think about....

I agree with your take on the Booker. It's what it is. You really have to read through the longlist, and, maybe, it's an honor just to be nominated? (Still, the Americans got it right with James, with all due respect to our anglo-irish friends. Also, Bee Sting shoulda won.)

I have never read Ali Smith but Gliff sounds like something that would suit my taste. What is your favotite book of hers?

Ali Smith makes you laugh, then punches you on the chin. I'm reading Gliff and loving it.

Booker Prize “ticking away” in the background sounds like at some point it will all explode! I picture it as a pile of award winning books with an old fashioned ACME alarm clock strapped to dynamite on top with the clock hands winding down.

Finished it a few days ago. I thought it was very beautiful and powerful. I love how he doesn't explain too much he gives you what you need to know and no more. I also love how it was left ambiguous whether or not Klara's bargain with the sun actually worked or did Josie get well by chance. I'd like to think Klara's bargain and faith in the sun worked. I also loved the ending.

📕🪱💔🤍💙

Even this many years later I'm kind of annoyed that The Testaments joint won this year haha, give it to someone else!! Let Evaristo have her win!

I never go back and look at old shortlists and now I feel like I should!!

How have I not heard of Dear Dickhead? It sounds perfect haha. I really need to read more from Susanna Clarke!