Birdeye sounds so interesting! A lot of them do, well picked. I have to say, I really admire your ability to present information and sounding like you’ve done your research, without coming off as arrogant or pretentious. It’s a fine line to balance and you do it really well 😊 Also, I love a bit of unknown and weird, so this video is such a resource, saving it for later use! Thanks!
Thank you, that is such a kind comment! Coming across as arrogant/pretentious is my literal nightmare so it is lovely to hear that isn’t happening. Thanks so much for watching ♥️
@@benreadsgood You've got nothing to worry about. And that was a weird way to give a compliment haha! I would say genuinely interested in books, kindhearted, and down to earth, is how you come across. Happy dreams only 😊
What an interesting group of different potential contenders! I’ve read Two Hours and really enjoyed it though I’m not sure it’s strong enough to get a nomination. I was really up for In Universes but was put off by the first few pages (though that’s certainly not much of a sample 😅)
Thanks Eric - I should have known if anyone had experience of some of these, it would be you! 😅 Shame that the two you’ve read some of didn’t seem to quite clear the bar, but I’m sure there are lots more worthy unknown books out there that could make an appearance. I still need to watch your predictions!!! Had lots of them saved to my Watch Later list and still working through them 😊
If the actual longlist is half as exciting as the pre-Booker season has been on booktube then I'll be happy 😂 But I wonder, have you jinxed these books now? You made them no longer unheard of and un-talked about!
3:17 The long rectangle form of “Two hours” is a common find in French books 😊 Fitting as the story unfolds in France. Your research for videos is impressive. Keep at it!
These are my favourite kind of predictions, always here for the more obscure and less discussed! Had only heard, and own, one of them, "The dimensions of the cave" and haven't read it yet. I was very intrigued by the design choice, should really pick it up soon. Will keep an eye out for Birdeye and In Universes. Excited to see if the booker surprises us all with their picks (hopefully in the best way).
Definitely love some more obscure books... I just want them to be great too! Very much looking forward to finding out the surprises. Only a week to go!
Ooh, ooh, I have an ARC of the Regina Porter book which I'm planning to get to soon. I'm still hoping Enlightenment by Sarah Perry makes it to the list. It deserves a massive audience.
Keen to hear what you make of it! The lack of buzz around Enlightenment is really interesting to me, especially given how popular The Essex Serpent ended up being. I wonder if it’s one that will have a second wind when it comes out in paperback.
What a great video!!!! I am especially interested in The Bay. I read A Flat Place by Noreen Masud for the Women’s Prize for Nonfiction shortlist and Morecambe Bay was one of the places she visited. She discussed the tragedy a little and it was so sad to learn about. Thanks for bringing this to my attention!!! PS, I also love that you’re trying to make ‘fetch’ happen!!!!
Thank you Gretchen! 🙏 I also think The Bay sounds great. Actually found out it’s not eligible as it was released as an ebook last year (😢) but just picked up a copy anyway as I want to read it!
I rarely get my hands on obscure titles, but last year I read a book from a small press that ended up on my personal Top Ten Books of 2023. It's called Sift, by Alissa Hattman. It was recently shortlisted for the 2024 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction, along with Orbital and other titles. Just a beautiful little book.
I am was just wondering about the upstate New York moment going on and then you mentioned it. I'm currently reading The God of The Woods, also set in upstate New York.
It’s definitely fun and exciting to be introduced to new books and authors. I just always hope that the surprises are also brilliant books, and not just surprises for the sake of defying people’s expectations of what will be on the list.
Well, not to get all defensive about the Goodreads Listopia, since I am the curator, but we DO have to rely on our members to add in eligible books - as well as weed out the ineligible! I see you discovered The Mare was already on the list, and I have added in 6 of the others (so thanx for the heads up!). I may be wrong, but I don't believe The Bay is eligible, as there was an electronic version published back in Aug. 2023, which would have made it eligible last year. Oh, and the author of The Many is Wyl Menmuir. Cheers!
Hey Doug! 👋 Thanks for watching. Definitely not a criticism of the list, more a reflection on how many of us would-be Booker sleuths use it to rally around a relatively small pool of titles. It’s definitely a useful resource and I love that the community contributes to it and maintains it 🙌 Good spot on The Bay - hadn’t realised about the earlier digital version. Glad I found it though - actually picked it up today as I couldn’t resist 😅 And thanks for remembering Menmuir!
@@benreadsgood Definitely check it out. It’s beautiful. But I must say, I have fairly quirky taste. I was toying with doing my own top books of the century and I thought few people would have heard of many of them.
Oh, I think I have another candidate for you. But I'm not sure, because the publication date info is... weird. Habitat by Catriona Shine was published in March this year, on the Lilliputt Press, but it might have been longlisted for the McKitterick Prize in 2022, which is very timey-wimey of it. 🤨
Ooh interesting. That got me curious about the McKitterick Prize, as I’d never heard of it before. Apparently you can enter novels that haven’t been published! 😱
I have a question for you. Since I discovered BookTube/BookTok, I find myself drawn to all the recent releases so that my existing library is being ignored (I have about 1,000 books). During Pride month I made an effort to go to my “ back catalogue,” reading some great stuff I’ve had since the early 1980s. Now I’m reading “Offshore” by Penelope Fitzgerald (bought on Charing Cross Rd in 1983). My question is, as a BookTuber do you feel pressure to read only newer books? Is that an issue for you? Just curious.
Hey! Thanks for the question - really interesting one. I think to some extent yes. I used to read exclusively backlist books, but then I also only read about one book a month. Now, I read much more so probably read that many backlist titles, if not more, but I also get caught up in the excitement of new releases. I do want to balance things out a bit more, so that I get through more of the books already on my shelves. But not so much that I miss out on new release fun. So overall: I do get caught up, but don’t see it as too much of an issue.
Almost certainly! Had a few on my predictions that I’ll be very happy to see make it. I actually had a list drafted for a video called ‘What if the Booker was entirely Irish novels?’ but can’t fit it into my schedule!
Ok, first mistake identified: The Mare is on the Goodreads list. But the rest aren’t… yet 👀
That one sounds so fascinating though! Mistake schinansmsee
Haha thanks for your validation!!
I hadn't heard of it and now I want to read it so, good mistake 😂
Now they are :-)
Thank you for your service 🫡
Birdeye sounds so interesting! A lot of them do, well picked.
I have to say, I really admire your ability to present information and sounding like you’ve done your research, without coming off as arrogant or pretentious. It’s a fine line to balance and you do it really well 😊 Also, I love a bit of unknown and weird, so this video is such a resource, saving it for later use! Thanks!
Thank you, that is such a kind comment! Coming across as arrogant/pretentious is my literal nightmare so it is lovely to hear that isn’t happening. Thanks so much for watching ♥️
@@benreadsgood You've got nothing to worry about. And that was a weird way to give a compliment haha! I would say genuinely interested in books, kindhearted, and down to earth, is how you come across. Happy dreams only 😊
What an interesting group of different potential contenders! I’ve read Two Hours and really enjoyed it though I’m not sure it’s strong enough to get a nomination. I was really up for In Universes but was put off by the first few pages (though that’s certainly not much of a sample 😅)
Thanks Eric - I should have known if anyone had experience of some of these, it would be you! 😅 Shame that the two you’ve read some of didn’t seem to quite clear the bar, but I’m sure there are lots more worthy unknown books out there that could make an appearance.
I still need to watch your predictions!!! Had lots of them saved to my Watch Later list and still working through them 😊
If the actual longlist is half as exciting as the pre-Booker season has been on booktube then I'll be happy 😂 But I wonder, have you jinxed these books now? You made them no longer unheard of and un-talked about!
Oh no… hopefully I have not jinxed anyone. Authors will be desperate for me not to discover their books 😂
3:17 The long rectangle form of “Two hours” is a common find in French books 😊 Fitting as the story unfolds in France.
Your research for videos is impressive. Keep at it!
Thank you for the intel on French formats - that’s really interesting! And thanks for watching 🙏
This was so interesting to watch! I've had never heard about any of these books and I love that. Thank you, Ben, for doing all the research!
It’s my pleasure. Thanks for watching!
These are my favourite kind of predictions, always here for the more obscure and less discussed! Had only heard, and own, one of them, "The dimensions of the cave" and haven't read it yet. I was very intrigued by the design choice, should really pick it up soon.
Will keep an eye out for Birdeye and In Universes. Excited to see if the booker surprises us all with their picks (hopefully in the best way).
Definitely love some more obscure books... I just want them to be great too! Very much looking forward to finding out the surprises. Only a week to go!
Ooh, ooh, I have an ARC of the Regina Porter book which I'm planning to get to soon.
I'm still hoping Enlightenment by Sarah Perry makes it to the list. It deserves a massive audience.
Keen to hear what you make of it!
The lack of buzz around Enlightenment is really interesting to me, especially given how popular The Essex Serpent ended up being. I wonder if it’s one that will have a second wind when it comes out in paperback.
Great work as always Ben. I was also sent the Mare by the author, and there was something about the way she the described the work that grabbed me :)
Thanks dude! Maybe a buddy read is in our future (I have still never done one) 👀
You are correct Ben! I have not heard of any of these books but added a few to my TBR!
Glad to hear a few of them sounded interesting! 😊 Thanks for watching.
What a great video!!!! I am especially interested in The Bay. I read A Flat Place by Noreen Masud for the Women’s Prize for Nonfiction shortlist and Morecambe Bay was one of the places she visited. She discussed the tragedy a little and it was so sad to learn about. Thanks for bringing this to my attention!!!
PS, I also love that you’re trying to make ‘fetch’ happen!!!!
Thank you Gretchen! 🙏 I also think The Bay sounds great. Actually found out it’s not eligible as it was released as an ebook last year (😢) but just picked up a copy anyway as I want to read it!
And I will always fight for fetch. 20 years later and I still believe ♥️
Loved this Ben. I’ve added a couple of these to my wish list. You have such a good grasp of what publishers are putting out.
Thanks Keri! Appreciate you calling it a ‘good grasp’ and not ‘an obsession’ 😂
I rarely get my hands on obscure titles, but last year I read a book from a small press that ended up on my personal Top Ten Books of 2023. It's called Sift, by Alissa Hattman. It was recently shortlisted for the 2024 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction, along with Orbital and other titles. Just a beautiful little book.
It’s great when that happens, isn’t it! I had a similar experience with Priya Hein’s Riambel last year. Thanks for mentioning Sift!
I am was just wondering about the upstate New York moment going on and then you mentioned it. I'm currently reading The God of The Woods, also set in upstate New York.
NY state is clearly having a moment!
came here to say the exact same thing! is upstate New York the new Maine? 👀
The books we haven't heard of before is the most fun part of the Booker.
Absolutely! I’m sure there are loads more unheard-of possibilities out there waiting to be announced 😅
I always prefer when the books picked are unknown. It's more exciting. You get to discover new books/authors.
It’s definitely fun and exciting to be introduced to new books and authors.
I just always hope that the surprises are also brilliant books, and not just surprises for the sake of defying people’s expectations of what will be on the list.
@benreadsgood I would hope they would always be good surprises, otherwise the booker prize would lose its legitimacy.
"The Woman's Prize catnip".
Have you mentioned Lost on Me by Veronica Raimo?
I haven't -- it was one from the International Booker list that interested me, but I just didn't get around to reading many from it this year.
Oh FFS. Now I want to read allllll these. Thanks, Ben!
I can only apologise! 😂
I love this thumbnail! I'm looking forward to seeing if the list has any of your obscure picks on it!
Thanks - I tried something a bit different with the thumbnail this time! Spared people of my face for once 😂
@@benreadsgood It’s excellent
When in doubt, tarot cards! 😂
I’m not a very mystical person myself, but when it comes to the Booker anything goes!
Well, not to get all defensive about the Goodreads Listopia, since I am the curator, but we DO have to rely on our members to add in eligible books - as well as weed out the ineligible! I see you discovered The Mare was already on the list, and I have added in 6 of the others (so thanx for the heads up!). I may be wrong, but I don't believe The Bay is eligible, as there was an electronic version published back in Aug. 2023, which would have made it eligible last year. Oh, and the author of The Many is Wyl Menmuir. Cheers!
Hey Doug! 👋 Thanks for watching. Definitely not a criticism of the list, more a reflection on how many of us would-be Booker sleuths use it to rally around a relatively small pool of titles. It’s definitely a useful resource and I love that the community contributes to it and maintains it 🙌
Good spot on The Bay - hadn’t realised about the earlier digital version. Glad I found it though - actually picked it up today as I couldn’t resist 😅
And thanks for remembering Menmuir!
Mine was on the list but was taken off. It shouldn't have been. Fingers crossed for 30th.
Good luck!
Wyl Menmuir wrote The Many! One of my very favorite books. It would be in my top 10 of this century (ala NYT) if I did one.
Top 10 of the century! I may have to check it out 👀
@@benreadsgood Definitely check it out. It’s beautiful. But I must say, I have fairly quirky taste. I was toying with doing my own top books of the century and I thought few people would have heard of many of them.
Did you use the term “fetch” or did I mis-hear you? Are you trying to make “fetch” happen, Ben??
@@ChristineFraina-nj1vi 😂😂😂
Fetch is going to happen. It’s never too late! 💅
Oh, I think I have another candidate for you. But I'm not sure, because the publication date info is... weird. Habitat by Catriona Shine was published in March this year, on the Lilliputt Press, but it might have been longlisted for the McKitterick Prize in 2022, which is very timey-wimey of it. 🤨
Ooh interesting. That got me curious about the McKitterick Prize, as I’d never heard of it before. Apparently you can enter novels that haven’t been published! 😱
@@benreadsgood Well that explains it then! And Habitat looks really weird in a good way, so I'm putting it on my Booker wishlist!
Have you included Donal Ryan's new book?
It’s not in this video, but it is in my main predictions video!
Thank you!
I have a question for you. Since I discovered BookTube/BookTok, I find myself drawn to all the recent releases so that my existing library is being ignored (I have about 1,000 books). During Pride month I made an effort to go to my “ back catalogue,” reading some great stuff I’ve had since the early 1980s. Now I’m reading “Offshore” by Penelope Fitzgerald (bought on Charing Cross Rd in 1983). My question is, as a BookTuber do you feel pressure to read only newer books? Is that an issue for you? Just curious.
Hey! Thanks for the question - really interesting one. I think to some extent yes. I used to read exclusively backlist books, but then I also only read about one book a month.
Now, I read much more so probably read that many backlist titles, if not more, but I also get caught up in the excitement of new releases.
I do want to balance things out a bit more, so that I get through more of the books already on my shelves. But not so much that I miss out on new release fun.
So overall: I do get caught up, but don’t see it as too much of an issue.
goodness how interesting never heard of any of these books...
There are so many out there that don’t show up on social media (or even in many bookshops!)
Putting Modernity and the Holocaust on my tbr ☑️
It has really stuck with me. Such an interesting examination of a horrible period in history.
I wonder if there will be any Irish books on the list?
Almost certainly! Had a few on my predictions that I’ll be very happy to see make it.
I actually had a list drafted for a video called ‘What if the Booker was entirely Irish novels?’ but can’t fit it into my schedule!
Well, they sound interesting at least.
Glad a few were of interest. Thank you for watching 🙌