A dear friend of mine is from Belfast in No. Ireland, she recommended "The Deposition of Father McGreevy," which I read at the time. It is a novel that stuck with me; one of those you never forget. I probably should re-read it. I may have to get a copy as I cannot find mine. I may have borrowed it at the time.
I can read so many more books now I no longer have to go to work 😂. Looking back at all the lists I see how my reading great books has increased exponentially : 12 before 2000, 24 before 2010 and 37 since then! I obviously have a lot of catching up to do. ❤️🔖📖😁
I did enjoy 2019 but thought the dual winner was a cop out. Evaristo wrote the better book. Perhaps the Booker needs to do a lifetime achievement award every few years for authors like Atwood.
'I'll Go to Bed an Noon' is one of my all-time favourite books and I wish it was more widely celebrated. I have given it many times as as a present to others and everyone who reads it loves it. This family is the most incredible creation - although I think based on Woodward's own family, which doesn't surprise me; you couldn't make them up! It's also one of the most moving books I have ever read and I sobbed through the final pages. I wouldn't have discovered it without its Booker shortlisting and have always been grateful for this.
Good choice, Eric! I still haven't read The Electric Michelangelo but I really appreciate Sarah Hall's work and have heard such rave reviews of this one.
I have to say that the 2005 list you discuss is pretty hard to beat. I agree with you wholeheartedly about Lincoln in the Bardo. It’s truly extraordinary. And I also am a fan of novels about novelists. The Master is exceptional (and the talent on display in The Magician is similar although I love Henry James). What a great thought exercise!
This was so fun, I really enjoyed seeing the variety of long lists through the years, I was surprised to see how many of the books I’ve read. But unfortunately 2004 I hadn’t read any of them I’m glad you mentioned Do Not Say We Had Nothing I thought that was a very good book.
Great choice you made there, not one I would like to have to make, I do know it certainly would not be the 2023 shortlist despite there being some superb books published this year.
Of course I'm not at all involved with writing anymore (and there's some doubt whether I ever was, really), but I do recall hearing that one must write about things about which one knows. So, we do get a lot of books about aging people in places where there are books even though the temptation must be to write a long story about being young and having no time to read. Well, that's my two cents, and thank you very much for this post.
Great and nostalgic video. Of the books you mentioned the two that stood out to me were The Master and Sense of an Ending. But my favorite was The Remains of the Day, to me a perfect novel.
Always interesting to see what books have remained in the public mind/canon and which ones never caught on long-term with the larger literary readership. Will look into The Electric Michelangelo again. Would be interested to hear what you thought was the worst year or personal all-time worst picks. Wouldn't want you to burn any bridges with Booker though.
i loved the zell-out, but do not zay we have nothing, while a great novel about deprezzion, waz a totally rubbizh novel about china. Like zomeone zaying 'they walked from mexico to new york, it took two dayz' and 'they went to live in loz angelez, they had nothing but they became inztantly rich' there were zo many thingz that made no zenze, but weren't a problem if you didn't know china
A dear friend of mine is from Belfast in No. Ireland, she recommended "The Deposition of Father McGreevy," which I read at the time. It is a novel that stuck with me; one of those you never forget. I probably should re-read it. I may have to get a copy as I cannot find mine. I may have borrowed it at the time.
Great video! There’s a possibility that The Master is my favorite novel of the 21st century so far, just pure perfection.
I can read so many more books now I no longer have to go to work 😂.
Looking back at all the lists I see how my reading great books has increased exponentially : 12 before 2000, 24 before 2010 and 37 since then!
I obviously have a lot of catching up to do. ❤️🔖📖😁
I think 2021 was a phenomenal shortlist, the promise, great circle, bewilderment and no one is talking about it are all favourite books of mine
I did enjoy 2019 but thought the dual winner was a cop out. Evaristo wrote the better book. Perhaps the Booker needs to do a lifetime achievement award every few years for authors like Atwood.
Totally Co-sign this.
'I'll Go to Bed an Noon' is one of my all-time favourite books and I wish it was more widely celebrated. I have given it many times as as a present to others and everyone who reads it loves it. This family is the most incredible creation - although I think based on Woodward's own family, which doesn't surprise me; you couldn't make them up! It's also one of the most moving books I have ever read and I sobbed through the final pages. I wouldn't have discovered it without its Booker shortlisting and have always been grateful for this.
Good choice, Eric! I still haven't read The Electric Michelangelo but I really appreciate Sarah Hall's work and have heard such rave reviews of this one.
I have to say that the 2005 list you discuss is pretty hard to beat. I agree with you wholeheartedly about Lincoln in the Bardo. It’s truly extraordinary. And I also am a fan of novels about novelists. The Master is exceptional (and the talent on display in The Magician is similar although I love Henry James). What a great thought exercise!
I’m glad you agree! I really ought to read Saunders’ recent short story collection.
This was so fun, I really enjoyed seeing the variety of long lists through the years, I was surprised to see how many of the books I’ve read. But unfortunately 2004 I hadn’t read any of them I’m glad you mentioned Do Not Say We Had Nothing I thought that was a very good book.
Love the Arthur an George and on Beauty. Planing to read Auster, tha big book yoa recommended lately.
I cannot believe Do not say we have nothing didn't win in 2016. It is such a powerful novel. One of my favourites of all time
I picked up _The Bone People_ a couple weeks ago and am really looking forward to getting to it.
Great choice you made there, not one I would like to have to make, I do know it certainly would not be the 2023 shortlist despite there being some superb books published this year.
Of course I'm not at all involved with writing anymore (and there's some doubt whether I ever was, really), but I do recall hearing that one must write about things about which one knows. So, we do get a lot of books about aging people in places where there are books even though the temptation must be to write a long story about being young and having no time to read. Well, that's my two cents, and thank you very much for this post.
The Sense of an Ending is such a favorite, and History of Wolves. Yowza.
Great and nostalgic video. Of the books you mentioned the two that stood out to me were The Master and Sense of an Ending. But my favorite was The Remains of the Day, to me a perfect novel.
Thanks! 📚
Aaaah actually agree with your pick. And The Line of Beauty is amongst my top 3 books of all time.
👍📚
Always interesting to see what books have remained in the public mind/canon and which ones never caught on long-term with the larger literary readership. Will look into The Electric Michelangelo again. Would be interested to hear what you thought was the worst year or personal all-time worst picks. Wouldn't want you to burn any bridges with Booker though.
2005 ❤
Mine would be 2021.
Love The Master by Colm toibin
💙
Me too. An amazing book, especially as I’m a Henry James fan.
Is there in your opinion an author or novel that never got shortlisted but should have been?
Hollinghurst's book was definitely one of the best winners.
Also love 2017
i loved the zell-out, but do not zay we have nothing, while a great novel about deprezzion, waz a totally rubbizh novel about china. Like zomeone zaying 'they walked from mexico to new york, it took two dayz' and 'they went to live in loz angelez, they had nothing but they became inztantly rich' there were zo many thingz that made no zenze, but weren't a problem if you didn't know china
🎉🎉
This year's list not impressing me too much thus far, lol.