Wow! Lots of surprises. If I counted correctly, only four from your prediction video. I've read How Much of These Hills is Gold and The Mirror and the Light. I think I'm most interested in The New Wilderness, Shuggie Bain, and Love and Other Thought Experiments. Since I don't own any of the 11 I haven't read, I'll probably just wait for the short list. I have to wonder if so many debut novels were chosen to make it easier to give the prize to The Mirror and the Light.
Well, at least I only have 2 to buy for this list (plus 1 I already own). I think Eric’s wish-they-had-made-it list is uniformly more interesting than the longlist. I’ll be picking up a couple of your titles, for certain. Update: After the surprise and the “Huh?” wore off a bit, it’s an interesting list. It does feel like Mantel is looming over all the rest, but there may be surprises. I guess I’m more of a Woman’s Prize girl. I’m still making my way through the 12 books I wanted to read from that longlist. At the moment, the Booker longlist really doesn’t have the same pull.
Eric Karl Anderson Holy cow! I’m completely blown away by How Much of These Hills is Gold! Spectacularly good! I’m rooting for it to take the Booker now!
Delighted to see Apeirogon on the list as it is such an important topic. Hilary Mantel is a favourite and I love the trilogy but would actually like to see the judges consider the plethora of new talent too. Thanks as always for your wonderful review.
Heard lots of good things about the Colum McCann so excited to get to it & you've sold me on the Sophie Ward but no Hamnet - thought this might have been Maggie O'Farrell's year. I agree that Such a Fun Age seems like more of a Women's Prize book - not sure it'll make the shortlist but it's a great read. Commiserations over JCO. You are going to drown in books - don't put any pressure on yourself to read the longlist!!
Am going to start with Real Life and am very excited about Shuggie (Shug as in mug, hope you don't mind my pointing this out but it's a book about my home town and there were so many Shuggies when I was young) Bain. It looks like a very good list. Can't wait to start!
This is always the Booker video to watch! I haven’t heard of most of these titles so thanks for your introduction to each of the books.Your description of Burnt Sugar reminds me of Moon Tiger.
I am also surprised that Summer wasn’t longlisted. I haven’t read it yet but I think the series has been such a valuable contribution to the story of our society.
Thanks for getting your video up so fast, they're always a pleasure to watch. Definitely an interesting list as I haven't heard of many of these books, perhaps because a lot of them haven't been released in the UK yet? Who They Was, Burnt Sugar and Apeirogon sound super interesting.
I was excited to watch your video before work this morning and see what books had made the long list. None I had read, which didn't surprise me. I expected to see Hillary Mantel on the list thought was shocked no Maggie O'Farrell. I thought she was a shoe in so to speak! The book I am most excited to see on the list is How Much of These Hills is Gold. I am so eager to read this book. It sounds so good. Delighted to see Sophie Ward's Love and Other Thought Experiments on the list. Not read the book but I have met Sophie and she is such a wonderful kind and generous person. The first book you spoke about The New Wilderness by Diane Cook sounds a good read. Might get a copy of that in due course. Not read Anne Tyler though a friend said I ought to as she is such a good writer. Overall I am rather taken with this list. It offers a fresh array of books. Quite enlightening!
Great to have such an informative (and positive!) video only hours after the longlist was released. I added Sophie Ward, Kiley Reid and Colum McCann to my reading list. Disappointed about The Wild Laughter not being on it...
I was surprised that Maggie O’Farrell’s “Hamnet” didn’t make the list. I am excited to see so many debut novelists on the list! I live in Canada, so I often have to order most of the list from your country and wait for them to cross the pond. I read what I can get my hands on first (which will be “How Much of these Hills Are Gold” ). I agree with you about Ann Tyler!
I am also very disappointed that “Night.Sleep.Death. The Stars.” did not make the cut. I am 3/4 of the way through and agree it is wonderful. Will be revisiting your outstanding interview series with her upon completion.
I'm so glad you are reading and enjoying it so much! Yes, such a shame because if American authors are going to be included Oates is definitely overdue for a Booker nod.
The JCOmbook is much better written than the Reid novel. I loved Such A Fun Age but it read like a debut. I’m curious as to how the books are chosen for the list, is it subject matter, writing, how popular, what?
I have to say that this is a very surprising, yet satisfying, longlist! I have quite a few to read before the shortlist is announced. I was just doing some research on the authors & was a bit startled to find that Sophie Ward is a former actress. Very cool!
Even though, as you know, I’m not very interested in the prize itself, I love your enthusiasm. (No comment on the Dangarembga, ahem, other than to compliment you once again on your diplomatic remarks.) Burnt Sugar sounds intriguing. I will give the Sophie Ward a try at some point and know that you’ll be tolerant if I don’t end up getting along with it because of what I’m about to tell you: I am perhaps a fifth of the way into the new JCO and absolutely loving it! The story has sucked me in so emotionally. 💕 I wish it had been on the list too. Good luck with all that Costa reading and judging - what a happy problem you have! Oh and Oly and I will start buddy reading Shuggie Bain next week - good timing hey? And the Mengiste is beckoning to me from my shelf all the more.
I appreciated all your thoughts on these titles. So many new to me books on the list this year, which is actually quite exciting. I need to try to fit Real Life in very soon. I'm going to be starting JCO's Blonde as a buddy read in August! Looking forward to the shortlist and more Booker content.
Currently reading 'Apeirogon' and love it. Probably my favourite read so far this year. Looking forward to diving into Mantel, and checking out some of the books listed. Read 5 on the list.
Great video as always. I used to read all of the long list but now just pick out ones I want to read. Only two on the list Apeirogon and Shuggie Bain. May try others and see what the short list brings. I thing the booker in my opinion is more on content then the writing that's why I'm more picky on what I read as it's like I'm reading the same themes each year in the booker lists. My prediction is again joint winner Shuggie Basin and Mirror and the Light.
Yay. Its Man Booker Prize time. Last year was my first year reading the Man Booker, and I only read the short list, so I hope to tackle the long list this year.
Apeirogon is a remarkable novel. It is told in short takes with two wonderful protagonists, one Jewish, one Palestinian. Both had daughters killed and the ties that bind these two men is a testament to uniting for a greater cause. I don't remember any reviews of this book on book tube but it is one of the best books I have read these last couple of years and it made me very happy to see it get this recognition. (McCann and the two men spoke at the 92 Street Y in NYC and my niece who attended got me a copy with all three autographing it!)
I actually made a similar video myself for the first time this year and I am so excited by the list! I am very happy that it's a more diverse list than usual as well. The first book I bought was the shadow king. I'm so looking forward to reading most of them. I enjoyed hearing your eloquent thoughts as always.
Interesting list. I already wanted to get to Apeirogon and How much of these hills is gold, so this gave me another push ;D I'm most excited about Who They Was, too bad it's not released yet. So sad Ali Smith didn't get picked :(( I was also silently hoping for Piranesi to be there. I will try to finally read Wolf Hall this year (I say that each year lol) and then who knows, maybe the whole trilogy XD Tsitsi Dangarembga, The New Wilderness, The Shadow King and Sophie Ward also sound interesting to me.
Hi Eric! As soon as the Booker is announced I just come straight to your channel for your thoughts! I'm really looking forward to reading The New Wilderness, Such a Fun Age, Real Life, Shuggie Bain and How Much of These Hills is Gold. I've never given Mantel a chance really and I wonder why I haven't taken the plunge...I love a doorstopper and I am interested in that period of British history but something always hold me back 🤔 So interesting to hear your thoughts! X x x
I was surprised by all the list except for Mantel's book. I'd already read How Much of These Hills is Gold, it was one of my most anticipated books this year, but felt a little let down by it because of the slightly predictable trajectory of one of the main characters, however, the writing is excellent. There's a similar Chinese miner goldrush era book set in Australia this year that I preferred called Stone Sky Gold Mountain by Mirandi Riwoe, I may have mentioned it before, it's just so good! :D I'll be trying to read the longlist, it will be interesting to see how far I get, it mainly depends on what I can pick up from the library. Burnt Sugar and Shuggie may be first up.
I agree with some of your other commenters - it’s an interesting list, but maybe not in an obviously good way, and the Mantel does appear to loom very large: prepare for more Booker fireworks if it goes down to one of the debuts. It’s the only one I’ve read. But there are a few books there that I’m happy to add to my reading list. Given the hype and mostly superlative reviews Hamnet is a notable omission. Your omission list is also very interesting.
I know, right? Can you imagine if a debut wins instead. It'll be exciting to see either way. I mean, I have that thing where Mantel doesn't *need* to win but it'd also be really cool if she did to be the only author to win three times.
Well, I'd promised myself at the start of the year not to be swept up with the Booker this year following the awful decision to award the prize to two novels last year, but... I'm so excited!! Looking forward to reading them all in the next couple of months.
I am surprised that Hamnet didn’t make the list! Oh well, I know you didn’t appreciate it as much as other readers. I wish they put Ali Smith. I’m so curious to read her. Thanks for the video!
Eric, I'm hoping you'll get to McCann's Apeirogon soon. From the two reviews I've seen so far, it sound like a fascinating but challenging read. I usually don't do well with non-traditional narrative styles, and this one sounds like a tough cookie. Wondering what you'll think.
Excited to read Shuggie Bain, and maybe Real Life and How Much of These Hills is Gold once I know a bit more about them. When I was looking into This Mournable Body, I found that it was published back in July 2018 originally.... do you know anything more about that? I couldn't find much else about how it was published...
Yeah, I'm definitely keen to read those as well. As I talk about in the video, This Mournable Body was published in 2018, but I guess it just took longer for a UK publisher to want to pick it up. Or maybe Faber wanted to wait for the right time in their publishing schedule to release it.
With work lately, I've just been too swamped to read - I'll definitely read 2-3 that make the shortlist, but any updated thoughts / key picks you have during your read through the longlist would be appreciated!
I had mixed reactions to the list, mostly disappointed to be honest. There’s SO much brilliant lit coming out of Australia at the moment (and getting published in UK) it’s difficult to reconcile while these titles never appear on the Booker
Sharon Bakar - I have an entire channel where I talk about Aussie books 😉 Robbie Arnott’s THE RAIN HERON was one I thought would be listed, same as Arvavind Adiga’s AMNESTY.
Definitely feels like a slightly middlebrow leaning longlist? While my predictions are way off I'm surprised only like 2-3 of these books weren't already on my radar while normally I find half the list to be unfamiliar.. I'm honestly surprised they went for Such a Fun Age over The Vanishing Half for the American/race discussion book as I feel like Vanishing Half just has a lot more critical backing and prestige whereas Such a Fun Age has that "Reese Witherspoon's Book Club" label lol. I mean with this longlist I almost feel like Mantel is winning by default as I can't imagine the others posing much of a threat
I think criticizing a book just because it has a "Reese Witherspoon Book Club" label is quite condescending and unnecessary. You can talk about the prize and its selection without trying to tear down a celebrity just because they are a celebrity at the same time.
tokyochemist I have nothing against Reese, after all her book club is often a business and promotion tool for her to produce adaptations for TV/Film as she acquires rights to many books. But her picks are definitely not usually Booker Prize types...
Surprised about Tyler. This book felt very slight and not up to her usual standard. They surely have to go with Mantel or risk the ongoing backlash against the 1986 judges for not choosing the now classic The Handmaid’s Tale.
Interesting list . Disappointed that Ali Smith didn't make the cut too, her work is masterful, but looking forward to reading a few of these . Great summary .
The only book I *might* read from the longlist is Real Life although I don't like the title. And if I were a betting man, I'd bet Mantel is going to win again.
Thanks Erik for the video. I thought the list was kind of lame, sadly. I was happy that Redhead made it while confused since it is super minor Tyler but she’s always a great writer. I know Real Life is popular on Book TH-cam but all my real life reading friends (haha) and others I’ve talked to have really not liked it. This seems like an easy list for Mantel to win (as expected!)
Books I want to read from long list? Maybe? Colm McCann, Ann Tyler, Shuggie Bain, C Pam Zheng,.... Very disappointing that Hamnet , Summer, ...are not on the list. The older I get the less I understand book prizes. It’s not an exciting list.
I do find an Irish man writing fiction about the lives of Palestinians and Israelis slightly problematic and for that reason it won't be one that I prioritise reading. I found reading descriptions of each that quite a few intrigue me but not to the extent that I'm desperate to read them. I've ordered Real Life and How Much of These Hills Is Gold as a jumping off point. I'm optimistic for those at least.
Wow, besides Hillary Mantel's and Column McCann's, the others were unexpected. I did read and enjoyed Readhead at the Side of the Road but, in my view, it's no Booker worthy book. I'll look up Sophie Ward's book.
I really hope they don’t award it to Hilary Mantel again. I like that there are new authors. I have only read the Tyler which was not her best. Thank you for this wonderful discussion
I'm most excited about Love and Other Thought Experiments, because I'm intrigued by the premise it is inspired by thought experiments in philosophy (a subject I really enjoyed studying in college). Most shocked and least excited by Real Life. I started this book on its release date, and gave up about 25% into it. I found it whiny and I was getting quickly irritated by the overuse of "frat" in the text (I get it...he didn't like preppy, rich white boys). Shuggie Bain and This Mournable Body are also high on my excitement list. Overall, I think this is a pretty solid list, and I'm pleased to see so many debut novels.
Apeirogon is the book I most want to read. Of course all those books with colorful covers seem very delectable, but McCann's isn't on trend and yet everybody who's read it raves. I'm looking for something cathartical. And if Love and Other Thought Experiments is even a bit like Maggie Nelson's The Argonauts (as it sounds to me), I'm going to love it too.
I need to find time when I can really concentrate on Apeirogon as I've heard it requires a lot of careful reading but I'm so eager to do that. And that's really interesting, I hadn't thought to compare Ward's novel to Nelson. It is quite different but there are some common themes.
I'm upset about this list. There are way too many debuts that don't have the necessary recognition or acclaim to make them worthy of a booker. the mirror and the light is going to win.
How exciting. A book prize where no one knows what the rules are because they are constantly changing at the last minute. Hilary Mantel should not have been nominated because of the rules but hell what rules. The Shadow King is horrible but will probably win.
Interesting that there are 9 women here. That’s great but this surely makes the case that at this point in time the Women’s Prize for Fiction is now completely superfluous and more to the point - discriminatory.
Wow! Lots of surprises. If I counted correctly, only four from your prediction video. I've read How Much of These Hills is Gold and The Mirror and the Light. I think I'm most interested in The New Wilderness, Shuggie Bain, and Love and Other Thought Experiments. Since I don't own any of the 11 I haven't read, I'll probably just wait for the short list. I have to wonder if so many debut novels were chosen to make it easier to give the prize to The Mirror and the Light.
Yeah, I didn't do so well with predictions this year. 😅
@@EricKarlAnderson i think that's very telling.... just not sure what it's telling!
Well, at least I only have 2 to buy for this list (plus 1 I already own). I think Eric’s wish-they-had-made-it list is uniformly more interesting than the longlist. I’ll be picking up a couple of your titles, for certain.
Update: After the surprise and the “Huh?” wore off a bit, it’s an interesting list. It does feel like Mantel is looming over all the rest, but there may be surprises. I guess I’m more of a Woman’s Prize girl. I’m still making my way through the 12 books I wanted to read from that longlist. At the moment, the Booker longlist really doesn’t have the same pull.
Fair enough! I need to get back to reading more from the Women's Prize longlist too.
Me too. Reading A Thousand Ships now to be followed by The Most Fun We Ever Had which will complete the list. I may read the Booker short list.
Eric Karl Anderson Holy cow! I’m completely blown away by How Much of These Hills is Gold! Spectacularly good! I’m rooting for it to take the Booker now!
Delighted to see Apeirogon on the list as it is such an important topic. Hilary Mantel is a favourite and I love the trilogy but would actually like to see the judges consider the plethora of new talent too. Thanks as always for your wonderful review.
Heard lots of good things about the Colum McCann so excited to get to it & you've sold me on the Sophie Ward but no Hamnet - thought this might have been Maggie O'Farrell's year. I agree that Such a Fun Age seems like more of a Women's Prize book - not sure it'll make the shortlist but it's a great read. Commiserations over JCO. You are going to drown in books - don't put any pressure on yourself to read the longlist!!
Am going to start with Real Life and am very excited about Shuggie (Shug as in mug, hope you don't mind my pointing this out but it's a book about my home town and there were so many Shuggies when I was young) Bain. It looks like a very good list. Can't wait to start!
This is always the Booker video to watch! I haven’t heard of most of these titles so thanks for your introduction to each of the books.Your description of Burnt Sugar reminds me of Moon Tiger.
Oh yes, interesting comparison!
I am also surprised that Summer wasn’t longlisted. I haven’t read it yet but I think the series has been such a valuable contribution to the story of our society.
Thanks for getting your video up so fast, they're always a pleasure to watch. Definitely an interesting list as I haven't heard of many of these books, perhaps because a lot of them haven't been released in the UK yet? Who They Was, Burnt Sugar and Apeirogon sound super interesting.
Thanks! Only four of them are still to be published. I'm definitely keen on those three too.
I was excited to watch your video before work this morning and see what books had made the long list. None I had read, which didn't surprise me. I expected to see Hillary Mantel on the list thought was shocked no Maggie O'Farrell. I thought she was a shoe in so to speak! The book I am most excited to see on the list is How Much of These Hills is Gold. I am so eager to read this book. It sounds so good. Delighted to see Sophie Ward's Love and Other Thought Experiments on the list. Not read the book but I have met Sophie and she is such a wonderful kind and generous person. The first book you spoke about The New Wilderness by Diane Cook sounds a good read. Might get a copy of that in due course. Not read Anne Tyler though a friend said I ought to as she is such a good writer. Overall I am rather taken with this list. It offers a fresh array of books. Quite enlightening!
You are always welcome to show me the way through this competition. I like your opinion about the books and how they can make a difference! Thanks!
Great to have such an informative (and positive!) video only hours after the longlist was released. I added Sophie Ward, Kiley Reid and Colum McCann to my reading list. Disappointed about The Wild Laughter not being on it...
No Hamnet - I’m surprised. I’m looking forward to reading The Shadow King.
I was surprised that Maggie O’Farrell’s “Hamnet” didn’t make the list. I am excited to see so many debut novelists on the list! I live in Canada, so I often have to order most of the list from your country and wait for them to cross the pond. I read what I can get my hands on first (which will be “How Much of these Hills Are Gold” ). I agree with you about Ann Tyler!
Was hoping to see Weather on the list. Shame it's not there. Looking forward to reading How Much of These Hills is Gold and Real Life.
Yeah, I would have loved it if Weather made the list. Fingers crossed for it winning the Women's Prize!
Those are the only two I've read.... Real Life I gave 4.5 stars; Hills a 3.
I am also very disappointed that “Night.Sleep.Death. The Stars.” did not make the cut. I am 3/4 of the way through and agree it is wonderful. Will be revisiting your outstanding interview series with her upon completion.
I'm so glad you are reading and enjoying it so much! Yes, such a shame because if American authors are going to be included Oates is definitely overdue for a Booker nod.
The JCOmbook is much better written than the Reid novel. I loved Such A Fun Age but it read like a debut. I’m curious as to how the books are chosen for the list, is it subject matter, writing, how popular, what?
I have to say that this is a very surprising, yet satisfying, longlist! I have quite a few to read before the shortlist is announced. I was just doing some research on the authors & was a bit startled to find that Sophie Ward is a former actress. Very cool!
Sophie is still an actress. I’ll be doing a video interview with her soon so stay tuned for that in the next few days.
Even though, as you know, I’m not very interested in the prize itself, I love your enthusiasm. (No comment on the Dangarembga, ahem, other than to compliment you once again on your diplomatic remarks.) Burnt Sugar sounds intriguing. I will give the Sophie Ward a try at some point and know that you’ll be tolerant if I don’t end up getting along with it because of what I’m about to tell you: I am perhaps a fifth of the way into the new JCO and absolutely loving it! The story has sucked me in so emotionally. 💕 I wish it had been on the list too. Good luck with all that Costa reading and judging - what a happy problem you have!
Oh and Oly and I will start buddy reading Shuggie Bain next week - good timing hey? And the Mengiste is beckoning to me from my shelf all the more.
I was shocked by the amount of US books. Shocked overall, but excited to dive in as I've only read two of them so far.
I don't like that there are so many American writers.
Yeah, it is surprising though many are multi-national. I wonder what's the percentage of Americans submitted for the prize.
I appreciated all your thoughts on these titles. So many new to me books on the list this year, which is actually quite exciting. I need to try to fit Real Life in very soon. I'm going to be starting JCO's Blonde as a buddy read in August! Looking forward to the shortlist and more Booker content.
Currently reading 'Apeirogon' and love it. Probably my favourite read so far this year.
Looking forward to diving into Mantel, and checking out some of the books listed. Read 5 on the list.
Great video as always. I used to read all of the long list but now just pick out ones I want to read.
Only two on the list Apeirogon and Shuggie Bain. May try others and see what the short list brings.
I thing the booker in my opinion is more on content then the writing that's why I'm more picky on what I read as it's like I'm reading the same themes each year in the booker lists.
My prediction is again joint winner Shuggie Basin and Mirror and the Light.
I just finished Shuggie Bain and it’s excellent. Hope you enjoy it. I highly doubt they’ll award a joint winner again.
Who knows what these crazy booker judges get up too lol.
Yay. Its Man Booker Prize time. Last year was my first year reading the Man Booker, and I only read the short list, so I hope to tackle the long list this year.
It's quite a challenge to read them all before the shortlist is announced! 📚📚📚
Apeirogon is a remarkable novel. It is told in short takes with two wonderful protagonists, one Jewish, one Palestinian. Both had daughters killed and the ties that bind these two men is a testament to uniting for a greater cause. I don't remember any reviews of this book on book tube but it is one of the best books I have read these last couple of years and it made me very happy to see it get this recognition. (McCann and the two men spoke at the 92 Street Y in NYC and my niece who attended got me a copy with all three autographing it!)
And Mermaid and Black Conch is on my TBR for sure. Great to hear you talk about it
I actually made a similar video myself for the first time this year and I am so excited by the list! I am very happy that it's a more diverse list than usual as well.
The first book I bought was the shadow king. I'm so looking forward to reading most of them.
I enjoyed hearing your eloquent thoughts as always.
Interesting list. I already wanted to get to Apeirogon and How much of these hills is gold, so this gave me another push ;D I'm most excited about Who They Was, too bad it's not released yet. So sad Ali Smith didn't get picked :(( I was also silently hoping for Piranesi to be there. I will try to finally read Wolf Hall this year (I say that each year lol) and then who knows, maybe the whole trilogy XD Tsitsi Dangarembga, The New Wilderness, The Shadow King and Sophie Ward also sound interesting to me.
Hi Eric! As soon as the Booker is announced I just come straight to your channel for your thoughts! I'm really looking forward to reading The New Wilderness, Such a Fun Age, Real Life, Shuggie Bain and How Much of These Hills is Gold. I've never given Mantel a chance really and I wonder why I haven't taken the plunge...I love a doorstopper and I am interested in that period of British history but something always hold me back 🤔 So interesting to hear your thoughts! X x x
I was surprised by all the list except for Mantel's book. I'd already read How Much of These Hills is Gold, it was one of my most anticipated books this year, but felt a little let down by it because of the slightly predictable trajectory of one of the main characters, however, the writing is excellent. There's a similar Chinese miner goldrush era book set in Australia this year that I preferred called Stone Sky Gold Mountain by Mirandi Riwoe, I may have mentioned it before, it's just so good! :D
I'll be trying to read the longlist, it will be interesting to see how far I get, it mainly depends on what I can pick up from the library. Burnt Sugar and Shuggie may be first up.
Interesting list. Not sure what to read first but I think Apeirogon. But I am disappointed that all the books are not released yet.
I agree with some of your other commenters - it’s an interesting list, but maybe not in an obviously good way, and the Mantel does appear to loom very large: prepare for more Booker fireworks if it goes down to one of the debuts. It’s the only one I’ve read. But there are a few books there that I’m happy to add to my reading list. Given the hype and mostly superlative reviews Hamnet is a notable omission. Your omission list is also very interesting.
I know, right? Can you imagine if a debut wins instead. It'll be exciting to see either way. I mean, I have that thing where Mantel doesn't *need* to win but it'd also be really cool if she did to be the only author to win three times.
Thank you very much, Eric, for sharing your thoughts. It is always a pleasure to listen to your charming comments.
A great introduction to the longlist Eric.
Well, I'd promised myself at the start of the year not to be swept up with the Booker this year following the awful decision to award the prize to two novels last year, but... I'm so excited!! Looking forward to reading them all in the next couple of months.
I’ve just finished Readhead by the side of the road. Really enjoyed it.
Her writing is wonderful!
I am surprised that Hamnet didn’t make the list! Oh well, I know you didn’t appreciate it as much as other readers. I wish they put Ali Smith. I’m so curious to read her. Thanks for the video!
Looking forward to reading Such a fun age, The Shadow King and Mantels 3rd book of course
📚📚📚
I need some Eric and Anna James content in my life, even if it just a zoom call, please!
Awe, thanks! I miss chatting with Anna too.
Hamnet left off. Outrageous! What about Utopia Avenue?
Personally, I thought Utopia Avenue was just good so I'm not that surprised it didn't make the list.
Eric, I'm hoping you'll get to McCann's Apeirogon soon. From the two reviews I've seen so far, it sound like a fascinating but challenging read. I usually don't do well with non-traditional narrative styles, and this one sounds like a tough cookie. Wondering what you'll think.
Any one of the novels in this video is not available in India 😢 😒
Excited to read Shuggie Bain, and maybe Real Life and How Much of These Hills is Gold once I know a bit more about them. When I was looking into This Mournable Body, I found that it was published back in July 2018 originally.... do you know anything more about that? I couldn't find much else about how it was published...
Yeah, I'm definitely keen to read those as well. As I talk about in the video, This Mournable Body was published in 2018, but I guess it just took longer for a UK publisher to want to pick it up. Or maybe Faber wanted to wait for the right time in their publishing schedule to release it.
Had definately expected Hamnet to be there
With work lately, I've just been too swamped to read - I'll definitely read 2-3 that make the shortlist, but any updated thoughts / key picks you have during your read through the longlist would be appreciated!
Yay! So glad to see The Shadiw King on there. What a fantastic novel!
I'm surprised that Hamnet is not there.
Jillian .Matchett I’m devastated that Hamnet isn’t on the list. 😭
I had mixed reactions to the list, mostly disappointed to be honest. There’s SO much brilliant lit coming out of Australia at the moment (and getting published in UK) it’s difficult to reconcile while these titles never appear on the Booker
Yes! It’s really a shame how little Australian fiction has been represented on the Booker in recent years.
@@EricKarlAnderson Aussies can write? I thought they were a bunch of jailbirds.
Can you share the titles of the novels you felt were best coming out of Australia?
I feel the same way about Canadian authors not named Margaret Atwood. It's become too US-centric
Sharon Bakar - I have an entire channel where I talk about Aussie books 😉 Robbie Arnott’s THE RAIN HERON was one I thought would be listed, same as Arvavind Adiga’s AMNESTY.
Do you think it might be a joint winner like last year... Mantel and a another? 🤔
That definitely won't be happening again!
Definitely feels like a slightly middlebrow leaning longlist? While my predictions are way off I'm surprised only like 2-3 of these books weren't already on my radar while normally I find half the list to be unfamiliar.. I'm honestly surprised they went for Such a Fun Age over The Vanishing Half for the American/race discussion book as I feel like Vanishing Half just has a lot more critical backing and prestige whereas Such a Fun Age has that "Reese Witherspoon's Book Club" label lol. I mean with this longlist I almost feel like Mantel is winning by default as I can't imagine the others posing much of a threat
Yeah, I was surprised The Vanishing Half wasn't included either as I'd definitely put it on there over a few of the novels they listed.
I think criticizing a book just because it has a "Reese Witherspoon Book Club" label is quite condescending and unnecessary. You can talk about the prize and its selection without trying to tear down a celebrity just because they are a celebrity at the same time.
tokyochemist I have nothing against Reese, after all her book club is often a business and promotion tool for her to produce adaptations for TV/Film as she acquires rights to many books. But her picks are definitely not usually Booker Prize types...
Snob
Surprised about Tyler. This book felt very slight and not up to her usual standard. They surely have to go with Mantel or risk the ongoing backlash against the 1986 judges for not choosing the now classic The Handmaid’s Tale.
You are very fast I was waiting for your video
Interesting list . Disappointed that Ali Smith didn't make the cut too, her work is masterful, but looking forward to reading a few of these . Great summary .
Ali will continue to shine regardless! 🌞
Yeah!!!! Hilary Mantel made it!!! Interested on "How Much of These Hills Is Gold" by C Pam Zhang
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My country is there somehow for Avni doshi
The UK cover for Real Life is gorgeoousss and so different from the US!
Yes!
The only book I *might* read from the longlist is Real Life although I don't like the title. And if I were a betting man, I'd bet Mantel is going to win again.
Go on! Place a bet. I have in the past and have won money!
Delighted about Colum McCann!
Thanks Erik for the video. I thought the list was kind of lame, sadly. I was happy that Redhead made it while confused since it is super minor Tyler but she’s always a great writer. I know Real Life is popular on Book TH-cam but all my real life reading friends (haha) and others I’ve talked to have really not liked it. This seems like an easy list for Mantel to win (as expected!)
Books I want to read from long list?
Maybe? Colm McCann, Ann Tyler, Shuggie Bain, C Pam Zheng,....
Very disappointing that Hamnet , Summer, ...are not on the list.
The older I get the less I understand book prizes. It’s not an exciting list.
Ok interesting list...there are about 3 i might read. I'm not a fan of the sequel/series on the list.
I can’t believe Hamnet didn’t make the list.
I do find an Irish man writing fiction about the lives of Palestinians and Israelis slightly problematic and for that reason it won't be one that I prioritise reading. I found reading descriptions of each that quite a few intrigue me but not to the extent that I'm desperate to read them. I've ordered Real Life and How Much of These Hills Is Gold as a jumping off point. I'm optimistic for those at least.
Hope you like them. I ended up reading Shuggie Bain first - which was excellent - but hope to get to Real Life soon.
Wow, besides Hillary Mantel's and Column McCann's, the others were unexpected. I did read and enjoyed Readhead at the Side of the Road but, in my view, it's no Booker worthy book. I'll look up Sophie Ward's book.
Definitely want to read Such a Fun Age!
I think you'll really enjoy it!
Apeirogon is fabulous but don’t miss Let the Great World Spin
I really hope they don’t award it to Hilary Mantel again. I like that there are new authors. I have only read the Tyler which was not her best. Thank you for this wonderful discussion
I'm most excited about Love and Other Thought Experiments, because I'm intrigued by the premise it is inspired by thought experiments in philosophy (a subject I really enjoyed studying in college). Most shocked and least excited by Real Life. I started this book on its release date, and gave up about 25% into it. I found it whiny and I was getting quickly irritated by the overuse of "frat" in the text (I get it...he didn't like preppy, rich white boys). Shuggie Bain and This Mournable Body are also high on my excitement list. Overall, I think this is a pretty solid list, and I'm pleased to see so many debut novels.
Apeirogon is the book I most want to read. Of course all those books with colorful covers seem very delectable, but McCann's isn't on trend and yet everybody who's read it raves. I'm looking for something cathartical. And if Love and Other Thought Experiments is even a bit like Maggie Nelson's The Argonauts (as it sounds to me), I'm going to love it too.
I need to find time when I can really concentrate on Apeirogon as I've heard it requires a lot of careful reading but I'm so eager to do that. And that's really interesting, I hadn't thought to compare Ward's novel to Nelson. It is quite different but there are some common themes.
I'm upset about this list. There are way too many debuts that don't have the necessary recognition or acclaim to make them worthy of a booker. the mirror and the light is going to win.
Very shocked by this list! Thrilled for Brandon Taylor.
How exciting.
A book prize where no one knows what the rules are because they are constantly changing at the last minute.
Hilary Mantel should not have been nominated because of the rules but hell what rules.
The Shadow King is horrible but will probably win.
What rules could prevent Mantel from being nominated?
Previous winners are nominated all the time
It’s a huge disappointment that Marilynne Robinson’s Jack didn’t make it to the longlist 😔
Yeah, I thought that was surprising too, but of course I'm keen to read Jack.
Interesting that there are 9 women here. That’s great but this surely makes the case that at this point in time the Women’s Prize for Fiction is now completely superfluous and more to the point - discriminatory.
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Nice. I love to read LGBT books - Real life, of cource. :) Kiss from Lithuania. :)
Shuggie Bain has some good gay content as well. 📚