The two I have read, Old God's Time and House of Doors are wonderful so I am generally optimistic about the rest. Pearl appeals because of the mediaeval poem and All the Little Bird Hearts. Possibly Western Lane too.
This Other Eden and Prophet Song interest me most, though I started with Old God's Time. The absence of Copperhead certainly makes me question whether these books are the best of the best. Can't say I've written the rest off, but I'll be waiting for more reviews. Novels focused on family don't grab me much. Probably says something that I started with a book featuring a loner protagonist.
THIS OTHER EDEN is brilliant, grave, heartbreaking. I haven't read many of the others. DEMON COPPERHEAD has a huge following but was far too derivative in structure and philosophy. She is talented but short on originality with this one. I am eager to read OLD GOD'S TIME and A SPELL OF GOOD THINGS.
What I make of the 2023 booker longlist is that it's a marketing exercise for some less known books. Of the ones I've read on the 2023 booker longlist all but The House of Doors (A brilliant beautiful book) has flaws. Demon was beautifully crafted and I didn't find any flaws. But the UK publisher may have decided that it didn't need a Booker sales push, so didn't put it before the judges. One way of looking at it anyway. I'm pretty bitter that it's the 14th year that an Australian hasn't made it even to the longlist. Australian books have an Australian publisher which has sole rights over the Aus market. UK publishers see that as the major market for Aus novels, so don't put Aus books before the judges in favour of UK books. each UK publishers only has a limited number of books they are allowed to put up for Booker selection. I have to disagree with Eric on In ascension. I found it to be humourless crap. If you know anything about the issues covered in that novel, the Science and technical details are implausible. Climate change is a really important issue and I'd like to see it literary works using it as a plot point, doing it much better than done in that novel. The House of Doors, really is a beautiful novel, it if won I'd be really happy.
Thank you for giving the required level of disgust over Barbara Kingsolver’s snub! It’s outrageous. Alarmingly glaring and reeks of gatekeeping. I hate it when past award wins are held against frontrunners, and I’ve seen it happen so often in American literary prizes. Imagine if the Oscars operated like this. You’ve won enough, Schindler’s List, no best picture for you. Ugh. Glad you don’t feel compelled to read the entire longlist. It’ll cost way too much money for me to buy all of these hardcovers, and my local library that’s on the verge of closure won’t order these obscure titles any time soon. I’m only reading the winner, if that.
Study for Obedience was really good and a quick read - I recommend it!
Agree regarding DC. It’s like they often penalize books that have won “too much” or are too popular .
The two I have read, Old God's Time and House of Doors are wonderful so I am generally optimistic about the rest. Pearl appeals because of the mediaeval poem and All the Little Bird Hearts. Possibly Western Lane too.
This Other Eden and Prophet Song interest me most, though I started with Old God's Time. The absence of Copperhead certainly makes me question whether these books are the best of the best. Can't say I've written the rest off, but I'll be waiting for more reviews. Novels focused on family don't grab me much. Probably says something that I started with a book featuring a loner protagonist.
THIS OTHER EDEN is brilliant, grave, heartbreaking. I haven't read many of the others. DEMON COPPERHEAD has a huge following but was far too derivative in structure and philosophy. She is talented but short on originality with this one. I am eager to read OLD GOD'S TIME and A SPELL OF GOOD THINGS.
So exciting for Tan Twang Eng. I hope this year proves to be his winning one.
I am super excited for this list.
What I make of the 2023 booker longlist is that it's a marketing exercise for some less known books.
Of the ones I've read on the 2023 booker longlist all but The House of Doors (A brilliant beautiful book) has flaws.
Demon was beautifully crafted and I didn't find any flaws. But the UK publisher may have decided that it didn't need a Booker sales push, so didn't put it before the judges. One way of looking at it anyway. I'm pretty bitter that it's the 14th year that an Australian hasn't made it even to the longlist. Australian books have an Australian publisher which has sole rights over the Aus market. UK publishers see that as the major market for Aus novels, so don't put Aus books before the judges in favour of UK books. each UK publishers only has a limited number of books they are allowed to put up for Booker selection. I have to disagree with Eric on In ascension. I found it to be humourless crap. If you know anything about the issues covered in that novel, the Science and technical details are implausible. Climate change is a really important issue and I'd like to see it literary works using it as a plot point, doing it much better than done in that novel.
The House of Doors, really is a beautiful novel, it if won I'd be really happy.
Sian is a Welsh name. 4 Irish books
The Bee Sting
Old Gods Time
How To Build A Boat
Prophets Song
🍀👋☘️📕📚📖☕️🇮🇪
Oh thanks, I should have looked up the name. Great for Irish literature.
Ill read All the little bird hearts and The bee sting. Thanks for the upload.
Thanks for watching! How did you like the "little birf-hearts"? Is it what it seems, a book about autism, motherhood etc?
Thank you for giving the required level of disgust over Barbara Kingsolver’s snub! It’s outrageous. Alarmingly glaring and reeks of gatekeeping. I hate it when past award wins are held against frontrunners, and I’ve seen it happen so often in American literary prizes. Imagine if the Oscars operated like this. You’ve won enough, Schindler’s List, no best picture for you. Ugh. Glad you don’t feel compelled to read the entire longlist. It’ll cost way too much money for me to buy all of these hardcovers, and my local library that’s on the verge of closure won’t order these obscure titles any time soon. I’m only reading the winner, if that.