The Next Best Book Club discussion

Hi all,

I'm fairly new here, and haven't so far dared put up a topic, but with the Man Booker prize long list being released on the 28th of this month, I thought it might be nice to finally start one.

It's always interesting to see what's on the list, and follow to the eventual winner, but anyone got any predictions? I'm thinking this year I'm going to try and follow along, by reading all the books on the list before the winner is announced. Thought it might be fun.

Anyway, any predictions?

Can you please post a link where this years list is?

http://www.themanbookerprize.com/priz...

The list will be out on the 28th this month.

Thanks for the heads-up, Debu and Carol! I agree, it would be fun to read the nominations and try to predict the winner (or at least to have read it before it wins).

Thanks for the heads up! I don't follow book awards regularly but I'm curious to know who made it to the longlist this year =)

Yeah, the list isn't out yet, just wondered if anyone had any predictions as to what might be on it. I personally wouldn't know what to predict, but wiser people might ;)

It'll certainly be interesting once it is out though, only a few days to go. Man Booker often turns up some great reads, and has in fact provided me with my favourite :D

Out of curiosity Debu - which is your favourite? :)

I've read a few past winners and they've all been great so far.

My favourite is Life of Pi by Yann Martel. I read it at an.. interesting time, which might have contributed to me finding it so special, but I did really love it. I'm thinking of getting the illustrated version and re-reading it again soon.

What about you?

This is really hard, I like so many of the winners. Of the ones I can recall, I like both of Bernice Ruben's Five-year Sentence and the Elected Member, Doris Lessing's Syrian Experiments, Keneally's Schindler's Ark and both of Salman Rushdie's books, Shame (short, to the point) and Midnight's Children (long, rambling).

Did you know the Booker prize is known as that in the UK/Caribbean although its known as the Man Booker in the US. The ultimate prize is therefore known as the Booker of Bookers (Midnight's Children). Its official title is Man Booker so I've no idea why its not called the same thing.

I predict that Little Bee will be nominated!

Thanks for this list! I am going to add these o me "to read" so I can slowly get them from the library.

I enjoyed The White Tiger, but usually I like the "losers" (aka the short list) more than I like the winners. Call me weird!

My favorite past winner is probably Possession A Romance, the 1990 winner.

Debu wrote: "My favourite is Life of Pi by Yann Martel. I read it at an.. interesting time, which might have contributed to me finding it so special, but I did really love it. I'm thinking of getting the illust..."
I loved that book also, excellent choice....

Because of the Man Booker prize I've found one of my favorite postmodern writers... J.M. Coetzee...
Also got The Life of Pi, but hadn't started reading it...
Guess I'm missing quite a lot...

I read Disgrace by Coetzee and wasn't impressed, although a friend whose recommendations I trust says Elizabeth Costello was brilliant.

Good to have some of those recommendations, I'll read some reviews, see if any sound like something I'd be interested in.

Mary: I was wondering if Little Bee (or, The Other Hand as the copy I have is called) would make the long list, but it was published last year (I think?) so perhaps it can't..?

Anyway, the list should be out sometime today. Watch this space ;)

Right then, it's out - here it is:

The Children's Book - A S Byatt
Summertime - J M Coetzee
The Quickening Maze - Adam Foulds
How to Paint a Dead Man - Sarah Hall
The Wilderness - Samantha Harvey
Me Cheeta - James Lever
Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel
The Glass Room - Simon Mawer
Not Untrue & Not Unkind - Ed O'Loughlin
Heliopolis - James Scudamore
Brooklyn - Colm Toibin
Love and Summer - William Trevor
The Little Stranger - Sarah Waters

So that's that. Only The Little Stranger was on my radar previously, wonder what's good.

With a title like "How to Paint a Dead Man, I have to read this book!

Debu wrote: "Right then, it's out - here it is:

The Children's Book - A S Byatt
Summertime - J M Coetzee
The Quickening Maze - Adam Foulds
How to Paint a Dead Man - Sarah Hall
The Wilderness - Samantha Harvey
..."

Brooklyn is the only one that would have come to me. And the new AS Byatt is already out? I love her. Possession is one of my all time favorite books!

I really want to read Me Cheeta.

Okay, now to include these in the Summer / Fall Challenges!

Me Cheeta does sound good, and I love the cover (!) to the Glass Room...

Yeah, Me Cheeta is one I'm definitely going to read. Others that interest me are Not Untrue & Not Unkind, and Heliopolis. Who're the favourites, and how do people think should win, if they've read any of the list?

I've never even heard of any of these books, let alone read them. I looked them all up and there are a few I think sound interesting.

Hilary Mantel's book has generated so much buzz that I am going to pick her as the Man Booker winner. My fingers are crossed for Sarah Waters though.