ManBookering discussion

Go ahead and make some predictions for novels you think will be on the longlist 2018!

Longlist announcement on July 24, 2018!

Maxwell wrote: "Go ahead and make some predictions for novels you think will be on the longlist 2018!

Longlist announcement on July 24, 2018!"

Max, I have difficulty getting my hands on the books included on long and short lists. This means I often have to sit out the reading until the winner is announced. I also lose track of how long we have to wait for the process of the two individual prizes to be complete. If we're going to be involved in another long and short list reading in this group, how long before we get to our process of nominations/voting for a "free read" of previous winners?

Paula wrote: "Maxwell wrote: "Go ahead and make some predictions for novels you think will be on the longlist 2018!

Longlist announcement on July 24, 2018!"

Max, I have difficulty getting my hands on the book..."

Hi Paula, this group originally started to discuss the yearly Man Booker Prize, which usually runs from July through October each year. Then when they announced the new format of the International Prize we also follow that which is usually March through May. That leaves only a few months (June, November, December and January) for reading previous winners. I know it can be difficult/expensive to get your hands on some of the longlisted books, but I'd highly recommend requesting them from your library (or asking your library to buy them if they don't already have them). Or try Overdrive if you're in the U.S. and have an ereader!

Maxwell wrote: "Paula wrote: "Maxwell wrote: "Go ahead and make some predictions for novels you think will be on the longlist 2018!

Longlist announcement on July 24, 2018!"

Max, I have difficulty getting my han..."

Thank you, Max, for including the actual months when we read from our list. That's exactly what I was looking for. My library does have Overdrive. Perhaps I'll try that again. In the past, however, I found I didn't go to my eReader as often. It's also a matter of forgetfulness. I will definitely be looking for "Flights."

Longlist is still about a month away, but here's my working list

The Only Story by Julian Barnes
Red Clocks by Leni Zumas
Crudo by Olivia Laing
Sadness is a White Bird by Moriel Rothman-Zecher
The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh
The Melody by Jim Grace
The Sparsholt Affair by Alan Hollinghurst
An Orchestra of Minorities by Chigozie Obioma
From A Low and Quiet Sea by Donal Ryan
Sight by Jessie Greengrass
Songs of A Captive Bird by Jasmin Darznik
Winter by Ali Smith
The Overstory by Richard Powers

I have trouble putting Winter on this list, since Ali is my favorite author and I would love for her to win, but Crudo and Autumn are very similar, and if she hasn't won the prize by now, I just don't think it'll ever happen. There are other books, like Murmur and All the Lives We Never Lived that I don't think will be on the list, but I would love it if they were. I think Circe could be listed as well, but it just didn't make my list, so I'm gonna throw that in as a little cheat/add-on

I think maybe Asymmetry has a chance as well, it has been heavily marketed when it came out, and got rave reviews.

And I think I'd read somewhere that Ali Smith wasn't submitting her other upcoming seasonal novels...

Gabriel wrote: "I think maybe Asymmetry has a chance as well, it has been heavily marketed when it came out, and got rave reviews.

And I think I'd read somewhere that Ali Smith wasn't submitting her other upcomin..."

I read the same thing, Gabriel. I liked it, but I'm not sure I would add it to a predictions list.

Anyone following this may also be interested in the parallel discussion over at the Mookse and the Gripes
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... ,

and also this Listopia list of candidates:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

I would love to see Aminatta Forna's Happiness on the list, but I suspect that she will miss out yet again. I have heard good things about Painter to the King by Amy Sackville too. I am also hoping that this year's winner will not be yet another American, though I hope Richard Powers gets close.

Also we shouldn't forget Ondaatje, Carey and Flanagan, all of whom have published new novels recently and have won the prize previously.

Just FYI...since the 2018 list announcement is less than a week away, and many prominent books have already been announced for post the deadline of Oct. 1, 2018, I took the liberty of starting a 2019 Eligibility list, which you can find and add onto/vote for HERE: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Doug wrote: "Just FYI...since the 2018 list announcement is less than a week away, and many prominent books have already been announced for post the deadline of Oct. 1, 2018, I took the liberty of starting a 20..."

I came to a best ever list. Could the link be a wrong one?
There are some books I really wanted to see there.
Thank you all for the generous sharing of favourites!

Try this one:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

(I am sure that Doug's link was working earlier this morning)

The 2018 list (which has more immediate relevance) is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

The Secret Society of International Book Lovers - consisting of 15 voracious readers from all over the world and operating from a hidden corner of Goodreads- has spoken: This is our new, ultimate Booker prediction list!

THE LIST
* The Shepherd's Hut (Aus)
* Warlight (Canada)
* All the Lives We Never Lived (India)
* Immigrant, Montana (India/USA)
* From A Low and Quiet Sea (Ireland)
* The Orchid and the Wasp (Ireland)
* In Our Mad and Furious City (UK)
* Kudos (UK)
* Now We Shall Be Entirely Free (UK)
* Sight (UK)
* The Mars Room (US)
* The Overstory (US)
* There, There (US)

...and because there are way, way more fantastic books out there that we have considered for a spot on the list, we decided to add some honorable mentions:

HONORABLE MENTIONS
* First Person (AUS)
* Robot Arms (AUS)
* Brother (Canada)
* Red Birds (Pakistan)
* Ponti (Singapore)
* As A God Might Be (UK)
* Crudo (UK)
* Happiness (UK)
* The Melody (UK)
* The Silence of the Girls (UK)
* The Sparsholt Affair (UK)
* Transcription (UK)
* Asymmetry (US)
* Census (US)
* Confessions of the Fox (US)
* In the Distance (US)
* My Year of Rest of Relaxation (US)
* Red Clocks (US)
* The Female Persuasion (US)
* The Ninth Hour (US)
____

* Country Dark (no UK publisher)
* Freshwater (UK pub date in Nov)

Having read more of other people's predictions, my list has totally changed. My list now looks like

The Only Story
From A Low and Quiet Sea
Asymmetry
The Melody
All the Lives We Never Lived
Warlight
The Orchid and the Wasp
Never Anyone But You
The Sparsholt Affair
A Place For Us
Happiness
The Western Wind
Crudo
===(Some extras because I think these might be on the list too)===
Sight
The Water Cure
My Year of Rest and Relaxation
In Our Mad and Furious City
Loneliness is A White Dove
---------------------------------
Some books I'd like to see but don't think will show up are The Red Clocks, Songs of a Captive Bird, The Sealwoman's Gift, and The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock. I'd love to see Winter, but word is still out on if it is submmitted. I

I presume people have seen that the Guardian accidentally published the list several hours ago. If not and given only 25 minutes to wait I won't spoil the surprise, other than to say there are a lot of surprises.

Thanks for that! I was able to read it on cache mode haha I only knew one of the books there, and I liked it being there, but that certainly is because I'm not so into the new releases...

Paul wrote: "I presume people have seen that the Guardian accidentally published the list several hours ago. If not and given only 25 minutes to wait I won't spoil the surprise, other than to say there are a lo..."

I saw the list and agree about the surprises. I’ve been purchasing and placing books on hold off of it, so I hope I don’t have to start the whole process again in 10 min (or I rather hope I do?).

And the leaked list was indeed the correct one.

The list has been announced! I will be creating a folder with conversations for each book shortly.

https://themanbookerprize.com/fiction...

Paul wrote: "And the leaked list was indeed the correct one."

Fortunately for some, unfortunately for others, a little bit of both for me. I am excited to discover some new titles, but disappointed some exceptional books were omitted from the list. I am especially saddened that The Shepherd’s Hut didn’t make the cut.

The Shepherd's Hut is the true winner in all the Booker fans' hearts, even if it wasn't longlisted (a shame and an affront).

Maddie wrote: "The Shepherd's Hut is the true winner in all the Booker fans' hearts, even if it wasn't longlisted (a shame and an affront)."

My top book of the year so far. We’ll see if anything tops it. Sob!

Toni wrote: "My top book of the year so far. We’ll see if anything tops it. Sob!"

It's one of my favourite reads of the year, as well; and I was expecting to see it on the longlist, at least! But alas, it's given so much love I think despite everything, we are still going to let everyone know how good it is, and that everyone should read it! :-)

Maddie wrote: "The Shepherd's Hut is the true winner in all the Booker fans' hearts, even if it wasn't longlisted (a shame and an affront)."

Yes, Maddie, that's a real shame! And Orange should have been there as well!

Other than that, the Secret Society is in celebration modus as we called 5 of the tites, which is pretty good regarding the many surprises this year's list contains.

I have just posted this in a few other groups - this is the longlist with links:


Snap by Belinda Bauer
Everything Under by Daisy Johnson
Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
From a Low and Quiet Sea by Donal Ryan
In Our Mad and Furious City by Guy Gunaratne
Warlight by Michael Ondaatje
The Long Take by Robin Robertson
The Overstory by Richard Powers
Milkman by Anna Burns
Normal People by Sally Rooney
The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh
Sabrina by Nick Drnaso
The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner

Hugh wrote: "I have just posted this in a few other groups - this is the longlist with links:


Snap by Belinda Bauer
[bookcover:Everything Under|36396..."

Great, thank you, Hugh!

Quite an interesting and surprising list, including a thriller, some dystopian scifi, and a graphic novel. I'm always most excited if there are books longlisted that havent already been hyped to death. And this time only three 'big names', Powers, Kushner & Ondaatje. I will probably start with Milkman and then Everything Under.

About half the list seems to be unavailable in the U.S. before the prize is awarded. I know I can order from Book Depository if needed. I might wait to see the short list before investing in any.

Made a sweep at work (the library!!) to request the books we have. Can't wait to dig in!!

Since there isn't a prediction thread for the shortlist, I'll post here what I wish (more than I actually belive) will make the cut. These are the six I really want to read, one of which I have read already.

The overstory
The long take
Milkman
The mars room
Everything under
Warlight


I kind of think Washington Black will make it, but I don't want to read it, maybe not even if it wins, but I didn't know which one to replace it with...

Got it almost all right XD
Sad that Warlight didn't make it, but I still want to read it anyway...

Only a week until the winner will be announced on the 16th. Predictions anyone?
I hope for either Long Take or Milkman but my prediction: Washington Black.

Since I did so well "predicting" the shortlist, I'm gonna go with my heart again and say The Long Take is gonna get it. Second choice would be The Mars Room, then Milkman. But since you guys are talking about Washington Black taking it, I'm afraid it might really win... Let's hope not .-.

No one for The Overstory?

Milkman for me but I would settle for a British winner - I liked The Long Take and Everything Under too. For me The Overstory started well but I struggled with the last third, and Powers has written at least three better novels.

I would truly love for Milkman to win. In truth, I wouldn't be upset if any of the other books do win, including Washington Black -- I didn't dislike it as some of you did. The only one I would dread to see win is The Mars Room.

Hugh wrote: "Milkman for me but I would settle for a British winner - I liked The Long Take and Everything Under too. For me The Overstory started well but I struggled with the last third, and Powers has writte..."

I have Everything Under on pre-order - it's out here 10/23. And today I learned that I won The Long Take. I am really hoping for Milkman for many reasons. I hope to finish Washington Black this weekend. Thanks to this group,this is the first time I've ever read books from the longlist or shortlist for that matter except for writers - like Sebastian Barry - whose books I read as soon as they come out.

I have not read the entire shortlist this year but from what I have read my heart is with Milkman. I could also see The Overstory win (but have not read it). With regards to Washington Black: After I first struggled with the book I did like it rather a lot (and I do think there are some clever things happening within the novel), so I would not be upset if it wins. But it's not my first choice.

I guess we will all be surprised and Everything Under will win :-)

Not sure that would be a surprise at all

I'm not finished with Everything Under yet, and I want it to win. :-D

And the winner is the best book! Milkman

Hurrah!

YESSSS!!!!!

Hurrah for Milkman!

I haven't really been following many of the conversations here because I unfortunately didn't get around to reading much of the list this year, but Milkman was always one that intrigued me so I'll definitely be picking it up soon!

So happy. Best winner for many years in my view

So happy as well! Not only to have been able to read it (very grateful for the man booker judges to have made it possible for me to get to know this book), but also that i've finally read the winning book before it was made the winner :)