Bailey's/Orange Women's Fiction Group discussion

There is no March 2019 book as we are waiting for the announcement of the new long list.
Which books would you like to see on it?

A few I've really enjoyed and would like to see on the list include: Melmoth, The Mere Wife, Transcription, Kudos, My Sister, the Serial Killer, My Year of Rest and Relaxation, and Washington Black.

Of those I've not read yet (but want to!) I'd like to see Freshwater and The Silence of the Girls.

Announcement in 30 mins so we'll find out soon!

Oh and I forgot Milkman, which I thought was brilliant, and certainly doesn't need the publicity but would be a worthy contender.

The 2019 longlist is:

The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
Remembered by Yvonne Battle-Felton
My Sister, the Serial Killer Oyinkan Braithwaite
The Pisces Melissa Broder
Milkman Anna Burns
Freshwater Akwaeke Emezi
Ordinary People Diana Evans
Swan Song Kelleigh Greenberg-Jephcott
An American Marriage Tayari Jones
Number One Chinese Restaurant Lillian Li
Bottled Goods Sophie van Llewyn
Lost Children Archive Valeria Luiselli
Praise Song for the Butterflies Bernice L. McFadden
Circe Madeline Miller
Ghost Wall Sarah Moss
Normal People by Sally Rooney

Sheri wrote: "I've only read two and am unfamiliar with most of the other titles (which excites me!) I liked both The Pisces and Circe."

I’ve read Circe, The Silence of the Girls, An American Marriage, and My Sister, the Serial Killer. Loved the first three, and didn’t much care for the latter. Currently reading Normal People and have a feeling it will go at the top of my list. I also have several of the other ones: The Pisces, Freshwater, Ordinary People, Milkman, Ghost Wall, Bottled Goods, Lost Children Archive (library). Very excited to dive in.

I've read The Silence of the Girls, My Sister the Serial Killer, Milkman, Freshwater, Circe, Ghost Wall and Normal People.
Freshwater and Milkman stood out among those, but there were none I didn't like.

Edit: I have now read Bottled Goods as well and think it might make the shortlist.

I have added the long listed books to the group bookshelf and will set up a poll later today for our April to June / July books.

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

I've read An American Marriage (and loved it!) and I am aiming to read My Sister, The Serial Killer this month. I also really want to read Circe (loved Song of Achilles).

I am currently listening to the audio of My Sister, the Serial Killer. I don't know how it would be in print, but the audio is very entertaining.

I have read Milkman and Normal People already. Milkman will be hard to beat, though I wonder whether the judges want to be seen following the Booker.

I expect to read Circe, Ghost Wall, The Silence of the Girls and, maybe, Ordinary People. The others will have to wait to see if they are on the shortlist.

I haven’t read any of them. Clearly my reading is not keeping pace these days! Life is getting in the way. Thank goodness for audio books in the car.

The current winners in our poll are:

My Sister, the Serial Killer and Circe with three votes each
Freshwater and Normal People with two votes each

The poll is still open, if you have not yet voted

Freshwater now has four votes, but otherwise the top four are the same.

I have Freshwater out from the library at the moment.

If the voting stays the same, it will be our April book, with the other three with more than one vote following in May, June and July.

Ok, good to know. :)

The poll has ended.

Result:
Freshwater 4 votes This will be our April 2019 book
My Sister the Serial Killer 4 votes Our May 2019 book
Circe 3 votes Our June 2019 book
Normal People 2 votes Our July 2019 book
The Silence of the Girls 1 vote
Milkman 1 vote
An American Marriage 1 vote
Number One Chinese Restaurant 1 vote
Bottled Goods 1 vote
Lost Children Archive 1 vote
Ghost Wall 1 vote

I have now read thirteen of the sixteen books on the long list.
I would put them in this order, but I'm sure others would disagree:
1 Freshwater
2 Milkman
3 Bottled Goods
4 Remembered
5 The Silence of the Girls
6 Lost Children Archive
7 Ordinary People
8 Circe
9 My Sister, the Serial Killer
10 Normal People
11 An American Marriage
12 Ghost Wall
13 Number One Chinese Restaurant

Praise Song for the Butterflies was released for kindle on 29th March 2019, so I will be reading that one.
I have both Swan Song and The Pisces reserved at the library, but there was a waiting list and I am unlikely to get to read them before the shortlist announcement.

Wow I m amazed how up to speed you are with all the books.
What do you think overall if this year’s list?

It is a pretty good list, but it is a bit serious this year with very few books I would describe as fun reads and a lot of grim settings or events. There are lighter, more humorous moments in Milkman, Bottled Goods, Ordinary People and My Sister the Serial Killer, but the humour is on the dark side.
Even the ones I was not so fond of were well written, so I wouldn't want to put anyone off reading them.

I'm happy to hear that it's an enjoyable list even though it's a more darker theme. I'm also very impressed with how many you have read!

I will be in the wilds of northern Scotland for a few weeks visiting my daughter when the shortlist is announced. The wifi and phone coverage is patchy, so if someone will please post the shortlist when it is announced, I will be very grateful.

Shortlist is to be announced on 29 th April

My birthday ;)

tasha wrote: "My birthday ;)"

Mine too!!

Same day?! Wow, fun! LOL