Stella Project discussion

I know we are Stella, but WOW to 8 of the Man Booker longlist for this year begin female authors!
The Stella movement has made such progress, raising female voices, and awesome that this is also reflected in the Booker.

I saw, so great!! Now to get Aussie authors in there too!

Would love to hear if anyone has reviews of any of the longlist books! I’m holding out for Jaclyn’s (Six Minutes For Me) thoughts (I hope there’s a video!)

I couldn’t read Lanny, and I tried. But some of my friends loved it. I’m about a quarter the way into My Sister the Aerial Killer and loving it. It seems not all of the titles are in print here yet but I’ve put requests in for all that are in my library. I usually try to read all of the women and as many of the me. As possible before the shortlist announcement. I rarely manage it.

Ah, before the announcement would be impressive! I have just read the other Max Porter, so keen to check out Lanny. My Sister The Serial Killer is one I am intrigued about, and heard many good things, so I am sure I will end up buying! And I pre-ordered The Testaments already....my beloved indie bookstore had a post that led me to do it!
Lost Children Archive seems like something I would like, too.

But, haven't actually read any on this longlist yet. So many new potential discoveries!

I’m super intrigued by this single sentence stream of consciousness rant (Ducks, Newburyport - Lucy Ellmann). Over 1000 pages!

I’m gonna give it a go! Bring on my anxiety over missing grammar! 😬

I'm hopefully doing a buddy read of Lanny with one of our members, Naomi. We don't have day set yet, but if anyone wants to jump in let me know!

Otherwise, I have An Orchestra of Minorities on my TBR. I'm still tossing up about whether I want to read Frankissstein because I've not had the greatest track record with Winterson. And I pre-ordered The Testaments the moment my store was able to do that.

Yes! I pre-ordered The Testaments last night too.

Frankissstein is sitting on my desk waiting for my attention. It’s Jeanette Winterson so I’m sure it will be wonderful.

More women that men in the Booker shortlist! So great!

Man Booker announcement tonight our time - I have only read The Testaments so far, but have Child, Women, Other and 10 Minutes And 38 Seconds In This Strange World, plus Lost Children Archive to read...
Anyone have any solid favourites?

I can't even with this. SO. MAD.

I swear you have psychic powers. I was just about to ask everyone how they were feeling.

Ely wrote: "I swear you have psychic powers. I was just about to ask everyone how they were feeling."

Haha! Great minds. Did you catch my Insta stories? And my Twitter ranting? I was so mad yesterday. I am not any less mad today.

I saw the Insta stories. Friend and I have been talking about it all day. Hugely disappointed that it went this way. Also, what's with this whole awarding two people thing now?

Ely wrote: "I saw the Insta stories. Friend and I have been talking about it all day. Hugely disappointed that it went this way. Also, what's with this whole awarding two people thing now?"

Even more than that, whats with making the first black woman share £50,000 with someone who not only doesn't need it, but has won it before AND who's book isn't deserving of it?!

Louder, for those who weren't listening... FIRST. BLACK. WOMAN. EVER.

Rage.

I am ok with having two winners. But BOTH winners need to be deserving, not just win because they're Margaret Atwood. Why not Girl, Woman, Other and the Elif Shafak novel? And we all know that Testaments will always be listed first, and Evaristo will be forgotten about in the hype for Gilead.

I haven't read either of them, but I have had reviews and thoughts from people I trust about both and Testaments keeps getting 2-3 star ratings.

OH AND! "We decided as judges to flout the rules because we just couldn't decide"

I call bullshit. There are five of you, this just means someone flat refused to do their job!

Totally hedging their bets. They should have been more decisive and awarded the first WOC the award on her own!
And yes, every post I see about it now has The Testaments as main feature.

Perhaps expecting too much change far too quickly like we said yesterday Tash ;)

Kind of disappointed that I'm not really seeing many people talk about this. I've seen a few posts on Insta, but not much else.

Really? I’m seeing loads on Insta and a bit on Twitter

Emily wrote: " Even more than that, whats with making the first black woman share £50,000 with someone who not only doesn't need it, but has won it before AND who's book isn't deserving of it?!"."

I am honestly so disappointed, what the hell.

Oh wow, what a blistering and insightful read - https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/pu...

This makes me want to read Ducks even more, now!