Prize Readers discussion

The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 86 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earn the Kirkus Star with publication dates between Nov. 1, 2018 to Oct. 31, 2019 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2019 Kirkus Prize. The Kirkus Prize judges will select three winners on Thursday, October 24, 2019.

The finalists are as follows:

Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis
The Other Americans by Laila Lalami
Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli
Territory of Light by Yūko Tsushima
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

I really liked this list of finalists (better than I do the NBA Fiction Longlist) but that is probably because I like books with a historical bent to them.

All of these books were on by tbr list - I have read three and the other three on my shelf unread.

I finished three. I just bought the Other Americans so it's on my TBR already. I've been seeing a lot about Cantoras but haven't pulled the trigger, and I'd never heard of Territory of Light. I might try to audio those two.

I've read three and rank them below with the first two just about even and the third a star below.
1 Territory of Light
2 Lost Children Archive
3 The Nickel Boys

Territory of Light will not win IMO. It is a serialized novel/novella written and first published in the late 1970's, but it is beautifully written and translated with an honest but lyrical take on a woman's interpretation of her first year of separation from a dominant male. I found it a tight, well-written novel with memorable imagery.

Lost Children Archive fails a bit in execution, but is ambitious in attempt.

The Nickel Boys is not a flawed novel, but it is not a challenging one either and read to me like a safe follow-up to his award winner.
Luiselli just won a MacArthur Fellowship grant so I doubt she will win.

The Nickel Boys won.

My favorites remained Territory of Light and Lost Children's Archives with Cantoras yet to be read.

Sam wrote: "The Nickel Boys won.

My favorites remained Territory of Light and Lost Children's Archives with Cantoras yet to be read."

Of the three I have read - my order by favorites
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
Lost Children Archive
The Nickel Boys

I have the other three and really want to read them!!
The Other Americans - planning to read in Dec for a Muslim author theme but I have liked the other books I have read by the author.
Cantoras - I have read her two previous books and for me her writing got stronger from the first book to the second book - so I am expecting this book to be even stronger
Territory of Light - this will be my first read by this author