The Mookse and the Gripes discussion

Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy

This is where I started my longlist reading this week, and I was so engrossed by this incredibly realistic, harrowing and yet heart-warming tale of early motherhood, that I tore through it within 36 hours.
The writing is exquisite, unflinching and yet, the narrator cannot be relied on.. because we only get HER version of events. If she were objective, I would personally go and hunt down that PoS of a husband, but I suspect it wasn't all quite like that...
Excellent book, and if I don't read any others on that list (Well, I already am.... The Wren, The Wren.. because I have so much love for the Irish), then I am already beyond thrilled for the Women's Prize drawing my attention to this outstanding piece of fiction. Thank you!!

Quite why it did not get in the Booker longlist (at the least) remains a mystery to this day.

This is a remarkable book and I am so pleased to see it recognised. Definitely should have been Booker-shortlisted, let alone longlisted.

Given the Booker snub is this the favourite to win? Booker and Women's Prize don't seem to like books the other has rewarded.

I would put Enter Ghost ahead of it - not personally but in terms of odds.

Based on my vast knowledge of having read precisely two of the longlisted books, I think this should win. ;-) It's such a taught, tight, perfectly-written novel. And it deserves some recognition after the Booker Snub.

I would be surprised if Enter Ghost won. That would be a very strong political statement. Does the Women's Prize tend to go in for those?

No but I think I was predicting it to hopefully jinx it happening

Oh my god, I was watching my son's baseball game when I finished it and it was so hard not to break out into sobs. I had put this off because I thought it would be depressing/triggering. It was certainly a bit triggering, but I was surprised to find it was funny too. It would be a huge surprise if anything surpasses this one for me.

I thought this was a well-written from the perspective of a mother who was the primary caretaker for the child. The real father peeked through just a couple of times. Towards the end, the mother starts to become human again. It did not manage to overtake my favorite. However, it would be a worthy winner.