The Mookse and the Gripes discussion

Audition by Katie Kitamura

Would have been a crime to leave this off the list

Although they managed to omit say Endling.

I just realized they left off Endling! That was my favorite book this last year and MUCH better than Flash Light - technically and narratively. Woof.

Maybe the judges felt like they could only have one or two unconventional narratives? If that is the case, even though I loved Endling, I think Audition is the most worthy experimental fiction crossover from the Booker. Are there any other narrative oddities that Paul is pumped for on this list?

I thought this was great - I love meta stories in this vein. I’m still thinking about it

I was surprised to see it, simply because I assumed the womens prize went for more standard narratives. Seems like I need to confront my biases with the prize - maybe I'll like this years selection better than the last one.

I really liked this book despite not knowing which version was the "real" version. I still think about this book from time to time.

I certainly think this was one of the compelling and well-written books on last year's Booker longlist, and I am delighted to see it here. Of the novels on that longlist written by women, this is the one that has stood the test of time for me.

I think this year is a bit of a welcome return to the WP including some more unconventional books. So Anna if you are thinking of the last few years you are judging correctly but before that the WP was much more experimental - I quote this often but the first two winners of the Goldsmith Prize (set up in response to fears the Booker might be too commercial) both won the Women’s Prize - A Girl is a Half Formed Thing (which even Paul found too hard to read at first) and How To Be Both

I really disliked this the first time I read it, but that's because I didn't get it. Second read, I thought it was brilliant.

I do wonder if the others on this list I liked a lot would stand up as well to a second read.

Definitely stood up the best of the 13 on the Booker (having re-read them all)

Meh.

Well, I really started following the prize two years ago and had half decided it wasnt for me. Great to see that the tide might be turning!