Meike > Status Update

:-) :-) :-) These lists are so difficult to predict, Mimi, but it's fun to try! You have to think of the country and gender ratio, then you need some big authors and some newcomers, some Booker veterans and some first-timers, some literary blockbusters and some more challenging stuff...and then the Booker judges will go for something completely different anyway! :-) I also still hope that we will see the new Jesse Ball on the list, but they would have to push the pub date forward.

Will you also compile a prediction list? I am curious what books you would throw in the ring!

Nice list! I've read two of your predictions - enough to make me feel very literate and all that :)

Maybe because I am not as invested this year (don't know why, I have half-fallen out of love with the English Booker), but I cannot wait for the general meltdown on Twitter tonight.

Sadie wrote: "Nice list! I've read two of your predictions - enough to make me feel very literate and all that :)"

Hahaha, Sadie - we are doing double duty here, as we are also facing the German Book Prize in August! Help!!!!!!

Barbara wrote: "Maybe because I am not as invested this year (don't know why, I have half-fallen out of love with the English Booker), but I cannot wait for the general meltdown on Twitter tonight."

Barbara, don't tempt me - I am determined to go to sleep and face the madness tomorrow morning! :-) Last year's mishap and early announcement were just too good, I want the Guardian to mess up again! :-)

Thanks for posting this! I’ll post mine tonight when I get back home :) And yeah I’m hoping for a Guardian leak too.

Tommi wrote: "Thanks for posting this! I’ll post mine tonight when I get back home :) And yeah I’m hoping for a Guardian leak too."

I'm looking forward to studying your predictions - aaahhh, I think I caught Booker Fever! (again) :-)

I thought I was going to miss your list this year. Thanks for posting it. I would be happy to see your selections on the actual list.

Sam wrote: "I thought I was going to miss your list this year. Thanks for posting it. I would be happy to see your selections on the actual list."

Thank you very much for your kind words, Sam! Unfortunately, my love for a book is usually the kiss of death: I'm still not over the fact that my fave book of 2018, There There, didn't even make the longlist! :-) Do you have some hot Booker tipps for this year's list?

Great list Meike! Can't wait for the actual announcement! I am also constantly refreshing Twitter like I don't have work to do, hoping for a leak.

Katie wrote: "Great list Meike! Can't wait for the actual announcement! I am also constantly refreshing Twitter like I don't have work to do, hoping for a leak."

Thank you so much, Katie! There is freakin' NOTHING on Twitter, right?! I've also been checking all day (and now I should study, but well...Booker!!), to no effect...I hope the list will at least be good! :-)

Meike wrote: "Sam wrote: "I thought I was going to miss your list this year. Thanks for posting it. I would be happy to see your selections on the actual list."

Thank you very much for your kind words, Sam! Unf..."

I have no big favorites this year. I hope When All Is Said gets some recognition somewhere, because the author created such a wonderful main character, but it is a traditional novel that would seem overly sentimental to many. I am just going to read through the list at leisure when it is revealed and hope I enjoy the books.

I have all of my fingers crossed for The Fire Starters by Jan Carson, but otherwise I'd be very happy with your list!

Meike, excellent list. I wish that you were on the panel. Yes, the Twitter and GR meltdown is great fun to follow, and also totally predictable.

Sam wrote: "I have no big favorites this year. I hope When All Is Said gets some recognition somewhere, because..."

Oooh, I haven't read that one yet, but it sure looks interesting - thanks for the tipp, Sam!!

Rachel wrote: "I have all of my fingers crossed for The Fire Starters by Jan Carson, but otherwise I'd be very happy with your list!"

Great!! You know how much I love Irish lit, Rachel, so in my opinion, there cannot be too many Irish novels on the Booker longlist - in case Carson makes an appearance tonight, I will be pleased as well (although I haven't read the book yet)!

Dan wrote: "Meike, excellent list. I wish that you were on the panel. Yes, the Twitter and GR meltdown is great fun to follow, and also totally predictable."

Thank you very much, Dan! Hahaha, now we are laughing about the upcoming Booker meltdown, but we will still participate in it :-) ....and in the next one, which will follow when the (wrong!) shortlist is announced....and in the next one, which will follow when the (wrong!!) winner is announced! :-) :-) :-)

Yes, right you are, Meike. . . I always do enjoy the outrage.

Looks like you have six correct! Surprised that The Nickel Boys did not make the cut. Can’t wait to read Ducks, Newburyport.

As always, excellent predictions, Meike.

We both got 5 correct (but not the same five!!) :-)

Doug wrote: "We both got 5 correct (but not the same five!!) :-)"

I'm impressed with you both. No comments from me on what's on and off the longlist.

Thank you so much for your comments and predictions, guys!! It's always so much fun to join the Booker madness with you!!! (The first version of my list contained Rushdie, but I threw it out because I thought I needed one more Irish entry, thus Keenan - damn!! :-))

Sad news for Carson and for Ireland in general (I am rooting for Barry and I haven't even read the book yet!!) but YES you should absolutely read The Fire Starters anyway, I think you'd love it!

Rachel wrote: "Sad news for Carson and for Ireland in general (I am rooting for Barry and I haven't even read the book yet!!) but YES you should absolutely read The Fire Starters anyway, I think you'd love it!"

...oh yes, for Ireland and the US! :-( But thanks for the tipp, I will look into Carson's novel after the Booker and the German Book Prize - Irish lit rules!!!