One (Wo)man Booker failure

Posted on | September 7, 2010 | 15 Comments

Hm, can one call it a failure if I never actually stated that I would read the entirety of the longlist before the prize was awarded? To be fair, that hasn’t be done yet and only the shortlist is being announced today…

Suffice to say, though, I have only read four of this year’s Man Booker dozen and in the process of reading another; I have only reviewed two, one of which I loved but doubt will make the longlist because it is too “popular” and “readable” (as if they are bad words!) My lack of motivation had nothing to do with the judges’ choices but more my own craving for older fiction, which has been previously documented on Paperback Reader.

I do intend on reading the shortlist but will not be rushing to do so before the winner is announced on October 12th; in fact, since I own all of this year’s longlist I do plan on reading all of the books at some point but not with any deadline or enforced timetable on my part. I look forward to reading more about what the judges and my blogging peers think of the choices before committing myself to reading them in any order.

However, I could not resist speculating which books will make the shortlist later today. Now, as I have only read 1.5 of the books enough this is not at all an informed opinion! I am simply basing my prospective shortlist on what I have heard/read about the titles and my own instinct.

I would also like to draw attention to two of the titles I think will make the shortlist -The Slap and In a Strange Room- featuring on the inaugural longlist for The Green Carnation Prize. Please check out this prize if you have not already; the focus on gay literature is one born of a passion for reading and a desire to highlight the work of gay writers, which can only be a good thing. I have read In a Strange Room and will definitely be reading The Slap as well as exploring some other titles on the longlist.

Please check out the Man Booker shortlist once it has been released and see how my guesses matched up!

Comments

15 Responses to “One (Wo)man Booker failure”

vivienne
September 7th, 2010 @ 10:37 am

I am still working through last year’s shortlist. Can’t wait to see if your predictions are right.
Tony
September 7th, 2010 @ 11:29 am

“Hm, can one call it a failure if I never actually stated that I would read the entirety of the longlist before the prize was awarded?”

Yes

Now, if you’d categorically stated that you weren’t even going to attempt such a silly feat…
Jodie
September 7th, 2010 @ 11:45 am

Oh so close. You got three right, that’s pretty good guessing.

I’m debating what to read off The Green Carnation list. The Galgut does not sound like my kind of thing at all sadly, but maybe London Triptych would work for me. Are you planning on reading any of that long list?
Stephanie
September 7th, 2010 @ 12:19 pm

I am so excited for the shortlist to be announced today. I really want to read The Slap, Room and Skippy Dies.
Simon (Savidge Reads)
September 7th, 2010 @ 2:49 pm

I can’t work out what I make of the short list this year I have to say I like it and yet it doesnt quite have the promise the long list did. Mind you who am I to critisise I am learning quite clearly the joys and pitfalls of judging and they have a bloody hard job lol.
Steph
September 7th, 2010 @ 4:16 pm

Well, you did quite well prediction wise, Claire! You got half of them right, and I’m sure you feel good that Room made the cut even if it has been so popular!

I was actually really excited by the long-list this year – not all of it appeals, but certainly more books do than in years previous, and I’m looking forward to reading several of the books that made the longlist even if they didn’t make the shortlist. But I never promise to do so on any timescale because I know that’s a recipe for disaster!
Jackie (Farm Lane Books)
September 7th, 2010 @ 6:15 pm

I wish the judges had picked your short list

I’m really pleased that Room made the cut, but think Skippy Dies deserved to be on the list. I’m impressed that you are still thinking about reading the entire long list. Good luck!
Chris
September 8th, 2010 @ 6:18 am

Thanks for pointing me to The Green Carnation Prize! I hadn’t heard of it before! I was so happy to see Room by Donoghue on the Booker shortlist. Just read that one and thought it was amazing. Now I need to read the others!
Anothercookiecrumbles
September 8th, 2010 @ 8:50 pm

I wouldn’t have thought The Slap would make it, and figured that the Mitchell would.. At least I got one of those two right.

I wish both, Skippy Dies and the Mitchell had made it
Rose City Reader
September 9th, 2010 @ 12:12 am

My only goal is to read all the winners. I admire someone committed to reading the long list!
softdrink
September 9th, 2010 @ 2:36 am

Nope, not a failure. I’ve only read one book from the longlist (although I never stated I was going to read ANY of them).
Mark David
September 10th, 2010 @ 12:46 am

You guessed it right with In The Strange Room!
Verity
September 13th, 2010 @ 10:11 am

Hmm…does getting a full set of the books imply that you will read them!? I think there are some interesting books there and following my earlier disinterest I may seek out some of them.
Coffee and a Book Chick
September 14th, 2010 @ 11:29 pm

I’m interested in reading The Slap – heard quite a bit about it, can’t wait!
Marie
September 19th, 2010 @ 7:25 pm

Yeah, I’m impressed you read the longlist! I read the winner as often as I remember to, but never the entire longlist. For one, the books aren’t usually all released here before the winner comes out, and two, well, I’m lazy! But I love this and I hope you enjoy them all.