Booker Prize 2012

1

This might be testing the forum’s intellectual strength a little but let’s see if there’s any interest in discussing the longlist, released today:

• Julian Barnes The Sense of an Ending
• Sebastian Barry On Canaan’s Side
• Carol Birch Jamrach’s Menagerie
• Patrick deWitt The Sisters Brothers
• Esi Edugyan Half Blood Blues
• Yvvette Edwards A Cupboard Full of Coats
• Alan Hollinghurst The Stranger’s Child
• Stephen Kelman Pigeon English
• Patrick McGuinness The Last Hundred Days
• AD Miller Snowdrops
• Alison Pick Far to Go
• Jane Rogers The Testament of Jessie Lamb
• DJ Taylor Derby Day

Unfortunately I’ve read none of the above. I’ve commenced* reading books by both Hollinghurst (Line of Beauty) and Barry (A Long Long Way) before and wasn’t overly impressed by either. Hollinghurst’s effort was superior though and for that reason I’m backing him for this prize.

  • I’m useless at finishing books that I don’t like in the first 10 pages.
2

Not interested.

Next.

3

4

That’s a shitload of books to get through to form a half decent opinion on the likely winner. This will lead to poor punting, which is probably the main reason I’d want to predict the winner in the first place.

Still, I’ve some down time coming up soon so I’ll guarantee myself reading one of them. If we get 12 other game lads to complete the baker’s, we’ll whittle the contenders down no bother.

5

Not on the list but I just finished reading Freedom by Jonathon Frantzen. Unbelieveable book.

6

I read the Long Long Way by Barry and wasn’t overly impressed with it.
It was just a grand read, but a bit “story book-ish”

7

What’s the eligibility criteria for the Booker? Is it just the Irish and subjects of the crown?