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Man Booker Prize


Brida

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Hello fellow BCF members http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/community/public/style_emoticons/#EMO_DIR#/smile.gif

 

This is a reading challenge I want to take part in myself, and if anyone else wants to participate - feel free!

 

There's an attachement in this post, containing the list of all the Man Booker Prize winners from 1969. to 2009.

The challenge is, of course, to read all the books from the list http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/community/public/style_emoticons/#EMO_DIR#/biggrin.gif

Many of you have probably read many books from the list, but you might want to reread them or share a few thoughts about them.

 

So, in this thread you can keep other members posted on how you're coming along with the challenge, give advice on the books from the list, mention the ones you've already read (and what you thought of them)...generally, discuss the challenge!

 

Happy reading, and hope to see you around this thread!

 

http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/community/public/style_emoticons/#EMO_DIR#/smile.gif

 

MAN BOOKER PRIZE-Whos_who_2009.pdf

 

EDIT - List of winners from 1969 to 2014 on goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/award/show/13-man-booker-prize

 

EDIT: There's a list of titles and authors from the pdf^^ posted in post #10, as well as a link to the MBP website where you can read the info on the books (synopsis, author bio...).

 

EDIT #2 :

Reading :

 

1978

The Sea, the Sea by Iris Murdoch

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That's an interesting idea, Brida; were you thinking of people just reading random books as they fancied, or sometimes choosing a book to read at the same time like the Rory Gilmore challenge?

 

I have had a quick glance through and have read far fewer of them than I thought I might have! I will have to do a proper list later, along with any I own but haven't read yet.

 

 

 

 

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So far, from the list I've read only 2 books. Let's hope it changes soon!

 

2002 Life of Pi by Yann Martel

2007 The Gathering by Anne Enright

 

EDIT: Hi there Ooshie! Well I think it would be interesting if we chose a book to read at the same time, but I guess that would depend on how many people would like to be involved (meaning, anyone else other than myself :lol: ).

As far as I'm concerned, sounds good :)

 

If others agree with Ooshies suggestion, please post it here so we can ''set the rules'' lol.

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An interesting challenge Brida. I think you will realy enjoy it.

 

At a quick glance I have read 5 of the books, and enjoyed each of them very much,

'Midnight's children' by Salman Rushdie is an absolute favourie book of mine.

'The Remains Of The Day' by Kazuo Ishiguro, a brilliant author of nuanced emotions.

'The Famished Road' by Ben Okri. I adore his writing, it is so textured and full of colour.

'Last Orders' by Graham Swift. I know others that have had difficulty getting into his writing, but I loved this book.

'The God Of Small Things' by Arundhati Roy. a well written and structured book, so evocative you can almost smell the setting.

 

I have one o two of the others on my TBR shelves, so I may dip in and join you from time to time. :)

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Excellent! Thanks Chrissy for the post, it's great to see what you thought of the books.

 

I was thinking, and in case we don't agree on reading the same book at the same time, it might be a good idea just to pop in the thread and say if the next book you intend to read is from the list (and of course, which book). That way in case someone else is about to read it, you can agree in pairs or smaller groups to read it at the same time.

How does that sound?

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Well, I have had a good look, and as far as I can tell:

 

I have read

 

Hotel du Lac - Anita Brookner

The Good Apprentice - Iris Murdoch

An Artist of the Floating World - Kazuo Ishiguro

The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro

Possession - A S Byatt

Black Dogs - Ian McEwan

Amsterdam - Ian McEwan

When We Were Orphans - Kazuo Ishiguro

Atonement - Ian McEwan

Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell

Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro

Darkmans - Nicola Barker

On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan

The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry

 

I have a feeling that I have read Quartet in Autumn by Barbara Pym, too, but over 20 years ago so I can't quite remember.

 

Actually, my list doesn't look quite so short now I have written it down - it just looks bad marked on the list where there are so many, many more that I haven't read! The only one of the above that I wish I hadn't bothered reading was Darkmans. It was really long and, as far as I can remember, ultimately pointless. Presumably I just didn't understand it.

 

On My Shelves

The Sea, The Sea - Iris Murdoch

Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood

The Gathering - Anne Enright

The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Mohsin Hamid

Mister Pip - Lloyd Jones

 

I'm looking forward to seeing who else might fancy joining in, and thanks, Brida, for having such a good idea!

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I've read a few of these and have a number of the others on my shelves. As Chrissy has done, I'll Booker my shelves and join in. Nice idea. My Waterstone's on town has a case full that's already been 'bookered', which is useful...biggrin.gif

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I've copied the titles and authors here so that others can mark what they've read/intend to read.

 

And here's a link to the MBP website for more info on the books CLICK ;)

 

 

Man Booker Prize 1969 - 2009 List

 

1969

Something to Answer For by P H Newby

 

1970

The Elected Member by Bernice Rubens

 

1971

In a Free State by V S Naipaul

 

1972

G by John Berger

 

1973

The Siege of Krishnapur by J G Farrell

 

1974

The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer

Holiday by Stanley Middleton

 

1975

Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

 

1976

Saville by David Storey

 

1977

Staying On by Paul Scott

 

1978

The Sea, the Sea by Iris Murdoch *group read #2*

1979

Offshore by Penelope Fitzgerald

 

1980

Rites of Passage by William Golding

 

1981

Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie

 

1982

Schindler’s Ark by Thomas Keneally

 

1983

Life & Times of Michael K by J M Coetzee

 

1984

Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner

 

1985

The Bone People by Keri Hulme

 

1986

The Old Devils by Kingsley Amis

 

1987

Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively

 

1988

Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey

 

1989

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

 

1990

Possession by A S Byatt

 

1991

The Famished Road by Ben Okri

 

1992

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje *group read #1*

Sacred Hunger by Barry Unsworth

 

1993

Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle

 

1994

How Late It Was, How Late by James Kelman

 

1995

The Ghost Road by Pat Barker

 

1996

Last Orders by Graham Swift

 

1997

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

 

1998

Amsterdam by Ian McEwan

 

1999

Disgrace by J M Coetzee

 

2000

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

 

2001

True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey

 

2002

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

 

2003

Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre

 

2004

The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst

 

2005

The Sea by John Banville

 

2006

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

 

2007

The Gathering by Anne Enright

 

2008

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

 

2009

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

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I'm looking forward to seeing who else might fancy joining in, and thanks, Brida, for having such a good idea!

 

No problem, I'm glad you like it and want to join! :)

Also thank you for sharing your thoughts again, it helps chose books from the list.

You've done quite a nice job with the challenge so far :lol:

 

 

I've read a few of these and have a number of the others on my shelves. As Chrissy has done, I'll Booker my shelves and join in. Nice idea. My Waterstone's on town has a case full that's already been 'bookered', which is useful...biggrin.gif

 

Nice to see you joining in, Mac!

 

Looks like this might work people :D

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What a neat idea! I've only read a few of the winners, but have several more in my TBR stack.

I've read:

 

The Sea by JohnBanville [loved it!!]

The Remains of the Day

 

:eek: That's it! Have to remedy that for sure. :smile2:

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Haha, don't worry pontalba, I haven't read more than two either :D

 

So you guys, have you already thought of what you'd like to read?

I was thinking of chosing a book for October or November, so if you have any suggestions/plans, post them here so we can see if we agree on a book, or if everyone will be reading a book of individual choice.

 

Also, I've noticed that you've mentioned books that were shortlisted as well (e.g. Atonement, When We Were Orphans, The Reluctant Fundamentalist...). Since the list is huuuge if we include those, I thought of splitting this into 2 challenges.

The first one being like in post #10 (including only the winners of the prize, I.e. the awarded books), and the second one including ALL the books from the list.

 

How does that sound?

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Frightening! :lol:

 

Haha well I thought this way it would sound less frightening :D

Guess I was wrong...

 

I myself will try to complete the shorter challenge first, and I'll see what to do about the huge one later. No one is obliged to take both if they join the challenge! ;)

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Well, the ones I have in my TBR stack are:

 

1981

Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie

 

1982

Schindler’s Ark by Thomas Keneally

 

1990

Possession by A S Byatt

 

1992

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje

 

1995

The Ghost Road by Pat Barker

 

1996

Last Orders by Graham Swift

 

1998

Amsterdam by Ian McEwan

 

1999

Disgrace by J M Coetzee

 

2000

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

 

2006

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

 

2007

The Gathering by Anne Enright

 

2008

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

 

2009

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

 

So, I'm pretty flexible as to what to read first.

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I'm thinking of starting with one of these:

 

- The English Patient

- The Remains of the Day

- Last Orders

- Possesion

 

leaning toward The English Patient the most.

I must say, Possesion sounds very very interesting, but I see it's over 500 pages long, which troubles me because Uni starts soon, and I'm not sure if I'll have the time to read it, so I'd rather make it my 2nd or even later choice.

Ooshie, I see you've read it - what do you think? Is it a slow or a fast read?

 

EDIT: pontalba, I've read The Gathering a few weeks ago, and there's a review of it in my thread, for what it's worth. :)

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Starting with the winners first definitely makes it less scary to me!

 

I have read The Remains of the Day a few times, but not for a while, so I would happily join in with a group read of that. I haven't read either The English Patient or Last Orders, so they would be fine for me too.

 

It's only a couple of months since I read Possession, so I probably wouldn't re-read it just yet even though I did think it was a wonderful book. I didn't find it a quick read, it always took me a couple of pages to get back into the atmosphere when I picked it up again, and I think it would have spoiled a lot of the enjoyment for me if I had tried to rush it. However, there were bits I could have happily skipped over - part of my review on my book list says:

 

"The book includes the correspondence between the two Victorian poets, as well as their (sometimes very long) poems, and I can applaud the writer's skill in bringing such true voices to her characters. However, to me, I actually found these hard going to read and would have enjoyed the book more without them - when I come to reread it, I will just skim over the letters, and probably not read the poems at all."

 

I'm sure they were probably lots of people's favourite bits of the book, though!

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Interesting.

In that case Possesion is definitely going to have to wait for a while...I'm not in the mood for that kind of book at the moment anyway :/

 

Great. I'll put these three titles in the first post and we'll wait until, lets say Monday to see if there'll be any other suggestions.

Then on Monday we'll see which book will be chosen for October/November (and decide on anything else that might pop up).

It'll be interesting to see how this will work :)

 

Is that ok?

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Have we decided on one book?

 

I've decided to vote for The English Patient (I would vote for The Remains of the Day, but I see that pontalba didn't mention it as part of her TBR pile, so I don't want to complicate things).

 

Tomorrow is D day. Decision day :D

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Have we decided on one book?

 

I've decided to vote for The English Patient (I would vote for The Remains of the Day, but I see that pontalba didn't mention it as part of her TBR pile, so I don't want to complicate things).

 

Tomorrow is D day. Decision day :D

 

Hey. Thanks Brida, The English Patient will be fine with me. I've read Remains of the Day, and while I want to reread it someday, today isn't that day. Heh.

Now...to find it. I know it's here somewhere..... :giggle:

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I will get The English Patient ordered, then! :) When are thinking of starting? I have Vanity Fair to read for the October Reading Group, and should start that later this week, but could start The English Patient any time after that.

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Great,then it's settled.

 

Since this is our first try at this, and we all have other books to read for October too, lets make it an October/November read.

In case other things get in the way and we won't have time to read and stuff like that, the ''goal'' is to finish it by the end of November :)

We'll probably finish it sooner but lets just see how it goes ;)

 

If you like, you can come here and discuss the book while you read or when you're finished...

 

I'm probably not going to get it before next week, so I guess I'll start reading it sometime at the begining of October.

 

Happy reading guys :)

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