Ben Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 So the shortlist for the 2015 Man Booker prize has just been announced and there's already a lot of discussion floating around the web about the picks. I only read four from the longlist, but three - the books I enjoyed (and two I loved), incidentally - made the cut. I think people are a bit surprised that Enright's The Green Road didn't make the last six, but having not read it I can't really comment - and I loved Satin Island but it seems to have been generally negatively received. Without reading the rest, I think A Little Life should win. It absolutely blew me away. One good thing though: I have until October 13 to read the remaining three books on the list. Should be do-able. Full list: Satin Island by Tom McCarthy A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler The Year of the Runaways by Sunjeev Sahota A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma Has anyone else read any of the nominees, or do you plan to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatdifficultfirstnovel Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James is one I have in my collection, but have never read. The others I don't own or have even considered owning really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirandashell Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 None of those authors are familiar to me, I'm afraid. I might have a look at the books though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 I've been on the fence about ordering A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. I know I'll end up getting it sooner or later. In the past I've ordered several of the nominees of the short list, and been generally disappointed. So, no more of that for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted September 16, 2015 Author Share Posted September 16, 2015 A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James is one I have in my collection, but have never read. The others I don't own or have even considered owning really. Been hearing good things about this one, want to get around to it next I think. None of those authors are familiar to me, I'm afraid. I might have a look at the books though. You should have a quick read through the synopsis' and see if any take your fancy. I've been on the fence about ordering A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. I know I'll end up getting it sooner or later. In the past I've ordered several of the nominees of the short list, and been generally disappointed. So, no more of that for me. I LOVED A Little Life. Thought it was a real emotional rollercoaster of a novel and I really hope it wins. Yeah, I've never really thought that lists like this are a good indicator of great reads, to be honest. Half the time they've been nominated because they're a bit "different" or "out there". Which really doesn't necessarily translate into a great page-turner - it just means the critics have deemed it "literary" enough to make the cut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 I have to admit I haven't heard of any of these authors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 Ben, I have to agree with your analysis of the reasoning of the Booker people. And that isn't a completely bad thing. It's good in that it gets some readers out of a rut, perhaps. Hopefully it gets some of us to think outside of the box. Exploration of other/different books/genres is always a good thing. I think it makes us appreciate what we already know a bit more. And if that isn't the case, it opens our minds. The best of both worlds would be both! I know I was stuck in a rut in my reading. It wasn't until (I blush to admit) I was in my 50's that I bloomed as a reader. I mean bloomed as in getting away from History, mysteries, historical mysteries, sagas, etc. Not that it was a bad thing! I enjoyed myself and learned quite a lot. But. About 11 years ago I was introduced to Vladimir Nabokov........and the love affair began. Now I'll try about any book on any shelf. At least once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 I haven't heard of any of these books or authors, but I'm intrigued now by everyone mentioning A Little Life, so I might look into that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatdifficultfirstnovel Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 A Brief History of Seven Killings won. I've heard good things about that from several different places already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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