I thought Coetzee
ought to be there (and I’m still sore about Kelman
not even making the Long List).
I also can’t see the rationale for Thien,
but then I couldn’t finish it – perhaps I’ll try again).
Of the remainder I
half-predicted the Burnet,
which is a wonderful novel and deserves its place. I made more sure predictions
of Levy
and Szalay.
My predicted winner is still Mossfegh.
This is a stunning novel.
The pleasant surprise for me is Beatty.
I did not think this would make the shortlist, but I’m glad it has. Here is a
truly anti-racist novel. One that grabs you as a reader by the scruff of the
neck and exposes you to yourself. It was a good counter-balance to Virginia
Reeves, which I thought unintentionally promoted an Uncle-Tom type stereotype –
of the sort satirised by Beatty.
I might be happy to see Burnet, Levy or Szalay win, although
not Thien, but for the ‘hot favourite’ is surely Mossfegh. Here is a novel of
absolute genius. But, of course, maybe reading Thien fully might change my mind.
I doubt it – the prose has nothing of the artistic quality of the other novels.
The Booker SHORTLIST
I thought Coetzee ought to be there (and I’m still sore about Kelman not even making the Long List).
I also can’t see the rationale for Thien, but then I couldn’t finish it – perhaps I’ll try again).
Of the remainder I half-predicted the Burnet, which is a wonderful novel and deserves its place. I made more sure predictions of Levy and Szalay. My predicted winner is still Mossfegh. This is a stunning novel.
The pleasant surprise for me is Beatty. I did not think this would make the shortlist, but I’m glad it has. Here is a truly anti-racist novel. One that grabs you as a reader by the scruff of the neck and exposes you to yourself. It was a good counter-balance to Virginia Reeves, which I thought unintentionally promoted an Uncle-Tom type stereotype – of the sort satirised by Beatty.
I might be happy to see Burnet, Levy or Szalay win, although not Thien, but for the ‘hot favourite’ is surely Mossfegh. Here is a novel of absolute genius. But, of course, maybe reading Thien fully might change my mind. I doubt it – the prose has nothing of the artistic quality of the other novels.