Hilary Mantel

[LovelyLovelyMe]

Well, I'm disgusted that Hilary Mantel's, 'The Mirror and the Light' has been left off the Booker shortlist.

On it, instead, are 4 or 5 debut novels. Are the judges really saying that these debut novels-all of them-are better than a highly accomplished author?

Maybe The Booker is for debut novelists now but I wasn't aware of the change.

It absolutely stinks.

[HeddaGarbled]

Whilst I would have absolutely loved her to get the hat-trick, I don’t think TM&TL was as good as the previous two.

I do think there’s an agenda, though - definitely a move to international authors in the last couple of years.

[LovelyLovelyMe]

I would imagine it was still streets ahead of these debut novels though.
No-one can seriously argue that an accomplished novelist-quite possibly one of the best female novelists of our times-is not as good as a bunch of rookies.

Yes, I agree there is an agenda and it is certainly not to find the best book.

[yesbutnobut]

It's absolutely unbelievable!!! Only Shuggie Bain appeals from the short list.

[CountFosco]

Yes, completely agree. I'm hoping Tsitsi Dangarembga wins because a) she doesn't have American citizenship and b) she is an established writer (if not that well known i the UK). Opening it to Americans was a big mistake (they've got the Pulitzer) and it's going to affect the Commonwealth writers most.

I suspect most of this shortlist will be forgotten in 5 years but we'll all still be reading Hilary Mantel and Anne Tyler.

[HarlanWillYouStopNamingNuts]

I'm disappointed and I agree that Commonwealth writers will lose out, and readers will have less opportunity to hear their voices. The shortlist is less diverse than it appears, because five of the six authors are writing from the US and the US publishing scene has a particular agenda at this point in history and I think the "old" Booker served that agenda better.

[LovelyLovelyMe]

I usually buy the entire Booker shortlist-my treat to myself but this year, I am not going to buy a single one of them. I think the only way to stop a literary prize being hijacked is to hit the publishers hard in the pocket.

I know my small localish bookshop relies on the Booker each year to boost sales, so instead I'm going to buy six others-probably including the Sophie Ward, the Kiley Reid and maybe the Anne Tyler. I already have the 'winner' Hilary Mantel but I'll buy another copy of it to give as a Christmas present.

I might, if Covid allows, borrow the winner from the library.

I would though please ask everyone who doesn't approve of the politicalising of a literary prize to not buy them but help your local bookshop by buying others in their stead.

[CountFosco]

The Women's prize this year had a more heavyweight shortlist so maybe buy that this year instead:

Maggie O'Farrell, Hamnet (winner)
Bernardine Evaristo, Girl, Woman, Other
Hilary Mantel, The Mirror and the Light
Angie Cruz, Dominicana
Natalie Haynes, A Thousand Ships
Jenny Offill, Weather

[LovelyLovelyMe]

Great idea, @CountFosco.

[ShortAndSharp]

I don't doubt that Hilary Mantel is brilliant, the masses say so, but I don't enjoy her writing 🤷🏻‍♀️ I really find reading her novels a bit of a chore. Maybe when I have more time to indulge, again, in reading I'll be on board.

[HarlanWillYouStopNamingNuts]

CountFosco, you're right, that's a really strong shortlist. Also agree wholeheartedly about supporting local bookshops.

[CountFosco]

Thinking about the agenda the criteria for the International Booker changed a few years ago, it use to be akin to the Nobel Prize for Literature and was awarded for a body of work, now it's the best translation published in English that year and goes half to the author and half to the translator. I don't think that's a bad change, but it shows the thought processes at the Booker.

[sashagabadon]

It seems unfair that they are all americans. The states is what 230 million people so of course they come to dominate by just numbers alone.
Booker should have stayed uk and commonwealth only.

[theotherfossilsister]

I'm actually really struggling the finish TM&TL and I loved the first two, have got to part five now and I still think there are some beautiful phrases, but she says too much and it's too baggy. I will finish because I do like it, I just resent that there are long sections which aren't that good.



Sometimes debut writers have to really push the boat put and work their arses off to make an amazing novel while I think highly acclaimed writers sometimes get away with more, and there is very much an 'it will do.' attitude.


I hated this complacency in Zadie Smith's later novels. The need for brilliance has gone so the brilliance goes too, which is such a sad thing with a great novelist.

[CountFosco]

@sashagabadon

It seems unfair that they are all americans. The states is what 230 million people so of course they come to dominate by just numbers alone.
Booker should have stayed uk and commonwealth only.

If it was just population then Indian authors should have always dominated the Booker. Instead we have just three Indian authors: Arundhati Roy, Kiran Desai and Aravind Adiga.

America's cultural dominance in English means the Booker was important precisely because it excluded them.

[LovelyLovelyMe]

@CountFosco

Well, apart from the Mantel and the Evaristo-which I already have- I've ordered that list.

Thanks for the idea-I so look forward to my autumn treat of Booker shortlist but as that isn't possible this year, it means I still get to my work my way through a list as the evening is drawing in.

Here's hoping that next year the judges remember that they are judging a literary prize and keep their own agendas firmly out of it. Hopefully, the drop in this year's sales will help to concentrate the mind.

[HarlanWillYouStopNamingNuts]

I think I'll join you. I have Hamnet and Dominicana, and really want to read Girl Wman Other and TMATL.

[CountFosco]

Glad to be of help , hope you enjoy it. I'm very tempted by Hamnet but am deep in TMATL at the moment so will need a break before I read another Tudor reimagined history.

[MilleniumHallsWalledGarden]

I think the Women's Prize list looks good too. I've read TMATL, and have A Thousand Ships, and considering getting Hamnet and Dominicana next.

I find the American Booker a bit uninspiring. Maybe I'll get round to them eventually.

[Plesky]

@HeddaGarbled

Whilst I would have absolutely loved her to get the hat-trick, I don’t think TM&TL was as good as the previous two.

I do think there’s an agenda, though - definitely a move to international authors in the last couple of years.

No,, I agree, it wasn’t — and I’m a diehard HM fan who’s ready every word of hers. Also not inspired by this year’s shortlist.