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Man Booker Prize 2012 winner announced tonight - what's your bet?

38 replies

TillyBookClub · 16/10/2012 11:57

It's the biggie. The prize that sends a literary novel straight into the bestseller list and the author on a global publicity tour and to a guaranteed seat in literature's Hall of Fame.

Just to remind you, the shortlist is:

The Lighthouse - Alison Moore
Swimming Home - Deborah Levy
Bring Up the Bodies - Hilary Mantel
Umbrella - Will Self
The Garden of Evening Mists - Tan Twan Eng
Narcopolis - Jeet Thayil

This year's six includes two debut novels, two authors who've been shortlisted before, one previous winner, three novels published by small indie publishers. Three women, three men.

(Ladbrokes current odds-on winner: Will Self at 2/1)

Which ones have you read and who will you be rooting for?

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MrsMellowDrummer · 16/10/2012 20:06

Please please please don't let it be Will!

I've read the longlist, and I'm really hoping it will go to Tan Twan Eng. The Garden of Evening Mists is a truly beautiful book. Masterfully crafted. If not, my other favourite was Swimming Home.

I can't believe the decision hasn't been leaked this year - usually somebody manages to find out by about 10am. Will be glued to the BBC news channel preparing to scream if they give it to Umbrella. Bet they will.

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TillyBookClub · 16/10/2012 19:55

Telly coverage is: BBC news and BBC World from 9.30pm

Getting very excited. We'll be tweeting from @MumsnetBookclub if you're on Twitter.

Good luck to all of them. (Though Hilary still gets my vote.)

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TillyBookClub · 16/10/2012 19:23

I've hunted high and low for the television coverage and there doesn't seem to be any..last year I definitely watched it on a BBC channel but no sign in any of the schedules at all.

If anyone finds it, can they post up here? Meanwhile, I'll be searching Twitter for clues...

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CelstialNavigation · 16/10/2012 18:34

I am definately rooting for "Swimming Home", which i feel like i have a small personal stake in, having purchased one of the first few copies that was published Grin I like the whole idea of it.

Is the prize ceremony normally hidden away on the BBC 24-hour news channel?

Greatresult · 16/10/2012 17:57

Will the results be televised?

hackmum · 16/10/2012 17:20

The only one I've read is the Hilary Mantel, but I don't think it will be her, as it's too soon since the last one.

So, speaking from a position of complete ignorance (what's new), my money is on Will Self, with Deborah Levy as second choice. I think the Booker Judges want to make a statement about how stuff can be difficult and good (as a reaction against last year when they were all about readability and accessibility, yawn.)

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TillyBookClub · 16/10/2012 17:18

If Hilary wins she will be first British writer ever to win twice.

Go Hilary, go Hilary...

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Hullygully · 16/10/2012 16:53

I don't know

but please not Will Self

AgentProvocateur · 16/10/2012 15:35

I'd love Garden Of Evening Mists to win, because although I've not read it yet, I thought his previous book was stunning, and didn't deserve not to make the shortlist. I think Umbrella wI'll win.

lambethlil · 16/10/2012 15:19

Umbrella has little punctuation or paragraphs.
I think someone should C&P a chunk and post it pedants' corner. Grin

JodieHarsh · 16/10/2012 14:31

My money's on The Lighthouse, by Alison Moore.

It's almost unprecedented that a debut novel from a minute independent publishing house run from a Norfolk seaside town could have got this far. The buzz around this book is VERY loud!

I secretly love Mantel though also she is practically my friend so I wouldn't be disappointed if Bodies took the prize.

LibrarianAli · 16/10/2012 14:13

My reading group are shadowing the Man Booker Prize so I've read almost the entire shortlist.

I would love Bring Up the Bodies to win as it is beautifully written - Mantel is an incredible storyteller and brings this fascinating man to life for us, however I think it is unlikely for a sequel to win (despite Bodies standing on its own as a novel entirely)

So, I think Garden of Evening Mists will win - it is lovely, poignant and thoughtful and very carefully paced, the language is precise, almost spare and the sense of place is very powerful... what happens after war

I also thoroughly enjoyed 'The Lighthouse' and would be very happy if that won.

I don't think Swimming Home stands up to much, but my DH loved it and thought it was immersive and mesmerising (one man's immersive is this woman's claustrophobic!)

I didn't enjoy reading Umbrella or Narcopolis at all. I found them turgid and sordid equally.

LoveAndSqualor · 16/10/2012 14:09

Think it'll be Will Self - but i'm rooting for Deborah Levy ... Would love Mantel to get it again, but Bring Up the Bodies is really just a continuation of Wolf Hall, and I can't imagine them giving it to her again!