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Original poster

Reading through this year's Booker Longlist

42 replies

antimatter · 28/07/2016 18:33

I wanted for many years to be able to read through the full longlist before they announce shortlist and later a winner.

I managed to start listening to Deborah Levy (UK) - Hot Milk (Hamish Hamilton) which I got on Audible night before it got announced on a recommendation from Guardian. So far so good!

I also found 2 more on Audible and bought them as well:
Elizabeth Strout (US) - My Name Is Lucy Barton (Viking)
Madeleine Thien (Canada) - Do Not Say We Have Nothing (Granta Books)

Graeme Macrae Burnet (UK) - His Bloody Project (Contraband) - I got for £1.99 today on Kindle!

The rest of them are pricier so will see if my library has any before spending any money:
Paul Beatty (US) - The Sellout (Oneworld)
J.M. Coetzee (South African-Australian) - The Schooldays of Jesus (Harvill Secker)
A.L. Kennedy (UK) - Serious Sweet (Jonathan Cape)
Ian McGuire (UK) - The North Water (Scribner UK)
David Means (US) - Hystopia (Faber & Faber)
Wyl Menmuir (UK) - The Many (Salt)
Ottessa Moshfegh (US) - Eileen (Jonathan Cape)
Virginia Reeves (US) - Work Like Any Other (Scribner UK)
David Szalay (Canada-UK) - All That Man Is (Jonathan Cape)

OP posts:
southeastdweller · 14/08/2016 13:41

My Name is Lucy Barton is also short but I don't recommend it.

Original poster
antimatter · 14/08/2016 12:39

I am going to order few from my local library tonight. Which one are you starting with?

OP posts:
Just5minswithDacre · 14/08/2016 02:12

His Bloody Project, Work Like Any Other & The North Water.

Original poster
antimatter · 14/08/2016 01:29

Which one's have you ordered Just?

OP posts:
Just5minswithDacre · 13/08/2016 23:51

Mine were delivered to the sorting office Sad I'll have to wait until Monday.

Original poster
antimatter · 13/08/2016 23:48

I know 2 books from this list are quite shoty (novellas) -The Many and The schooldays.

OP posts:
Original poster
antimatter · 13/08/2016 23:41

Welcome Joyless! I commute over 2 hours every day. It helps with reading Grin

My greatest a hievement this year so far is finishing War and Peace! What an amazing book that is!

OP posts:
JoylessFucker · 12/08/2016 14:46

Hi antimatter, would love to join you as that's been my task for the past few years and am determined to achieve it this year. Having said that, I've only read one so far: Hystopia by David Means. A clever and interesting idea but overall, rather disappointed.

Next up either His Bloody Project or The Many as bought them at reasonable kindle prices, although I have one book club read to fit in too. Gutted I missed the 99p deal on North Water though Sad

antimatter, you're making cracking progress. How's everyone else doing?

Original poster
antimatter · 11/08/2016 23:22

I loved The North Water. Such great writing! I will look out for his other book too.

OP posts:
AgentProvocateur · 10/08/2016 21:49

I've bought His Bloody Project and The North Water, but I have two book group books to get through before I can start them.

Just5minswithDacre · 10/08/2016 21:43

I'm in. Hitting Amazon now Smile

southeastdweller · 10/08/2016 21:41

I read Eileen shortly after it was published earlier this year and really enjoyed it. The characterisation was excellent and the story very absorbing. It's out in paperback next week.

The only other ones I'm interested in are My Name is Lucy Barton and The Sellout.

whippetwoman · 10/08/2016 09:29

I read Swimming Home by Deborah Levy last summer and thought it was excellent but if you look at the reviews on Amazon I was one of the very few people to actually like it. I really did think it was good though...

Original poster
antimatter · 07/08/2016 22:51

I hope to read all of them by then! Some are available on my local library.

OP posts:
fascicle · 07/08/2016 10:22

No use to you, OP, but for info, towards Christmas the Book People sell the 6 Booker Prize shortlisted books for the year (all hardback) as a pack for £25.

Original poster
antimatter · 03/08/2016 08:31

I finished listening to Hot Milk. Enjoyed it. I will be able to say if it was worst or better than the rest of them after, I think, I finush few more. I think it was more than decent book and would recommend Audible version as it was beautyfuly read.
What puts you off reading it?

I enjoyed even more My name is Lucy Barton. I love when writers can write well about seemingly common human emotions.
When I have time I will definitely look for other books by Stroud and Levy.

I am currently listening to The North Water.
Due to my long commute and dog walking I can listen to up to 4 hours a day Smile

OP posts:
Laska5772 · 31/07/2016 17:27

The North water is 99p on kindle today!

I also bought His Bloody Project

.. and also The Many - thought £3.99 a reasonable price to pay for a booker longlist

I really dont fancy Hot Milk...