Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Booker 2024: got to read ‘em all!

44 replies

Trojanbores · 28/07/2024 21:36

Does anybody else set themselves the absurd target of reading the Booker longlist each year?

Would you like to join me? It announces on Tuesday.

Any ideas about what will be on it?

OP posts:
virginqueen · 30/07/2024 18:18

Enlightenment by Sarah Perry is going to be on Radio 4 next week. I love her books.

pollyhemlock · 30/07/2024 17:43

Orbital is brilliant- very unusual. Not much plot as such, but it’s good to find such an impressive novel about science and scientists. My Friends and James are also both excellent and I suspect one of these will win. Enlightenment is readable and I did enjoy it, but the plot is often improbable and melodramatic imo. Not read any of the others yet.

Original poster
Trojanbores · 30/07/2024 17:17

Orbital is short, apparently. I might start there. James looks like a winner - always worth covering the favourites.

OP posts:
blackcherryconserve · 30/07/2024 16:59

I have got The Safekeep and got halfway through it before giving up! May have another go now it's on the Booker long list.

fundbund · 30/07/2024 16:56

I might do this as I have already read James and I am in the middle of The Safekeep.

I liked the overstory by Powers and like the sound of the Clare Messud one.

heldinadream · 30/07/2024 16:11

Ha ha - I no longer set myself up for failure by setting myself impossible challenges like this - although I'm full of admiration for anyone who does. Also I'm in the middle of a stressful house sale so no way I can commit.
HOWEVER having looked at the list I'd just like to say Richard Powers is one of my all-time favourite writers and I'd love to see him win and reach a wider readership. I also fancy the Anne Michaels. So I might just watch you guys read and be a spectator. Can't promise any more than that right now.
Anyone else read any Richard Powers?

OP posts:
OP posts:
notatinydancer · 30/07/2024 09:48

Trojanbores · 30/07/2024 09:40

I find the shortlist window too short! I don’t get through much once it’s announced.

I read better under time pressure 😂

Original poster
Trojanbores · 30/07/2024 09:40

I find the shortlist window too short! I don’t get through much once it’s announced.

OP posts:
notatinydancer · 30/07/2024 09:37

I usually try the shortlist.

BadSpellaSpellaSpella · 30/07/2024 08:57

I did this last year and thought I'd give it another go this year. I managed to get all books from the library last year as I was quick to order them.

MNHQ
DawnMumsnet · 30/07/2024 08:26

We've moved your thread over, @Trojanbores

Good luck with the challenge Smile

Scarletrunner · 30/07/2024 07:24

www.mumsnet.com/talk/what_were_reading

Original poster
Trojanbores · 29/07/2024 19:55

I did try to look for ‘books’ or ‘reading’ @Scarletrunner . It didn’t occur to me to look up ‘what we are reading now’.

Do you think that Mumsnet might reallocate me?

OP posts:
HarpQuartet · 29/07/2024 19:38

Oh no, I've just looked this up: another corner of Mumsnet to distract me!

Scarletrunner · 29/07/2024 18:51

You’d be better on the what are we reading thread

HarpQuartet · 29/07/2024 18:29

Hi @Trojanbores I almost replied yesterday but am a slow reader and realistically I'd be impressed with myself if I got through the shortlist! Shall we see what's on the longlist tomorrow and maybe we can coincide on some of them as a readalong?

Original poster
Trojanbores · 29/07/2024 16:38

Just a bump, in case anyone is interested. Or have I missed another thread on this?!

OP posts: