Booker 25 - a thread

I'm sad Endling wasn't on there.

I think Flesh was pretty good. I've been thinking about it long after I've finished it.

I've got The Rest of Our Lives from the library to read next. I'm not massively looking forward to that one. None of the reviews have really sold it to me, but we'll see.

I've ordered The Land in Winter. I'd noticed the paperback version was released today, so I suspected it would be on the shortlist.

Surprised to see no Seascraper but I enjoyed Flashlight, The Land in Winter found both Flesh and Audition interesting- they made me think and I’d like to reread both at some stage. Didn’t rate The Rest of our Lives. Have The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny coming this week so looking forward to reading it. My money is on Flesh winning.

Well I’ve read The Land in Winter which I loved and Flesh which I admired but didn’t really love. Very disappointed by the absence of Seascraper . Also quite surprised by the inclusion of The Audition which I haven’t read but has attracted mixed reviews. Will try to read the others though massive waiting list at the library for the Desai.

Yes it's here https://www.youtube.com/live/r6VO7dkRtjU?si=2vMrWYYtFhys_mli

Anyone know if there will be a live stream of the shortlist announcement?

I haven’t read all of them but will be disappointed if The Land in Winter and Seascraper don’t make it through. Also would like to see Love Forms and Flesh there. The South I thought Ok, but not outstanding particularly as it’s the first of a sequence. Universality I really don’t like.

My shortlist is the same as Stowick’s except I’d slightly prefer The Land in Winter over the South. I too would like to see Seascraper win but wouldn’t be unhappy to see Flesh win either.

I wasn't massively keen on Universality or Misinterpretation either, agree that Seascraper was great. I'll be very disappointed also if it doesn't make it.

I've read 10 and have just started The Land in Winter. The ones I haven't read are Misinterpretation and Sonia and Sonny.

My shortlist prediction is:
Seascraper - will be very disappointed if this doesn't make it
Flesh
Endling
Audition
Sonia & Sonny
The South

Could swap in Flashlight or The Land In Winter for The South but I just wonder if they'll give Tash Aw the nod as he's been longlisted twice before without making the shortlist.

I really don't think One Boat, The Rest Of Our Lives or Universality should be on there, but there does seem to be a lot of Bookstagram love for Universality so it may get the nod.

And I haven't read Misinterpretation as it's got some terrible reviews. I'll read it if it's shortlisted.

I’m still waging through One Boat it’s taking me longer than expected!

So with less than a week until the shortlist, what are people's thoughts on the books that might make it? I enjoyed The South and Love Forms but I don't think they'll be on the shortlist. I feel that Audition is very likely to be on it. I've still to read Flashlight, Rest of Our Lives, One Boat and Flesh but I'll wait and see if they make the shortlist first.

@Stowickthevast I enjoyed The South on audio.

I've only just seen this thread. I'm 8 in so far with my hits being Endling and Seascraper - this was definitely my favourite - and misses Universality, One Boat and The Rest Of Our Lives. Audition, Flashlight and Flesh are all somewhere in the middle

I'm going to do Love Forms next - has anyone listened to it?

I've got a couple of credits coming up so also interested in knowing if any of the others are good on Audible - The Land In Winter, Misinterpretation or The South.

Finished Love Forms and Seascraper. Love Forms is nicely written and doesn’t go where you expect it to. It’s well written, fairly fast-paced and engaging. I’d like to have had the chance to get to know the side characters better. Though it was good, I never felt emotionally moved by it. Seascraper was absolutely beautiful. A quiet, well-written book with rich descriptions and depth in the character building. 5/5 from me. I’d like to see it win from what I’ve read so far.
still have Flesh, Universality, Endling and Sonya and Sunny to read.

Just finished Universality. I quite liked it. Easy to read and amusing in places. On to The south next.

Just finished The Rest of Our Lives…… it was good but needed rather abruptly I thought!!

Have One Boat to read next!!

I’m actually considering moving my view on this one as I’ve kept thinking about it long after finishing it. I think I may reread if it makes it to the shortlist.

Have finished Audition which i liked more than I expected to. Open to several interpretations, which is kept changing my my mind about after I'd completed it.

Am now about 100 pages into Endling which so far is great.

Making slow progress on this list. I've just finished Endling which I enjoyed but would have preferred as I straight story not the meta fiction, then again without that it probably wouldn't be on the list. Started Universality and enjoying it so far.

@ÚlldemoShúl yes One Boat doesn't seem to be getting great reviews does it? I might have a wait for my copy as its still on order from the library so may just skip it if it doesn't make the shortlist.
Im starting Universality today, again not one with great reviews although BenReadsGood did seem to love it

I’ve finished One Boat- a woman goes back to Greece to grieve her father. She went to the same place after her mother died and we see flashbacks of the former too. Explores grief and connections. We see a little of the villagers lives too. It’s okay and it’s well written but not a Booker book imo. I doubt it will be shortlisted.

Hi! Just finished Endling. I picked it because of the interesting plot. I've enjoyed it. It's metafiction, which I hadn't realised.

I've got Love Forms and Flesh on my physical tbr. I haven't made up my mind which one to pick next.

Just started The Rest of Our Lives….. seems good so far!