Booker 25 - a thread

[Trojanbores]

Hello. I always try to read the Booker longlist.

Can anyone guess what might be on there this year? Any dead certs?

I’ve just finished Audition. I quite liked the first half. The second half could have gone more interesting places I think. It’s not my cup of tea at all but I think it’s a very ‘bookery’ book so I can see how it ended up shortlisted. Next up for me is Flesh/ One Boat or Love Forms- they’re the three I have with me on holidays but I want to finish the final part of Elena Ferrante ‘s Neopolitan Quartet first.

@ÚlldemoShúlI absolutely adored those books I read them during lockdown so enjoy!!

@JollyHostess101 Ive loved the first three and am both sad and excited to read the last!

I have very vivid memories reading it at work when I was unfurloughed even though we had zero passengers flying out but still had to be there to be shouted at. I’ve recommended it to loads of people but not many seem to have enjoyed it that much 😢

I suppose neither woman is particularly likable but they are both very compelling.

Just finished The South which I enjoyed. Atmospheric coming of age story set on a run down family farm in Malaya, mid 90s. He writes very well and I liked the characters but agree with @AtomicBlondeRose that it’s not a winner.

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

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.

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.

@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

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.

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.

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.

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

Have One Boat to read next!!

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

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.

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.

@Stowickthevast I enjoyed The South on audio.

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.

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

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 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 didn’t love Seascraper. I appreciated it … but it was a bit too gentle.

I am aiming for a second wind when the shortlist comes out.

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 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.