Here are the 6 novels shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize! Some I was really hoping to see and others are... a surprise! A new video is up on my YouTube channel reacting to the list as it's revealed alongside summaries, thoughts and feelings on each book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmHZojDMnpI
Overall I'm happy with this group as it includes an interesting mixture of narrative techniques and subject matter. Some books are deeply meditative and poetic in style. Others have a more thrilling plot while also reflecting about the past and humanity. All of them are innovative in their approach to storytelling.
It's great to see five female authors included. Especially exciting that there's an Australian author given there's not been representation from Down Under on the Booker list in recent years. Only one English author which I'm sure some will take issue with but I think it's perfectly fine.
In my opinion “James” is a new classic in how it both honours and re-envisions a classic American novel. It's satirical and sharp in relating a truly adventurous tale while deftly steering between humour and heartbreak. I was mesmerised by “Stone Yard Devotional” as its protagonist retreats from the world giving a deeply thoughtful meditation on choices, guilt and the intention to do good in a world fraught with problems. I'm currently reading “Creation Lake” with my online book club. It took me a bit to get into this unique mixture of spy story/essay but I'm now really enjoying its overly-confident narrative and meditation on our human motivation.
I read “The Safekeep” with my online book club last month and this suspenseful story contains great twists and turns while also giving a new view of the longterm repercussions of WWII. It's also great to see some queer representation on the list! I got totally swept up into “Orbital” reflective poetic style following six astronauts circling our planet. It veers between meditations on the beauty/fragility of our world and the curious details about everyday life on a space shuttle. As for “Held” which I gave up on reading... I'm going to try it again but I was initially put off on its lack of character development and overly ponderous philosophical passages. Who knows? Maybe I'll feel differently revisiting it like with “Study for Obedience” last year. We shall see...
Also, I'm truly shocked “My Friends” isn't on the shortlist. I LOVED Matar's novel and it's definitely one of my top reads of the year. Such a poignant story about belonging, friendship and a love of literature. However, it's not short of award attention as it won this year's Orwell Prize for Fiction and was recently listed for the National Book Award in Fiction.
I've really enjoyed reading and discussing all the books listed for this year's list and I'm looking forward to even more chat about them in the lead up to the winner being announced on November 12.
What do you think of the shortlist? Any you are eager to read? Let me know all your thoughts!
