Booker Prize Thoughts
Every year, there’s a different set of things to irritate book lovers in the Booker Prize Shortlist. This year, established names such as Peter Carey and David Mitchell have missed out in favour of relative unknowns. The only previously nominated author is Sarah Waters.
As with last year, I’m aiming to read all of the books on the shortlist. Last year my favourite of the nominees was John Banville’s The Sea which actually won the prize, although I had thought that Julian Barnes would finally get the nod for Arthur & George.
So far I have read all but Mother’s Milk by Edward St. Aubyn and the last 100 or so pages of The Secret River by Kate Grenville and it’s not easy to pick a winner. Personally, I didn’t think much of Waters’ The Night Watch and I stand by that judgement. I wouldn’t be surprised to see her win it, mind. The best novel, which is after all what the Booker is supposed to be about, is either Carry Me Down by M.J. Hyland or In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar in my view.
Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss is a Rushiesque novel that is ultimately rather aimless and sentimental, even though it has moments of great beauty and pathos. It reminded me a lot of Rushie’s Shalimar the Clown, without any of the irritating bits. It’s exactly the kind of book that can win the Booker.
Once I’ve finished all the books, I’ll post my reviews, name my choice and prediction for the prize.
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