Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
#Bookerprize
blurb
squirrelbrain
Man Booker Prize | Frederic P Miller, Agnes F Vandome, John McBrewster
post image

Here‘s my own shortlist for the #bookerprize, in order of favourites.

I‘m cheating a bit by having TWO lists as, whilst these are my faves, I don‘t think they‘ll all make the list.

Bird-Hearts, In Ascension and Prophet Song should make the list. Study for Obedience will be on there because I hated it (!). And I think This Other Eden and Western Lane are more Booker-y than some of those above.

Looking forward to the *actual* list tomorrow!

BarbaraBB You make me curious about In Ascension! I have my copy ready! We have many shared favorites but I agree they probably won‘t all make the shortlist. I am almost sure This Other Eden and Obedience will be on it… unfortunately! 6mo
JamieArc I‘ve only read 3 Longlist books, but looking forward to seeing the shortlist so I can determine what‘s next. Hoping for Little Birds and the Eng book, which doesn‘t come out in the US til mid October anyway. 6mo
Cinfhen I watched a few BookTubers today and they seem to be all over the place with likes and dislikes so who knows what tomorrow will bring🤷🏼‍♀️Hopefully it‘s not a total bust 6mo
See All 41 Comments
AnneCecilie I‘ve haven‘t read many from this year‘s longlist, but I will be very happy if The House of Doors make it. I bailed on This Other Eden and have hardly seen any positive reviews of Obedience so won‘t rush to read that. 6mo
squirrelbrain I‘d love House of Doors to make it @JamieArc @AnneCecilie , but I‘m just not sure it‘s ‘Booker‘ enough. Ie it‘s not that weird! 🤣 6mo
squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB - In Ascension seems like the right mix of slightly weird and a great storyline. (To me anyway, others have found it boring!) 6mo
squirrelbrain @Cinfhen - I‘m sure it will be the exact opposite of what I think! 🤣 6mo
BarbaraBB I have high hopes! 6mo
Cinfhen Definitely makes for an exciting announcement!!!! 6mo
TrishB I also may bring The House of Doors to Gladstone‘s 😁 6mo
squirrelbrain I think you‘ll like it @TrishB 6mo
sarahbarnes I‘m happy to see your shortlist! 6mo
jlhammar Great to see your faves! Excited for the shortlist announcement. 6mo
Cinfhen Is Gladstone‘s this weekend?? @TrishB I REALLY want to join one day- lmk your next meetup!!! 6mo
squirrelbrain @Cinfhen - it‘s a week today! We‘ll probably book next years dates before we leave. It‘s likely to be a similar time next year but we‘ll let you know for sure! @TrishB 6mo
Cinfhen Yay!!!! I hope it works out 🙏🏼 6mo
TrishB @Cinfhen that would be cool 😁 I‘m so excited about next week! 6mo
TrishB @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB even better! Barbara - they fly Amsterdam to Liverpool 😁 6mo
BarbaraBB @TrishB @squirrelbrain @Cinfhen That would be so fantastic! Let me know the dates and see if we can make this work 🤞🏽🤞🏽😘 and yes Trish I‘d fly to Liverpool! Love to see it! (edited) 6mo
Cinfhen I‘m dying to visit Liverpool too @BarbaraBB @TrishB 6mo
squirrelbrain Ooh ooh @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB - that would be so exciting! 🎉🎉🎉 6mo
Cinfhen Right… it would be AWESOME @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain 6mo
BarbaraBB Let‘s really consider this! @Cinfhen @squirrelbrain @TrishB 6mo
Cinfhen @BarbaraBB @TrishB @squirrelbrain when do you think your next meet up might be? Winter time or Spring? 6mo
squirrelbrain @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB @TrishB - probably the same time next year, but we‘ll let you know once we‘ve decided. 😃 6mo
Cinfhen Ok - thanks @squirrelbrain for some reason I thought you guys meet twice a year 🤪 6mo
squirrelbrain Gladstone‘s is once a year @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB @TrishB but of course we can do something else at a different time of year / different place if it suits you guys better. #litsymeetup in Amsterdam?! 😃 (edited) 6mo
TrishB Now you‘re talking Helen 😁 @BarbaraBB @Cinfhen you‘ll probably have a whole years notice to plan! 6mo
Cinfhen Hahaha @TrishB @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain - Helen…we‘ll let you and Trish discuss next week where & when our international meetup should take place! 6mo
Cinfhen Also, the shortlist is AWFUL! 6mo
squirrelbrain Yep, terrible! @cinfhen Although my guess at what would make the list (rather than what I liked) wasn‘t that bad! 6mo
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen @Squirrel super frustrated by the shortlist. And yes Helen, you and @trishb discuss it next week. Amsterdam is fine of course, you‘re very welcome but man, I‘d love to see Liverpool 😂 6mo
squirrelbrain Maybe a Northern England tour?! We could do Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and York. @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB @TrishB 6mo
BarbaraBB Is that including Gladstone? It would be great to combine it all! 6mo
squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB - we could include Gladstone‘s too! 6mo
quietlycuriouskate I've concluded I would much rather read the Squirrel Prize Shortlist than the Booker Prize one. 6mo
ClairesReads What did you think of the Shortlist in the end? 6mo
squirrelbrain @ClairesReads - I really didn‘t like it; mainly (4) my least favourite books! What did you think? 6mo
squirrelbrain Lol @quietlycuriouskate - maybe I should launch my own annual prize! 6mo
64 likes41 comments
review
TheKidUpstairs
Old God's Time: A Novel | Sebastian Barry
post image
Pickpick

Stream of consciousness style combined with an unreliable narrator means this one takes focus so you don't miss the needles of truth. But if you're ready for a book that will leave a heavy emotional weight on your heart, it's worth taking time with. It is hard and filled with grief, but it is beautifully wrought.

CW: physical and sexual abuse of children

#BookerPrizeLonglist #BookerPrize #Booker2023

(Brilliant cover design by David Litman)

BarbaraBB Great review. I‘ll get too it soon. Are you planning on reading the whole longlist? 8mo
TheKidUpstairs @BarbaraBB I'm planning to read as many as I can. A lot of them haven't been published in Canada yet, but I'll read the ones I can get my hands on! Are you reading the list? 8mo
BarbaraBB Yes I try too. @squirrelbrain and @BookwormM are as well. We tag each other in our reviews. Shall we tag you too? 8mo
See All 6 Comments
TheKidUpstairs @BarbaraBB yes please! I'll start tagging the three of you as well 😁 8mo
BarbaraBB 🙌🏽 8mo
squirrelbrain I found that I really needed to concentrate on this one too. 8mo
61 likes6 comments
blurb
BarbaraBB
The Hiding Place | Trezza Azzopardi
post image

#WeeklyForecast 19/23

I am trying to read an #InternationalBooker shortlisted book a week and am now in the middle of Time Shelter. Afterwards I‘ll read some oldies off my TBR before I dive into my new books for #CampToB23.
The tagged one was shortlisted for the #BookerPrize years ago, a #Persephone just because and The Mandibles because I love Shriver!

LeeRHarry Will be interested to hear your thoughts on the tagged book - it has been on my radar for a while now as it‘s set in Cardiff and my family is from South Wales. 😊 11mo
Cinfhen I‘ve been curious about the tagged book too @LeeRHarry (Time Shelter) and as much as I LOVE Shriver I could not get into (edited) 11mo
TrishB Have a good week 👍🏻 11mo
See All 15 Comments
JenniferP I've also had The Hiding Place on my shelf for a long time! Curious to see how you like it. 11mo
BarbaraBB @LeeRHarry @JenniferP I‘ll make sure to tag you in my review of 11mo
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen I am reading The Mandibles on audio and print and I feel the same so far! (edited) 11mo
BarbaraBB @TrishB Thanks! You too, with The Ferryman! 11mo
Suet624 Shriver certainly has some misses amidst her fascinating ones. Some I struggle with but remember for years. I don‘t think I‘ve read the one you‘re reading though. 11mo
LeahBergen I want to read that Persephone, too. 👍 11mo
BarbaraBB @Suet624 It‘s all about money and an dystopian final crisis. If that doesn‘t ring a bell you probably haven‘t! 11mo
BarbaraBB @LeahBergen You haven‘t yet? That doesn‘t happen often! 11mo
LeahBergen 😂😂 Well, at this point I think my number of owned Persephones is higher than my number read! 11mo
Suet624 @BarbaraBB oh dear. I definitely shouldn‘t read that right now. 🤪 11mo
BarbaraBB @Suet624 I wouldn‘t 🩵 11mo
BarbaraBB @LeahBergen that says a lot about your collection 🥰🥰 11mo
65 likes15 comments
review
BarbaraBB
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
post image
Pickpick

I did it, I finished this book and I am glad I gave it another try. It is really good.

A Sri Lankan photographer dies and has a week (seven moons) to try come at peace with his life and his death in wartorn Sri Lanka. A typical #Bookerprize winner, and a worthy one.

With this one I finished the #ToB23 shortlist (bailing on two). I‘ll share my wrap-up soon.

See All 21 Comments
Suet624 Fantastic!!! 13mo
Chelsea.Poole Wonderful! I‘m listening to this one next. It‘s my last for the shortlist! Glad to see it worked for you. I now have hope 😊 (edited) 13mo
squirrelbrain Glad it worked out for you second time around! Looking forward to seeing your wrap-up. 13mo
Liz_M Impressive, reading (as much as you could) the entire shortlist! 13mo
jlhammar Woo-hoo, good work! 13mo
Megabooks Fantastic!! Looking forward to your wrap up. I found this good as well, if a bit over complicated. 13mo
sarahbarnes Yay! I‘m so glad you liked it! And congrats on finishing all but two. 📚 13mo
Hooked_on_books Hooray! And great that you liked your final read. I liked this one, too, and I didn‘t expect to. 13mo
Cortg I‘m glad you went back to it and enjoyed it! 13mo
BarbaraBB @Suet624 @Chelsea.Poole @squirrelbrain @Liz_M @jlhammar @Megabooks @sarahbarnes @Hooked_on_books @Cortg Thanks all 🤍 It always feel so satisfying when I finish a book I put away at first! 13mo
Librarybelle I love this cover! #covercrush 13mo
Cinfhen Love the photo of your dad 😘 and now I‘m disappointed I didn‘t give this book another chance #FoMo maybe I‘ll try this one on audio and see if I have better luck. I‘m also hoping to try again with 13mo
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen You noticed ❤️😘 13mo
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen You should try My Volcano again. I am sure you‘ll like it - though that is not the right word. This one I am not so sure about 13mo
Cinfhen How could I not??? He‘s ADORABLE ☺️ His face lights up the entire page xxxx 13mo
batsy Well done on finishing the list! 🙌🏾 And it's great to end on a high note. 13mo
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen Thank you 💕 I am in our beach house, his favorite place to be. It feels good to have him watching what we‘re up to when we‘re here! 13mo
Cinfhen I get that 🥰 13mo
95 likes1 stack add21 comments
blurb
AnneCecilie
Among the Shadows | L. M. Montgomery
post image

#WeeklyForecast

Continue buddy reading Northanger Abbey #PemberLittens. I‘ve been reading the tagged through the Gutenberg project and there seems to be 7 stories they don‘t have, so I‘ll see if I can read them somewhere else or if I missed them the first time.

I‘ve just started the newest Department Q book by Adler-Olsen and want to finish that. Afterwards I want to read First Class Murder. I hope I will be able to start The Seven Moons

AnneCecilie Some of these books are on the longer side so I‘ll see how it goes 1y
Cinfhen I couldn‘t get into Seven Moons but it seems to be the favorite of many for the #BookerPrize 1y
56 likes2 comments
blurb
Libby1
Small Things Like These | Claire Keegan
post image

It‘s here!!!

Small Things Like These for the win.

I‘m disappointed that The Colony by Audrey Magee missed out, but I‘m delighted for Claire Keegan.

#BookerPrize

TrishB Have only read 2 of these. The Keegan and The Trees. 2y
51 likes1 comment
review
MicheleinPhilly
post image
Pickpick

Oof, this was a tough read both for its structure and style and its subject. When I was reading it, I was completely immersed and often moved to tears. When I wasn‘t I was dreading picking it up. I admire Mortimer‘s ambition and audacity but I don‘t know whether I can say that I “enjoyed” this. Still, I expect and want to see this on the shortlist. #BookerPrize #BookerPrizeLonglist

Ruthiella Great review. I really want to try this one for myself! 2y
BarbaraBB Fab review. And I totally agree, it deserves to be shortlisted! 2y
See All 9 Comments
TrishB Great review, I‘m not drawn to this one. 2y
sarahbarnes Agreed on all fronts. Great review. 2y
Cinfhen Fantastic review and while I couldn‘t read it/ I respect the artistic journey the author took 2y
Hazel2019 I got a copy but am really struggling with whether I should read it or not. Tough subject. 2y
JamieArc Thanks for the tag. I‘m looking forward to this one. 2y
squirrelbrain Great review. I agree about the content and wanting to read / not wanting to read it. It‘s very like A Little Life in that respect. 2y
61 likes9 comments
review
rmaclean4
Anything is Possible | Elizabeth Strout
post image
Pickpick

I am flying through the Amgash books and loving them. What a rich community Strout gives us in this series of linked short stories. I am excited to move on to Oh William. I love the #Booker2022 #BookerPrize 2022 for prompting me to read this series. I have found a new favorite author. 4.5 🌟
@MicheleinPhilly @batsy @vivastory @squirrelbrain @Cathythoughts @JamieArc @jlhammar @BarbaraBB

See All 9 Comments
Kristin_Reads And there‘s a new one coming out soon 💗 2y
rmaclean4 @Kristin_Reads how exciting!! 2y
rmaclean4 @Ruthiella i did as well, but I loved all the characters in this one. 2y
BarbaraBB She has become a favorite author of me too. And Oh William is so good as well! 2y
batsy I would like to read Oh William but I haven't read this or Lucy Barton. So nice to see your enthusiastic review! 2y
25 likes9 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
post image

#bookreport

The top three were all completed this week, although I‘ve been rubbish at posting reviews (ie I haven‘t done any!)? They‘re in order of preference, although I enjoyed them all.

I‘ve nearly finished Maps, longlisted for the #bookerprize, and just started Case Study, also nominated. About a third of the way through Tomorrow, and I‘m loving all of my ongoing books too. All in all, a pretty good reading week!

Megabooks Yay! Great week! 2y
Cathythoughts Great week ! I‘d like to read Trespasses too 👍🏻♥️ 2y
Cinfhen Fantastic week!!! What do u think of the #Booker2022 list??? I know you‘ve read many already !!! 2y
See All 9 Comments
batsy Love the cover for Case Study and sounds really intriguing, too! 2y
squirrelbrain These two are number 6 and 7 from the list @Cinfhen - they‘ve all been really good so far. There‘s one or two I‘m not so sure I like the sound of, but I‘m sure I‘ll persevere to the end of the list! 2y
Cinfhen Oh wow 🤩 that‘s impressive out of 13!! There‘s a few that aren‘t really grabbing me either so im gonna wait to see if they make it to the shortlist. I‘ve read 4 and I own 3 so that‘s a good start 2y
Cinfhen I‘m actually curious about this one so I‘ll be interested in seeing your review 2y
TrishB That looks like a great week 👍🏻 2y
BarbaraBB Fab week! 2y
61 likes9 comments
review
thewallflower0707
post image
Mehso-so

I really liked the first part, The Mind. However, around 55%, it didn‘t feel so special anymore.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️,75/5

#elifshafak #novel #kindle #bookerprize

Megabooks Agree 2y
18 likes1 comment