On the #Booker2023 longlist
I've been reading the longlists since 2019 and this was a really good year in that small window. I gave five stars to four different books. I really liked that there was a lot of value given to poetic prose, not purple, but poetic and rhythmic, often personal and always generating reflection. Many of the authors are also published poets, and it shows.
I finished last week. My personal rankings are in the comments
pickI enjoyed this curiosity, found it wonderfully done, found the writing, which focuses so much on the sound, always interesting and terrific, with its own rhythm and life. And I say this even I didn't really get it. (I missed a lot, as I discovered afterwards reading online reviews) This maybe should have won the Booker (and I loved the winner, Prophet Song)
pickLoved this cold, gothic historical fiction novel set in Newfoundland. The novel tracres the war between siblings in a small coastal village. Great on audio. 4 🌟
She‘s like, “yeah, right” 🙄 But it‘s my next read and I‘m looking forward to it. #booker2023
pickThis was great! First time reading this author. His stories are engaging, and left me to speculate about the ending. Often dealing with moral struggles. Recommend
Happy Birthday @BookNAround 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
Hey, Kristen hope your day is filled with happiness and laughter!!!!!
#litsylove #litsybirthdaywishes
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @CBee @Laughterhp @Allylu @Pageturner1 @Read4life
so-soI listened to this historical tale of slavery set in Canada on Audio. It read like connected short stories to me. I did not give it my full attention and had a hard time following the family lines. I feel I did this novel a disservice, but I am also unwilling to reread it. So-so for me. It is on the Walter Scott long list for historical fiction.
1. Study for Obedience** by Sarah Bernstein (Canada)
2. Prophet Song** by Paul Lynch (Ireland)
3. In Ascension* by Martin Macinness (Scotland)
4. Western Lane** by Chetna Maroo (England - Kenya-born British Indian) 1w
5. The House of Doors* by Tan Twan Eng (Malaysia)
6. All the Little Bird-Hearts* by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow (England)
7. How to Build a Boat** by Elaine Feeney (Ireland)
8. Pearl** by Siân Hughes (Wales) 1w
9. This Other Eden** by Paul Harding (USA)
10. A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ (Nigeria)
11. Old God's Time* by Sebastian Barry (Ireland)
Good, but mixed - YMMV
12. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray (Ireland)
13. If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery (USA - Jamaican descent) (edited) 1w
** means I thought the prose was poetic in spirit 1w