Wednesday, July 25, 2012

The Booker Prize Longlist, 2012




has been announced!  After months of speculation, it's finally here:

The Yips by Nicola Barker (Fourth Estate)
The Teleportation Accident by Ned Beauman (Sceptre)
Philida by André Brink (Harvill Secker)
The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng (Myrmidon Books)
* Skios by Michael Frayn (Faber & Faber)
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce (Doubleday)
Swimming Home by Deborah Levy (And Other Stories)
* Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel (Fourth Estate)
The Lighthouse by Alison Moore (Salt)
Umbrella by Will Self (Bloomsbury)
*Narcopolis by Jeet Thayil (Faber & Faber)
Communion Town by Sam Thompson (Fourth Estate)

* -- I've read it already!

All right -- so I just bought all of the ones I didn't have, but it looks like for some of these the reading isn't going to happen until September, so hopefully this time around is not as stressful as some of the past longlist reads have been. 

My plan, once August gets going, is to do weekly updates on my progress through this list, which gives me two entire months and a bit of October to read nine books.

Anyone else going to read through the list this year?

9 comments:

  1. Oooh -- I've actually read two of the longlisters -- The Garden of Evening Mists and Narcopolis! Fancy me!

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    1. As you know, I loved Narcopolis. I read a book that Tan Twan Eng wrote years ago and really liked it -- The Gift of Rain. What did you think of this new one by him?

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    2. And by the way, if writing about squid gods and a super secret organization trying to prevent the end of the world makes me "fancy", well....

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  2. I'll be reading along, but I don't feel the same rush I normally do. A stressless read is a lovely thought. :-)

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    1. It's a great feeling! I have so many books besides these I want to read and normally reading 12 at what seems like once makes my head explode.

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  3. Thanks for the list and the update - Nancy. A bit out of touch these days.

    I am going to look for a list on Goodreads, they had one last year.

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    1. I miss chatting here and there with you, Shellie! I'm out of touch myself. My poor little doggie was diagnosed with glaucoma (she's only 4) and will probably lose her eye because it's so bad; needless to say it's a bit stressful here.

      They do have a list on goodreads, for sure.

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    2. Oh no - loosing and eye at only four? Wow. So sorry to hear that, it's so heartbreaking. I hope she bounces back quickly. Animals and children are usually so reliant. I will be thinking positive thoughts. You will have to let me know how it goes?

      Yes I found the eligible list and the long list there... thanks to your post!

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    3. The eye doctor told us that her pressure was so high that she was likely suffering blinding headaches. But I swear, you'd never know it...she's just the happiest little thing.

      I'll keep you posted!

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