the Booker Prize shortlist -- hmmm

The Booker Prize shortlist has been announced and here are the final six:

1. The Sense of an Ending, by Julian Barnes (reading now)
2. Jamrach's Menagerie, by Carol Birch (read, review this week, liked it)
3. The Sisters Brothers, by Patrick deWitt (read, reviewed)
4. Half Blood Blues, by Esi Edugyan (read, reviewed)
5. Pigeon English, by Stephen Kelman (to be read)
6. Snowdrops, by A.D. Miller (read a long time ago, reviewed)

Not that I'm a literary critic or anything, but this year's longlist didn't grab me, and this year's shortlist, well, I'll read Pigeon English and let you know what I think afterwards.  As of now, I'm hoping it's  either the Barnes or the deWitt that comes out on top.  To be really gut-level honest, normally by this time I'm quite excited to see the shortlist announcement but I don't have that same feeling this year. Sad.

Next year, please, more literary-minded judges!!