Man Booker’s long dozen was announced on 23rd July, giving precious little time for anyone up for a challenge to read the entire list before the winner is announced on 14th October. It works out at about one book every nine days which is just about doable if you no longer read at break-neck speed, the way you did at the age of 14 during the summer holidays. My personal best that year was two books in one day (I don’t remember which books, but I was in a serious sci-fi phase back then).
Glad to say that, to date, four of the Plinthers are up for a challenge, although one that’s a little more modest. We’ll be dividing up the long list between ourselves and will review the lot, but no one (so far) will be reading all 13 novels.
And what about this year’s list? Well, it’s the first time that the prize has been opened up outside the UK and Commonwealth, and 4 Americans are in the running. There are also some well publicised omissions: no Donna Tart, no Will Self, no Ian McEwan, no Martin Amis. As usual there is also some bickering over the depth of some of the works; most notably Karen Joy Fowler’s work We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves.
Personally, I’m not looking forward to reading Ferris’ To Rise Again At A Decent Hour. Who the hell wants to read about a dentist?
I wouldn’t make a good judge, obviously.