This year I tried to read as many books on the Man Booker Prize longlist as possible. That did not work out all that well, to nobody’s surprise. I am such a fickle reader and do really really bad with TBRs. I do, however, have some thoughts I want to share before the winner is announced.
Books I have read:
Swing Time – Zadie Smith
This is my least favourite of the books I read. It’s not a bad book by a long shot but I expected more.
You can find my review here.
The Underground Railroad – Colson Whitehead
It took me forever to read this book. It is gut-wrenchingly devastating and the matter-of-fact way the story is told made is all the more so. I could only ever take it in small doses. It’s beyond a doubt an important book that deserves all the accolades it got, but I am so very glad it’s over.To be fair, this is what a book about slavery should be like.
4 3 2 1 – Paul Auster
I enjoyed this a whole lot and was very glad to see it on the shortlist. I loved how expansively Auster tells his story – and this in a genre where I usually prefer shorter works.
You can find my review here.
Exit West – Mohsin Hamid
I would read Mohsin Hamid’s shopping list. He has a wonderful way with words and I adored how lyrical his expressions are. In a way this is the direct opposite of “The Underground Railroad” – both use a supernatural way of escaping evil (war and slavery respectively), but Hamid’s work is ultimately optimistic whereas Whitehead’s is … really not.
You can find my review here.
Solar Bones – Mike McCormack
This was definitely my favourite of the bunch and I was super disappointed to not see it on the short list. I adored a whole lot about this book. This is one that I probably would not have read if it wasn’t for the longlist and I am very grateful that I did.
You can find my review here.
Currently reading
Autumn – Ali Smith
I am about half way through this book and while I enjoy it, I am not quite sure if I understand everything. I adore her musings on Brexit and find this to be an absolute strength of the book. I lived in Scotland for four years and in England for one and I feel close to the country. So Brexit hit me hard; I did not see it coming and I still cannot understand how it happened.
To Be Read
Lincoln in the Bardo – George Saunders
This is the last book of the longlist that I will definitely read at some point. It might be gimmicky or it might be great, I cannot imagine there will be a middle ground.
Predictions
I think in the end either Ali Smith or Mohsin Hamid will take home the prize, both books are timely and well-written and mostly great. I have my fingers crossed for Hamid because I think we need more fundamentally optimistic books about immigration and refugees.
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