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Who will be long listed for the Orange Prize 2010?

Next week (17th March) the long list for the Orange Prize 2010 will be announced. The Orange Prize is awarded annually for the best fiction novel written by a woman. I have really enjoyed reading books nominated for this prize in the past and so am looking forward to seeing who makes the list this year.

I thought it would be interesting to try to predict which books would make it on to the list. I found it very hard to come up with 20 titles – the first 12 came to me very quickly, but it took a long time for me to complete the list. I have no idea if they are all eligible and haven’t read them all (so don’t know if they deserve to be there) but here is my prediction for books that might make the cut next week:








What do you think of my selection?

Have I missed any books that you think deserve to be on the list?

Which book would you like to see win the Orange Prize this year?

50 replies on “Who will be long listed for the Orange Prize 2010?”

Stujallen, I’m interested in The Long Song and The Swan Thieves too. I didn’t think that The Swan Thieves would make the list as I didn’t think the Historian was literary enough – I’ll be interested to see if it makes the list though.

I think that a good many of the ones you have recognised (providing they are eligible) will feature on the list. I’m really looking forward to it! I may have to read one or two of them 😉

I’ve been intrigued by The Wilding, The Long Song and February so may have to read those anyway.

I’ve read five from the ones you have selected and of those five I’d like to see Evie Wyld or Sarah Hall win.

I think The Rehearsal by Eleanor Catton will be nominated and possibly The Tin-Kin by Eleanor Thom. Petina Gappah will probably feature on the New Writers shortlist as she’ll be eligible for that.

Claire, I’m probably going to read a lot of them anyway!

I’d love to see Sarah Hall win, but hope that there is going to be an even better book on the short list (I won’t be reading the entire long list, but will probably read the short list)

I’m looking forward to it!

Ooo, a new Andrea Levy – I’ll have to keep my eye out for that one. I loooved Small Island. Nice list – I think even if these don’t attract Orange love, I’ll still be seeking them out!

Megan, I still haven’t read Small Island. I was planning to start it next week, but now I’m thinking about reading her new one. I really can’t decide what to do!

I liked The Year of the Flood but not as much as Oryx and Crake.

I also enjoyed Lisa Moore’s February much more than I expected.

I’ve read Lacuna, After the Fire…, and The Little Stranger. Several are on reserve at the library for me; The Post Mistress, February, blueyedboy, Isa and May, Wolf Hall, The Children’s Book, and Major Pettigrew…
Looks like you’ve got a good list there. I keep an ongoing list of all those I read from this award:

I’m not always keen on the winners themselves but this is one award that I find a lot of good reads on. I look forward to next week.

Sandra, I’m impressed by your library hold list!

I also find that the winners are not my favourite books from the list, but there are normally some wonderful books in the short list.

Looks like an amazing prediction list to me!! I have just finished Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand and I absolutely loved it – my favourite book of 2010 so far without a doubt.

What a fascinating post! You’ve certainly picked some of the same ones that I would (Tremain, Atwood, Pietroni, Kingsolver, Levy, Byatt…). I would not be surprised if most of your predictions turn up! I wonder maybe about the latest Lori Lansens, as her last made it, and also perhaps the latest Sarah Dunant?

Verity, I haven’t heard anything about Lori Lansens new book. Is it worth reading?

I did think about adding Sacred Hearts to the list. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it on the list. It will be interesting to see the list on Wednesday.

Oooh I have scheduled a blog on just this very thing for Tuesday. We have some similar nominations and some quite different ones. I found it really really difficult to find 20 contenders especially in keeping with the Orange rules lol.

Well, I think we can safely say A.S. Byatt won’t be on the list as she doesn’t allow her books to be submitted for the prize. She has been very vocal over the years in her opinion that it is sexist and degrading for women. Unless she’s seriously changed her opinions I think The Children’s Book will be omitted, which is a shame.

Of the others I’ve only read Hall, Waters and, of course, Mantel. All three should definitely be on the list IMHO. Good call on the others – I can never remember what has been released and is eligible any given year! Rose Tremain, Evie Wilding and The Poet’s Wife are all high on my wishlist, and The Wilding is very high on my TBR. Can’t wait!

Victoria, I have heard that several authors object to the Orange prize, but couldn’t remember exactly which ones – thank you for letting me know that Byatt won’t be on the list. I’m sure there will be a lot of great books on the list – I look forward to reading them!

What fun. I canNOT wait to see what’s actually on the list next Wednesday. As for additions to your list (and I’m not sure about qualifying either as it depends on overseas dates) but I might add:

Yiyun Li’s The Vagrants (her earlier book was listed and this one was wonderful);
Bonnie Burnard’s Suddenly (one of those quiet books that might seem simple at first, but the crafting is actually amazing);
Rebecca Gowers’ The Twisted Heart (her earlier book was listed and this unconventional romance is delightfully bookish);
Lorrie Moore’s A Gate at the Stairs (interesting relationships between women in this one, mothering and otherwise); and
Kate Pullinger’s Mistress of Nothing (fascinating for both the class relationships and romantic relationships in this tale of a gentlewoman and her maid).

Overall I didn’t read much new fiction in 2009, so there are the only ones I can think of adding just now.

BuriedInPrint, The Vagrants has been on my wish list for a while – I really like the sound of it. I don’t think it is eligible this year as it was published in Feb 2009 (books published between Apr 1st 2009 and Mar 31st 2010 are eligible)

I haven’t heard of the others you mention – I’ll have to look them up – thanks for the recommendations!

How exciting to see who is on the list and how many of your predictions are right! Lots of fun and a great selection of books either way. Thank you for taking the time to do this – I can imagine how much time that would have taken.

I didn’t realize the nominations were so soon! I’ve read a few from your list, of which I think The Year of the Flood or The Little Stranger are my favorites. I also just loved The Children’s Book, but I see a commenter above says it’s not going to be nominated – which is definitely a shame! I’m intending to read, eventually, almost all of this list! The first will be The Postmistress though, as it’s my online book club choice for next month. The results will certainly be interesting.

You’ve provided me with a great TBR list, Jackie! *laughs* I have only read three on your list (Atwood, Mantel and finishing up Byatt this weekend)…but I have several more either already on my physical TBR list or on my virtual wish list. I’m going to link this post on my Sunday Salon post tomorrow – really fun list. Looking forward to seeing how close you come to the actual long list!

I’ve only read two on the list – the Sarah Waters and the Sarah Hall. A couple have grabbed my attention, but am yet to read them. Would love Sarah Hall to win, as I loved How To Paint A Dead Man. Was gutted when it didn’t make the Booker shortlist.

Let’s see what the longlist brings!

I have to say, I’m very impressed that you know enough qualifying books to be able to even pick your choices! I’d guess about two and then run out of ideas. And I agree with Wendy…great list of titles I need to read!

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