The 2011 Booker short list has just been announced as:
(all links go to my thoughts on each book)
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt 
Half Blood Blues by Esi Edgyan
Jamrach’s Menagerie by Carol Birch
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes 
Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman
I predicted 4/6 correctly, so can’t say I was very surprised by the announcement; although I must have failed to see something in Pigeon English, as I predicted it would be the book least likely to make the cut.
I’m pleased I can now put the Booker prize behind me for another year and concentrate on some more random reading.
9 replies on “The 2011 Booker Prize Short List”
I’ve always been impressed with your Booker prowess, but I can imagine you are ready to move on! Reading what you want is a beautiful thing. I’m excited to see what you are going to grab next.
Awesome, awesome, awesome prediction! I thought this may be Julian Barnes year. Poor dear has been nominated for 3 times, surely he must win??! 🙂
Wow – well done Jackie and congratulations on making your way through the longlist. I have Half Blood Blues out from the library to read soon (and also A cupboard full of coats which sounds really good- I don’t mind that it didn’t make the shortlist).
The only one of these I have read is Snowdrops – I have to say I will be so disappointed if it wins – the narrative style didn’t work for me.
Happy non Booker reading!
I have only read one book from the short list (The Sense of an Ending) so I will have some reading to do if I want to have them all read by the time the winner is announced!
I can imagine you want to move on after all that Booker reading. I see you’ve read The Wasp Factory. I haven’t read it so I’m curious to read your review.
Great job, Jackie! I think choosing 4 out 6 on the Books list is phenomenal. Aside from Snowdrops you rated the list well, too with 1 4 star, 2 3.5 stars and 2 3 stars.
Maybe you should think about doing Jackie’s Booker list! I’d love to see what books you would choose to ‘compete’ for a Booker award and then get the chance to read them…maybe you could do a Reading Challenge! lol It’s a lot of work for you, though
Meanwhile, I’m looking forward to your thoughts on Night Circus and Caribou Island
I haven’t read any of these! Too many books, too little time..
I KNEW I should’ve bought The Sisters Brothers when I found it on sale for REALLY cheap. 😀
All of these will go on my to-read list. Not sure when I’ll get around to them, though, if goodies like The Night Circus keep popping up on my doorstep.
Great predictive skills, The only one I’ve any knowledge of is Half Blood Blues, of which I’m just over halfway through & enjoying.