The longlist for the 2012 Orange Prize will be announced on the 8th March.
The prize is awarded to the woman who, in the opinion of the judges, has written the best, eligible full-length novel in English.
Here is my prediction for the 20 novels that will be selected on Thursday:
Sarah Thornhill by Kate Grenville
The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enright
Gillespie and I by Jane Harris
A Cupboard Full of Coats by Yvvette Edwards
There but for the by Ali Smith
Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks
The Land of Decoration by Grace McCleen
Painter of Silence by Georgina Harding
The Good Muslim by Tahmima Anam
All is Song by Samantha Harvey
.
The Roundabout Man by Clare Morrall
22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson
.
The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman
The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan
Which books do you think will make it onto the Orange longlist?
Have I missed any obvious contenders?
.
Is it that time of year again already? I am still halfway through reading last year’s longlist! As always, I haven’t read any of your prediction, but I am very curious about many of them (Mr Fox, The Dovekeepers, The Snow Child, 22 Britannia Road, All That I Am, The Land of Decoration, The Good Muslim, All Is Song, Caleb’s Crossing, Gillespie and I, The but for the (!!)). So so many great sounding books. I rather hope your predictions are accurate!
Iris, It is great to see your enthusiasm! It would have been quicker for you to list the few that don’t grab your fancy! Let’s hope the real list is just as exciting.
Ooh, I love this time of year. I don’t really keep up with contemporary women’s fiction outside of the orange longlist so I’m not sure what I think will be on it, but either way I’m bookmarking this post for some more recommendations as I’ve only read three of these!
Verity, I hope you find lots of interesting books to try!
Hi, assuming it’s eligible, I’d hope Anuradha Roy’s absolutely gorgeous ‘The Folded Earth’ (which was longlisted for the MAN Asian) will be involved. Strange, incidentally, but isn’t the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize longlist announced on the same day?!
mark, I’m afraid The Folded Earth isn’t eligible as it was first published in Feb 2011 (needs to be 1st April 2011 – 31st March 2012) Thank you for drawing it to my attention I think it looks fantastic and I’ll try to get hold of a copy.
You are right about the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize longlist being announced on the same day – I hadn’t noticed that! I wish they’d spread them out as I like the time to look at all the nominees and that is far too much excitement for one day!
Interesting selection, Jackie. I certainly hope that Ali Smith, Jane Harris and Samantha Harvey do make the list. I suspect you’re right in predicting Julie Otsuka and Anne Enright though they wouldn’t make my personal list.
But for me there are three novels that I really really hope are on the longlist. Firstly I.J. Kay’s ‘Mountains of the Moon’ – and to think that for the first 70-odd pages I was contemplating abandoning it!
Second would be Cressida Connolly’s ‘My Former Heart’ which is just a gorgeous, elegant piece of writing – wonderful evocations of the different time periods and places and with characters I really cared about.
But my number one choice (and my second favourite novel of last year) has to be Vanessa Gebbie’s brilliant ‘The Coward’s Tale’.
David, OK. You’ve convinced me to give Mountains of the Moon another try. I think I’m on about page 50 and it hasn’t really grabbed me yet, but if you’re sure I’ll be hooked in another 20ish pages I’ll keep going. I don’t know much about your other two favourites *heads off to look them up* but I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Agh, please don’t blame me if you’re still not grabbed by it! It just took me about 70 pages or so for the voice (particularly the child’s voice) to finally click with me. There are sections later set in Africa and in an asylum and by the time I got to those I was completely sold. I think part of why the first section of the book fails to grip is that, although you know there’s something going on, some information that is being withheld, the narrator (hard to know what to call her as she goes by so many names!) is so vague about it, that you have no clear idea what kind of story the book is going to tell. Suffice to say it is a surprising one!
David, Don’t worry – I won’t blame you! It is nice to know that a book takes a while to warm up. I’m willing to try again if I know that is the case, but hate slogging through a giant book that never grabs the reader’s attention.
I think almost every title on your list was on my list at some point. I did a lot of revising!
I would love to see Clare Morrall make the list, but most reviewers seem to say that her newest novel is very different from “Astonishing Splashes of Colour” which I adored, so I didn’t include it on my list. You’ve introduced me to a new book (and author) – “The Painter of Silence.” That book, and her others, all sound amazing!
Her Royal Orangeness, I loved “Astonishing Splashes of Colour” too. I plan to read “The Roundabout Man” before the longlist is announced, but I have heard that although it is very different it is still very good. I’ll keep my fingers crossed!
I know what you mean about revising the list – I added and then took away various books lots of times. I wonder if judges had as much trouble?
As usual, I’ve only read a couple of these…The Dovekeepers and State of Wonder. I wouldn’t even know if they were qualifiers or not. This is your expertise! I think one day you’ll be a judge.
Sandy, You’re one up on me – I haven’t read The Dovekeepers yet! I’d love to be an Orange judge one day, but I’m afraid I can’t see it happening – I’ll just have to keep judging their selections
Sad to say, I haven’t read any of the books on your list, though I have the Snow Child on my shelves!
Harvee, The Snow Child is amazing – enjoy!
I just started so this comment makes me even more excited to get into it tonight. I haven’t read any of the predictions otherwise. I need to keep notes!
I always love your predictions! Can’t wait for Thursday!
Jill, Let’s hope they pick wisely!
I have only read one of those books, now I am all depressed.
The Buddha in the Attic was so interesting and I’ve heard really good things about The State of Wonder. I look forward to the official announcement
Helen, Don’t be depressed. Think of it as a good thing – lots of wonderful books to read!
I love these sorts of posts! I haven’t actually read any of your selection but I’m sure I’ll get through a few over the coming months – I have A Cupboard Full of Coats on my Kindle so will read it soon. What is your record for correct predictions?!
Liz, In 2010 I got 5 right and last year 8 right, so I’m getting better. I’m hoping for more than half, but you can never really tell as every judging panel is different.
Year after year, I find myself wondering how one can predict the longlist of an award like the Orange. Do you choose only prolific titles by previously established novels (not necessarily established authors, but books that have already been proven “worthy” through some other measure, like sales or having been nominated for another award)? Or do you simply go with your favorite books that qualify for the award? I’ve asked this question many times, but I’m always confused and surprised when another award is approaching and people start speculating… it all seems strange to me.
Biblibio, I can’t speak for anyone else, but this year I’ve been lucky enough to chat to lots of different publishers/publicists. I ask them all who they are rooting for. This gives me a good idea of what has been submitted and what each publishing house expects to make the cut. I then read a lot of them and see which have universal appeal. I also look for authors who have been successful in literary prizes before and try their books to see if they are up to previous standards. I don’t go on personal favourites as I have very specific tastes. Hope that helps to answer your question!
I found it so difficult to narrow the list this year. As you pointed out, we share seven predictions. And didn’t we both get seven correct from last year? Must be lucky 7s! I can’t wait to see what pops up this year–I’m hoping for at least a few surprises.
nomadreader, Yes – I’d love a few surprises. I want to find a few amazing books that I’ve never seen before and that is going to be quite tricky now all the orange speculation has begun and I’m being introduced to lots of new titles every day!
I think ‘The Buddha in the attic’ and ‘The snow child’. Haven’t read either but heard some good stuff about them.
Pragya, I’ve read both and confirm they are wonderful in their own, very different, ways. I think they are both likely to make the list.
Well, I hope it isn’t Mr. Fox!! I HATED that book!
Jenners, After my failed attempt with White is for Witching I didn’t even try Mr Fox, but some people love her books. I think it has a good chance of making the longlist.
I will be quite surprised if The Snow Child doesn’t make it but then the people on these panels don’t always think like the rest of us
Ellie, I’d be very surprised if The Snow Child didn’t make the list and I think it has a very good chance of making the short list. I have seen very few negative comments about it. It seems to be one of those rare books that is universally loved.
Nice list, and I’ve read only one: State of Wonder. While I really enjoyed this book I think it’s probably not of the right standard for the prize. The same is true for Alice Hoffman who will not win this prize or even make the longlist (I predict).
I think The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar should be on the list if State of Wonder is on there – they were about equally good in my mind.
I got a new book (out March 1st, 2012) this week: The Death of Bees by Lisa O’Donnell which also looks like a winner. Haven’t read it yet, though.
Judith, I wasn’t a fan of State of Wonders (I abandoned it) but those who enjoy it seem to REALLY love it, making it their book of the year. I can’t see it making the short list, but I think the odds of one of the judges falling for it is quite high.
The Alice Hoffman is one of the ones I don’t really know much about. I haven’t tried reading it and so am only going on the thoughts of others. You could well be right about her.
I look forward to hearing more about The Death of Bees – that is a new title for me. I hope it is as good as it looks.
I’m hoping to see Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward on the list as I loved reading it; I also really, really enjoyed The Night Circus and think that may make the cut (or the judges will eschew it due to hype).
I’m going to read The Lifeboat next and then possibly The Land of Decoration, whether they make the cut or not.
Claire, I think you’re probably right about The Night Circus. I have no idea why it isn’t on my list – it was at one point and then I must have somehow deleted it and then forgotten all about it! I think it will probably make the short list.
I’m looking forward to reading The Lifeboat, but it isn’t out for a few weeks so I’ll have to be patient. I hope you enjoy them!
There’s nothing on your list I’d argue against, but I’d add The Translation of the Bones by Francesa Kay, The Coward’s Tale by Vanessa Gebble and Blow on a Dead Man’s Embers by Mari Strachan. A previous winner of the (much missed by me) Orange Award for New Writers, and two from publisher with a good track record history of books listed.
I rarely get these things right though, and as long as I see a few interesting surprises and a few books I’ve though highly of I’ll be happy.
FleurFisher, I wouldn’t be surprised to see any of your suggestions on the list. The Coward’s Tale has been cropping up a lot in Orange discussion and I hadn’t heard of it until yesterday. I love this pre-announcement discussion more than the announcement.
I’ve only read three from this list! I love these listings as it gives us in one post everythng that is hot. Thank you for doing the hard slog for us.
Mystica, My pleasure! Enjoy browsing
I see Claire above mentions ‘Salvage the Bones’ – I’d forgotten that one but I certainly thought it very good and would be happy to see it on the longlist. Is it eligible? The copy I have, though bought via Amazon.co.uk with a very UK-ish price of £16.99, is a Bloomsbury USA edition – I can’t work out if it has technically been published yet in the UK or not.
By the way, Jackie, have you read either Andrea Gillies’ ‘The White Lie’ or Harriet Lane’s ‘Alys Always’? Both seem to be getting a lot of very good reviews (even though the slightly chick-lit cover is putting me off the Lane!) so I wondered if they might be possible longlistees.
David, I see your problem. I’ve just looked up Salvage the Bones on the Bloomsbury website and it doesn’t appear to be released until April 2012. It is very confusing. I’ve sent Bloomsbury books a tweet and hopefully they’ll get back to me.
I haven’t read either of the books you mention, but White Lie was almost on this list. It was my 21st book and the last to be knocked off. The reviews are amazing, but I have heard very little about it in the blogging world and haven’t read it myself so decided to remove it in favour of books I had harder evidence for.
Harriet Lane’s book is new to me. Thanks for drawing it to my attention!
They’ve just got back to me. Salvage the Bones is published in the UK.
I really hope Amy Waldman’s The Submission makes it on the longlist. I think The Snow Child will definitely be there, as well as State of Wonder.
I had no idea the Orange Prize was so close! I suppose it is that time of year again.
Brenna, It is amazing how quickly Orange season comes round each year! I agree that The Submission stands a good chance of making the list – it almost made mine. I want to read it so I’m hoping it does make the cut.
i never seem to read books that make lists of this nature until after the fact…
Kailana, There’s nothing wrong with that!
I’d like to see The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern on the list. It’s one of the books I’ve read this year and really enjoyed.
I’ve only read one book from your suggestions and I didn’t get on with State of Wonder at all, which was disappointing, as I’d been looking forward to it so much. But I have All That I Am lined up to read next, as I enjoyed Anna Funder’s Stasiland so much.
Kath, I wasn’t a big fan of State of Wonder either, but a lot of people love it so I think it stands a good chance of making it.
I’m pleased to hear that you enjoyed Stasiland. I haven’t read any of her books yet, but I’m keen to give them a try having researched her for this list.
I loved The Night Circus too, and would be surprised if it didn’t make the list. If it’s eligible (it might not be, as it’s just come out), I think that The Flying Man by Roopa Farooki could make the list – a lovely book, surprisingly funny and sad, and Farooki’s been longlisted before.
The list is out!
I’m gutted Sarah Thornhill didn’t make it. Perhaps it was launched too close to the Orange?