The Booker long list was announced yesterday. I was surprised by the number of relatively unknown books on the list and initially frustrated that I had read so few. I’m planning to read the entire Booker long list and so will have to put in a lot of effort if I am to complete them all before the short list is announced on 7th September.
The three I’ve already read:
…a light, entertaining read..
The graphic sex, abusive language and controversial subject means that this book isn’t for everyone, but it will generate debate and isn’t that a great thing for a book to do?
….the complexity will put off all but the most determined reader.
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet – David Mitchell ![]()
The ten books you’ll hopefully see on this blog soon:
It will terrify you and disturb you… Book Lust
…not nearly as life-changing as rave blurb quotations suggested. @urchinette
There have been some comparisons to The Lovely Bones but I would say this is better… Writer’s Little Helper
Some of you will probably ‘get’ it… books i done read
It’s no Oscar and Lucinda, of course, but it’s still pretty good. Vulpes Libris
Parrot and Olivier in America – Peter Carey
No blogger reviews, but Scarlett Thomas said:
This is such a page-turner, and is in places so gruesome, that reading it becomes more visceral than intellectual…
No blogger reviews, but Jan Morris said:
…through the sadnesses and the pathos, the disappointments and the disillusionments, kindness shines.
In a Strange Room – Damon Galgut
No blogger reviews, but Twitter was full of love for Howard Jacobson!
..an underrated writer who has thrilled me over and over again. @JonnyBest
The Finkler Question – Howard Jacobson
Tom McCarthy seems to be dividing opinion:
…the deliberately flattened, almost mechanical characters and the endless technical prose make for joyless reading… Theo Tait
…one of my top 5 novel’s of the year so far… @rbertsindelar
The book is very striking without being a sob-fest. Monniblog
Please, do me a favour and read this book. Sasquatch Radio
….there is so much energy that it explodes out in unexpected directions. Asylum
It’s a rich, immersive read that you shouldn’t miss. Follow the Thread
The style and the themes hit, but for me, the emotional side of the story didn’t. Fleur Fisher Reads
Unfortunately I felt that in comparison to The Road Home, the book was quite slow. Cardigangirlverity
You don’t have to have read The Sopranos to make sense of The Stars in the Bright Sky, or to be instantly hooked by it. Thomas Jones
Am delighted Alan Warner made it onto the Booker longlist. Scottish, funny, experimental, searching – what’s not to like? @writercampbell
The Stars in the Bright Sky – Alan Warner
When the long list was announced I initially felt a bit disappointed that I hadn’t heard of more of the books, but having just spent the morning researching this blog post I have regained my Booker enthusiasm. Almost every book now appeals to me and I am very excited to begin my Booker challenge. I’m particularly excited about reading Room, C and Skippy Dies.
Wish me luck!
Are you planning to read the complete long list?
Which books are most appealing to you?


































