The standard of writing on the longlist this year was outstanding. I was very impressed with the books chosen, and although I enjoyed some more than others, I felt that every single one deserved it’s place on the list.
Unlike in previous years, when I have occasionally wondered what on Earth those Booker judges were doing, this year I have enormous respect for them. They have chosen an amazing selection of books and I was very pleased to discover some wonderful new authors.
The 2009 Booker longlist, ranked by my rating
(Note: This is no reflection of the writing quality, just how much I enjoyed reading them)
The Wilderness – Samantha Harvey 
How to Paint a Dead Man – Sarah Hall 
The Little Stranger – Sarah Waters 
Not Untrue and Not Unkind – Ed O’Loughlin 
The Quickening Maze – Adam Foulds
The Children’s Book – A. S. Byatt
Love and Summer – William Trevor 
Me Cheeta – James Lever 
(DNF)
Wolf Hall – Hilary Mantel (DNF)
Deciding which books to put on the short list is going to be a very hard decision for the judges this year. The standard of the writing is incredibly high.
There were four books that stood out for me though. I am certain these four will make it onto the short list:
.
The final two places are harder to decide. I think it will come down to a choice between these four:
.
I really don’t know how the judges will make up their minds, but if I had to guess then I think the Booker short list will look like this:
.
The Booker short list is announced on 8th September.
Do you think my predictions will come true?
Which books do you think will make it onto the short list?
Which book from the long list was your favourite?
Books reviewed during August
.
(one of my favourite books of the year so far) on the list, but I haven’t read any of the other books. Have you?
at the cinema and the approaching release of 
or Little Bee / 
. The dilemma was too intriguing for me to resist. I am really looking forward to finding out which is the best!
. The Castle of Otrano is said to be the most Gothic of the three. It was first published in 1765. I am really looking forward to finding out what one of the first Gothic novels is like.
