Bailey’s Prize 2016: Our Predictions

In two days the winner of the 2016 Bailey’s Women’s Prize for Fiction will be announced. The prize was founded in 1996 after a group of journalists, reviewers, publishers, librarians, and agents came together to discuss the appalling lack of women authors making it on to the major literary prize lists. Out of this effort, the Women’s Prize was born to bring recognition to the talented women authors who were being overlooked by traditional prizes.

The long list was announced in March and we wrote a post about it that you can read here. In April, the shortlist was announced. The 6 books on the shortlist are: Ruby, A Little Life, The Green Road, The Improbability of Love, The Portable Verblen, and The Glorious Heresies. Book Worm read all 6 nominees and I read half of them. Here are our predictions for the winner.

Book Worm’s Predictions: The book I rated highest in our 5 star rating system was A Little Life. Overall, I believe this is probably the most accomplished book on the list.

The book I most enjoyed reading was The Improbability of Love because it had the right mix of mystery, intrigue, love, fun and food!!

The book I think is going to win is Ruby. So why do I think it will win? Firstly its a controversial book and book awards love controversy. Secondly the author works with at risk children adding another dynamic to the story. Thirdly it contains everything that garners critical acclaim – racism, violence, rape, superstition, mental illness, poverty, love and hope. Add to all this it is beautifully written with poetic use of language and the incorporation of the natural world and I think we have a winner.

Jen’s Predictions: I didn’t particularly care for The Green Road but I think there’s a good chance that it could take home the prize (but I hope not). I only read three of the shortlist books: The Green Road, The Portable Veblen, and A Little Life. My favorite by far was A Little Life. I believe it should win and I will go with my gut on this one and predict that it will win. I know it’s a controversial book and people either seem to love or hate it. I also think it had some significant flaws (a little over the top with the trauma and could have used some editing) but despite these things, it is one of the most emotionally powerful books that I have ever read and it is beautifully written. It is also the only book on the shortlists for both the Man Booker Prize AND the National Book Awards.

Want to catch up on all our shortlist reviews? Here they are:

The Portable Veblen
The Improbability of Love
The Green Road
A Little Life
The Glorious Heresies
Ruby

We want to hear from you? Have you read any of the shortlist books? Which one was your favorite? Least favorite? Which one do you think will win?