2016 Man Booker Shortlist
It official. The 2016 Man Booker shortlist was announced this morning. Yesterday we made our predictions. How did we do? Here are the 6 books that made the cut: Note: clicking on the title links below will take you to our original panel reviews for each book.
1. Do Not Say We Have Nothing
2. Hot Milk
3. The Sellout
4. His Bloody Project
5. Eileen
6. All that Man is
Our combined ranked list correctly predicted 3 of the books. Book Worm and I had identical predictions lists and we correctly predicted 3. Kate got 4 right, Nicole 2, and Andrew 3.
Honestly, I’m pretty stunned that All that Man is made the list since we all disliked it and I’ve seen more bad reviews of it than good reviews. The WoMan shadow panel folks called that one though and I think they all liked it. But it wouldn’t be the Man Booker list without including some major differences to my own personal tastes. The inclusion of Eileen doesn’t particularly surprise me since I know many people really loved that book. My personal choice for the win made the list, so at least I still have a shot to get that right (and I’ve predicted the last two winners correctly).
Over the course of the next month, we’ll be doing extended features on each of the 6 shortlisted books. The panelists who didn’t read the shortlisted books will add their reviews and we will all make our final predictions for the winner. The winner will be announced on October 25.
We want to hear from you! What do you make of the list? Did you correctly predict any of the books? Which ones? Do you disagree with the judges on any of the shortlisted books?
jenp27
Nicole Del Sesto
The Reader's Room 
I’m glad to see Do Not Say We Have Nothing in it. I don’t know, but I had a hunch that it might go far – maybe because authors of Asian descent tend to fare well in those competitions.
That being said, The North Water is nowhere to be found, but that was expected, given how many people were saying it was ‘ok’ though not ‘mindblowing’. I honestly thought it was the tour de force Hilary Mantel said it was! (Maybe it is for her, but apparently not to so many others)
I’m going to read them as from next Monday, but I doubt I will finish all five before the winner is announced.
As for All That Man Is, you know, that’s the Booker. I loved Never Let Me Go and always wondered which book beat it for the Booker in 2005. When I read The Sea, it was very good though not a better book than Ishiguro’s in my opinion. Likewise, many were skeptical that The Inheritance of Loss would make the shortlist, let alone win the Booker! The two Booker winners I mention here have ratings 3.5 and 3.4 respectively on goodreads – not that goodreads is anything to go by, but still! The same can be said about the True History of the Kelly Gang, which won the Booker in front of the hot favourite Atonement.
LikeLiked by 1 person
See, I loved The Sea and for some reason don’t particularly love Ishiguro’s books. But, I certainly don’t love every winner.
LikeLike
The fact that everyone seems surprised to see All That Man Is on the list makes me want to read it to see what I think!
With two Canadians on the list, there are no complaints from me! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You should read it! Who knows, maybe you’ll love it. And go Madeleine Thien!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It has some good elements but it reads like a collection of short stories not as a novel to me
LikeLiked by 1 person
well, I guess I need to finish His Bloody Project. I’m shocked Hystopia isn’t there. I thought it would win.
LikeLike
I’m relieved Hystopia isn’t there – I was fearful the judges would think it was inventive and let that rule them.
LikeLike
OMG I read 8 of the long list, and only 2 of the books I read made it. Grumble. I’m going to try to pick up Do Not Say We Have Nothing when I’m in Europe next week.
LikeLike
That’s unfortunate. I think you may like Eileen more than I did but it’s hard to tell.
LikeLike
I feel offended that they didn’t choose the books I felt they should. LOL
LikeLike
Wow! Way to go Shadow Panel (especially Kate – – I think picking 4 of 6 is impressive to say the least. I’ve enjoyed all the suspense of this set of posts and am excited to see which book you think will win and which book actually wins.
Nicole, reading 8 and only having two show up on the shortlist is annoying to say the least. I feel for you ;).
I’m committed to reading Hot Milk in October no matter what. And hopefully The Sellout since I actually already bought it.
LikeLike
And I know this is bad, but I now feel fully justified in not reading Hystopia. Or the Coetzee book.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You would not have liked either of them. Perhaps the Coetzee book although I highly doubt it
LikeLike
I’m still going to read Hystopia and The Many! I’ve started on Hot Milk today (liking it a lot so far!), and will get to all the ones I can. All That Man Is and His Bloody Project aren’t available until October 5th in the US, so I may not get to them until the winner is announced.
I’m happy that The Sellout made it, and looking forward to Do Not Say We Have Nothing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m disappointed The Many didnt make it and Hot Milk did. But even more perplexing is that All a Man Is made it – what did the judges see that so many bloggers and professional reviewers didnt see? it’s not a novel in my view
LikeLike
Thanks greatt post
LikeLike