2017 Man Booker Longlist
It’s official! The Man Booker Longlist was just announced. How did our shadow panel do with our predictions? Here are the books that made the list…
4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster
Days Without End by Sebastian Barry
History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
Solar Bones by Mike McCormack
Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor
Elmet by Fiona Mozley
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
Autumn by Ali Smith
Swing Time by Zadie Smith
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
So our wining judge in terms of most number of predictions was Nicole with an amazing 8 correct. I predicted 5, BW predicted 3, Andrew got 3 right, and last but not least, Lisa correctly predicted 2 right. You can read our full list of predictions here:
How many did you guess? What do you think of the list? Will you be trying to read them?
I will post a recap tomorrow with our shadow panel’s overall impressions about the list. You can read more about each book on the Man Booker website.
jenp27
Nicole Del Sesto
The Reader's Room 
I’m sorry, I’m irked about Underground Railroad, but at least I’ve already read it. If it gets short list, I’m going to be really flummoxed.
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I’m frustrated I changed my first list that included 5 more picks. Grrr. Agree about UR
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I’m amazed that I’ve heard of most of them. And read three. And already own five others.
Congratulations to all of you for doing so well with your predictions. As much as I liked Underground Railroad, it would be astonishing for it to win the trifecta: National Book Award, Pulitzer and Man Booker. I’m not sure who I’m pulling for yet- I’ve got to read more of them. I’m off to buy 4 3 2 1…
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I know, right? I’ve heard of all but 1 and read 5, own three more
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My Underground Railroad is Swing Time. I loved On Beauty. I read it, then read Howard’s End, then immediately read On Beauty again. In contrast, Swing Time is meh. It’s a commentary on race, on how people use or mis-use the “cause” of Africa, but the story itself feels forced.
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Totally agree with you about Swing Time. It’s one of the worst books I’ve read this year. I don’t know how it made this list.
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Ouch
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I am currently reading The Underground Railroad. I own History of Wolves and Lincoln in the Bardo. I am happy to have the list before my f2f bookclub votes on books tomorrow evening. Hopefully some of these will be options.
Congratulations Nicole for perdicting so many!
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I haven’t read any of the books on the list but I have The Ministry of Utmost Happiness.
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Way to go, Nicole!
I have read 3 which seems vaguely impossible. Looking forward to trying 4321 and Roy’s book.
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I’m disappointed that Stay With Me didn’t make it on to the list but I think it’s a very interesting collection and I’m pleased I’ve heard of most of them (unlike previous years). The curiosity on the list is Elmet – never heard of that one or seen it mentioned anywhere. I’ve only read Reservoir 13 and Days Without End but plenty of the others are on my wishlist or in my TBR pile. I’d love to say I’ll read the whole long list but that’s unrealistic so I think I’ll just plan to read the shortlisted books. Oh, and well done Nicole!
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I’m not surprised that Stay with Me didn’t make it. I did like it a lot but thought it had a few issues that worked against it. I’ll be posting my review of it soon. I’d been holding off in case it made the list
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I agree it wasn’t perfect but it had been talked about a lot. Will be interested to read your review
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True. It has been discussed a lot
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This year’s list feels rather predictable. Even though I’ve read none I could have anticipated most of these. I look to the Booker to surprise me with titles I’ve never heard of – not much evidence of that this year.
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Yes, major surprises for me except Elmer which I hadn’t heard about
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haha. I guess that’s why I got so many right. The list was predictable.
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Ha ha! No, You deserve the recognition for getting so many right!
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