MBI 2019 The Official Shortlist

The shortlist is now official so what books made it and how did we do with our predictions?

The official shortlist:

The Shape of the Ruins
The Years
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead
The Remainder
The Pine Islands
Celestial Bodies

Our Predictions – correct predictions are coloured in red

Starting with our ratings predictions:

Love in the New Millennium 18/20
The Remainder 17.3/20
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead 16.5/20
The Faculty of Dreams 14.5/20
Mouthful of Birds 14.5/20
Celestial Bodies 14/20 or Four Soldiers 14/20
Score 3/6

Bookworm’s Predictions: I impressed myself this year with my best ever prediction score 4 out of 6. I am happy with the short list and pleased that Drive Your Plow made it. I have also read all of the short list books which is a bonus.

Shape of the Ruins (longest book on the longlist and I loved it)
Love in the New Millennium (haven’t read this one but think it will make it)
The Remainder (one of my favourites, unusual and quirky)
The Pine Islands (intriguing and quirky)
The Years (anything about women is topical right now)
The Death of Murat Idrissi (women and culture clashes)
Score 4/6

Emily’s Predictions: The shortlist this year is such a mix I think it’s surprised everybody across the board! For me personally, I’ve got my two favourite books off the longlist (Drive Your Plough and The Remainder), so I’m very happy with that. I’m hoping for The Remainder to win, as I don’t think them giving it to the same author two years in a row is very worth hoping for. It’s a pity – I much prefer this year’s entry to Flights and would much rather she’d won for this book than the year before. Quibbling about which of her books I prefer aside, though, I’m very hopeful for The Remainder! It’d be lovely to see & Other Stories win, they’re probably my favourite indie press around right now. Celestial Bodies was one I really enjoyed and I think it’s absolutely worthy of a place on the shortlist, but it’s not one of my absolute favourites. Not a disappointment though.

The Shape of the Ruins was, frankly, one of the most disappointing books I’ve read in years and I’m mystified anybody got anything out of it. I have a terrible sinking feeling that it’s going to win because the books that baffle me the most often do well, but I’ll pretty much be rooting for anything else. I’m a bit offended on behalf of The Faculty of Dreams that anybody preferred this one.

The other two are mysteries to me as I didn’t get around to them on the longlist. After my next payday I’ll dive in!

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead
The Remainder
The Faculty Of Dreams
Mouthful of Birds
The Years
Celestial Bodies
Score 4/6

Tracy’s Predictions: Well, I did a terrible job of predicting the shortlist- I got two.
I’m happy with the choices, for the most part- there were some good books this year, and more easily accessible in the US, so I’ve read five of the books.

Prediction for the win: I’m hoping for The Remainder. But I think The Shape Of the Ruins will win.

Love in the New Millennium
The Remainder
Shape of the Ruins
The Faculty Of Dreams
Mouthful of Birds
At Dusk (just because I really disliked it)
Score 2/6