Booker 2022 – Shortlist Predictions

Drumroll please ….

Our highly scientific rating system tells us the short listed books will be:

Our panel’s Rankings

The Colony 18.9
Maps of our Spectacular Bodies – 18.1
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida 18
The Trees 16.5
Oh William 15.6
Small Things Like These 15.3

BookWorm’s Predictions: I have to say the contenders this year are really strong there are only a couple of books that didn’t work for me so knowing the Booker Judges one of these will be the winner. This year instead of trying to guess what the judges will do I am just going with predicting my favourites to make it.

1. The Colony
2. Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies
3. The Trees
4. The Seven Moons of Maali Aleimda
5. Case Study
6. Oh William

Jen’s Predictions: This year’s books have been my favorite group of longlist books since I’ve started doing this panel. There were so many strong contenders and even the books I didn’t personally enjoy, were mostly strong. I am not picking based solely on the books I personally enjoyed because I did not like the Treacle Walker but I think it will make it. Here are my selections, in no particular order.

1. The Colony
2. The Trees
3. The Treacle Walker
4. Glory
5. The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida
6. The Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies

Nicole’s Predictions: This year was such a solid list. I read more books than I typically do in a Booker season and am especially grateful to Ruth Killick Publicity who granted us access to one of my favorites this year, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida. Some of these books are so good it will be a gut punch if they don’t make the list.

1. The Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies
2. The Colony
3. The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida
4. The Trees
5. Treacle Walker (did not read)
6. After Sappho (did not read)

Lisa’s Predictions: I’m in the middle of Seven Moons and have abandoned Glory. Even so, I think they will both make it. Of the books I read, I liked Trust and Case Studies best so I put them on the list. I rounded out my list with two panel favorites.

1. The Colony
2. The Seven Moons of Maali Ameida
3. Glory
4. Trust
5. Case Studies
6. Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies.

Anita’s Predictions: Loved the first three books on my list.  The Trees was not my cup of tea, but I think it tackles tough historical subject matter in a unique way.  I would love to see Oh William be shortlisted, but I seriously doubt it will be and probably doesn’t deserve it.

1. The Colony (my personal favorite, but still have a third of Maps to finish)
2. Maps of our Spectacular Bodies (I will be shocked if this book doesn’t appear. Completely floored.)
3. Glory (Polarizing, but I think it was masterful satire)
4. The Trees
5. The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida (didn’t read it, but mostly see raves about it)
6. Treacle Walker (my wildcard pick)

Tracy’s Predictions: What a terrific longlist – trying to predict the shortlist isn’t easy. Truthfully, there are nine or ten books that I could get behind. 

Here goes- in no particular order.

1. The Colony (this was superb and fits my idea of a Booker book)
2. Treacle Walker (it demands re-reads to catch everything, another Booker book)
3. Glory (this took time to get into, but I learned a lot)
4. The Trees (this book was just wow for me. So good)
5. Maps of our Spectacular Bodies (I may not remember alot about it right now but I really did like this when I read it)
6. The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida (another book that I learned a lot from, and really enjoyed. And come on- that cover!)

Susie’s Thoughts: I started with loving The Colony the most, and that is how I have ended. I’ve not quite finished the list but can’t imagine anything else topping it for me. Overall, I have been a little disappointed with this year’s selections. The rest of my predictions aren’t necessarily my favourites, but a guess at the judges thought processes. 

1. The Colony 
2. Glory
3. Small Things Like These
4. Nightcrawling 
5. Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies
6. Trust

Which books do you predict will make the shortlist?