Booker Shortlist 2023: Study for Obedience by Sarah Bernstein

Will this be the book to Teach us what a Booker winner reads like? 

BookWorm:  I was surprised to find I enjoyed this more than I thought I would when going in.

Why it Could Win: Given recent world events this is now a very topical book. It explores the idea of the other within a close knit community. It also has the obligatory Booker cringeworthy sex scenes that I have come to expect.

Why it Might Not Win: This is a marmite book a lot of people really didn’t like it.

Jen: While I can appreciate why others loved it, I hated every minute of reading this book. I hope it doesn’t win but I think it has a good shot at taking the whole prize.

Why it Could Win: Because it’s pretentious.

Why it Might Not Win: This is probably one of my top contenders to take home the prize. If it doesn’t win it’s because Prophet Song managed to take it.

Tracy:  I loved this one. It felt like The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, and Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon. I’ve been told it also is reminiscent of Malina by Ingborg Bachmann, but I haven’t read that yet.

Why it Could Win: There is so much in this book- it will take more reads. Yes, the bathing of the brother is just…eww. But the rest of the book is fascinating. I think this one will be taught in college classes for years to come, provided it isn’t banned by the Mothers Against Corrupting Children of All Ages. Or whatever they call themselves.

Why it Might Not Win: The bathing of the brother. Eww. It’s also very hard to understand, and the Booker Prize is trying to be more mainstream, it seems.

Nicole: 

Why it Could Win:  I don’t even know how it got published, let alone shortlisted.  It might win to give me something to rant about for years to come.  Seriously.  This is what I read … “I went to live with my brother and take care of all the mundane details of his life (and record every single one of them in my journal and then publish it) including bathing him and brushing his skin and the people in the town didn’t like me, and I didn’t speak their language and then I bathed my brother and hey, maybe the people in the town don’t like me because I bathe my brother …. ”

Why it Might Not Win:  To spare us all the torment of this being the Booker winner

Anita:

Why it Could Win:  Original voice that I think will stand up to re-reading very well.  Touches on the suddenly very topical subject of the Jewish diaspora.

Why it Might Not Win:  Not very accessible in the sense the purpose of the book seems very obscure.  It feels like it needs a guided read lead by a professor before it can be appreciated.

Have you read this one? Do you think it is the winner?