Booker Shortlist 2023: Western Lane by Chetna Maroo

Western Lane by Chetna Maroo

Go West…There’s a winner there, Go West…

BookWorm: One of the many examples of children without both parents that the Booker judges decided to make us read.

Why it Could Win: Debut novel. The use of squash as a coping mechanism for grief and an interesting take on the single parent dynamic.

Why it Might Not Win: There are stronger books about these subjects that didn’t make the shortlist and there are stronger books about other subjects on the shortlist.

Jen:

Why it Could Win: I don’t know. I’m truly at a loss as to how this book even made the longlist let alone the shortlist.  I guess the use of squash as the mechanism for how people cope with grief is innovative.

Why it Might Not Win: It doesn’t deserve to win. Of all the books on the shortlist, I personally think it has the least merit. It reads more like a short story than a novel, and I found it rather symp

Tracy: I still don’t know what squash is.

Why it Could Win: Sports as a coping mechanism, sympathetic main character, and an easy read. I guess this is different than other books that have won in the past. It wasn’t terrible.

Why it Might Not Win: It wasn’t great. I feel like it could have been more flushed out.

Nicole:

Why it Could Win: I have so few positive things to say about the shortlist this year, it could win because it was short and easy to read.

Why it Might Not Win:  Too simplistic

Anita:

Why it Could Win:  Sports as a metaphor seems broadly pleasing as many of us love sports.

Why it Might Not Win: Is sports as a metaphor really that original?  Is there anything else about this book that makes it interesting; I don’t think so.

Have you read this one? Do you think is will be the winner?