2024 Booker Longlist: Initial thoughts

Now that the list has been released and our panel has had few days to think about it, we share our thoughts about the list, which books we felt were shafted, and which books’ inclusion surprised us.

Jen’s thoughts about the list: I’m cautiously optimistic about the list. I only predicted 3 books on the list, although the majority of them had been on my longer (unpublished list).
How many books have you already read? 4 (the last two I read thanks to the leaks). I loved one, liked 2 of them, and thought one was average.
Which book(s) should have made the list? Plague of Souls by McCormack. I know lots of people are upset about Praiseworthy not making the list. Don’t burn me at the stake, but I was personally relieved that it didn’t make it. I had to set Praiseworthy aside because it was so dense and difficult to follow that I really struggled to engage with it. It took me about a week to make it 20 pages. I think it’s the sort of book that is easier to appreciate within the context of an academic course where you can have the time to truly dissect it.
Which book shouldn’t have made the list? Since i’ve only read 4, it’s hard to say. I did really like Wild Houses but I am surprised it made the list since I wouldn’t have classified it as one of my top books of 2024.
Which book are you most excited to read? A tie between My Friends and Playground.
Which book are you least excited to read? Englightenment. I read her prior book and didn’t love it and this one is on the longer side. In fact, I just realized that in my earlier post outlining the list, I had even forgotten to list enlightenment.

Nicole’s Thoughts about the list – I feel like there were less “left field” books this year, which kind of bums me out and the list feels a bit major publisher/author focused. But there’s nothing on the list that immediately says “Nope.” Having already read The Safekeep, I think this will remain one of my most pleasant surprises on the list.
How many books have you already read? 4
Which book should have made the list? Honestly, I was kind of at a loss this year for predictions. I hoped The Coin would make the list because it was fun and clever and I’d love more people to read it, but honestly I didn’t feel like it belonged on the list.
Which book shouldn’t have made the list? Since I’ve already read some it’s hard to say. For me, Headshot is a complete miss and it makes no sense why it was on the list. But I’m also pretty surprised by Enlightenment and Wandering Stars.
Which book are you most excited to read? Playground. Powers is phenomenal and I was pleasantly surprised it made the list because there were some questions about publication date
Which book are you least excited to read? Sort of dreading Wandering Stars – I liked There, There but wasn’t blown away by it, Enlightenment and This Strange Eventful History are also books I’m not pumped about. I have a bias against My Friends which has to do with prediction from a few years ago that caused me to read a book I HATED, so I don’t trust a person who has gushed about it. However, I will attempt all the books but I’m not a person who forces myself to finish books I don’t like.

Tracy’s Thoughts about the list I think this is the least surprising long list I’ve seen so far. Not sure how I feel about that- in some ways I appreciate the predictability, but I also really like to find new and exciting authors, and that didn’t happen this year. Except for Yael Van Der Wouden and Rita Bullwinkel, I’ve read at least one book from all the other authors.
How many books have you already read? Ten. The only ones I haven’t read are the ones not published in the US yet.
Which book should have made the list? I really think there should have been more representation from African authors- and my favorite was from Ethiopia: The History of a Difficult Child by Mihret Sibhat was wonderful. I also am sad to see India not represented.
Which book shouldn’t have made the list? This Strange Eventful History. I loathe what the author did here with every fiber of my being.
Which book are you most excited to read? Creation Lake. I started it last night, and it’s like other Kushner books- quirky and thought provoking.
Which book are you least excited to read? I’m actually looking forward to all of them- other than TSEH. I will NOT reread that.

Anita’s Thoughts about the list I am actually pretty excited! A lot of the books are shorter in length, and as a slow reader, I’m hoping this means I get more of them read before the shortlist announcement. I also was pretty happy that The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store wasn’t on the list. Even though I read it already, I was not a fan, and it seems to be winning every other prize.
How many books have you already read? ZERO! Ugh.
Which book should have made the list? I would have been delighted to see Monstrilio by Gerardo Samano Cordova make the list. I thought it was quite original and crossed several genres, while still being literary.
Which book shouldn’t have made the list? I haven’t read any so I truthfully am not qualified at all to say.
Which book are you most excited to read? The Safekeep seems like it will be the most up my alley. I like realistic fiction that’s very character driven, and the description of this book sounds very engaging. That being said, I just started James, and I’m thrilled with the first quarter. So very enthused to be reading it after so many people have praised it!
Which book are you least excited to read? Definitely This Strange Eventful History. So NOT a fan of The Emperor’s Children that I just can’t get excited about any other book Messud writes. I also saw Claire speak in person, and that was equally boring to me. So yeah, not a fan. Tracy’s comment above is not raising my excitement level either. Her reaction after reading the book is about the same as mine without even reading it!

Lisa’s Thoughts about the list
How many books have you already read? None. (Well, 1, that I just finished this morning.) I read a lot but I’m not very good at predicting/ anticipating what will be on the list. And I get distracted by reading a lot of sci-fi/ fantasy, which doesn’t typically make much of a showing on the list.
Which book should have made the list? I read Wellness this year and really like the sprawl of it. It’s a well-written novel that you can just sink into.
Which book shouldn’t have made the list? Since I’ve only read one so far, hard to say.
Which book are you most excited to read? Playground by Richard Powers. And unlike my co-bloggers, I did like The Emperor’s Children, so I’m curious to see what I think about This Strange Eventful History.
Which book are you least excited to read? I have not loved Rachel Kushner’s previous books… although I do like the premise of Creation Lake.

We want to hear from you? What were your initial thoughts about the list? Which books should have made it? Which book’s inclusion surprised you?