Booker Shortlist 2024: Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood

The verdict was also unanimous on this book: Our whole panel loved it. You can read our short reviews here: Stone Yard Devotional. The Booker judges had this to say about the book…

‘Sometimes a visitor becomes a resident, and a temporary retreat becomes permanent. This happens to the narrator in Stone Yard Devotional – a woman with seemingly solid connections to the world who changes her life and settles into a monastery in rural Australia. Yet no shelter is impermeable. The past, in the form of the returning bones of an old acquaintance, comes knocking at her door; the present, in the forms of a global pandemic and a local plague of mice and rats, demands her attention. The novel thrilled and chilled the judges – it’s a book we can’t wait to put into the hands of readers.’

You can read more about the novel and an author interview on the booker prize website: here.

What does our panel think of the odds of this book being this year’s winner? Keep reading to find out

Jen’s Thoughts: This novel was a pleasant surprise and I loved it. I think James is still my favorite but this book was beautiful.
Why it Could Win: It’s quiet, subtle, and has the sort of contemplative style that the judges seemed to favor this year.
Why it Might Not Win: I can’t think of why it might not win. I could see this taking the prize.

Nicole’s Thoughts: As excellent as James is, this was my favorite book on the list.
Why it Could Win: It’s my pick for the win. I think. Haha. For me it’s between this and James, I just don’t know that anything else is at the same level of these two books. I’ve been right the last few years, so I suppose I’m due to be wrong. Welcome to my inner monologue.
Why it Might Not Win: James wins. (or the judges let us all down.)

Tracy’s Thoughts: This is a beautifully written, contemplative novel. I wish I had read it before it was longlisted, so I could have enjoyed it more fully, but I still felt transported to another place for the time I spent reading it. I could have done with fewer mice, though.
Why it Could Win: Books with little plot and lots of thinking seemed to be the theme for this year’s long list. This is the best of those books.
Why it Might Not Win: The competition- any other year, it would have a better chance. But there are some excellent books on this shortlist.

Lisa’s Thoughts: I think all of us were surprised by how much we liked this book. It’s beautifully written. And how could a plague of mice carry so much meaning?
Why it Could Win: A plague of mice… that carries so much meaning.
Why it Might Not Win:  This is my pick for winning, actually. It was brilliant and enjoyable. I guess that is why it might now win.

Anita: Like Nicole, I’m picking this book for the win. It just has a lot of layered meaning and I think it tackled tough emotional topics with aplomb.
Why it Could Win: It’s a book that will stand up to re-reading multiple times and has a timeless quality to it as it addresses universal truths surrounding dying.
Why it Might Not Win: It’s subtle, and some readers may not appreciate it as much as a book like James with a more compelling plotline.

Try the book for yourself! You can purchase a copy here: Stone Yard Devotional

We want to hear from you? Have you read this one? Tell us what you thought of the book (link to your reviews or add a brief blurb in the comments). Do you think is will be the winner?