2025 Booker Shortlist: Flesh

Now that the shortlist has been announced, our panel will be providing some additional thoughts on each of the shortlist nominees. First up is Flesh by David Szalay. You can read our short reviews here: Flesh. The novel made it onto 4 of our predictions lists with everyone except Anita predicting it would make the shortlist. The Booker judges had this to say about the book…

David Szalay’s fifth novel follows István from his teenage years on a Hungarian housing estate to borstal, and from soldiering in Iraq to his career as personal security for London’s super-rich. In many ways István is stereotypically masculine – physical, impulsive, barely on speaking terms with his own feelings (and for much of the novel barely speaking: he must rank among the more reticent characters in literature). But somehow, using only the sparest of prose, this hypnotically tense and compelling book becomes an astonishingly moving portrait of a man’s life”

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

Nicole’s Thoughts:
Why it Could Win: Toxic masculinity for the win? There’s actually a lot to like (and hate) about this book. At least it made you feel.
Why it Might Not Win:  It’s not a feel good book, women on the panel may object.

Tracy’s Thoughts: Well-written, but I loathed every minute I spent reading it.
Why it Could Win: It’s a realistic portrayal of Rabbit, no, Portnoy, no, Heathcliff, oh, whoever. Fans of Updike, Mailer, or Hemingway are probably rooting hard for this one. Or feeling validated.
Why it Might Not Win: The powers that be can’t actually be this tone deaf.

Anita’s Thoughts:
Why it Could Win: It’s such a realistic portrayal of a person who lets life just happen to them. And who doesn’t know someone who is like that? In that sense, it’s relatable.
Why it Might Not Win: Very polarizing and very male oriented. When women comprise the vast majority of readers (especially of literary fiction), can this actually win?

Lisa’s Thoughts: Summary: traumatized man grows up to be completely out of touch with his feelings and drifts through life.
Why it Could Win: Because, collectively, we are dead set against it.
Why it Might Not Win:  How many of the judges really can — or want to — relate to the main character? Unlike Anita, I don’t think I know many people who just let life run them over like a truck.

Jen’s Thoughts: I felt similarly to Tracy in that I hated the experience of reading it, but I do think Szalay is quite adept at capturing certain types of men and he is a compelling writer.
Why it Could Win: Szalay is a very talented writer and his books certainly make you reflect on modern day masculinity.
Why it Might Not Win: There are stronger, more broadly appealing books on the list.

Try the book for yourself! You can purchase a copy here: Flesh

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 this will be the winner?