The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal
The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal
Published in: 2019
Reviewed by: Book Worm
Rating: [★★★]
This ARC was provided by Pan Macmillan (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.
Apr 28
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Apr 26
Read Around the World: Lithuania
Our reading destination for April was Lithuania who joined us on this leg of our world tour and how did you choose to visit Lithuania?
MBI 2019 The Official Shortlist
The shortlist is now official so what books made it and how did we do with our predictions?
The official shortlist:
The Shape of the Ruins
The Years
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead
The Remainder
The Pine Islands
Celestial Bodies
Our Predictions – correct predictions are coloured in red
Starting with our ratings predictions:
Love in the New Millennium 18/20
The Remainder 17.3/20
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead 16.5/20
The Faculty of Dreams 14.5/20
Mouthful of Birds 14.5/20
Celestial Bodies 14/20 or Four Soldiers 14/20
Score 3/6
Bookworm’s Predictions: I impressed myself this year with my best ever prediction score 4 out of 6. I am happy with the short list and pleased that Drive Your Plow made it. I have also read all of the short list books which is a bonus.
Shape of the Ruins (longest book on the longlist and I loved it)
Love in the New Millennium (haven’t read this one but think it will make it)
The Remainder (one of my favourites, unusual and quirky)
The Pine Islands (intriguing and quirky)
The Years (anything about women is topical right now)
The Death of Murat Idrissi (women and culture clashes)
Score 4/6
Emily’s Predictions: The shortlist this year is such a mix I think it’s surprised everybody across the board! For me personally, I’ve got my two favourite books off the longlist (Drive Your Plough and The Remainder), so I’m very happy with that. I’m hoping for The Remainder to win, as I don’t think them giving it to the same author two years in a row is very worth hoping for. It’s a pity – I much prefer this year’s entry to Flights and would much rather she’d won for this book than the year before. Quibbling about which of her books I prefer aside, though, I’m very hopeful for The Remainder! It’d be lovely to see & Other Stories win, they’re probably my favourite indie press around right now. Celestial Bodies was one I really enjoyed and I think it’s absolutely worthy of a place on the shortlist, but it’s not one of my absolute favourites. Not a disappointment though.
The Shape of the Ruins was, frankly, one of the most disappointing books I’ve read in years and I’m mystified anybody got anything out of it. I have a terrible sinking feeling that it’s going to win because the books that baffle me the most often do well, but I’ll pretty much be rooting for anything else. I’m a bit offended on behalf of The Faculty of Dreams that anybody preferred this one.
The other two are mysteries to me as I didn’t get around to them on the longlist. After my next payday I’ll dive in!
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead
The Remainder
The Faculty Of Dreams
Mouthful of Birds
The Years
Celestial Bodies
Score 4/6
Tracy’s Predictions: Well, I did a terrible job of predicting the shortlist- I got two.
I’m happy with the choices, for the most part- there were some good books this year, and more easily accessible in the US, so I’ve read five of the books.
Prediction for the win: I’m hoping for The Remainder. But I think The Shape Of the Ruins will win.
Love in the New Millennium
The Remainder
Shape of the Ruins
The Faculty Of Dreams
Mouthful of Birds
At Dusk (just because I really disliked it)
Score 2/6
Apr 8
MBI 2019 Our Short List Predictions
Tomorrow the Man Booker International 2019 short list will be announced, as a group we have managed to read all the long list books so which books do we think will make the short list?
Apr 7
MBI 2019: The Shape of the Ruins by Juan Gabriel Vasquez
The final book in the longlist – this was tackled by all the panellists and it’s fair to say we didn’t agree with each other about this one.
Apr 5
MBI 2019 Longlist: Jokes for the Gunmen by Mazen Maarouf
Number 12 – Read and reviewed by Book Worm…
MBI 2019 Longlist: The Pine Islands by Marion Poschmann
Number 11 – read and reviewed by panelists Book Worm and Tracy…
Apr 3
MBI 2019 Longlist: The Years by Annie Ernaux
Book 10 read and reviewed by panellists Book Worm and Tracy.
MBI 2019 Longlist: The Remainder by Alia Trabucco Zeran
The Remainder by Alia Trabucco Zeran
Book 9 from the long list and the first book that all of the panel have read and rated but did we all agree…
Apr 1
MBI 2019 Longlist: Mouthful of Birds by Samanta Schweblin
Number 8 I wanted her book Fever Dream to win MBI2018 so what did Tracy and I make of this offering…
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