The most prestigious literary award for the Brits is the Man Booker Prize—and interestingly- the bookies start working the numbers as soon as the long list is announced. Last week’s Booker’s Dozen (thirteen on the long list) announcement had a few surprises, and I was completely floored that as I was beginning the galley, HOW TO PAINT A DEAD MAN by Sarah Hall, it was, in fact, included on the list. Hall is a gifted young writer with a steady voice and a perceptive eye. Thus far, I’m really engaged by her novel; it’s due for publication in September. The short list will be announced early in the fall and the winner will be announced on October 6th.
Both Cai and I adored LOVE AND SUMMER by William Trevor (don’t overlook THE STORY OF LUCY GAULT). We read the galley, and again, it’s due for a September publication. The only problem with reading Trevor is that I nearly always have to read him twice: the first time for the magnificence of his language and the second time for the story itself. Whenever you ask a literary novelist whom he/she reads, Trevor’s name is always mentioned.
The first book I ever read on a Kindle was Sarah Waters’s THE LITTLE STRANGER, a ghost story/gothic novel recommended by Laura Miller. Laura’s recommendations never disappoint.
I have the doorstopper galley of ASByatt’s new novel, THE CHILDREN’S BOOK, due for an October publication. I’m waiting for a plane trip to give Byatt the uninterrupted attention she deserves.
Last January, lolling on a beach in Mexico, I read the galley of BROOKLYN by Colm Toibin. I had adored a previous novel of his, THE MASTER, and in fact, went into the Frick to hear him speak about that book. BROOKLYN has been garnering excellent reviews and its inclusion on this list is a testimony to Toibin’s gifts.
I haven’t read JMCoetzee’s new novel, SUMMERTIME (why didn’t I get a galley?) but I’ve read nearly everything else that Coetzee has written. He’s won the Booker twice, for LIFE & TIMES OF MICHAEL K in 1983 and for my favorite, DISGRACE, in 1999. I’m going to put SUMMERTIME on my stack as soon as it arrives.
You can order or pre-order any of these books through this website—and I certainly hope that you will!
