The Man Booker Prize longlist for 2018 has been announced today (officially this time – it seems it was accidentally leaked by the Guardian yesterday afternoon). The 13 books are:
Snap by Belinda Bauer
Milkman by Anna Burns
Sabrina by Nick Drnaso
Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
In Our Mad and Furious City by Guy Gunaratne
Everything Under by Daisy Johnson
The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner
The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh
Warlight by Michael Ondaatje
The Overstory by Richard Powers
The Long Take by Robin Robertson
Normal People by Sally Rooney
From a Low and Quiet Sea by Donal Ryan
I have yet to read any of these and the only prediction I got right was ‘Normal People’ by Sally Rooney – a book I will definitely be seeking out as I really enjoyed her debut Conversations with Friends last year. I also mentioned in my predictions post that one of the judges, Val McDermid, might be looking out for crime fiction and the blurb of ‘Snap’ by Belinda Bauer features a quote from McDermid who describes it as “the best crime novel I’ve read in a very long time”. I really loved Rubbernecker when I read it a few years ago, so I definitely think it is time for me to revisit Bauer again very soon. I have also seen favourable reviews for ‘The Water Cure’ by Sophie Mackintosh, a debut dystopian novel about three sisters raised in isolation by their parents and taught to fear men.
Books which are new to me include ‘Milkman’ by Anna Burns set during the Troubles in Ireland and ‘The Long Take’ by Robin Robertson which is a narrative poem about a D-Day veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder. ‘Sabrina’ by Nick Drnaso is the first graphic novel to be longlisted for the prize (one of this year’s judges, Leanne Shapton, is also a graphic novelist) while Michael Ondaatje is nominated for ‘Warlight’ just a couple of weeks after winning the Golden Man Booker Prize for his 1992 novel ‘The English Patient’.
Overall, the novels by Rooney, Bauer and Mackintosh are the three I am keen to seek out as soon as possible and I may read others from the longlist once I know more about them. Which longlisted books are you looking forward to reading and which novels have missed out?
A Little Blog of Books 
I’m really excited by this list. I bought three of the books this morning and started Milkman. Enjoying it so far. I think it will be an interesting reading experience overall, before we even start debating who should win. I would have liked to see Peter Carey on the list, not just because that would be a more globally diverse list, but because he is such a stellar writer. He’s had plenty of accolades though, so it’s fine.
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Yes, Carey has won twice already, but I’ve heard good things about his latest novel too, so I will look out for it too.
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I loved the previous novel by Esi Edugyan which was about a small band in Europe and their stories, so I am looking forward to Washington Black. There was a radio review of Warlight, so that is on my TBR pile already, but as yet unread, it will rise magically to the top! I know absolutely nothing about the rest – how exciting.
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It’s good to see a list with some less familiar names compared to last year’s list. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
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The only one I’ve read so far is From a Low and Quiet Sea, and it has definitely earned its nomination. Sally Rooney’s and Snap are at the top of my wish-list, too, and I’m looking forward to your comments on these two.
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That’s good to hear – I haven’t read any Donal Ryan before but sounds like I should.
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Neither have I, but I’ve read a very favorable review of All We Shall Know as well. Definitely an author worth checking out.
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I enjoyed the Donal Ryan, but it’s uneven, the first part is by far the best. Looking forward to Milkman and I have Daisy Johnston and Richard Powers in my piles already. Hearing good things about Sally Rooney too.
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Yes, everyone with proof copies is raving about Normal People – I wonder if she’ll be eligible for the YWOTY award again (maybe next year’s depending on the exact publication date)?
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I don’t fully agree here. The first part is great, but I found Lampy’s story just as moving as Farouk’s.
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The other parts are moving, but perhaps by having those more ordinary settings, I have remembered them as having less impact. I liked how he brought them together in the end though…
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I’ll definitely read Powers, Rooney and Ryan, and if I can get hold of a copy of the graphic novel I’d read that too. I also agreed to review The Water Cure for NB magazine, but I have heard mixed things about it so I’m not letting my hopes get too high. The others I’m holding fire on.
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Yes, I’m waiting to hear what other people think and which ones make the shortlist.
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I have now read Donal Ryan. Very succinct novel, spare writing but beautiful. I loved it. Have also now read Snap, which I agree is a great crime novel, really well constructed and brilliant, but great literature compared to Iris Murdoch, William Golding, Michael Oondatje it is not, so I am wondering what the Man Booker is about now. Have got halfway through Sabrina and simply cannot go on. It is not even well drawn. When I think of say, Robert Edric’s Falling Mercury or Rachel Cusk or any number of others, I have to confess to being baffled.
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Yes, I have now read Snap – it’s very good but I prefer Rubbernecker and I think it’s unlikely to make the shortlist.
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I would recommend ‘Everything Under’ by Daisy Johnson- it is simply divine! Did you think ‘Milkman’ deserved to win?
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I haven’t read Milkman yet. From what I’ve heard, I think Everything Under might be more up my street!
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I just finished Everything Under today and would highly recommend it. A very dreamlike reworking of myths along English riversides. I didn’t know what was going on for a fair bit of the time, but enjoyed the ride.
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Ooh sounds good, I will either read this or The Overstory next out of this year’s shortlisted books.
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