Women’s Prize for Fiction Shortlist Reaction for 2024
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- Опубліковано 23 кві 2024
- The Women’s Prize has been having a busy year, and they’re back with their shortlist for their fiction prize! I’ll look at the contenders, think about what might win, and say goodbye to the titles from the Longlist that didn’t make the cut. Expand for more information. 👇
Links 💻
The Women’s Prize Site: womensprize.com/announcing-th...
Further Viewing 🎥
My Women’s Prize for Fiction Longlist Reaction: • Women’s Prize for Fict...
My Women’s Prize for Nonfiction Shortlist Reaction: • Women’s Prize for Nonf...
My Carol Shields Prize Shortlist Reaction: • The Carol Shields Priz...
My Pulitzer Prize Predictions: • Pulitzer Prize Predict...
The Shortlist 📚
The Wren, The Wren, Anne Enright: bookshop.org/a/99775/97813240...
Brotherless Night, V.V. Ganeshananthan: bookshop.org/a/99775/97808129...
Restless Dolly Maunder, Kate Grenville: bookshop.org/a/99775/97818053...
Enter Ghost, Isabella Hammad: bookshop.org/a/99775/97808021...
Soldier Sailor, Claire Kilroy: bookshop.org/a/99775/97816680...
River East, River West, Aube Rey Lescure: bookshop.org/a/99775/97800632...
Books We Lost From the Longlist 📕
Hangman, Maya Binyam: bookshop.org/a/99775/97803746...
In Defense of the Act: Effie Black
And Then She Fell, Alicia Elliott: bookshop.org/a/99775/97805934...
The Maiden, Kate Foster
8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster: Mirinae Lee: bookshop.org/a/99775/97800632...
The Blue, Beautiful World, Karen Lord: bookshop.org/a/99775/97805935...
Western Lane, Chetna Maroo: bookshop.org/a/99775/97812503...
Nightbloom, Peace Adzo Medie: bookshop.org/a/99775/97816437...
Ordinary Human Failings, Megan Nolan: bookshop.org/a/99775/97803165...
A Trace of Sun, Pam Williams
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I highly recommend In Defence of the Act when your in the mood for something simultaneously devastating and wry and cozy all at the same time. My favorite book of the year so far. I have read 4/6 books on the shortlist so far and feel that this year's longlist is very strong. For me, definitely better than last year.
You unlocked a childhood memory mentioning Chocolat 😂 I’ve only read Enter Ghost on the list, but it is truly fantastic!
Teddy is beautiful 🥹
He’s totally adorable.
I’ve read The Wren, The Wren and Western Lane, and while I understand why people like them, they weren’t for me.
I started River East, River West yesterday and am a little over 80% done with it- I couldn’t stop listening after work, and it is definitely my favorite by far thus far! You like complicated families, this is your book. It does a similar flashback situation with the stepfather as happens in The Wren, The Wren, and I have found myself fascinated and more connected to him than I felt with the mom in the Wren, The Wren. Anyway, I haven’t read many, but it’s well worth the read if you get around to it in my opinion!
That’s very intriguing-thanks for letting me know!
I’d read 5 of the six books shortlisted. Only one still to read
River East River West
Delighted that two of the three Irish books got on the shortlist. Very annoyed that Restless Dolly Maunder was chosen over much better books from the long list. It’s an ok book. But ok isn’t good enough for the Womens Proze.
Is Solider Sailor available on kindle? Audio ?
I want Enter Ghost / Brotherless Night to win.
I imagine Soldier Sailor is available in those formats in the UK, but in the US it won't be available at all until June.
I've watched several videos of British booktubers reading the longlist and, as a result, added to my tbr In Defence of the Act (because it's said to be very thought-provoking) and The Maiden (because it seems to be the one people were initially very meh about, but ended up really enjoying when they actually read it).
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I own Brotherless Night and Enter Ghost. I requested the rest from the library and can't wait :)
I hope you enjoy them!
Judging a book objectively must be incredibly difficult; it’s fortunate that some guidelines are provided for the Women’s Prize: Excellence, Originality Accessibility.
I’m a mood reader so a book can “hit” differently depending on when and where I read it!
I feel like it’s made even more difficult when there are different opinions on how to apply the guidelines. I haven’t done a video about it yet but there was a year when no Pulitzer Prize was awarded because the jury and Board couldn’t decide if the recommended book qualified as “wholesome” (a word that has since disappeared from the Pulitzer mandate).
Just picked up Ordinary Human Failings from the library today. It has a lot of fans out there. Not planning on reading any of the shortlist books anytime soon. Just not my year for the Women’s Prize. 🤷♀️
There’s always next year!
In Defence of the Act is actually very life-affirming and handles difficult topics really well. I think that could be this year's Bandit Queens. It's funny and sad at the same time and has a lot of fans. (But I did like Bandit Queens more) And Then She Fell was a lot more stressful to read, but I loved it. Ordinary Human Failings is also really great. They're not quite Wandering Souls maybe. WS I think is universally loved, and not everyone loves ATSF. Still, either of those three would be a better choice than Dolly Maunders. But Dolly is safe, I think. Uncontroversial (beyond being a surprise pick) Nobody is going to feel strongly about that book. Except for the end papers, they are obviously the greatest.
I’ve read three of the six shortlisted books. One on the long list I’d highly recommend is Ordinary Human Failings. It’s a relatively quick read, and she’s Irish, so maybe it’s one to consider for your plane ride to Ireland.☺️
I’ve had a couple of comments saying they enjoyed that one. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Love the Chocolat reference!!!
🤗
Well, I'll put in my two cents as someone who loved The Wren, The Wren. It was one of my favorite reads last year. I can totally see how it wouldn't appeal to some people, but it really worked for me. I think that if you are someone who has been in a similar situation as the main character, it might hit better, and I really saw some elements of my own experience in Nell's.
I’d only read 3 from the longlist, and was rooting for Western Lane. I’m sad it didn’t make it, but at least I got to discover it, like you said. Although I haven’t read it yet, I’m hoping Enter Ghost wins. I do plan on reading the entire longlist eventually.
I took a break from the Women’s Prize to tackle as many titles as I can from your Pulitzer Prize video, and having a great time. Currently reading Lost Journals of Sacajawea. I just finished Chain Gang All Stars, and thought it was amazing. Still need to get to Absolution and a couple others before I make my pick for the winner.
I’m not a sci-fi/alien reader either, but Project Hail Mary is outstanding, and such a great story of humanity. Just in case you haven’t read it, and need an alien book recommendation. 😉
Happy reading. Hi to Joel, scritches to Teddy.
“Tools of discovery” YES!
🤗
There should be a prize for best endpapers.😀
Now that is where I could get behind Dolly Maunder!
I am disappointed that The Defence of the Act, Ordinary Human Failings, and Hangman didn't make it. I still need to read some of the books that made it. I won't be reading Restless Dolly Maunder-it doesn't interest me at all.
I’m at about 40% into ‘Enter Ghost,” and so far the writing is fantastic. I was drawn to the premise of Soldier Sailor, so I had to order from the UK.
Have read Brotherless Night. It is my Top 5 of the year.
I think I'm definitely going to have to catch up to it in the latter half of the year.
Soldier Sailor is magnificent and I would be very happy if it won. It's an intensely personal book, a grim insight into the mind and thoughts of a new mother. It doesn't have the broader political themes of some of the other books and so perhaps they would have a stronger broader appeal, but many women will feel seen by Soldier Sailor, it evokes a visceral response, it is so familiar.
Of the books left behind I suspect that And Then She Fell and Ordinary Human Feelings may be favourites. And Then She Fell is a Canadian first nations author I think, and I suspect you might like that. I've got a copy and read the first few pages, and am very keen to get to it. I've heard great things about Ordinary Human Feelings but suspect it might be a bit grim or brutal for your tastes.
The Maiden was actually quite fun, a compelling 17th century Scottish bodice ripper of a book that I enjoyed despite myself. The audio is quite delightful. I'm keen to get to In Defence of the Act but haven't seen it in the wild in Australia as yet.
I’m currently reading The Wren, The Wren. I’m enjoying it so far but I think I can understand why it is a bit divisive.
Interesting. Well, the judges are clearly fans!
The only one I haven't read on the shortlist is Enter Ghost and I'm really looking forward to picking it up!
I wasn't a fan of Restless Dolly Maunder at all. I found it very dull and something I have read 100 times before. I wish In Defence of the Act was in its place.
The rest of the Shortlist I've read and really enjoyed so I am actually quite happy with it!
I finished Dolly Maunder last night and even without having read the rest of the longlist, I would EASILY swap it out for any of the other books.
8 Lives of a Century Old Trickster and In Defence of the Act were two that I enjoyed and thought would make it. Also, if you could only read one book off of the prize list, I'd recommend Soldier Sailor. I think all the booktubers from the UK who I've been watching have put Kilroy at the tippy top. It's well crafted (like the Enright book) but moves at a faster clip.
The subject matter wasn't my favorite so I didn't put it as #1 on my list. It's propulsive and a fast 1-2 sitting book. If I was a gambling woman I'd put all my chips on Kilroy.
I’ve been watching other reaction videos this morning (most British), and it does seem like Soldier Sailor is getting the most love. That’s what I get for falling behind on my BookTube viewing!
My BookTube viewing must lean more British because I'm regularly hearing rave reviews for Soldier Sailor, though one reviewer--over time--went from "5 Stars!" to "I hope it doesn't make the short list." I've heard one good review of Dolly Maunder, but most are bored by it.
I admit I haven’t managed to keep up with a lot of the channels I follow this year and the British reactions I’ve watched this morning have all been into Soldier Sailor.
I will do a shamless plug to say I have broken down all 16 books and reviewed the 10 I have read (if you are looking for more detailed thoughts).
I am in the midst of Soldier Sailor and it is excellent. It is probably the most popular going in (I follow a lot of British people and they've been screaming about how breathlessly amazing it is since last year). Pocket holes of the internet completely miss each other. But over the pond, I'd say the response to Soldier Sailor is anything but muted.
I got the Chocolat reference! 🌶️ 🍫
I didn't understand why the big beautiful world was on the long list with it being a book 3 in a series (?). I tried the audiobook and was bored so I DNFd. After also DNFing Western lane, I kind of gave up on the longlist but I still want to read and she fell and brotherless night. I also kind of wished they announced Non-fiction and fiction list further apart, I can't read that many books in that timeframe (and especially not 16 Non-fiction books)
I'm disappointed that Ordinary Human Failings didn't make the shortlist, I thought it was better than The Wren The Wren. Lots of the books on the longlist were fine, but not outstanding. I enjoyed The Maiden, but not surprised it is not on the shortlist. I'm surprised Restless Dolly Maunder made it, while Kate Grenville is a very good writer this is not her strongest book. I haven't been able to get River East River West, it's scheduled to be available here in late May but I'll keep an eye out to see if that date is now brought forward. At the moment I think either Soldier Sailor or Enter Ghost will win, though Brotherless Night is up there as well.
I dnf ed The Wren The Wren after about a third of the way through, on the other hand I am really engrossed in Brotherless Night!
Is Teddy’s left eye okay? Love all the photos of him on Instagram ❤️
Teddy’s eye is fine! Did it look like something was wrong?
Quite sad that Ordinary Human Failures didn’t make the shortlist
I would probably bump Restless Dolly Maunder out in favor of almost any other book from the shortlist.
@@SupposedlyFun yes, that is what needed to happen. Oh well
I totally agree with you.
'Soldier Sailor' is incredibly powerful but also very niche. If you haven't experienced the isolation, exhaustion and exultation of early unsupported motherhood this book might not be as impactful.
Idk if early unsupported motherhood is all that niche 🤷🏻♀️
I look forward to hearing more about Soldier Sailor now that the shortlist is announced.
Any of them should have beaten Restless Dolly Maude, except Blue, Beautiful World.
Right now I would agree with that.
Sadly true. It was ok but seemed done before.
@@helenwilson9622 I feel bad hating on it, but it's a book that is just strictly fine.
100% agree
Thanks, Greg and Teddy!🌷🐶The only WPF book I’ve read so far is Enter Ghost, and I think it’s a very strong novel. Not having read the rest, I can’t really say, but I would be happy if it won the prize. I was actually waiting for the shortlist to appear before deciding which books to pick. This is different from the past couple of years, when I immediately found books on the longlist calling my name. Anyway, I’ve just ordered Dolly Maunder, whose paperback is available starting today (I’m afraid I’ll have to miss those gorgeous endpapers😍though…) and I’m also going to read River East River West. After listening to reviews of the longlist in the past few weeks, I actually expected Ordinary Human Failings to make the shortlist. I’m afraid it may have been penalized by being the third Irish novel on the list with two very strong Irish contenders, which did make the shortlist. I may decide to pick it up though.
Soldier Sailor did nothing new
Interesting. Most of what I’m hearing is positive.
I am probably in the minority. Although, I haven't heard anyone point out what was new, innovative or fresh about the main topics of the book. The topics are almost safe they are so familiar at this point. @@SupposedlyFun