This seems to be a very strong list but very historical fiction based! Nothing of the world in 2009! I have read lots of Coetzee and really admire his work - you have to ask why several other of his books were not shortlisted in their time, especially Waiting for the Barbarians and Age of Iron. Summertime is wonderful, though I think Boyhood is my favourite of the trilogy, and I think Wolf Hall just has the edge here. For me the most remarkable thing about Wolf Hall is the sustained viewpoint which is almost Thomas Cromwell’s - the he is almost an I, it’s as though he filmed everything he saw and did on his iPhone and Mantel then wrote it up! And there are some sentences and descriptions to die for!
Both Wolf Hall and The Children's Book have been on my tbr for years. I really need to get to them. I find the thought of Wolf Hall a bit exhausting though, what with it having two sequels, and I'm not that big on historical fiction in the first place 😬 Sarah Waters is on my tbr too, but I only have Fingersmith. Man, how is it that I can read 150 or so books per year, and still have books that I've been meaning to read for at least a decade? The mind boggles.
Here’s a video idea. Books that didn’t win the Booker, or perhaps were not shortlisted; that went in to have a life if their own. Books that became reader favourites or were adapted into film/tv.
I read Wolf Hall a month ago and it was a struggle to get through. I was really surprised because it was one I expected to love. I’m not sure if it was the writing or my mood at the time. I may try again or just go to Bring up The Bodies.
I tried to read this short-list back in 2009. I've now read Wolf Hall more than once but the first time I read it, I kept nodding off, it wasn't my favourite at the time, it was The Children's Book. I've since learned a lot about The Arts and Crafts movement and I agree it feels like it captures the time. Summertime seemed well written but it wasn't really for me, I need to read more of his work. I found The Glass Room fascinating, it was probably my second favourite on the list at the time. The Little Stranger just didn't grab me as much as Fingersmith or her others. So interesting revisiting the list, thanks Bob!
I realised watching this that I read and enjoyed all of these at the time except Summertime which I ignored because it was part of a trilogy. I should go back to that. Wolf Hall is an all time favourite for me and Mantel was already an author I loved so I remember feeling both smug and almost disappointed that it seemed like the whole world now discovered her wonderfulness. But the book that blew me away that year was The Glass Room. One day I will visit the house that inspired it.
I never go back and look at old shortlists and now I feel like I should!!
An excellent year! Some books to revisit here! Some also I bought but never got to and now must.
Life just got in the way of my reading in 2009, and I struggled with Wolf Hall then. Perhaps it's time to have another go at it.
This seems to be a very strong list but very historical fiction based! Nothing of the world in 2009! I have read lots of Coetzee and really admire his work - you have to ask why several other of his books were not shortlisted in their time, especially Waiting for the Barbarians and Age of Iron. Summertime is wonderful, though I think Boyhood is my favourite of the trilogy, and I think Wolf Hall just has the edge here. For me the most remarkable thing about Wolf Hall is the sustained viewpoint which is almost Thomas Cromwell’s - the he is almost an I, it’s as though he filmed everything he saw and did on his iPhone and Mantel then wrote it up! And there are some sentences and descriptions to die for!
Both Wolf Hall and The Children's Book have been on my tbr for years. I really need to get to them. I find the thought of Wolf Hall a bit exhausting though, what with it having two sequels, and I'm not that big on historical fiction in the first place 😬 Sarah Waters is on my tbr too, but I only have Fingersmith. Man, how is it that I can read 150 or so books per year, and still have books that I've been meaning to read for at least a decade? The mind boggles.
Here’s a video idea. Books that didn’t win the Booker, or perhaps were not shortlisted; that went in to have a life if their own. Books that became reader favourites or were adapted into film/tv.
Ooh, I love this! Thank you!
I read Wolf Hall a month ago and it was a struggle to get through. I was really surprised because it was one I expected to love. I’m not sure if it was the writing or my mood at the time. I may try again or just go to Bring up The Bodies.
I tried to read this short-list back in 2009. I've now read Wolf Hall more than once but the first time I read it, I kept nodding off, it wasn't my favourite at the time, it was The Children's Book. I've since learned a lot about The Arts and Crafts movement and I agree it feels like it captures the time. Summertime seemed well written but it wasn't really for me, I need to read more of his work.
I found The Glass Room fascinating, it was probably my second favourite on the list at the time. The Little Stranger just didn't grab me as much as Fingersmith or her others.
So interesting revisiting the list, thanks Bob!
Yes! A lot of historical fiction! And ooh, that’s interesting about the arts and craft movement angle!
I realised watching this that I read and enjoyed all of these at the time except Summertime which I ignored because it was part of a trilogy. I should go back to that. Wolf Hall is an all time favourite for me and Mantel was already an author I loved so I remember feeling both smug and almost disappointed that it seemed like the whole world now discovered her wonderfulness. But the book that blew me away that year was The Glass Room. One day I will visit the house that inspired it.
Oh yes! I keep forgetting it’s a real place that can be visited!
📕🪱💔🤍💙