Also yes #teampaperback !

I absolutely would have taken multiple free books lol Yes Bloomsbury Girls is so good!!! I actually still need to read the Jane Austen Society even though that one comes first

One Hundred Years of Solitude is SO PAINFUL OMG

Yes Edwardian era is so underrated for classics and historical fiction!

yay George MacDonald!! 🥹 yes Starfish is incredible! your Grinch story is so perfect because I actually rewatched the cartoon this last Christmas for the first time in ages and was very struck by how lovely it was! I haven't heard of that Amanda Gorman picture book! definitely going to check that out Very excited to pick up Frizzy Harbor Me is so good! gosh Jacqueline Woodson is just so talented

This sounds amazing!

ooooh I really love Antigone if you're looking to read more Greek plays!

Last part of my research entirely in surprising and knowing where characters end up by time histories are re called . Theme or ordinary human failing is personal challenges of many of us face in our lives , but largely ignored obstacles that society seem to expect us to just get on - like missing parental figures , alcoholism, teen pregnancy, lost love . Points of pain that could be handled with support or prove disasterous if left unaddressed. This book to push harder at term ordinary not only suggested that human for us to struggle with things beyond our control. But really important of removing societal shames and general lack of aid , understanding stand in way of people getting needed life , altering help . Megan Nolan ( born in 1990 ) she is Irish journalist and author from county Waterford . Her debut novel acts of desperation was longlisted for Dylan Thomas prize and shortlisted for Betty trask award for debut novel . Iam so sorry to be little long but reading and writing both are great ways to improve our English as non native speakers. Best wishes for you your dearest ones .

How are you doing mrs kier . I didn’t send comments to you from long time . Iam Arabic lady subscriber to several British and American KZbin channels. Thank you for your wonderful literary cultural channel. I gathered main theme of novel you mentioned and literary analysis I read on line elephant literary , author biography briefly here it’s ordinary human failing plot summary about ten years old child is suspected of violent crime, her family nut face truth about their past in this haunting, psychological keen story about class , trauma , family secrets from huge literary talent kanausgaard and internally best selling author Megan Nolan. This novel won women prize for fiction. Literary critic as selected key points girl aged ten is accused of heinous crime , entire family implicated behind, running parallel to this disaster .we follow slimytry hard reporter . This story goes several directions that failed to hold our interest . First own way motherhood story , offering few perspective we think are important, especially regarding woman health care issue . Book is ripping family saga , lives slotting together seamlessly and ruinously. Again we can see lot of readers appreciating this part of narrative. We can found characters backgrounds .

I loved Cinda Williams Chima’s Seven Realms series when I was in high school. Now I’m just finding out she wrote this series in the same universe! I’ll be reading these books as soon as I can. Thank you for the review!

Nobody expected Dolly 😂 I wonder if they thought, well we have all these dramatic and sad and experimental books so lets go with one that's just totally unoffensive and safe.

This is adorable!

I'm sad to not see And Then She Fell and Hangman on there, but overall not a bad list! Very excited to read Brotherless Night, very excited that Enter Ghost made it in there and curious to see others' thoughts once I read all the books before the prize is announced!!!

Really enjoyed this style of video Kier, dedication for real haha

I can not believe you stayed up til 3 in the morning 😂😂😂 Dedication !! I loved OHF and In Defence of The Act. Love that you can read them all. I know how hard it is normally ❤ Loved hearing your thoughts and reactions.

Excited with the list but very surprised! I predicted 4/6 correctly which pleases me but alas the list has left me with only 1/6 completed! Currently reading The Wren The Wren and I will go back and try again with Dolly and River. Still excited to pick up Brotherless Night and Enter Ghost. 😊📚

yes My Cousin Rachel!!! oooh I didn't like House on the Strand so I'm very interested to hear what you think!

I LOVED In Defence of the Act I realllllly hope it gets shortlisted 🤞🤞🤞 Not long now!!! Xxx

So glad you liked In Defence of the Act! I have not made it to that one yet and I am really looking forward to it.

I'd love to get to Birnam Wood, and A History of Burning sounds like an insightful migration narrative.

I really love your analysis of the sorts of books that end up on the shortlist! I've been noticing some of these patterns too but haven't been able to really verbalize it. I'm so excited to read In Defence of the Act (hopefully soon??), and I'm glad you and many others enjoyed it. From its description I could see it being a hit or miss for a lot of people. Other than that I also really loved And Then She Fell and am currently enjoying Enter Ghost so crossing my fingers for those two as well!!

Excellent discussion and your way of thinking about what will and will not make the shortlist has been well thought out Good job! 😊 TK

I think you have a good chance of getting a lot of your short list predictions right.

I really hope In Defence of the Act gets shortlisted. I’m most of the way through it, and it’s my favorite of the seven nominated books I’ve read so far. I would put And Then She Fell, 8 Lives, and Nightbloom in that order after In Defence of the Act. I did not enjoy The Wren, The Wren at all and found it completely forgettable. Western Lane had a quiet charm but was not a standout for me. I haven’t finished Enter Ghost yet but I’ve appreciated what I read so far.

Great discussion! I’ve just been editing my ranking and predictions too, and I’m so happy with what you said about In Defence of the Act. It’s my favourite. I also don’t expect to see it shortlisted sadly. Roll on Wednesday! 🤩

if you're looking for a short story collection suggestion, I just finished The Beadworkers by Beth Piatote and it was FANTASTIC!

YAY The Other Bennet Sister!! so so good oof, you're so right about the difference of "girl" versus "woman", and how often we sexualize Black girls by describing them like they're adults

Can You Forgive Her? was my first Trollope and I'm so conflicted about it! so much of the first half I loved, but then I really hated the conclusions it seemed to come to about women in the end. I'm like 'is this commentary or do you not like women, Anthony' lol your description of the library you can only access sometimes was so funny 😭

The Talk sounds so good!

I have just got back into reading after having my children. Soldier Sailor is one of the best books I have ever read. It’s raw - and for me a lot of it was very close to the bone. I am currently reading The Maiden - cannot believe it’s on the same list, not in the same league.

You have definitely made me want to read In Defense of the Act.

You are describing my childhood. I am 61. It is so refreshing to finally understand myself more :)

Ooh, great to hear you discuss these. I will read Brotherless Night soon. And I’m curious about A History of Burning.

Not a prize that I actively follow, but Brotherless Night is on my radar.

I usually read at least one or two books from the list but I’m not sure I’m feeling inspired this year.

thanks for introducing these! i don't usually follow prizes but i did find one of my fav modern books (Celestial Bodies) thru the Int Booker so i ought to go back to it one of these days ~

Completely agree with your takes on The Wren, The Wren and And Then She Fell. The Wren fell flat for me, unfortunately. And Then She Fell was an enjoyable read which addresses important topics.

Enter Ghost sounds really interesting.