Booker Prize 2023 Shortlist Reaction - Winner Prediction & Booker Shortlist Tournament

[@gustavosegurac]

The new slogan for The Booker Prize 2023: "It is what it is."

[@readandre-read]

2022 vibes forever. I still haven't stopped thinking about The Trees and I wanted it to win. I agree with your shortlist showdown except for Oh William. I'm a long time Strout enthusiast.

[@mariecarroll2079]

I agree with most of your choices. I am slightly less enthusiastic about’ The Trees then you are . My outright winner would be’ Small Things Like These’. But I think that Prophet Song is the best book I have read so far this year , and I think it should win The Booker Prize.

[@PaulaBlazer-n7l]

Love your chat style and book analysis! ❤

[@barbarahelgaker390]

Oh yes Trees was really good, and some of last year`s longlist still stay with me - Trust and The Colony especially.

[@ferguscooper]

Roro, read and vlogged last years Booker Prize. Completely agree with most that you have here except I couldn’t be arsed with reading a load of substandard so called ‘great’ books. They wouldn’t come near to the best 6 or 13 books of the year. We get so dragged along by The Booker. Agree with much of what you said about the books bar The 7 Moons (which I predicted on my vlog would win because it is the type of book they like) which was awful. Lots of tripe in the shortlists - Treacle Walker, Western Lane, Glory etc. Spot on about Oh William, Small Things and Prophet Song. However, The Booker Prize can be what it is but serious readers should look elsewhere. The better books are too good to make this list. Love your style of presentation. A hell of a lot of planning and editing and cutting to each vlog. Well done. I enjoy them. Take care, Fergus

[@Thebookerharlot]

Great idea to compare the two years! I loved The Trees as well.

[@creepingdoubt]

Books are lucky to have you! I quite liked This Other Eden, so I'm glad you did, too. You made me want to seek out The Trees, Small Things Like These and The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida. I look forward to watching your reviews in the future.

[@jeshuadhikam9163]

So glad 5/6 matched your taste. 😄

[@SupposedlyFun]

The tournament idea was so much fun! I still need to catch up to The Trees. I can't believe I haven't managed to read it yet.

[@rororeads]

Have you read any Percival Everett? I’ve only read the trees but not really heard much about his other books.

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@rororeads I've been stuck in a loop where I want to read The Trees first, which just means that right now I haven't read any of his books. I want to read his new novel, James, coming next year--so hopefully that will put a fire under me to get moving. I've also heard very good things about I Am Not Sidney Poitier, and Telephone was a Pulitzer finalist.

[@ameliabarlowbooks]

so many books on my unread shelves that were on last year’s longlist, I really should get round to those. the tournament was a great idea, really interesting to see those comparisons!

[@dqan7372]

My finalists for this tournament were Prophet Song, The Bee Sting, and Study for Obedience. My gut says Study would offer the better reread for me, so I'll pick that way. From the start, I thought Prophet Song would win this year's Booker, but Bee Sting's scope might bring it more votes. But Study seems like such a bold divisive pick that I have to think it must have a devoted champion or two for it on the jury. I'd be happy with any of these three winning. And I'm bracing for disappointment.

[@mkmccord50]

The Trees would absolutely win for me. I need to get around to reading more of Percival Everett’s books. I still need to read Study for Obedience, Prophet Song, and Bee Sting.

[@joangavrilik3009]

Very interesting - I guess I need to read The Trees. I would like to see The Bee Sting win and I think it will edge out Prophet Song. In the future, when we look back at the 2023 winner, people will still be saying “but that ending!”

[@rodneyphillips9872]

oh well

[@bookstalgic]

Fun video with an excellent breakdown into why you liked each book! The Trees is now on my list. Also, love the hat 🙌

[@janethilkemann1790]

Fun!

[@ddoust123]

You need a commission deal because I’ve just bought both the finalists on your recommendation!

[@purplecrayon7281]

The genius of Treacle Walker is that the boy was already dead from the very beginning, that the events did not take place on earth but in the nether realm where the role of the rag and bones man is passed from soul to soul.

[@andreluissoriano]

Seven Moons is one of my favorite years this year so far, so it hurt me when it lost. I will have to read the Trees and Small Things like This to check if you’re right in this ;)

[@andromedus5]

I want to read all the books you speak highly of, but I still have a closet full of books I haven't read yet😭😂😂

[@blabbinglobster]

Me too. 🙂

[@andromedus5]

@@blabbinglobster its such a beautiful problem 😂 beautiful cause "wow lots of books" problem because "oops no time to ream them all"

[@terileekline]

Claire Keegan

[@choco1199]

The tournament was good😃

[@michaelbroderick2282]

Study for Obedience is like Manchester United---you either love 'em or you hate 'em.

[@EricCantori]

The best overview of Paul Harding's book I've heard. You nailed it. Not a lot of love for that book. I think it may be a sleeper for the prize. Great reaction video - very fun!