Booker Prize Shortlist Reaction 2024

[@judybrown1624]

I hereby predict James won't win The Booker, but will win The Pulitzer.

[@judybrown1624]

And should win The National Book Award.

[@alastairmcalpine7467]

I agree with this prediction!

[@shawnlee220]

I think it will be the opposite 😄 he will win the Pulitzer but not the booker.

[@judybrown1624]

@@shawnlee220 you agreed with me.

[@AvAlanchian]

Great video as always Greg. I love that I can rely on you never to have any spoilers and give too much information about a book; you keep it interesting without giving too much away. Great job

[@MJ-in-Canada]

What a time of celebration for the Percival Everett household.🥳His “James” is shortlisted for the Booker, and his wife, Danzy Senna’s book, “Colored Television” was published this month.

[@suzanneward5131]

Cool! I had no idea they are married!

[@mjdeluxe]

The longlist got me to read Tommy Orange for the first time. Amazing writer. would have liked seeing Wandering Stars on the shortlist

[@Abebech6]

Just finished The Safekeep and very much share your thoughts. Really well put.

[@HannahsBooks]

I suspect James will win two or more prizes, but I'm not yet convinced that one of them will be the Booker. I am eager to see if it does!

[@bobbykeniston7240]

I personally love "James" and think it deserves any prize it gets. In my (admittedly humble) opinion, it is a masterpiece that is compulsively readable. The fact that it is also a love letter to the importance of language and reading doesn't hurt, either.

[@MountainShadow8]

I'm with you when it comes to being surprised! I'm especially disappointed by Wandering Stars not making it. Thank you for your quick response today!

[@NovelFindsByKassi]

I gotta admit I'm a bit bitter about My Friends not making it, but following awards is a fun way to get books on my radar and on my tbr and that's what I'm here for so it's all good in the end. : )

[@andrew_8582]

At least My Friends picked up the Orwell Prize, so it was appreciated elsewhere. 😊

[@imanolover]

Same 😔. I was rooting for My Friends to win! Hopefully it gets more love at the National Book Awards

[@Rosiemayj]

@@imanolover I'm also sad not to see My Friends on the shortlist, such a wonderful read!

[@arp711]

I'm currently reading The Safekeep and really loving it. Very glad to see it on the shortlist!

[@anthonyconty4644]

So helpful. I am going to steal the phrase "tool of discovery" to explain to people why I read the BookBrowse, Pulitzer, Booker, and Newbery winners every year.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’m glad you agree!

[@cmleidi]

I was thrilled with this list for one reason: I've read all of the shortlist. I had only read 10 by the announcement, so now I can go on to read the NBA longlists in poetry and fiction. Although, I will finish "His Friends" tonight as I really like it.

[@booksandbags]

I thought James would win until Everett became the only man on the list. Now, I'm not as confident. I am pleased with the shortlist, and I would be happy with any of them to win.

[@romxilda]

Support your local library indeed, but I’m right there with you still waiting for a few of these that I reserved BEFORE the longlist came out! Very fortunately I get to pick up Orbital and Held the next time I visit but still waiting for The Safe Keep 😢 Also, team having a signed copy of James! My copy will firmly become a display copy 😅

[@theresaemig2328]

FYI - Blackwell’s Bookshop is a UK bookshop that ships to the US for free. They used to be family-owned but were acquired by Waterstones in 2022. But at least they aren’t A*****.

[@TheLeniverse]

I have read five books from the longlist and they shortlisted all of them 😂 I'm happy about four of them, but didn't get on with Held. That's definitely a marmite book (what you call a cilantro book). I haven't read Creation Lake yet, and I'm not fully convinced that I want to. My personal ranking is James, Stone Yard Devotional, Orbital (yes, I actually really liked it! It's one of those books that has stayed with me), The Safekeep. I liked the Safekeep, but I saw the twist coming from the first chapter (I think most people from continental Europe do). It was still a good read.

[@schoolbeginsaftercoffee4759]

I just finished Catalina from the long list. I had to read it! The main character and I share a first name! I really liked it, and I'm glad I read it. I avoid immigrant stories, especially Mexican immigrant stories(the main character is not Mexican). It brings up so many complicated feelings from my childhood. This story still had so many parallels to my own childhood, especially the parentificarion so many immigrant kids face. Yet, it was different enough that I was able to finish it without reliving some of my own issues. Having said that, I'm not sure it's a story and character I'd want to revisit. A one-time read thru is enough for me. But, my opinion may be unique as my opinion is heavily influenced by my lived experiences.

[@baddnerves3321]

I like the premise of the safekeep. When it comes to people feeling displaced and reflecting, what book would you reccomend?our tastes are very similar so I like your suggestions

[@catedee5012]

I am waiting for James from my library. I am looking forward to reading it.

[@spexi513]

I only read Orbital, James , and Wandering Stars, but loved them all . Excited to read Safekeep , stone yard devotional and playground despite the latter’s missing the cut 📖🪱💚

[@michaelbroderick2282]

James is the favorite. However, having researched the Booker and currently collecting the 645 books on their website, you'll see they throw a lot of curves. My sleeper pick--Stoneyard Devotional.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Stone Yard Devotional would be an interesting choice, and it sounds like it could happen.

[@spexi513]

Agree regarding a book winning multiple awards 📖🪱💚

[@LouiseReader]

I read Soneyard Devotional last week. It's really special, and would definitely repay a reread.

[@nairarabila720]

SYD was transformed for me on the second read. I had missed so much first time round...

[@marciajohansson769]

I better get going and read James! And maybe the safe keep?

[@SupposedlyFun]

James for sure--I'm less willing to push for Safekeep but I do find its ending to be really interesting.

[@marciaalbaum2597]

safekeep is hard to find

[@marciajohansson769]

@@SupposedlyFun btw again it has been nice to watching your video as I clean up the kitchen after supper. The girls go down to their "den" with the pets and I get the time to watch uninterrupted

[@marciajohansson769]

@@marciaalbaum2597 good to know. I am trying not to buy new releases so I put a hold on Safekeep at the library. There are 42 copies in the network and only 29 waiting. Maybe I will get lucky to get it before the announcement in November! Nice name 😉

[@SupposedlyFun]

I love that!

[@mradcaqbdb]

It does almost seem like the judges cleared a path for James by not advancing Powers and Matar. Not deliberately. That would be a Pulitzer thing to do. JOKING! 😂😂😂 I am very curious to see if the one book written by a man will get the prize. (And cause controversy.) I always think of Safe Keep in three parts because it’s divided into three parts. I found the first part a snooze, the second part extra steamy, and the third part the absolute jackpot. I was really happy to see it make the shortlist! I don’t think it will win, but hopefully there’s another prize for it. I’m still going to give Orbital a go. I did bring it back from London last year after all. I just need to be in the right headspace for it. The amount of cilantro books on the shortlist is surprising. Perhaps a divided judging panel or one that already knows there’s a strong likelihood that James is going to win, so let’s put some runner up faves on the list with it. I’m absolutely 50-50 on whether James will win. Just not sure.

[@MarilynMayaMendoza]

Hi Greg, I am not a book prize reader but when the shortlist came out, I looked at the blurbs and the only one that appealed to me was Stone yard devotional. Oh, I will eventually read James when it becomes available, but there was some thing about stoneyard that grab me. Blackstones is a place I go to when I want to get a book delivered to Hawai’i for free. I enjoyed your video. Aloha.

[@kassandrik]

Still waiting for my Booker holds in Helsinki library 😊 I am even thinking to buy some of the shortlisted books from the Rakuten store, but we shall see 😊

[@suzanneward5131]

I loved Orbital! I felt the “love letter”.

[@Ali-AvidReader]

I’m sad My Friends didn’t make the list, I’ve read Held and Orbital and it’s far better in my opinion but hey I’m not a judge. James should win but I have a nagging fear that it won’t. Stone Yard Devotional is my favourite read from the short list.

[@TheBookerPrizes]

Thank you so much for sharing! We are putting together a video highlighting reactions to this year’s Booker Prize and would love to include this video. All footage will of course be credited. Please can you respond to let me know if we have your permission?

[@SupposedlyFun]

Absolutely! Thanks you so much for asking. I would be happy to be included. 🥂 (And I can't wait to find out who wins!)

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

The fact that My Friends is not on the shortlist but Held and Creation Lake are……Is crazy to me. I’ve watched so many reviews and Held and Creation Lake are the most DNFd books.

[@judybrown1624]

@@jacquelinemcmenamin8204 I think Held could win. I won't say it was my favorite, but it feels like a Booker book.

[@ReinReads]

Half of the list being cilantro books is the biggest surprise to me.

[@EllenFelicity]

There must be at least one judge who is very unexcited to read Held for a third time 😂

[@lynniepie52]

It’s nice to see a debut novel shortlisted…I enjoyed the Safekeep but wouldn’t be enamored of a reread…James however would be on my list for many rereads in the future as it has some many hidden meanings throughout the text! It should win the Booker and the Pulitzer because it’s a great book! We flip flop on the 2 books… I feel the same way about demon copperhead that you feel about James but that’s what makes reading so much fun! Tickle Teddy for me!

[@bankruptcyguy99]

I tried to read Creation Lake on a plane ride and got through about 130 pages. I will not be finishing it. If this is a cilantro book, I am on the side of not having to eat it:)

[@marciaalbaum2597]

you can get from england free shipping I did

[@readingbytheriver5752]

I’m with you on why I follow book award lists. My attention goes to nonfiction lists first. Wainwright lists always yields several excellent reads. I plan to blatantly steel and use your phrase Tool of Discovery. Currently, I’m out of sync - been reading banned books most of September. Prepping for a class in banned books and censorship next term. If you, Joel, or Teddy have suggestions please suggest away. I’ll make the reading list in a couple of weeks.

[@capturedbyannamarie]

James deserves the win.

[@teneshaanderson4761]

You say cilantro in Britain we say marmite. Didn’t like orbital either. I want the safe keep to win

[@dwaynejohnson992]

A marmite book hehe

[@runrgrl35]

Orbital made the short list?? I read it and it was ok but ….not short (or long list for that matter) worthy imo🤷🏻‍♀️

[@andrew_8582]

In my experience, pastorals tend to be divisive - and a space pastoral is particularly out there as a concept - so I'm not surprised that the people who loved it are really effusive about it, and I'm also unsurprised that the people who weren't keen are left feeling nonplussed.

[@barbarahelgaker390]

Unlike some booktubers, I loved Held. Don't be put off and give it a try.

[@bankruptcyguy99]

I think my very high expectations of James led to my disappointment with it. I enjoyed it and thought it quite clever. But I just didn’t see what the fuss was about. Perhaps I should re-read it.

[@stephenfrye6466]

Big miss on Orbital...fascinating and moving...you are missing something special...Cmon...only 136 p

[@jackwalter5970]

Kushner will win because she's the flavor of the month/year. It's a popularity contest, IMO.

[@onourpath]

I've spent hours searching for a way to get Stone Yard Devotional (including when it was announced for the longlist: I've got a thing about nuns!) with no luck yet, ugh!!!! Any suggestions for bookstores overseas that will mail it here? Can they even do that?

[@MJ-in-Canada]

Try Blackwell's, a book shop in the UK. They do free shipping outside the UK.

[@onourpath]

@@MJ-in-Canada Thanks so much!!!

[@MJ-in-Canada]

@@onourpath 😀

[@leolamoon11]

I ordered my copy from Amazon.

[@onourpath]

@@leolamoon11 I know that would work for most people, but I couldn't order from them.

[@Schwendan]

Do the Booker people really think James takes place in the "Deep South"? I don't recall that he got any further south than Arkansas. I think James will win a prize, just not this one.

[@stephenfrye6466]

Also, no Martyr!...not even on the longlist...big miss!

[@janethansen9612]

I want James to win, but will the Booker cope with the criticism of a man still winning over all female competition? Perhaps another year of joint winners?

[@franciscaneumann1803]

James wont win the Pulitzer because it will get compared to Demon Copperhead... which one is better? i think the latter...

[@TKTalksBooks]

I will be shocked if James wins