can i predict a book prize winner? (i read every book shortlisted for the booker prize)

[ad] head to squarespace.com... to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code JACKEDWARDS
links:
📚 second channel: • i did a literature pub...
📖 I wrote a book! amzn.to/31meIaN
💻 contact: [e-mail] (just .co!)
social media:
📕 instagram: / jackbenedwards
📙 tiktok: / jackbenedwards
📒 twitter: / jackbenedwards
📗 spotify: open.spotify.c...
📘 goodreads: / 20013214.jack_edwards
FAQs:
😭 what happened to your intro? it got copyrighted ://///
🤠 how old are you? 24!
📆 when is your birthday? 18th october 1998 (libra)
🎓 where did you go to university? i studied english at durham!
🔎 where do you live? new york city
💼 what is your job? research assistant in the publishing industry
🎥 what do you film with? lumix gh5 + canon g7x
👾 what do you use to edit? final cut pro
📫 how do I contact you? [e-mail] or social media!
sub count:
📊 1,319,724

[@asahdo]

“This shortlist has more people called Paul than women on it” 😂😂😂

[@yuuriontepidwater]

I love that he's still honest with his review, despite being given an opportunity to livestream this award. Thank you for not "selling out" with your praise.

[@TiresiasPrufrock]

after already doing the livestream though. Not much risk now

[@KitKat0nly]

​@TiresiasPrufrock at the beginning, he said this was filmed a day before the live stream

[@mutantbambi]

@@TiresiasPrufrockI think it was less about risk and more so about professionalism (which he mentions in the beginning) because he interviewed the authors at the beginning of the livestream

[@mandayful]

I think its funny you got the Bee Sting when you did the booker prize quiz and that ended up being your favourite out of all the longlisted books

[@francescatelari]

I thought the same thing

[@heyitsdaliiii]

Yes!😂

[@kierstynsaoirse]

"a boy with the attention span of a tiktok"... yet he reads 180 books / year lol

[@masonwinfreyplatman2294]

Lol literally what i was thinking about. I read about 12 books a year lol

[@ruchieru]

@@masonwinfreyplatman2294which is totally fine because you have time to deep dive and reflect on each book, which is always going to be better than doing a fly-by of 200 books, not retaining or taking anything from any. Let’s also not forget reading is a major part of his full-time job. 180 books a year is 15 books a month. That’s entire days of reading he is paid to do. No need to compare yourself :).

[@masonwinfreyplatman2294]

@@ruchieru that is true ❤️

[@maryseptihet]

he also tends to read books less than 200 pages as he likes short, concise writing and also books with no plot just vibes - which honestly you don’t have to concentrate on as much and is sometimes just a nice escape from the tumultuous world we live in i.e. joan is okay, cleopatra and frankenstein, any sally rooney book tbh etc.

[@TiresiasPrufrock]

Do you really believe he actually reads 180 books? 😂

[@Ida2170]

i absolutely adore these more extensive book reviews! i find the majority of online spaces to be saturated with sensationalised and redundant book reviews/reactions that make me kind of passive to how i consume media. so, finding these corners of the booktube community feels incredibly refreshing. as a newbie, i really appreciate when more experienced readers go into elaborate detail on how they interpret a book and, more specifically, share the intricacies of their thought process as they critique it. jack shares this generously and with such clear enthusiasm and accessibility that always invites me back to his videos. with this sort of bookish convo exposure, i’ve learnt more literary lingo and more ways to creatively and critically digest the media i read and consume - for that i have jack much to thank!

[@haneesabegum1352]

Thank you for mentioning what is currently happening in Palestine, Jack. I met you recently in Singapore and you are such a kind, genuine soul. I'm grateful for your voice for the voiceless! And now I definitely want to read The Bee Sting.

[@WordsCanBeLikeXRays]

Hi Jack. I watched your Booker Prize live stream and enjoyed it so much. I am super proud of you!

[@marenhumblebee2736]

Wow... all I could think with the second book was: what an amazing cover ^^ and then you rip it to shreds in the end 😅

[@ana91591]

Same here 😂

[@flowersforhana]

me too haha

[@riynu7774]

same i don't agree with his design opinion

[@beenishakram6322]

Omg same😂

[@nicoled5455]

So proud of our Irish writers 🇮🇪

[@bibliomania158]

Jack Edwards for future Booker Judge 🎉... someone start the petition now

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I loved Jack and Dakota as the hosts of the Booker Prize. Also, you had to be there for the Jack Edwards and Adjoa Andoh crossover.

[@juliemorrow174]

I really like Western Lane's cover, its so visually unique and intriguing

[@MusicLover964]

Congrats on hosting the live stream! And I have now added most of these books to my never-ending TBR 📚 🇵🇸 🐝 🍎

[@jip521]

why is the flag of Palestine in the middle of the emojis?

[@DeluluSwiftie]

​@@jip521 honestly, the qoute Jack read from Prophet Song made me think of Palestine and the plight of Palestinians. That's probably the book I'm most interested in reading. This Other Eden sounds interesting too, but what Jack said about the writing style kinda turned me off. I don't like books that keep me at arm's length 😅 Full immersion or nothing!!

[@MusicLover964]

@@DeluluSwiftie yes and he did mention what’s happening in Palestine in relation to the Prophet book. And I agree with you on the Eden one; I’m torn! The Western Lane book also calls to me ❤️‍🩹

[@ZagrebBundist]

🇵🇸❤

[@not_even_mikage]

*Sighs and opens TBR*

[@yaxxm619]

I watched live and you were glowing and beaming and looked so excited to be there your passion for books was front and center while you presented!! I hope they ask you to host next year as well!

[@SusanaXpeace2u]

wow, can't believe you predicted which book would win. Must read this one too as i love books about family dynamics

[@alannahcornelissen8932]

Id like to contribute that i’ve pavloved myself into craving my usual breakfast when i watch your videos at night bc i normally always watch them during brekky😂 now its 11pm & i want yoghurt lol

[@stebunnz9207]

i was obsessed while reading the bee sting. Despite the length of the book i didn’t want it to end 😩

[@MaelysCha]

Can’t wait for book recommendations for Christmas gifts and a video (or will probably need more than one video!) about allllll the books he read this year! Please 🥹♥️🎁

[@laura_h383]

Your videos always bring me so, so much joy. You are so relatable (ex. the miniature object tik tok digression), but I feel like you have also positively impacted how I think about reading. I really appreciate your focus on reading diversely, and the way you discuss books is captivating.

[@F00L_Of_A_Took]

What I've learned from this video is that the booker prize quiz is extremely accurate apparently

[@verydistractedreader]

Glad I'm not the only one who physically threw The Bee Sting away from me after that closing line, it was my personal winner, too!

[@melanygomez613]

I love your content. My TBR grows everyday because of your channel (and I love it)

[@jannicefelicia]

ok am I the only one who thinks that the cover design of the second book is actually really good? I mean I've seen worse, way waaayy worse. Also, you did so great on hosting the livestream, congratulations Jack!

[@maddie2638]

i lke it too!

[@simplyfira568]

the moment he mentioned Palestine, my heart just dropped cause i was already sitting there thinking , say it, say it, say it. I'm definitely intrigued to read The Prophet's song and the bee sting now, also western lane

[@emiiiiiiiiiii11]

Thank you for mentioning that genocide that’s happening 🇵🇸♥️

[@francescatelari]

I could hearing you talk about literature for hours. How you analyse literature literally gives me goose bumps. I just want to let you know how I appreciate your work. Bye bye

[@pallavidass9737]

The bee sting is an insane book! Genuinely incredible writing

[@andreaong5067]

Could you do a video on how you take care of your books? Since you travel a lot I’m interested in seeing how you store and keep your books in good condition

[@emmaberger3748]

*removes a study for obedience from my tbr *adds prophet song to my tbr

[@yassminezaki9564]

The way you described "the bee sting" reminded me of "anxious people" by Fredrik backman . I guess they have the same tone and purpose

[@m.a.2204]

Jack you should do a video where you read and review like the top 5 rated books on goodreads or something like that!

[@Ireallyneedtostudy655]

Jack please make a video of you reading Urdu books and poetry. It's some of the best literature in the world

[@luce9620]

quite disappointed that they all weren’t called paul tbh

[@riyanjinssi8264]

omg when did you hit 1.3M subscribers? this is insane how your channel grew so faaast! Congratulations! I'm so happy for you 🥳🥂💖

[@jenniferkate7167]

Thanks for this video Jack! I haven't read any of this year's shortlist yet, but thanks to your reviews I've picked a few that I can't wait to pick up. Thanks for all the Booker content this year, it's been amazing.

[@Tina-dg3tq]

Petition for Jack to drop a video on all of his favourite books of all time. Maybe tier rank them even 👀

[@Dasha-pv1xk]

that quote from the prophet song!!?!? yeah I'm buying it

[@megancarissa23]

Thank you for making me buy more books just before Christmas 😅 the power of Jack.

[@jordyngracey4693]

I too can’t stop thinking, talking, obsessing over the Bee Sting

[@MikeFuller-ok6ok]

I admire anyone who reads books.

[@JahricLago]

Amazing video, Jack! But I'm still waiting for you to review ANY BOOKS written by Filipino authors! ❤❤❤

[@lenazineddin5891]

SHOUT OUT TO JACK FOR ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGING PALESTINE!!!! RESPECT!!!!!

[@dianaisme]

I've been waiting on this one! You were brilliant in the lifestream :) I had mever heard of this price if it wasn't for you, so thank you!!

[@markhnk]

I love that Western Lane cover! I think it's beautiful.

[@QuixoticSara]

The prophet song quote brought tears to my eyes, I'm hooked I must read it now.

[@areesha.a]

New subscriber bc I respect the fact you spoke about Palestine ❤️🇵🇸 (recommendations were also good ofc)

[@felix__93]

I listened to the audiobook for Prophet Song, before bed. And I haven't slept well for two days. I don't know why I did that, but I don't regret it either. Anyway, CONGRATULATIONS, Jack!!! I'm so proud of you!!!

[@ochukoruth]

just ordered the bee sting ! right up my alley. you should read Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen. Same vibes and was a 5 star for me :)

[@MaelysCha]

Yes! Totally agree ❤

[@RhiannonT01]

agree!

[@evie3324]

Okay I just finished reading The Bee Sting and I know you don't do individual book videos, at least not often, but I desperately need a spoiler-FULL review of your thoughts on it that ending had me REELING

[@vjpublisher]

You are not delulu if you are right. Congrats, Jack, for hosting this year's Booker Prize livestream.

[@Maryemarabee]

Hi Jack, just wanted to ask what exactly does a research assistant in the publishing industry do 😊

[@thehopefuledwardian]

He has a video about this. Try searching Jack Edwards research assistant or something like that. I don’t remember the exact title but it’s from like 2020/2021.

[@Maryemarabee]

@@thehopefuledwardian Ty

[@ninoliu1500]

Honestly Jack should be a booker judge

[@gregahunt]

thanks jack. paul murray is wonderful. i loved the bee sting

[@jokay2383]

Prophet Song was my pick to win, it was just so devastating and terrifying. It kind've annoys me that everyone keeps saying how it's such a book for 2023 though. I feel like it implies he only won because of what's going on in Palestine. I get that there's similarities to what we're seeing in the news, but there's been so many similar situations over the last century, in Europe and beyond. It has so much broader relevance than just 'a book for 2023'.

[@esteraulrich-oltean2162]

I don't think the implication is that it's only a book for 2023; I think the implication is just that of the books it feels the mostly timely and the most pertinent to 2023. I haven't read it yet but it may also be the case that the attitudes reflected in the book towards circumstances such as these resonate more strongly today than they would have done in, for example, 2015, and perhaps than how they will in the future. I don't think anyone's trying to limit the book by saying it's a book for 2023

[@Kikoia]

congrats on the livestream! The way you described your thoughts on If I Survive You and how it contended with the short story format made me think of China Mountain Zhang by Maureen F. McHugh, which does a similar(?) approach but focusing on a Chinese-Hispanic protagonist in a speculative world where China is the dominant world power. One of my absolute all-time favorite books, curious on what you'd think if you haven't read it yet!

[@idkSpookyStuff]

i absolutely love your reviews and you did great with the live stream! i ran home to watch it live and it was a thrill to experience it with you!

[@readingonmybreaks2523]

Congratulations 🎉 How wonderful. You will be amazing!! Can't wait to watch it

[@nissasbookcorner]

my jaw literally dropped when u read that sentence from the bee sting.

[@beardedgladiator]

Was he right?

[@sturna44]

“prophet song” by paul lynch won this years booker prize

[@cindyjemutai9812]

'I could literally pee everywhere, with excitement' ~ Jack Edwards, 2023

[@kgal1298]

It’s funny I haven’t read The Bee Sting but it does sound kind of like 100 years of solitude at least with the family dynamic but if it ends like that book I would scream so much. 😅

[@QuixoticSara]

Thank you for speaking up for Palestine, such a hero ❤

[@ssc3001]

I loveeee this!!! Congratulations! And good on you for talking about Palestine❤️

[@Curvydiaries]

Can’t wait to read Prophet Song❤

[@malak6845]

Thank you for speaking the truth about the genocide in Palestine🍉I love and respect you even more now

[@Waste-Water-Management]

9:50 No you’re absolutely right, that cover looks like one of those colour blind tests 😅

[@plushieangela]

the A-paul-ing yet interesting Booker Prize list :P

[@TiliaHaggstrom]

So impressed by your corect prediction!

[@jkpiowa]

Loved the live stream! Tbh, I don't think the Booker prize is rigged, I think we analyze men as being better writers than women, subconsciously. Much as we assume a doctor is a man and a nurse is a woman.

[@Libellka1]

I’m here to say I actually like the cover of “Western lane”😂 however haven’t seen it in real life, only on the internet

[@MountainShadow8]

I love your channel and you make me laugh out loud!

[@nacho6438]

havent even read the book and i still had tears well up when you said the last sentence of bee sting

[@aniketdas3192]

how about you also read the longlisted books, maybe speak on why they didn't make the short list. Actually I just want a review for "In Ascension" is that too much to ask. Thanks jack!!!!!!

[@MJ-ed2xx]

Next you'll have to get into teeny tiny baking. People baking actual teeny tiny food in teeny tiny kitchens with teeny tiny cookware and teeny tiny ingredients.

[@JahricLago]

And Jack predicted the winner!!! ❤❤❤🎉

[@laurenschenck5355]

Thanks for everything! Love your content! ❤

[@Noyemie26]

I love the cover of western lane 😂

[@donei132]

You should read the Miles Franklin shortlists as well.

[@terileekline]

Agree on the abysmal cover for Western Lane .. my gawd!

[@fatimas8459]

If you ever go to Lyon you should visit the museum of minatures!

[@veronicasvideodiaries]

congratulations!!

[@ht6743]

It was just as much a monumental achievement for Escoffery's debut making the Booker shortlist as it was for Maroo. Also, skip over the last part of The Bee Sting section to avoid potential spoilers if you haven't read the novel yet. Shame on him for that.

[@authentically_arsha]

Hey Jack, loved the video and it was quite interesting listening to your take on each of these books. I'd just like to point out something, I felt that the usage "what colour blind person" chose the colours for Chetna Maroo's book is a bit ableist. If we substitute it with "which blind person chose this cover", that would indeed be considered ableist and offensive. I am pointing this out very respectfully, taking it to be an honest mistake and I hope you pay attention to it the next time.

[@evo318]

Day 3 of asking Jack to read the novel ”Daughters of smoke and fire” by Ava Homa pleaseee and talk about it in a video🙏🏼

[@WorldsCollide23]

I’m a history PhD student studying war crimes and genocide, and the glib use of “genocide” here is deeply disturbing. The definition of genocide requires an intention to destroy an entire nation or group. That intention simply does not exist in this context on the part of Israel, which is specifically targeting Hamas militants whom have embedded themselves deep within civilian areas. This intention does, however, exist in the case of Hamas, whose charter calls for the destruction of Israel and its Jewish inhabitants. Their actions on October 7th are part and parcel of this mission. Additionally, it is deeply disturbing that somehow antisemitism is not considered to be “part of this moment,” with hate crimes against Jews around the world reaching “historic levels.” Just in the United States, according to the FBI director, “although Jews make up only about 2.4% of the US public, they account for about 60% of all religious-based hate crimes.” People are entitled to their beliefs and opinions. I just wish that individuals with this significant of a following were more careful with the words they use.

[@areesha.a]

Over 20,000 Palestinians have been murdered in under 2 months - if you don’t consider that genocide then that’s slightly horrifying. Also, I recommend you read the resignation letter of the top UN official who stepped down and explicitly mentioned the genocidal intent Israel has displayed as one of the most worrying aspects of their actions (an example from the top of my head of their clear intent is the map Netanyahu showed at the UN a few months ago showing the ‘New Middle East’ that erased Palestine entirely)

[@WorldsCollide23]

@@areesha.a The number of casualties is provided by Hamas - a widely-recognized terrorist organization - because it also runs the Gaza Health Ministry. To the extent that the numbers are even reliable (they are not), Hamas includes both militants and civilians within those numbers. One estimate suggests that there are about 40,000 Hamas militants in Gaza, so if Israel were to kill all of them (the same people that have committed the atrocities of October 7th and that continue to hold hostages in tunnels underground), then people around the world will cry out that “Israel has killed over 40,000 Palestinians!” Numbers do not speak to whether a country is or is not committing genocide. I am not suggesting that innocent civilians have not been killed in Gaza, and I mourn for every single one of them. It is a tragedy that I cannot even fathom. The loss of Palestinian civilian life is just as horrific as the loss of Israeli civilian life. But to (1) use the term genocide, and (2) just list the number of dead as evidence of that, is either in bad faith or simply ignorant. Finally, and a point we can both agree on, Netanyahu needs to be removed from office. I trust that Israelis will do this as he is deeply, deeply unpopular in the country. I just hope that it is sooner rather than later.

[@areesha.a]

@@WorldsCollide23what a horrifying and cold way of trying to defend/explain away a genocide. I hope in a few years you look back and regret your callousness but somehow I doubt it

[@WorldsCollide23]

⁠@@areesha.a Calling my comments “horrifying and cold” do not make them so. I have been steeped in genocide studies during my time in graduate school, have read countless scholarly articles and monographs on the concept and will continue doing so for the rest of my career. That is significantly more than I can say about the vast number of people engaged in this debate. Using the term “genocide” here does not make you a more emphatic, worldly person. It just goes to show that you do not actually understand what the term means, or the context in which you are using it.

[@jorgeortega6806]

what a lame way of outting yourself as a zionist

[@anthropomorphicpeanut6160]

Paul representation hahahaha

[@laurenschenck5355]

Study for obedience I loved this book so much and i give it 5 stars it deserves the prize ❤

[@doreene11]

I remember that you took a test to give you a bookerprize recommendation and you got The Bee Sting, turned out it was your favourite from all :)

[@reihino6347]

Here I was thinking Western Lane's cover was beautiful and had a vintage feel to it and then Jack comes for me and my neck looool xD

[@galateamiscelanea]

A mi me parece súper bonita la portada de Wester Lane

[@janethansen9612]

If the Booker is so inclusive where are the Australian or New Zealand authors?

[@Abebech6]

Okay well, in these situations it's important to remember these are our opinions. Because when it comes to Escoffery's debut I couldn't disagree with you more when it comes to your critiques. I really feel the need to defend this book. The characters made it into my heart and I want more. The mom - fantastic! I know having this lived experience even partially evokes even more understanding and empathy, which would be completely natural. This book just wasn't your cup of tea and wasn't for you in that sense. Fine. But it was well written and to me felt like a cohesive collection and was very much something different.

[@minano-nim6795]

I had the same feeling, over and over as I've seen other Booker prize short list reviews. I only had access to three of the books (If I Survive You, Western Lane and This Other Eden). For me, This Other Eden was torture, I could only finish it in audio form and even then I struggled. Really not my thing. And If I Survive You was honestly a candidate to my favourite read of the year. But going through the reviews and so on, I quickly realized the Booker prize simply isn't something that suits my reading preferences. And as a result, my opinions don't match at all with those of people who prefer the type of books and writing this prize is targeted towards.

[@dianaisme]

I need to read The Bee Sting!

[@Ankesadventures]

You called it!!

[@sebastianromero7085]

NOT HIM READING THE FINAL LINE OF THE BEE STING I ALMOST UNSUSCRIBEDDDDDDD

[@jamesgillock]

"The elephant is probably named Paul." 😂

[@ChemicalPenguinn]

I'd do this, but I don't think booker prize winnning books are written in a way that appeals to me

[@JahricLago]

Next, I want you to be a judge in The Booker Prize 2024!!! 🤗😍🎉❤️

[@EmyN]

These books look incredible