‘Enlightenment’ by Sarah Perry- The 2024 Booker Prize Longlist

[@thaliad6759]

Best review of this book that I have seen! It was my first Sarah Perry and I look forward to reading more of her books.

[@BobTheBookerer]

Ahh, thank you so much! And yes, I found something about her style so captivating!

[@cindyhaiken5644]

I completely understand why this book is not for everyone, but it was my favorite of the 13, and I thought it was a very strong longlist. Truly a special novel.

[@BobTheBookerer]

Yes! Such a touching book!

[@GuiltyFeat]

I loved this book and I’m jealous that you still have Perry’s Essex Serpent to look forward to. I think this is an exploration of human kindness and there is a suggestion that the purest form of love may be Platonic or unrequited. Beautifully written, devoid of cynicism.

[@BobTheBookerer]

Yes! So excited to read more of hers! And I love that reading of it- you’re so right about her uncynical approach. Her style felt so human and warm.

[@leolamoon11]

This is a beautiful novel. I also have plans to read Essex Serpent now, as this is my first Sarah Perry book. Great review!

[@BobTheBookerer]

Thank you! And yes! I really want to read more of hers!

[@abookhug]

I really liked it even if it wasn't perfect, I was so happy to see Sarah Perry nominated :) Happy to see you liked it, it looks like on booktube it gets mostly negative reviews.

[@BobTheBookerer]

Yes! And yeah, it seems to have not fully landed for a few people, which is fair, but I’m glad a book with this much heart made it onto the list.

[@niles9542]

I thought Melmoth was even better than The Essex Serpent. Enlightenment is now on my list. Thanks for the review.

[@BobTheBookerer]

Ooh, good to hear! I’m so excited to delve into her writing!

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

Hearing your review, I think I may have done the book a disservice by listening to it on audio. You mentioned emails etc, which of course, I didn’t see.. I liked how the story began, but not how it ended.

[@BobTheBookerer]

Ahhh, that’s interesting. Did the audiobook make it clear when it was switching to an email?

[@DrugsPlus]

will you be giving your shortlist predictions + wishes once you've read them all?

[@BobTheBookerer]

@@DrugsPlus Yes! I put out a video last week with an overview of the longlist and its themes, and then my personal choices for the shortlist (it’s called: ‘The 2024 Booker Prize Longlist- A Review, Key Themes and My Shortlist Hopes’) I am often so wrong with my predictions, and especially this year I can’t get a read on the judges, but I talk about a few I’m fairly certain will make it. Thanks for stopping by!

[@janethansen9612]

It felt so promising at the start, but ultimately didn't work for me. Overwritten and at least a hundred pages too long.

[@BobTheBookerer]

Ahh, totally fair. Yeah, some of the middle part could have easily been cut without losing much development I think, though I liked the overall effect of the book.

[@the_snicklefritz]

This was my least favorite from the longlist unfortunately. Simply couldn’t get past how antiquated the characters felt despite the novel being set in the nineties and 2000s. I’m not a fan of Victorian novels so I think this just wasn’t for me. I am surprised it made the longlist

[@angelagoodwin2105]

The language was wrong for the time period!

[@BobTheBookerer]

Aha yes! I was a bit jarred whenever the year was mentioned, because I was definitely imagining a good 80 years earlier at least! I guess it was to make the main character seem a bit more detached from the others, but it was odd at times.