Women's Prize 2024 longlist discussion & shortlist predictions with Anna

Anna & I are back to discuss every novel on the 2024 Women's Prize for Fiction longlist and make our shortlist predictions. Click ‘Show More’ for info & links.
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My video discussing the books shortlist for the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction:
• Women's Prize for Non-...
Predictions video with Anna: • Women's Prize for Fict...
Women's Prize for Fiction: womensprizeforfiction.co.uk
Shortlist announced: April 24
Winner announced: June 13
The longlist and purchase links:
Hangman - Maya Binyam
tidd.ly/49RX2ot
In Defence of the Act - Effie Black
tidd.ly/3P4ShQG
And Then She Fell - Alicia Elliott
tidd.ly/49RmXwI
The Wren, The Wren - Anne Enright
uk.bookshop.org/a/9054/978178...
The Maiden - Kate Foster
tidd.ly/3V3uXXd
Brotherless Night - V.V. Ganeshananthan
tidd.ly/431yJlN
Restless Dolly Maunder - Kate Grenville
tidd.ly/4c0Mx4n
Enter Ghost - Isabella Hammad
uk.bookshop.org/a/9054/978178...
Soldier Sailor - Claire Kilroy
uk.bookshop.org/a/9054/978057...
8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster - Mirinae Lee
tidd.ly/3T6OHqy
River East, River West - Aube Rey Lescure
uk.bookshop.org/a/9054/978071...
The Blue, Beautiful World - Karen Lord
tidd.ly/3v2Z06J
Western Lane - Chetna Maroo
uk.bookshop.org/a/9054/978152...
Nightbloom - Peace Adzo Medie
uk.bookshop.org/a/9054/978086...
Ordinary Human Failings - Megan Nolan
tidd.ly/49VmZn4
A Trace of Sun - Pam Williams
tidd.ly/3wBYzAO
My full reviews of some of these books:
The Wren, The Wren - Anne Enright
• The Wren, The Wren by ...
River East, River West - Aube Rey Lescure
lonesomereader.com/blog/2024/...
Soldier Sailor - Claire Kilroy
• Soldier Sailor by Clai...
Western Lane - Chetna Maroo
• Western Lane by Chetna...
Nightbloom - Peace Adzo Medie
• Nightbloom by Peace Ad...
Ordinary Human Failings - Megan Nolan
• Ordinary Human Failing...
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
5:01 shortlist predictions
6:03 Brotherless Night
10:11 River East River West
13:08 Enter Ghost
15:56 In Defence of the Act
22:47 Soldier Sailor
27:26 Ordinary Human Failings
28:36 Hangman
33:43 Western Lane
37:19 The Maiden
40:42 Restless Dolly Maunder
42:58 And Then She Fell
47:53 8 Lives of a Century Old Trickster
51:04 The Blue Beautiful World
56:32 Nightbloom
1:03:16 A Trace of Sun
1:08:12 The Wren The Wren
1:10:18 Conclusion
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[@BookishAdventuresInWellbeing]

I think Anna is the only person on the internet Ive seen speak highly of Hangman so far! There’s so much joy in different perspectives.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

I really admired it as well and posted about it here: lonesomereader.com/blog/2024/4/9/hangman-by-maya-binyam

[@ACaseforBooks]

I must admit I was entirely oblivious to any online opinions and was so surprised to hear people didn't like it!!

[@RovingReader]

Wait, wait, wait! I'm just watching this, enjoying it, living my life and then decided to click on the links to follow Anna. YOU'RE THE AUTHOR OF PAGES AND CO?!! Those books are so lovely, so wholesome, I love them so freaking much! Thank you for your warm contribution to the world!

[@ACaseforBooks]

It is I!!! But seriously, thank you so much for the kind words - it means a lot! x

[@TKTalksBooks]

How refreshing to hear someone not bashing Hangman to Timbuktu and back !!! The most hated book I’ve ever seen on BookTube. I thought it was funny, and did exactly what it set out to do. I admire someone who is willing to stick their neck out and launch a very unpopular opinion. Well done, you two lovelies!

[@ACaseforBooks]

I do have to admit I was entirely oblivious to what anyone else thought of it so didn't realise I was sticking my neck out or that it was an unpopular opinion, but perhaps it was best I didn't realise! I stand by it!

[@TKTalksBooks]

@@ACaseforBooks WELL DONE, YOU!

[@hettiestroebel4952]

The two of you did an outstanding and very interesting video - love it❤️

[@booksandbags]

Finally, someone else who loved Hangman. It differed from anything else I read, but I enjoyed the journey. I want to read it again to catch what I may have missed. I've only read a few since I was focused on the Nonfiction list, but I enjoyed Hangman, Brotherless Night, In Defence of the Act, and I'm about to start A Trace of Sun.

[@jenniferkate7167]

I completely agree with Anna's thoughts about Nightbloom! The way Eric describes the plot makes it sound so wonderful, but unfortunately it did not live up to expectations.

[@cindyhaiken5644]

Always love listening to the two of you work through this list. I am Anna’s camp on this list overall. I feel that there were many much better eligible novels than several of the 16 and that the judges were looking for something different that for me personally was less appealing. My own shortlist would include Soldier Sailor, Ordinary Human Failings, The Wren, The Wren, In Defense of the Act, Brotherless Night and Western Lane. But I would be surprised to see more than a few of those on the actual shortlist.

[@the_snicklefritz]

Completely agree with Anna’s initial assessment of the longlist. I can’t wrap my head around how The Blue, Beautiful World made it over a book like Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel. Almost makes me think they are choosing books off genre and theme rather than literary merit. My Predictions: Ordinary Human Failings, Soldier Sailor, Enter Ghost, Brotherless Night, A Trace of Sun, and Western Lane (though I have a feeling this may be left because of how recognized it’s been in other prizes, in which case I’d swap in In Defense of the Act)

[@ACaseforBooks]

It's wild isn't it! And it's not even to say I didn't think The Blue, Beautiful World (which I've finished now) didn't have merit but to highlight it above something like Headshot blows my mind!

[@lindacarson5429]

I so nearly gave up on 8 lives at about the 100 page mark - like you Eric I felt quite frustrated & as if I couldn't get to grips with it but I'm glad I persevered! It came into its own for me after that although I found the ending a bit convenient. I'm not sure it'll make the shortlist but would be happy to see it there. So far Brotherless Night is my firm favourite from what I've read. Love these videos that you do with Anna especially as you're not afraid to differ on the books which makes for an interesting discussion.

[@user-yg6ft1iu1i]

Fun as always. Looking forward to video of the winners announcement

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Thanks!

[@pixelycat]

I agree with Anna that the overall list was overall kind of underwhelming. I have two left to read - The Maiden and Nightbloom. But from the rest, my predictions are: 1. Brotherless Night 2. Soldier, Sailor 3. Western Lane 4. Hangman 5. Ordinary Human Failings 6. Enter Ghost Reading the longlist was totally worth it just to discover Brotherless Night, which I have already pressed into the hands of a friend. I was really rooting for And then She Fell when the longlist was announced, but I agree with Eric that the structure was a bit messy and overwhelming, even with the shift at the end to bring it all together.

[@elizabethbarnard5137]

i always anticipate this vid so eagerly & it’s always such a wonderful watch !!! i’ve read all sixteen this year & have felt severely underwhelmed tbh. last year there were four i fell utterly in love with but this time there were none, really? maybe it’s because i read two of my three favs as my last two, but i was struggling through at points. i felt the absence of books that weren’t there, esp tom lake. my shortlist would be enter ghost, brotherless night, in defence of the act (clear fav three), the wren the wren, river east river west, and then she fell. you both always talk about them so well & put into words what i didn’t even realise i was feeling - i so agree with anna on nightbloom & the maiden, eric on restless dolly maunder, you both on a trace of sun! i love these conversations

[@ACaseforBooks]

Thank you! I definitely am going to try and get to And Then She Fell and Ordinary Human Failings, whether they're shortlisted or not! I'm glad I've read (most of) the list to have discovered Hangman, Enter Ghost and Brotherless Night but certainly a less exciting longlist than some previous years for me! I think there's potential for a strong shortlist though so hoping that feels more cohesive and exciting!

[@christinacampbellbooks]

I always love watching the videos the two of you make about the women's prize for fiction each year. I've read 3 of the books from the longlist so far. 8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster, Soldier Sailor and Restless Dolly Maunder. I'm really looking forward to hearing the shortlist announcement and reading lots more from the longlist ☺

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Thanks! 📚 Hope you enjoy more from the list.

[@EdwardGiordano]

Yas! Love these podcast-like episodes!

[@EricKarlAnderson]

🤗📚

[@bailzyrulez]

I’m four seconds in and already laughing. My favourite videos of the whole year

[@KyWill-ji8sg]

So interesting to see other people’s takes on the long list overall I really enjoyed the majority of the books. I didn’t really get on with River East, River West hated the characters and thought it was predictable but I loved brotherless night so moving be interesting to see what is shortlisted. I have my fingers crossed for in defence of the act

[@CharlieBrookReads]

Was so happy to see this appear this morning 🤩❤️ Putting the titles in a jar is a top tip, so thank you Anna!! I might do that next year❤ I loved In Defence of The Act too!! Brotherless night is favourite out of the ones I have read. Soldier Sailor was amazing on audiobook. So I recommend that. Added The Warm Hands Of Ghosts to my wishlist ❤ Thank you for sharing this with us. Always such a treat.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Thanks Charlie! It is a great method for reading a longlist. I’m so glad you were positive about Effie Black’s novel too. It’ll be so exciting to see what’s on the actual shortlist! 📚

[@ACaseforBooks]

I can imagine Soldier Sailor makes a great audiobook! And would recommend the jar technique for sure!

[@user-tk4od2ti3b]

I recommend giving 8 Lives more than 80 pages. I think the first portion of the book is a little scattered and confusing, but I think it starts to come together in a really powerful way.

[@emmavd]

Thank you so much, Eric and Anna, for your honest reviews!🌷I’d love it if you made a reaction video to the shortlist announcement and also about the books you’ve not finished yet. I look forward to hearing Anna’s final opinion on The Blue Beautiful World.

[@ACaseforBooks]

I have finished it and felt largely the same in the end! I did find it engaging to a point but the world-building never really felt grounded for me and I didn't really care that much about what happened to the characters. But also a lot of this is rooted in just not being a sci-fi gal!

[@emmavd]

@@ACaseforBooks Thank you, Anna!🌷

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

Hi Anna 🤩👋My way of approaching the long list was….There were 3 Irish books, so one has to make it to shortlist. I’d already read The Wren The Wren. I then read the other two. I’ve loved 5 of the six I’ve read. The only book to disappoint was Restless Dolly Maunder. So many great books from Australia and NZ were overlooked. My shortlist? Brotherless Night Enter Ghost Solider Sailor Ordinary Human Failings The Wren The Wren I can’t pick a 6th as I haven’t read enough. I’m currently reading And Then She Fell The Maiden Night Bloom I don’t think I’ll be finished by 24th.

[@drawyourbook876]

First, I don’t know where you are filming but I love the NaCl + H2O = 🌊. Also, would Anna and you consider doing the longlist for the Warwick prize for women in translation? I would love to see that.

[@comfortreadsJess]

oh my gosh yes the font in In Defence of the Act is so strange! Like, why? I found I couldn't engage with that book because of it's subject, but you've intrigued me to read Brotherless Night now for sure!

[@Rosiemayj]

I was happy to hear Anna's love for Katherine Arden's new book, I haven't read this one but love some of her other books. My top 3 that I'm hoping will make the shortlist are Enter Ghost, Brotherless Night and Soldier, Sailor, I also loved In Defense of the Act. I really didn't think much of The Maiden, there are so many books in this genre that are much better.

[@ACaseforBooks]

The Warm Hands of Ghosts is very different from the Winternight trilogy but I would say as good if not better!

[@Rosiemayj]

Thanks Anna, I'm really looking forward to reading it!@@ACaseforBooks

[@PabloReyesVelasco]

Giving love to 'Enter Ghost' and 'Western Lane' 🙏🤞

[@GemReadsALot]

Always enjoying watching this video every year. Unfortunately looks like I have completely opposite opinions on most of the books (although I haven’t read all of them yet.) For me, there is no overwhelming standout/s on this list compared to previous years. I think all the books have an equal chance to be shortlisted

[@lauracorsi3309]

My shortlist (kind of a combo of what I liked and what I think will make it from what others have said): 1. Brotherless Night 2. The Wren, The Wren 3. Ordinary Human Failings 4. In Defence of the Act 5. And Then She Fell 6. Enter Ghost. I also really enjoyed River East, River West and Western Lane so would not be mad if those made it. I have decided if Hangman is shortlisted then I will re-read it to try to understand the fuss as I did not like that one.

[@SarahAsYouWish]

Interesting takes as always. I’ve seen several negative reviews of River East, River West saying the characters were unlikable. I wasn’t sure I wanted to pick it up. I’m about halfway through In Defense of the Act and am really loving it. The tone of the book is such much lighter than what I was expecting given the subject, but it’s really making me reconsider my opinions. And Then She Fell and 8 Lives were both very good versions of what they were, and I thought they both did something new which I appreciated. They were both 4 ⭐️ books for me. Western Lane I enjoyed but it wasn’t a standout novel for me. I was not impressed by The Wren, The Wren and found I felt no connection to the characters. Nightbloom was good but not particularly special or memorable. I did not like how it felt we were being told so much of the story instead of being shown it through character interactions and dialogue. I’m looking forward to Soldier Sailor and Enter Ghost. The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a book I preordered but I haven’t read it yet.

[@ACaseforBooks]

You articulate it better than me with Nightbloom - it's the epitome of telling not showing!

[@KierTheScrivener]

My shortlist looks very similar to yours but with And Then She Fell and Nightbloom. I really loved In Defence of the Act. It really suprised me. It's interesting to hear your perspective on And Then She Fell. Elliot is a local author to me, so her writing and context came very naturally to me but I can get how it can feel very disorienting withput context. I felt that with Brotherless Night where it took a bit for me to get solidified in the story. The Blue, Beautiful World is one that I had a hard time with. I like scifi but it didn't work for me. I would have been fine dnfing Century Old Trickster, there were a few parts near the end that I liked but over all it was not memorable.

[@teneshaanderson4761]

Loved and then she fell

[@janethansen9612]

I have read thirteen of the longlist and my shortlist would include Soldier Sailor, Ordinary Human Failings, Enter Ghost and Brotherless Night. In Defence of the Act was good so I wouldn't be sorry to see that shortlisted, though I do get some vestibular symptoms and the font was troublesome. As for Hangman, I watched an interview with the author which gave me a much better perspective on the writing style, however in the end I couldn't connect to it.

[@leolamoon11]

I’ve read nine books from the long list. Some I’m choosing not to read based on reviews. Just started Brotherless Night. But one’s that I want on the list are 1-Enter Ghost, 2-Ordinary Human Failings, 3-In Defence of the Act, 4-The Wren,The Wren, 5-River East,River West. Read Blue,Beautiful World and have no idea how it got on this list. I am a fan of sci-if and this book fell completely flat in so many ways. Might read Hangman, but will definitely read everything that is short listed…

[@katrinamuritala3207]

I top books night bloom trickster trace of sun brotherless night the act and the maiden but I think solider sailer and enter ghost will be on the short list

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

I haven't read everything on the longlist but am rooting for Enter Ghost, Western Lane and Soldier Sailor. I wouldn't be surprised if The Wren The Wren made the shortlist but have to agree it's not Enright at her best.

[@TheEmzies]

Be interested in Anna's thoughts on And Then She Fell given the discussion in the bookclub. I would be happy with your shortlist. Currently reading Brotherless Night and really enjoying it.

[@ACaseforBooks]

I'm planning on reading it whether it's shortlisted or not!

[@lulu_frances]

I usually love the women‘s prize, but this year not one of the longlisted books has me intrigued, the topics all seem super heavy or not up my alley for other reasons. And the buzz and excitement around the longlist seems less than usual, in general?! Once the shortlist is announced I‘d love to get to at least one or two though.

[@judybrown1624]

I really wish we could get a list of submitted books. Wouldn't that lead to more book purchases in the long run? Any idea why they don't? I'm thinking about the Dublin Literary Award whose LL is all the books submitted by librarians world- wide.

[@ACaseforBooks]

I imagine it's because imprints can only submit a few books and there would be a lot of drama and hurt feelings from the many, many authors and agents they choose not to submit! I can imagine it's an arduous process for them choosing which to submit and involves a lot of heated internal politics and opinions!

[@dhauri1958]

Enjoyed the discussion. I couldn't make out the books that were mentioned during the Hangman segment. Could you let me know what they were? Thanks.

[@ACaseforBooks]

The authors we mentioned as references (I hope this is what you mean!) were Helen Oyeyemi, Rachel Cusk, Elif Batuman and Vendela Vida (The Diver's Clothes Lie Empty in particular)!

[@dhauri1958]

@@ACaseforBooks Thank you. More books to explore!

[@carolewatson2113]

Great video! Which classroom has a shelf of booze though?!

[@ACaseforBooks]

(I'm so sorry if you are joking and it's gone over my head but just in case I just wanted to reassure you this is my flat, not a classroom!)

[@carolewatson2113]

@@ACaseforBooks I’m a lecturer, I was joking!

[@ACaseforBooks]

@@carolewatson2113 Oh phew, I thought you must be but panicked and thought better safe than sorry..!

[@mradcaqbdb]

For me, this is the least inspiring long list in the years I’ve followed this prize. It almost feels like the judging panel gave up about two-thirds of the way though choosing their longlist and picked the rest almost at random. And I hate being that mean about it. I haven’t read any of the books yet, but I do plan on reading Ordinary Human Failings, Western Lane, and The Maiden. I did just put a hold on The Warm Hands of Ghosts, which I hadn’t heard of until Anna mentioned it here. As always, really fabulous discussion with Anna on these books!

[@lulu_frances]

Agree, for me it‘s also been very unintriguing this year - so sad, my fave prize usually.

[@mradcaqbdb]

@@lulu_frances Extra hard for me as I wasn’t impressed with the International Booker lists either. That’s usually my second favorite prize.

[@ACaseforBooks]

I so hope you enjoy Warm Hands of Ghosts!

[@mradcaqbdb]

@@ACaseforBooks Thank you for bringing it to my attention, Anna! I’m looking forward to it!

[@EricKarlAnderson]

No apologies needed for feeling how you feel! I hope you enjoy Ordinary Human Failings and Western Lane as much as I did. And The Warm Hands of Ghosts - I need to read that too! 😊📚

[@teneshaanderson4761]

I didn’t love the maiden

[@Eternalplay]

I found soldier sailor boring, repetitive and generally done better in other places

[@GailGiarrusso-jb4nb]

She speaks so fast. Can’t even hear the names of the books.