every book on the 2023 booker prize shortlist

see u on nov 26 !!
main channel: / thejackexperience
Instagram: / jackbenedwards

[@michaelawoods9144]

3 of them were written by Pauls, huge year for the Paul community

[@divyak9980]

I was chuckling to myself about the "Abundances of Pauls" this year. Not only are there 4 Paul authors in my TBR I read the first 3 Dune books and the main guy is Paul.

[@Ifearnocolors13]

Manifesting that Jack becomes the Caesar Flickerman of the Booker Prize.

[@shanna9821]

What a reference 😂

[@alyanaiqbal1436]

Not me reading mockingjay rn😂

[@starlight5232]

i JUST read the hunger games ahahhahshahaj

[@gracexcon]

I'm so bummed, my poetry teacher's book was long listed, but didn't make it to the short list: How to Build a Boat by Elaine Feeney

[@yunjinswifeyyy]

I will definitely check it out!

[@urbaneblobfish9624]

Wow being long listed is still so amazing! She should be proud!

[@bonjosireads]

‘if i survive you’ is SUCH a good title omg it makes me wanna read it immediately

[@felixhaas8218]

JACK video idea: an overview of the different book prizes and stuff that'd be so cool to learn about!!

[@Simone-xb3fb]

Yessss!! Especially for all of us us living outside of usa or uk all the differen prizes can be a bit of a mystery :D

[@Auggie26]

Can you ask each author for a book recommendation(s) and do a video of reading them all?❤

[@barbaradora]

Luck is when opportunity meets preparation. It’s because of your hard work that you got ‘lucky’ Jack. Bravo! 9:31

[@YeahThisIsLife]

I am so happy for you to be getting such a huge opportunity Jack! Can't think of anyone who deserves it more - you're radiant when you speak about books and I'm sure the Booker Prize folks reached out to you for hat very reason! So excited to watch you come November

[@arancastells]

I would love it if you read Boulder by Eva Baltasar (shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2023), it was the first time a Catalan book appeared in the Booker Prize so it was a big deal in Catalonia

[@Mary-uq4ww]

Oh wow! A Catalan book shortlisted for Booker? That’s something I gotta check out for sure! Thank you for this comment, lots of love to Catalonia ❤

[@abi_underscore_2457]

As I work in a bookshop it's always so interesting to see which books get on the shortlist as it's fun to try and guess which one will win based on sales (and also maybe marketing because tbh because we've had a couple of these books in and they've never sold 🤫) Congratulations btw way on this awesome opportunity, I can't think of anyone who deserves it more!

[@aust_inc]

I read If I Survive You for a class last semester. It's quite the experience as it plays around with the concept of short story collections and novels and everything in between. A lot of great stories. I also got to sit in on an interview with Escoffery for the class and he's a cool dude, so if and when you interview him, you will walk away with a lot of knowledge of the craft.

[@user-ki1sb2du6t]

So excited to see your dreams come true Jack! I am so proud of you! You inspire us all to be our best selves as we pursue the ultimate literary life!🎉

[@erik_carter_art]

I'm so excited for you! You are going to do fabulously well hosting the live stream! You must be over the moon, but it's so well-deserved!

[@Goldlucky13]

so proud of you jack!! how exciting. really looking forward to your interviews and behind the scenes info on the event :)

[@hollyeatsbooks]

I’m so thrilled that you finally organised your bookshelves!! And that you’re hosting the livestream! Congrats legend ✨💜

[@nimitsonthalia3924]

The theme that bee sting shares - the ripple effect and time, is also shared by Alone with you in Ether by Olivie Blake

[@nimitsonthalia3924]

And since alone with you in ether came first I wonder was it inspired by it

[@mikaylarichards4822]

Your excitement is contagious!!!!!!!!

[@WordsCanBeLikeXRays]

Wow! I'm so excited for you, Jack! I feel like a proud Book Mama! Yay, yay, yay!

[@laurenschenck5355]

Love ur reviews so much Jack! ❤❤❤

[@Hello-wj6cp]

If any of you are interested in joining the 📚Book 📚 Club📚 we created in the community, we’ll leave the details in the reply to this comment :)

[@Hello-wj6cp]

There are over 2,200 of us in the community on red

[@Hello-wj6cp]

dit! And we have a monthly book club and also BYOB discussions :)

[@drsol23]

Hi! I’d love to join the book club, but I’m not understanding how to join. Can you clarify? Thanks!😊

[@spexi513]

Congrats on the gig- i actually heard you were from the Booker’s channel & was like whatttt ?!-yessss!!! 👀 forward to your reviews 📖🪱💚

[@AlexKahl]

YES! Stream‘s on my birthday! Thanks for this really early present :) very happy for you!!

[@constantineholmes]

I am so happy for you! I can't wait for November 26!

[@rmyra6777]

I was getting bored and was hoping if you would post a video or I would've watched your old videos...thanks for posting...also congratulations on your career highlight👏👏👏👏 you deserve it!!!

[@sascha1493]

3/6 books are written by a man named paul, that's kinda funny honestly

[@wordstowordlessthings]

nepaultism lol

[@maryseptihet]

@@wordstowordlessthings😂😂😂

[@circleofleaves2676]

It's impressive that there are not one but TWO debut novellists on the Booker shortlist.

[@thattinyfox]

I can't wait to hear your thoughts on these books as I wasn't personally interpelled btly the blurbs. I'm sure hearing you talk about these will make me add some to my tbr 😅 Congrats btw!!

[@SuperTech59]

Congratulations Jack!!

[@moonlightliberty]

Aaaaaah I'm so proud of you !!!! You beautiful human

[@fatimmbenga5721]

Congratulations on hosting the Booker live show!

[@monicagyves960]

Wow Jack congrats on the hosting gig!! Can't wait to read all of the books on the short list ♥

[@douloureux.]

So proud of you Jack 🖤

[@itaz6276]

“Youre not discovering something where people already lived, youre colonising it” quite relevant given the continuous Israeli illegal occupation expansions and displacements of Palestinians in the West Bank (plus imprisonment and control of Gaza civilians)

[@pudding_uwu]

That’s what crossed my mind too

[@AnotherEmi]

Congrats Jack!!🥳

[@arjinacar9669]

I have recently read Paul Lynch's Prophet Song and I must say I haven't enjoyed modern literature this much in a long while. The book touched me because of its plot since I live under an autocratic regime but also because of its poetic language. I found the narration very original and realistic for the conditions that the narrator experiences.

[@itaz6276]

Omg congratulations!!!!

[@dianaisme]

I don't think I'll have time to check out the books before november 26th, but I'll wait to hear your thoughts on them, so I know which ones will be worth reading. If I'm being honest they all sounds like solid reads!

[@Gwydda]

Congrats on hosting it!!

[@bookishdinostar]

a good time to be called Paul

[@gio_i22]

wow such an amazing opportunity, you deserve it!! we're happy for u jack :)

[@domokosjapi]

Your bookshelf looks so great

[@annie.cristales]

Looking forward to your reviews😃

[@laurenschenck5355]

Happy weekend Jack hope you are having a great day 😊

[@ellebannana]

Omfg how fun! They picked a great host. Looking forward to it 😊

[@annie-mz9956]

Congrats! I think the theme this years is family dynamics. Best of luck in your new role how exciting!❤

[@elisaflore2850]

Just as a note. If it's the Nigerian tribe that "this other eden" talks about it's pronounced ee-bo. The g is silent 😅

[@jack_in_the_books]

thank you!

[@eviepeevie2302]

Hi Jack, just wanted to aks when the long bookshelf-tour is coming 😋I have my popcorn ready 🍿😎

[@julietteflamand1116]

So happy for you ! 😀

[@queenbee4350]

OMG Jack, that's fantastic news! Congratulations.

[@marieo.a.9294]

The House Of Doors is my favourite even though it didn't made it to the shortlist. I'm so crazily looking forward to your livestream!!!!!!

[@imogentait5744]

I read Western Lane last week and I enjoyed it, but I was confused. It was not what I expected. I bought a paperback version and the whole blurb was not included - only up to “teenage girls struggle to transcend herself”. Therefore, the major theme of squash was not explicit from the cover art or the blurb (and I was super intrigued by both), which I’m not sure if I love or if it annoys me… As I have my own relationship with the game of squash - my father plays it and often spent more time at the squash court that at home - I’m not sure if I would have picked it up if that theme was mentioned in the blurb. Anyhow, I did enjoy the book and the story and I found it easy to read and I’m glad I did pick it up, it was a really great debut I think.

[@DiamondHobbit]

Wow, congrats!!!

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Exciting! Can’t wait to see your reaction to the end of The Bee Sting! 🐝

[@Maria-xl6sz]

A 'reading popular fantasy books" video next? Acotar, Cruel Prince etc. I am currently trying to get into fantasy and I'd love to hear what you think!

[@TheAlex808]

Jack living my dream.

[@nememe3676]

read Pearl by Siân Hughes which was long-listed and it was SO good. Can’t wait to pick a rec from this video!!

[@tryingtoputitintowords]

I was shocked Pearl didn’t make the short list

[@nememe3676]

@@tryingtoputitintowords exactly my thoughts. The fact that the ending wasn’t a typical grief closure left me so bittersweet.

[@t.a.k.palfrey3882]

This year's Booker shortlisted books still await me on my "to read" shelves, bypassed by others I was more keen to read. This is because Booker winners have increasingly become niche reads, rather than books for the well read hobby reader. Of the winners this century, so far, only seven have brought me genuine relaxing enjoyment. Only Shuggy Bain, Life of Pi, Blind Assassin, and Wolf Hall have been outstanding.

[@laurenschenck5355]

This other Eden sounds amazing and can’t wait to read it check it out 😊

[@user-gf8hl5sw5k]

Jack in the Booker Prize Ceremony is the single best thing that has happened in 2023

[@totiskyles5679]

OMG I'm so happy for you!! congrats on the good news I'm excited to see your reviews, I recently bought Days at the Morisaki Bookshop because of your smash or pass video and I loved it so much! on that note, my friend's birthday is coming up and I I wanted to give them a book as a gift, do you have any recommendations about books dealing with artists going through changes??

[@jemimadawson2883]

little fires everywhere maybe! the main character's mum is an artist and they go through so many changes in their life

[@totiskyles5679]

I'll check it out, thank you so much for the suggestion!!@@jemimadawson2883

[@rustywine7839]

Jack we can feel your nerves and excitement! I think everyone in this comments section is very very thrilled for you! Congratulations again!

[@user-gf8hl5sw5k]

That thing about being loud about your passions and opportunities attracting because of it is so true 🤧

[@jennyrbaker]

So far, I've read 3 of them, If I Survive You, Western Lane, and This Other Eden. Out of those, my favorite is If I Survive You. We'll see if my opinion changes after I read the other 3.

[@daKal481]

Jack, read "How to Say Babylon" a memoir by another Jamaican, Safiya Sinclair.

[@raventhechildofsob]

JACK I JUST BOUGHT YOUR BOOK AND I LOVE IT

[@irene2958]

The recommendation I got was "In Ascension" by Martin MacInnes. 😊😊

[@AReadsManga]

Ooh, you should definitely do the International Booker too! There were some great translated titles this year!

[@Hippolyta.]

this is the year of Paul for the Booker Prize

[@shaunalinay2877]

Pls pls do a video on your favourite irish books. Im so bad for not knowing good books written by irish authors even though Im irish 😂

[@read_with_chloe]

*adds every single one of these books to my already infinite tbr*

[@tallactordude]

I just happened to read a great review of “The Bee Sting” about three hours ago. It sounds very intriguing.

[@rustiqjoy]

As a Jamaican I am really hoping that If I Survive You wins. I read the book about a year ago and I still remember it very well. Very good book. Hope you like it.

[@fare4548]

Jack just wanted to say love the videos and i would love if you could read some Bosnian literature like Legend of Ali Pasha and Dervish and Death

[@jemimadawson2883]

I would love if you would give an opinion/short review on all the booker prize winners you have read so far!

[@isaaclumley2692]

That is a lot of Pauls

[@midwesternprincess]

inspired me to read these and make a video on it

[@urbaneblobfish9624]

Step one of our plan to have Jack take over the Booker Prize and eventually the world is underway.

[@aditipatil5251]

Question for the authors- if not their own book, which other book from the shortlist they wish should win?

[@nataliasaprykina3463]

Congrats!!! You deserve it🎉

[@xanthippikipou2531]

Congrats🎉🎉🎉

[@rosepetal34]

great year for Pauls

[@jaypaul5388]

can we have a moment for how stunning Jack's skin is?????? leak the routine king

[@joanabarata8293]

i need to know what is the criteria for the bookshelf!!!! is there a criteria, an order, a reason behind the organization of the books?? i need to know....please!!!!!

[@anjiandrada1853]

"i love me some sad reading" is an understatement for you Jack 😏

[@belhypotheque6417]

Very exciting. Is the Booker Prize the oscars of the book world or is that the Pulitzer? Oh, and I love author interviews. I am always trying to imagine what an author is like when I read their books or what they think so I will really enjoy that part.

[@gatinhopretolp]

I came to the comments to see how many of you are offering to ''tickle his pickle''.

[@30secondsflat]

I know this has nothing to do with the Booker, but just wanting to say the bookshelves are looking enviably stunning

[@constantineholmes]

It's so frustrating because many of the books on the Shortlist are difficult to get in Canada.

[@LunabirdBookclub]

Why did I get a bit teary-eyed when you talked about shouting about your passions? You put that so beautifully! And I'm so glad that your passion and enthusiasm has led to such a brilliant opportunity 👏

[@radbu1075]

Can you link to the quiz on the Booker Prize site? I can’t find it 😢

[@zurcannie1130]

❤you inspired me to read books 📚

[@adonaldson8912]

Can we talk about the number of Pauls on this list?? goddamn!

[@sabrinameyer3304]

Putting my money on Paul

[@mihxiii]

the list: This Other Eden, Study for Obedience, Prophet Song, The Bee Sting, Western Lane, If I Survive You

[@Scarletfoxcos]

Great list! Can anyone explain the difference between the shortlist and longlist? That would be great!

[@agentvenus4140]

longlist is basically the books initially selected as nominees for the prize, and a shortlist is a list of books selected from the longlist that are nominated as the final contenders. you can think of it as semi-finals vs finals. hope this helps!

[@LinnieCat]

Diverse but still more men named Paul who made it to the shortlist than women at all 😅

[@simerchawla5276]

Make a video on all books with just vibes and no plot. Like sally rooney books

[@sparklezks4557]

I don't know why and this is off topic, but the book shelves are looking like a green screen in this video

[@annushankar3032]

I love that there’s 9 likes even though the video was uploaded 55 seconds ago. Jack always delivers

[@AO2437.]

2:55 Tragedy is the higher form of art so… you know