I tried every book on this year's International Booker longlist, here are my thoughts 🏆

In today's video, I'm sampling every book on this year's International Booker Prize 2024 longlist and giving you my thoughts! I hope this provides you with a solid jumping-off point of where you may like to start with your International Booker Prize 2024 longlist reading. Here's to another brilliant International Booker Prize season full of wonderful translated fiction books! 🏆
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[@MikeFuller-ok6ok]

Will Self in a Booker Prize review said that he read ( an adult intelligence level ) novel in 1hour 53 minutes! WOW!! It took me about 3 days to read all or most of an abridged children's version of 'Black Beauty' by Anna Sewell. I am a poor reader but these Booker Prize judges are geniuses!!

[@annie-mz9956]

The Silver Bone was a wonderfully translated. It keeps the authenticity of the language. It was nice to see something from Ukraine translated. I can see though why you might not like it

[@laurab2572]

The worst of Simpatia is the end, we only know how the main protagonist and the person responsible of some actions ends ups, but how secondary roles ends, It's not clear. And even the end is bulit up rapidly and It's a deux ex machina ending

[@emiliesbookishthoughts]

I've almost finished The Details, next up is most likely Kairos. Having read the short excerpts on the Booker website, my other favourites are Crooked Plow, Undiscovered, and Lost On Me.... and then some I can't remember.

[@StephanieP1901]

Kairos excites me too. I agree the first several pages are very promising.

[@antonypearce8477]

Thanks for the overview! I’m working my way through the list currently. My favourites thus far are “Not a river” and “The Details” both very powerful but in massively different ways. Not a river has a Greek tragedy feel but one written by Cormac McCarthy. That said Selva Almada has her own very unique voice. I really liked the Details as it’s a quiet book that says so much about relationships and is so perceptively written, just wonderful. “Lost on me” was good but ultimately left me a bit indifferent, I can’t see it making the shortlist. I enjoyed “A Dictator Calls” but found the early sections a bit muddling, however it built to a really powerful book overall once you stick with it as it as a lot to say about state intervention in the Arts. That said I can see why it might not grab people. I liked the Undiscovered as it takes some interesting themes but ultimately left me a bit cold, possibly too theoretical. I’m working through the House on Via Gemito currently so won’t pass judgement yet. I really liked your take on Kairos so that’s moving up the list! Still loving the list overall though! Looking forward to your next post on this!

[@mary_yankulova]

Only 3 translted in Bulgarian. Read 2, so I plan to check Jente Posthuma.

[@SM-vr8dz]

Wow! Kairos was not going to be on my tbr but you’ve lessened my stance on that position. I have Crooked Plow and The Details.

[@EllenFelicity]

Oh I cannot wait to read Kairos!

[@Stu_winstonsdad]

I’m in the middle of of Mater 2-10 which leaves me with four of the 13 to read I have a copy of white nights hope have them all read by end of month as I’m part of the shadow blogger jury this is our 12th year of doing the longlist we used do the iffp before the booker international of books I’ve read so far I like the Kadare and wiener although I’d question if that is really a novel

[@LoptrL]

Good work on DNFing 'When a Dictator Calls' and 'The Silver Bone'. They succeeded in me wanted to know more about the historical periods but the books themselves were dull and unsatisfying (I really wanted more from the ear - if you know, you know). I loved 'Not a River' and I do keep thinking about it even though it was the first one from the list I read. I can't wait to hear what you think about 'Lost on Me', I've been very up and down with it. The only ones I don't intend to read are 'What I'd Rather (triggering); Mater 2-10 (not a fan of the themes); White Nights (can't get hold of it).

[@charlottemolloy]

I hated not a river and I am also thinking will lost on me and what I'd rather not both be Dnfs for me?

[@elisabethmangold2046]

I am loving Kairos, not through yet but will be high on my list. I have heard Erpenbeck talk about the book, which is based on her own experiences in the DDR, it made me want to read the book all the more. It is indeed a brilliant book on all levels

[@charlottemolloy]

So excited to keep reading this! Will this be this year's winner?! Not one person in the comments has said they haven't loved it yet so that's a great sign 😁

[@rebeccah.6587]

I'm actually most interested in Not a River and Simpatica, so it was unfortunate that you couldn't get ahold of those. I hope you will enlighten us on those later. I was thinking of reading Crooked Plow as well, but now I'm wondering if it might be a bit too disturbing for me. Do you happen to remember approximately how many sentences/paragraphs the author spent describing them chopping their tongues off?

[@charlottemolloy]

Oh the actual tongue chopping was only a paragraph. It was more the aftermath that was described.

[@becksinbits]

Your enthusiastic description of Kairos really makes me want to read it asap however I didn't get on with her other book The Visitation... Perhaps I should have persevered. Wonder whether you had read?

[@charlottemolloy]

Yes I read the visitation years ago and didn't get on with it at all. I think I managed to get through it but rated it 1*... So my advice is read Kairos! Not liking the visitation is definitely no indication! Hope you love it 😁

[@becksinbits]

@@charlottemolloy ahhhh interesting! We might be on the same wavelength then; I've just discovered your channel and it seems like a good fit. I'm off to buy a copy of Kairos 🙏😃❤️

[@charlottemolloy]

@@becksinbits pleased to hear it- happy you're here! 💕

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

you say that german writer writes so well she can't be human then she can only be an ANGEL charlotte haha no the great writing might be due to the translation as there have been cases where the translations were better than the original language anyway my fave booktuber who's in the UK looks like he's about to turn into a religious zealot so if you're in bali hope I don't see you kneeling on a prayer rug next time I tune in that would be too much right now⚛😀

[@charlottemolloy]

On balance, some of the more intimate scenes in the book would confirm she's 100% human 😂 and you have nothing to worry about there, Bali isn't muslim.

[@sarah-roadworthy]

The Silver Bone was a huge disappointment. Frankly, I'm very unsure why this book was nominated. Comedy in novels is so tough. I found Lost on Me more annoying than funny/quirky. I'm currently reading Crooked Plow. I'm going to give it a bit more time but I'm not being sucked in. As you can tell I'm off to a bit of a disappointing start.

[@charlottemolloy]

Yes, my concern with lost on me is that, whilst charming to start with, will it lose this and just become annoying for the next 200 pages...🤷🏻‍♀️😁

[@spexi513]

CHARLOTTE!!! Appreciate the video as always & especially love how how you come w these sample read reviews 📖 🪱💚

[@elisabethmangold2046]

Many thanks for these really helpful jumping off points! Kairos is so far definitely my number one. I have seen some interesting interviews Erpenbeck has given about the book, and wanted to read it even more! It draws on her own experience of growing up in the GDR I believe

[@charlottemolloy]

Yes its such a fantastic portrait of a lost time. Thank you for reminding me to check out the interviews! 😁