National Book Award for Fiction 2023 Longlist Reaction

The longlist for The National Book Award’s 2023 fiction prize is here! Here are my reactions to the books that made the list. Let me know what you think in the comments! Expand for more information. 👇
Links 💻
The NBA Website: www.nationalbo...
Further Viewing 🎥
Most Anticipated Books for the Second Half of 2023: • My Most Anticipated Bo...
My Monthly Wrap-Up Discussing Temple Folk: • Reading Wrap Up for Au...
My Friday Reads Discussing This Other Eden: • Friday Reads: Emotiona...
My Pulitzer Deep Dive on Tinkers: • How On Earth Did Tinke...
Last Year’s Longlist Reaction: • National Book Award fo...
Last Year’s Winner Reaction: • National Book Award fo...
The Longlist 📚
Chain-Gang All-Stars, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Temple Folk, Aaliyah Bilal
Ponyboy, Eliot Duncan
This Other Eden, Paul Harding
Loot, Tania James
Night Watch, Jayne Anne Phillips
A Council of Dolls, Mona Susan Power
The End of Drum-Time, Hanna Pylväinen
Blackouts, Justin Torres
Holler, Child: Stories, Latoya Watkins
My husband made a cookbook! Check it out here:
www.blurb.com/...
But wait, there's more!
Email: supposedlyfungreg-at-gmail.com
Storygraph: app.thestorygr...
Instagram: / supposedlyfun
Twitter: / supposedlyfun
Website: supposedlyfun....

[@seamusgaelic6447]

Book awards as 'tools of discovery'. I never heard it put that way and it is perfect! For me, that's really the only reason I ever pay attention to them.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It's definitely the way I approach them!

[@schoolbeginsaftercoffee4759]

The KZbin algorithm just blessed me with your channel. Truly enjoying your content.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you so much!

[@Kim_Janulis]

I am new to your channel but just wanted to say how much I appreciate all your thoughtful and descriptive reviews and new ideas for reads for me. Love watching your posts!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you so much! I appreciate it.

[@desertjim317]

I have only read This Other Eden and believe it will make the finalists list as well as The Booker Prize short list. Thanks for your brief synopsis of each book.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I think it has a good shot at both, too, but we’ll find out!

[@emmavd]

Thanks, Greg🌷While I was listening I added Temple Folk, A Council of Dolls and The End of Drum-Time to my wishlist. It does sound like an interesting and diverse list indeed!📚😊

[@shelleyaultman1193]

Thanks so much for the awards lists you give us - so many sound fascinating. The only ones I'd heard of are This Other Eden and Holler, Child. I will be reading up on them.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you for watching! I hope you enjoy any of the books you pick up.

[@ht6743]

Great list. This jury fully understood the assignment when others didn’t. Only surprised that Jesmyn Ward didn’t make the cut, but the snub is probably the best thing that’s happened for her Pulitzer chances.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I was a little surprised not to see her since she had won for her last few books (and also not to see James McBride), but the list is so interesting that I don’t feel too bad about it.

[@toweringtbr]

Absolutely loved Chain Gang All Stars! It was heartbreaking and so important. I'm interested in The Council of Dolls.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Council of Dolls sounds fascinating.

[@JuditHomolya]

I DNFed Chain-Gang All Star. I was very intrigued by the political aspect of the story before I started reading, but the author spent so much time on the gory details of the fights that I gave up on it. I didn’t want to read through a lot of (for me) dull violent scenes just to enjoy a few possibly interesting parts. The three most intriguing books on this list for me are Night Watch, A Council of Dolls, and The End of Drum Time.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks for the feedback on Chain Gang.

[@deborahaguruso]

I can't summon an interest in Chain-Gang All Stars, but agree that Night Watch, A Council of Dolls, and The End of Drum-Time might be interesting to me. Enjoyed This Other Eden (and read tinkers this week) and Temple Folk.

[@SupposedlyFun]

There are enough interesting books on the list to catch everyone’s interest somehow.

[@mariyamak]

I felt the detailed descriptions of violence in Chain Gang All-stars were necessary as a key point of the social commentary - but I'm not as affected by descriptions of violence, to be fair.

[@yomismo74]

I loved Justin Torres first novel, it's been a good while (it was published in 2011 if my memory doesn't fail)

[@cherylynlarking191]

Interesting and diverse topics. I look forward to reading several of them.Thanks.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks for watching!

[@torodka]

Chain Gang was just OK for me. One of my book clubs picked A Council of Dolls for November so I'll be reading that although I'm 22nd in line on Libby, so may take a while. Hopefully the library will purchase additional copies now that it's on the longlist.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Fingers crossed!

[@jaynelewis372]

Loot is fabulous as is Chain Gang. Nothing quirky about Loot, just a great story

[@SupposedlyFun]

That's good to know--thank you!

[@shawnlee220]

Loot. OMG I checked it out of the library because of the cover! 😂 I didn't get to read it before it was due but I do want to read it.

[@SupposedlyFun]

That’s so funny!

[@CalebBedford]

Ponyboy is good, but so dark. Excellent deep dive into addiction, and though it’s tough to read at times, it’s so well written!

[@SupposedlyFun]

That’s good to know-thanks.

[@sniffingthesheets]

Temple Folk sounds really up my street. I'll be very interested to hear your thoughts on A Council of Dolls if/when you get to it. Again, one I would be keen to read. Thanks so much for sharing, Greg!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks for sharing in the NBA excitement!

[@mradcaqbdb]

I’ve only heard of three, only one of which, This Other Eden, I’ve read. Actually, none of the other nine do anything for me based on the descriptions. Perhaps further feedback or the shortlist will light a fire for me. I’m actually not unhappy about my lack of interest in this list. Just tonight, I have booked my first trip back to London since just before the pandemic and it’s guaranteed that I will come back with a huge number of books from my trip. Early December. I have booked two plays already. First, the closing night performance of Frank and Percy with Sir Ian McKellen and Roger Allam, both of whom I adore. Second, HAMNET! OMG! So exciting!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Wow, that’s exciting! I didn’t even realize there’s a Hamnet show. But I love Ian McKellen so I’m very jealous.

[@mradcaqbdb]

@@SupposedlyFun Can you imagine the amount of tissues I will need for Hamnet?

[@SupposedlyFun]

I absolutely can’t!

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

I’ve only heard about three on the list. However I’ve read none of them.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It’s an interesting list.

[@scotthacker2265]

Enjoyed Chain Gang All Stars.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I'll catch up to it--and hopefully soon.

[@janethansen9612]

I thought Chain Gang All Stars was good, and I enjoyed the writing in This Other Eden. The only other title that appears to be readily available here (Australia) is Loot but perhaps some of the others will be picked up in the next month or two. A Council of Dolls sounds good.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It’s a very interesting list.

[@jorgem71962]

I tried to read "Loot" but DNF it. I could not get into it. I felt that it dragged and could not connect.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it.

[@spexi513]

Love how editing Greg is in black and white. I read Chain Gang Allstars recently and really liked it , I only wished it had the same level of backstory for 2 of the main characters as they did for some of the side characters….. but perhaps that was intentional to emphasize the 2 had become one another’s lifeline . Blahdiggityblah 📖🪱💚

[@SupposedlyFun]

I'll get around to it at some point!

[@bookofdust]

A bit heartbroken that the Heaven and Earth Grocery Store wasn’t on the long list, but I’m still predicting it to be on a few best ten fictions books of the year lists. I was also heartbroken that Fever in the Heartland wasn’t on the nonfiction list either, but at least Wager didn’t take any spot.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I agree that McBride will probably be on more lists by the end of the year. I was also surprised that Jesmyn Ward missed the list this year, but forgot to mention it (and also to double check that she would have been within the eligibility window).

[@lifewithpatti9531]

Loot, A Council of Dolls & The end of Drum Time are now on my TBR.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I hope you like them if you get to them.

[@alldbooks9165]

Night Watch has me intrigued.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It sounds so interesting.

[@sarah-roadworthy]

Funny, i've thought about Chain Gang All Stars as a possibility for the Pulitzer. It is very political, is very much about race and the prison system as a system of oppression. It is a scathing critique of America. This would be a great pairing with The New Jim Crow. I will say no more.

[@SupposedlyFun]

As much as I love the Pulitzer, I think it’s way too stodgy to get behind Chain Gang All Stars. But we’ll see! It would be a pleasant surprise.

[@Katie-ie1pp]

I'm a huge fan of Chain-Gang All-Stars so I'm super excited for its inclusion! I found an old post on my Instagram where I predicted it as a possible longlister for this prize last year when I read the ARC, which was fun to find! The one other book I've read from the list is Blackouts, which I appreciate and think is deserving, even if I didn't fully love it - I would compare my feelings to it to how you've described your own feelings about This Other Eden. I plan to read through the rest of the list as much as possible - I would say I'm most excited about the two short story collections but hoping to discover lots of good ones!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Wow, congrats on the prediction!

[@marciajohansson769]

Ahh, A Council of Dolls sounds very interesting. As someone of Scandinavian descent, The End of Drum-Time, Hanna Pylväinen piques my interest. I have read mostly Scandinavian Crime Fiction such as Jo Nesbo's The Snowman so it would be interesting to branch out.

[@SupposedlyFun]

End of Drum-Time does sound very interesting and unique.

[@annegibson6072]

I have read Chain Gang and This Other Eden. Chain Gang was not one of my favorites but it is me since I am not a huge fan of violence. We all know This Other Eden. I immediately put a hold on the A Council of Dolls. I have always been interested in the education of Native Americans. One of the books on the Nonfiction lists explores a similar topic. There is a book on the YA list that I am very intrigued by. It is The Lost Year: A Survival Story of the Ukrainian Famine by Katherine Marsh. These book lists are truly a tool of discovery

[@SupposedlyFun]

I haven't had a chance to look at the other lists yet, so I'm hoping to do that soon. I saw A Council of Dolls on Scribd!

[@PaulaBlazer-n7l]

Hi “just a dude on the internet”! I enjoy your thoughts and comments. Don’t worry about humans making harsh comments, I suggest they’re still on the road learning tact & gentle speak! OTOH some folks are just mean! Love ya❤

[@SupposedlyFun]

❤️❤️❤️

[@arp711]

Okay, nothing to do with books, but I must show my appreciation for you letting us know what your shirt says. Whenever I'm watching a video where the person has writing on their shirt, but you can only see a couple words, or the tops of the letters or something, it drives me bonkers trying to figure it out. I often end up commenting to ask, just because my brain won't let it go, LOL. That shirt is lovely!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Haha I love that it helps!

[@spexi513]

A Council Of Dolls added ASAP to TBR

[@SupposedlyFun]

I found it on Scribd, and I'm excited about that!

[@amandagarcia1419]

Woah! Council of Dolls sounds so interesting. Night Watch as well. Thanks for sharing/discussing these! ☺️

[@SupposedlyFun]

It really does sound interesting!

[@arlissbunny]

I read Loot last month and it is fabulous. It touches on colonialism from a number of different directions. It is deft and I fell right into it.

[@cmleidi]

I like the idea of a "cilantro type of book."

[@SupposedlyFun]

I've been saying that phrase a lot since it came to me. 🤗

[@joangavrilik3009]

Thanks! I’m new to following book prize lists and am enjoying learning about new and lesser known books and authors.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Book prize lists can definitely be fun to use for discovery.

[@melissamybubbles6139]

I might eventually get to a few of these. Who knows? I think I'm afraid that novels will make me feel too much. I normally read nonfiction so I can primarily think without feeling too much. That's part of it.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It’s never a bad idea to stretch the comfort zone a bit, but if it’s difficult then there’s no shame in sticking to nonfiction.

[@melissamybubbles6139]

@@SupposedlyFun Yeah. I need to work on that.

[@RoseArnoldd]

I loved Chain Gang 🎉 biiiig 5 stars

[@SupposedlyFun]

🎉

[@mariyamak]

Just a late reply re Chain Gang All-stars - this is one work that I think was very effective as an audiobook (I switched back and forth with the hard copy) - they did a great job with it. In general, some narrative issues but a very poignant novel - it's seen as a political, but I thought it was more of a social commentary/mirror.

[@myreadinglife8816]

I am looking forward to trying Chain Gang All Stars.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It sounds like a wild ride!

[@ChristinaStern-x9o]

I discovered your channel recently and am enjoying your videos. I was surprised that The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store wasn't on the list as I found it particularly powerful and simply enjoyable to read.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you! I agree it was surprising that Heaven and Earth Grocery Store didn't make the list.

[@Elizabeth-Reads]

Even though the NBA list selections are such different flavors each year, they seem to match my preferences more than other prize lists (with the possible exception of the International Booker.) Like you said so diverse, and unique. I had Chain Gang, Blackouts and Loot on my TBR, but I hadn’t heard of most of the others. I’m excited to check them out!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I do always appreciate how diverse the NBA is. They always do a good job having a wide array of stories.

[@user-yg6ft1iu1i]

Looks like a great List We have Temple People, Holler Child, This Other Eden and Loot but haven’t read any of them yet, I’m not sure if I’ll add any more to my TBR.

[@SupposedlyFun]

That’s a good chunk of the list even if you don’t go any further.

[@penelopegough6050]

Only one or two of these was familiar to me. So, yes a voyage of discovery indeed. Thanks Greg for the introduction to even more reading and new books.😊

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks for coming along!

[@bookish-bedlam]

The only one I've read is "This Other Eden" which I thoroughly enjoyed. Thanks, Greg.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you!

[@judybrown1624]

This is an amazing list. I have Chaingang on kindle, but haven't read any of these.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It seems like a solid list.

[@loriroemer1122]

I hadn't heard of any of these books, I am clearly out of the loop.

[@SupposedlyFun]

A lot of these were unknown to me, so I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[@shelleyaultman1193]

What's the "cilantro" aspect of a book?

[@SupposedlyFun]

Cilantro is something that some people like and some people are incredibly averse to. So for a book, it's something that some people like and others absolutely don't.

[@AvAlanchian]

It’s what some of us call an anchovy book - not for everyone

[@shelleyaultman1193]

Thanks