Savidges' Women's Prize 2023 Shortlist Predictions

[@leenanorms]

This was a delight! We agreed on so much.

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Yes! Although really not on Pod 🤣🤣🤣. LOVED your categories idea 🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@Laura_D]

Great video. How lucky you are to have someone to read so many books with and then discuss them. (I, too, worry about the loss of play in childhood. It’s so important developmentally and psychologically.)

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Thank you Laura. I really feel for the children of today 🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@mariasmiles68]

I love both of your channels and always fun to see you both in a video. A shared love of reading is a wonderful thing❤📚

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Indeed it is 🧡🧡🧡🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚

[@spexi513]

Agree big time w Bandit Queens being perfect for screen- idk if I watched or read the gun scene it was so cinematic. 📚 🪱 💚

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Glad you agree 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚🧡🧡🧡

[@fionakelly3565]

Oh, loved this, as always, and adore your jumper, Louise!

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Thank you. Pressie from the long-suffering husband 🫢🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚🧡🧡🧡

[@daysleeper1989]

This was fantastic to watch. Now I feel more intrigued about Trespassing and I'm a fan.

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Ooo. Will you have a go at both? 🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚🙏🙏🙏

[@hanaalfayez7150]

I managed to keep myself from knowing what the shortlist is until I finish your video 😂 now I am gonna head to Simon’s channel to watch the shortlist reaction video. This was entertaining and enlightening ❤ thank you for sharing your thoughts 🙏

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Thanks for joining us 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚🧡🧡🧡

[@wooshell11]

Excellent. I had 4 of the same on my shortlist: Trespasses, Bandit Queens, Demon Copperhead and The Marriage Portrait. But also went for Wandering Souls and I'm a Fan. Really looking forward to finding out what the real shortlist is tomorrow. 🎉

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Ooo 👍Wonder what you will make of it 🤔

[@user-iu4ws6vh5s]

I always enjoy videos with you two together and particularly enjoyed the way you revealed your picks.

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Thank you 🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚🙏🙏🙏

[@carolewatson2113]

What a Tuesday treat! Been looking forward to this post / fantastic rambling

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@leonelarodriguez4441]

Love you both! This was such a fun video, really made my day.

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

That’s lovely 😊

[@claresutton7199]

Thank you so much for doing this again it’s so much fun to hear from you both. Very excited for the short list. I think we have four in common but I would go see I’m a fan and I also loved Homesick so that’s going on my list ❤

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

We just love it 😍

[@karenmoore4430]

I just finished The Marriage Portrait and Wandering Souls this weekend. Two totally different books. Cecile Pin is going to be a new favourite author of mine.

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

I think Cecile Pin is definitely one to watch. Wonder what she’ll do next? 📚📚📚🧡🧡🧡🙏🙏🙏

[@charlottemolloy]

Wow! What a fantastic video explaining all of them so thoroughly, loved hearing from you both, and the fact that you've read all 16- what a feat!

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

It was an absolute joy reading this longlist. So glad you enjoyed it 🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚🙏🙏🙏

[@lozzyjohnson85]

Settling with a cuppa. My favourite video you two do together!

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Thank you 🙏 🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@carrie2105]

I loved this! So many of your thoughts are exactly on point. I agree with the final Savidge shortlist, which is SO interesting because the novels were so strong, except that I'd love to see Wandering Souls in place of The Marriage Portrait. Thanks for sharing..

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Lovely to be in harmony 👍👍👍🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@HannahGreendale]

Five out of six predictions correct! 😃

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

😀

[@emmavd]

Thank you so much, Louise and Simon!🌷I’ve read The Marriage Portrait (lovedi it!) and I’m a Fan (liked it very much). I’ve just started Black Butterflies (inspired by your dedicated video). I’m also going to read Trespasses. Looking forward to the shortlist announcement!😊📚

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

I’m now counting down the minutes! 😊🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚🙏🙏🙏

[@mayaf1106]

Thank you both for this review, really enjoyed it.

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@rebecca8366]

Enjoyed every second of this!

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Thank you 🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚🙏🙏🙏

[@elaineray245]

Loved this video, thank you both ❤

[@elaineray245]

You both do so well to get them all read 📚

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚🧡🧡🧡

[@YourTrueShelf]

One of my favourite videos of the year!! Thanks so much to you both x I've only read 8/16 so far, but for me, memphis is my favourite, followed by black butterflies. Loved hearing your thoughts x

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Thanks so much for joining us! Wonder what you will make of the actual shortlist 🤔🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@spexi513]

I’ve read 6 on the longlist and Demon Copperhead remains my undisputed champion, though I thoroughly enjoyed all 6.

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

I can absolutely see why 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚🧡🧡🧡

[@janepeacock3704]

Hi Both - I really enjoyed your shortlist predictions presentation 🤓

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Thank you 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚🧡🧡🧡

[@twinny555]

Im so pleased you both enjoyed bandit queens so much. I thought it was absolutely brilliant and the way the writing presented female relationships was chef’s kiss 😘 also pleased to see demon copperhead there because it broke my heart and the end really left me hoping that life would work out for him.

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Totally agree 🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡☺️📚📚

[@philnasmith9755]

❤ This was a lovely discussion which I thoroughly enjoyed despite having listened to reviews of all of these books; some of them numerous times. Such an exciting long list and what a challenge it will be for the judges to eventually to eventually pick a winner. For me - and I say this with genuine appreciation for your research and attempts to keep your videos fresh and entertaining - this format was more exiting than the “Buddy Read” format. And then - Tan Twan Eng has just published his third book. His first two books are on my top twenty favourite books ever - may I extend a challenge to both you to a combined review of all his books.

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Love your challenge and thanks so much for your feedback. It’s always good to know what viewers genuinely feel 🧡🧡🧡🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚

[@flippinpages6550]

this was so fun to watch and makes me want to read several of the books.

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@katrinamuritala3207]

My top 6 wondering souls black butterflies marriage p deamon copperhead fire rush dog of the north

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Ooo. Wonder what you’ll make of the real list 🤭🧡🧡🧡🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚

[@leeh4343]

Hehe when Simon took Stone Blind off the pile I was like “hey it’s Louise’s turn!” 🤣🤣 look forward to this video every year, always an absolute joy 😊

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

That was my internal monologue 🤣🤣🤣🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@jennymcevoy8961]

Love the two of you ❤❤❤

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Awww ☺️

[@readingfastandslow]

I loved Bandit Queens! So glad you both loved it too 🥰📚

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚

[@Jennikreads]

this was a pleasure to watch!

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@KristinKravesBooks]

I'm so happy about the love for The Bandit Queens since my copy is staring at me from my shelves right now. Even more excited to pick it up!

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Hope you enjoy 😊🙏🙏☺️🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@leannerenowden]

Such a fun video to watch - thank you both! Absolutely gutted you didn’t pick Wandering Souls, it’s made me nervous for tomorrow 😂 I didn’t get on with The Bandit Queens but now I’m thinking I may need to re-read it…

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Glad you enjoyed our pondering. Don’t bother with Bandit Queens if it’s not your cup of tea #somanybookssolittletime 🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@benreadsgood]

The video I have been waiting for - loved it! It really is an enjoyable longlist, so thank you for sharing your thoughts (especially for the ones I didn’t get to 😅) I had 5 picks in common across your 8, and 4 from your final 6. I’m A Fan is my absolute favourite this year, so I’m rooting for it!

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Ooo. Wonder what you will make of the shortlist 🤔 So glad you’re enjoying our waffle 🤣🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@carolynmonahan2488]

So FUN.

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚🙏🙏🙏

[@CharlieBrookReads]

I am with you with I’m a Fan. I loved it and infuriated me equally but I feel all that was purposeful and I would definitely pick up more from the author in the future. I recommend the graphic memoir about Phoolan Devi by Claire Fauvel if you want to learn more about the inspiration behind The Bandit Queens. Loved listening to both your thoughts 😊📚

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Thanks for the recommendation. Hope you enjoy the shortlist! 🧡🧡🧡🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚

[@18Alpine]

I am so hoping Louise Kennedy will make it on to the Short List. It has been years since a book made me physically cry. Obviously many books have broken my heart, but this one somehow got to me. I adored her prose. It left me devastated because why can we not all just live and let live?

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Yes, that is precisely the question the novel addresses so very beautifully. 🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@charlottecantrell6110]

Oh how I love this video every year! So interesting that this year was my blip year. I have t been blown away by any of the ones I’ve read! And I really didn’t like Pod and Stone Blind at all. Not going to bother with Glory unless it gets shortlisted. I did enjoy The Marriage Portrait, Cursed Bread, Trespasses, and Memphis. Still got to finish Bandit Queens and start Demon Copperhead.

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Isn’t book taste a fascinating thing! So glad that you enjoy our thoughts. Hope you approve of the real shortlist🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@allisonryder4781]

❤a lovely afternoon with you both, thank you for your thoughts and the fun! I’m excited to hear what the shortlist will be tomorrow! Have the Savidges predicted the 6? 🤔 we shall see!

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Glad you could join us. 🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@cindyhaiken5644]

I can’t quite make out if this is your predictions or your personal favorites (or if they are one and the same). My personal top six are quite similar to the six you came up with, but my predictions are fairly different because it’s been rare that my favorites do well (although it has certainly happened). It’s always a delight to watch the two of you together and to feel as though I am sitting at the table with you. I’m really looking forward to the shortlist announcement and to your reactions!

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

So glad you made it to our table. Definitely my personal favourites and I think so for Simon too. By being on the Longlist they fulfil the Prize criteria anyway. 🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@theinquisitiveginger5864]

5 mins in and inspired to do this next year! 😊😊

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Yay! 🧡🧡🧡🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚

[@amandainoak]

I love when you 2 do videos together! Curious, have either of you read Say Nothing (about the history of the Troubles) or Empire of Pain (about the American opiod crisis)? Both written by the same author. I had to stop reading Empire of Pain because my anger was just so heavy...

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

No! Thanks for the tip-off 🙏🙏🙏🙏👋🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@HannahGreendale]

I just adore watching both of you chat books together. I agree this year's longlist is superb; definitely my favorite of any longlists I've read prior. ☺ Footnote: I'd say there's a lot of rape in Pod, and some sex.

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Extremely valid point about Pod. So pleased that you’re enjoying the content ☺️🧡🧡📚📚📚🙏🙏🙏

[@creationspast.janebowell1903]

Thank you so much for this vlog it was so interesting and I agreed with a lot of what you both said -I loved Bandit Queens . How exciting tomorrow is going to be 🎉 No never enough 😂

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Bless you! I LOVE Bandit Queens 👸🏼 Fingers crossed 🤞🤣🤣🤣🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚

[@creationspast.janebowell1903]

@@louisesavidgemuses4135 lots of thoughts on the short list that I will keep to myself :) as my granny taught me :)

[@audreyh7892]

Have you read "Pretty Birds" by Scott Simon? You might like it if you liked "Black Butterflies".

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

No. Another for the wish list! 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚🧡🧡🧡

[@anitahayne8621]

I really enjoyed Trespasses very much. I liked Cushla’s mom because she was such a hot mess. I really adored little Davy. I would love to see Maggie O’Farrell win another one. I am so glad to have found Simon’s channel so many years ago. Every time you were on his channel, I asked him if he could have you on his channel more. 😂

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Thank you for doing that - all of this bookish stuff brings me so much joy. 😊😊😊😊🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@cathrineboysen1017]

🧡📚🧡

[@enidlacob1157]

I loved loved The Bandit Queens I hope it wins 2:05

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

🧡🧡🧡🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚

[@mradcaqbdb]

Ooh, I think the con you both gave for Memphis is the one that set the author off against other reviewers. That was the thing that made me say no to reading Memphis and frankly, I hope it is left off the shortlist. So far, I’ve only read Cursed Bread, Trespasses, (15 pages of) I’m A Fan (before DNFing), and Wandering Souls. Of those, Wandering Souls and Trespasses, in that order, were my clear favorites. I thought Wandering Souls was breathtakingly beautiful once it all came together in the last quarter of the book. I am still not positive how I feel about Cursed Bread, but it’s got 4.5 stars from me currently. I have Black Butterflies on order, The Bandit Queens on hold at the library, and I still have The Marriage Portrait and Stone Blind here to read. I was glad to hear both your thoughts on Pod as I’ve just passed it on to someone else unread. Can’t wait to see what the judges have done to whittle down this list. I can’t say that I agree on the strength of the longlist as there were many that didn’t appeal to me at all, but that’s the beauty of books; we all like different things. P.S. I’m the one (or one of the ones) who doesn’t like the sound of Natalie Haynes taking the piss out of Perseus. I still plan on reading Stone Blind, but I might give it a bit of time before I pick it up. Having just read Clytemnestra, the perfect myth retelling, I’m not sure I’m ready for one that I might not enjoy.

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Great to get your insights (as ever). I too love the way that books can both divide and unite opinion. Do hope you enjoy the next on your list more and keep me posted with how you get on. 🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@mradcaqbdb]

@@louisesavidgemuses4135 I just finished Black Butterflies. Totally blown away. Just brilliant. Very happy it made it to the shortlist!

[@theinquisitiveginger5864]

Fav video 🫶🫶

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@susprime7018]

Are you having a Fanta Simon, a comfort drink, it is for me, red wine is a comfort drink too. Animals that are given human thought and voices do not work for me, Perestroika with Dolphins or more French Exit (possessed cat)? Very enjoyable, thank you Louise and guest.

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 So tickled by ‘and guest’. Manythanks 🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@paulnorfolk2597]

Watching you both together for an hour was an absolute treat! Still would've watched if it was 2 hours long 🤣. Some really interesting novels and I'll definitely be choosing a couple to purchase. Looking forward to your next video. Always make me smile . 🙂🙂

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Bless you! So glad you enjoy our content. We absolutely love making it and often wonder if we go on too much. Your feedback is really appreciated 🙏🙏🙏🤣🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@juliequick5526]

I just disagree but that’s the eauty of reading! I can’t wait for your discussions and I bow to your superior 8mpressi9ns 💖

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Reading is a level playing field; no right answers or opinions. That’s the beauty of it. 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚🧡🧡🧡

[@ave807]

Kind of confused, the Demon Copperhead edition you’re holding up is saying Winner of Women’s Prize for Fiction 😢

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Think it says shortlisted for 😊

[@katrinamuritala3207]

Are you going to watch little life

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Hope too 🧡🧡🧡🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚

[@loruffa]

The Bandit Queens stands out to me the way Piranesi did the year that won. It makes me so happy seeing all the love it's been getting

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Agreed 🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚

[@paulaallison9239]

This was great. I enjoyed your comments (and his!) and the thoughtful selections. I like the positive nature of your commentary, even with books you did not get on with. I wonder whether you have seen this kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4PNgGBnrp55bqs I really tuned in with the analysis of the relationship in Trespasses - made me think.

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Thanks so much for the link. Will have a listen 🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚