The Carol Shields Prize for Fiction Shortlist Reaction for 2024

The shortlist for the second-ever Carol Shields Prize for Fiction is here, and the contenders are really interesting. Expand for more information. 👇
Links 💻
The Carol Shields Prize Website: carolshieldsprizeforfiction.c...
Further Viewing 🎥
The International Booker Prize Shortlist Reaction: • International Booker P...
The Women’s Prize for Fiction Longlist Reaction: • Women’s Prize for Fict...
The Women’s Prize for Nonfiction Shortlist Reaction: • Women’s Prize for Nonf...
My Pulitzer Prize Predictions: • Pulitzer Prize Predict...
The Shortlist 📚
Birnam Wood, Eleanor Catton: bookshop.org/a/99775/97812503...
Daughter, Claudia Dey: bookshop.org/a/99775/97803746...
Coleman Hill, Kim Coleman Foote: bookshop.org/a/99775/97816389...
Brotherless Night, V.V. Ganeshananthan: bookshop.org/a/99775/97808129...
A History of Burning, Janika Oza: bookshop.org/a/99775/97815387...
The Longlist 📕
Cocktail: Stories, Lisa Alward: bookshop.org/a/99775/97817719...
Dances, Nicole Cuffy: bookshop.org/a/99775/97805934...
Between Two Moons, Aisha Abdel Gawad: bookshop.org/a/99775/97803855...
Loot, Tania James: bookshop.org/a/99775/97805935...
You Were Watching From the Sand: Stories, Juliana Lamy: bookshop.org/a/99775/97816362...
The Future, Catherine Leroux: bookshop.org/a/99775/97817719...
I Have Some Questions For You, Rebecca Makkai: bookshop.org/a/99775/97805934...
A Council of Dolls, Mona Susan Power: bookshop.org/a/99775/97800632...
Chrysalis: Stories, Anuja Varghese: bookshop.org/a/99775/97814870...
Land of Milk and Honey, C Pam Zhang: bookshop.org/a/99775/97805935...
My Affiliate Page on Bookshop: bookshop.org/shop/supposedlyfun
If you would like to support this channel, please feel free to use Super Thanks or the affiliate links to Bookshop, but please do not feel obligated. I appreciate your presence regardless.
But wait, there's more!
Email: supposedlyfungreg-at-gmail.com
Storygraph: app.thestorygraph.com/profile...
Instagram: / supposedlyfun
Website: supposedlyfun.com/

[@thecommunityreader697]

I discovered BrotherLess Night through this channel. It is my favorite book of the year so far. Highly recommend!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I'm so glad you liked it! I may try to catch up to it in the second half of the year.

[@donreadsalot4932]

Birnam Wood was outstanding. It still sits with me weeks after reading it. Don't hate. 😮😊

[@melanieflugels]

I just finished the audio version of Brotherless Night. Incredibly moving. I was heaving massive tears - the ones that hurt your throat - over my dishes. Such beautiful words tenderly and thoughtfully read by the narrator. Fave this year. Hard to think anything will surpass it

[@maggs4400]

I appreciate the background on Carol Shields. I believe The Overstory by Richard Powers was also a Pulitzer Prize winner/Booker finalist. Has anyone else done this? I could honestly see Percival Everett doing it next year. There's a lot of praise for James on both sides of the pond right now.

[@SupposedlyFun]

You’re right, The Overstory was a finalist for the Booker, too! I think those are the only two books that won a Pulitzer and were in contention. Pulitzer authors have been a finalist for the Booker, but for different books from what they won a Pulitzer for.

[@Jennikreads]

I read and vlogged the whole shortlist last year and it was really enjoyable. I need to get a move on this year, but both the carol sheild's prize list and the women's prize for fiction list this year are amazing and i want to read most of them. haha.

[@ReinReads]

Daughter is available at my local library on audiobook through Hoopla. It’s only 7 hours. Thank you for helping me find this one. Will be enjoying it this weekend while getting the garden ready.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I hope you like it!

[@ameliabarlowbooks]

I was a bit exhausted by the thought of another prize to follow this year, but this list is super refreshing and I’m chuffed to bits with the options! can’t wait to dig into Birnam Wood and Brotherless Night in particular ♥️

[@onmalsshelf4800]

I loved A History of Burning when I read it in 2023. Reading Brotherless Night this month

[@user-yg6ft1iu1i]

Also Carol Shields writes some great short stories. I agree I think the whole short list sounds pretty good. I haven’t read Birnam wood yet., my main concern with it is it can’t possibly can’t compete with The Luminaries. Don’t let the length scare you it’s worth every page. Just epic historical fiction, I’m counting on you to give it a try. 😉

[@nanimaonovi2528]

I love how self aware you are about what you have time to do and will prioritize.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I try! Or at least I try to give myself the grace of changing plans.

[@sarahhepworth]

Love your t-shirt! I've only read Birnam Wood from the shortlist. 4 star read for me so would recommend giving it a go. Of the others, I'm most interested in Coleman Hill and Brotherless Night.

[@MsPixieD]

Hi Greg, I had to pause KZbin on my TV to look up The Stone Diaries on Storygraph. Someone commented that they didn't always like award winners and nominees, but the books always left them with food for thought. Then they said with the exception of Shuggie Ba8n, which they did like, so I looked that up too, saw it was a complicated Scottish family story, and thought you might like it for your trip or your tbr if you haven't already read it -- or maybe you've already reviewed it? I only started watching Booktube last December. 😊 Books that I already had on my tbr: Birnam Wood, The Luminaries, Cocktail, Loot, I Have Some Questions for You, A Council of Dolls, Chrysalis. Judging books by their covers, Cocktail's cover is gorgeous, and Coleman Hill's is super cool. A Council of Doll's cover reminds me of the cover of The Seed Keepers, a Booktube recommendation that I might also put on my tbr, along with Coleman Hill and Daughter.

[@TheLeniverse]

I've read two of these. I didn't like Birnam Wood, even though I love both Macbeth and climate/environmental fiction. Long setup with unlikable characters followed by sudden thriller-style writing. Brotherless Night, on the other hand, I really liked. It's not in my top spot for the Women's Prize, but I'm rooting for it to get shortlisted there as well. Edit to add: Brotherless Night is not massive, it's medium plus? 😅 Bit over 350 pages.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I can't believe I had forgotten Brotherless Night is on the Women's Prize for Fiction longlist! I'm going to blame the sheer volume of book prize activity going on.

[@TheLeniverse]

@@SupposedlyFun Yes, it's wild! Why can't they spread it out? 😂

[@colleenjacobs8210]

I love Birnam Wood! I hope it wins!

[@SupposedlyFun]

We'll find out soon enough!

[@katrianamacmillan3342]

I finished Birnam Wood last night. The first half was slow, but the last half was like a Tarantino movie in book form. Take from that what you will when deciding whether or not to read it, but I loved it and couldn’t put it down.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Well, I’m not at all a fan of Tarantino movies, so 😬 Thanks for that!

[@katrianamacmillan3342]

@@SupposedlyFun too funny! Definitely wait for her next book haha

[@jordana99]

I read Birnam Wood and A History of Burning last year. BW’s characters are a bit hard to get into but the thriller aspect was compelling. Burning was interesting. I really liked A Council of Dolls, read it at your suggestion. Will of course check out the other SL books!

[@tiffanybarker7317]

Brotherless Night was exceptional! One of my favorite of the year so far.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It's been getting great feedback in the comments, so I look forward to catching up to it in the latter half of the year.

[@AdyGrafovna]

I have read Birnam Wood and Brotherless Night. I actually read both books with my mom. We did not like Birnam Wood. It is a cilantro book and, in this case, the cilantro tasted like soap to both of us. Brotherless Night was good… not a new favorite… but a very good book if you like to sink into some historical fiction. My mom likes books that are a bit “wordier” than I do and she is a huge fan of historical fiction as a genre. She LOVED Brotherless Night.

[@ariannefowler455]

I was sorry Between Two Moons wasn't shortlisted. It was a 5 star book for me. I would have also liked to see one of the short story collections on the list. I know short stories aren't for everyone but I like to see them on lists for variety. I read Cocktail and liked that collection. As for shortlisted books, I've only read Brotherless Night. It was fantastic. I'd like to read A History of Burning and Daughter. I love seeing this prize getting attention.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I am waiting for the day a short story collection wins a major literary prize and I am thrilled but most of the bookish world is losing its mind. 😂

[@ariannefowler455]

@@SupposedlyFun 🤣

[@MJ-in-Canada]

Thanks for your attention to the Carol Shields Prize, Greg. I read “Birnam Wood” and agree with a previous commentor that it’s a long set-up and that the characters aren’t particularly likeable. However, the story, particularly the ending, packs quite a punch; one I won’t soon forget. Clearly, not everyone shares my opinion so maybe you’re right about this being a cilantro book.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Someday, I may get curious enough to see where I sit on that cilantro scale for Birnam Wood.

[@lyramidsummer5508]

In the UK we call it a Marmite book.

[@derekvanlehn5012]

I read dances and thought it was a fascinating read. A bit heavy on the ballet terminology but it didn’t take me out of the story nearly as much as I thought I would, knowing nothing about ballet as I did. It was a slow methodical build that was wonderfully introspective in a way I didn’t expect. Highly recommend, I’m sad it didn’t make the shortlist

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It sounds interesting.

[@wfitzpatrick75]

I also wish Council of Dolls would have made the shortlist. I really enjoyed that one. I just finished Brotherless Night on audio. It was a fantastic listen and I am still thinking about it.

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

Birnam Wood was my number two book of 2023. Beaten to number one by Deluge by Stephen Markley. Lindy @magpiereads loved Daughter I’m currently listening to Brotherless Night It’s very good but must have caused the writer to relive PTSD, writing it. ☘️👋🍀📖📕📚☕️🇮🇪

[@SupposedlyFun]

Brotherless Night is getting a lot of great feedback in the comments.

[@colleenjacobs8210]

I loved Birnam Wood and just found out about Deluge……am so interested in reading it! Would love to hear what you loved about it!

[@nadiadixon5805]

brotherless night is really worth reading and will leave you with so many thoughts

[@giselaperez6746]

I read Brotherless Night because it is also in the Women’s Fiction Prize Long List. A hard story about Sri Lanka civil war but beautifully written. It motivated me to read more about those years in that country. Long novel? I don’t know, it was so interesting that I didn’t pay attention to the length of the book. I’m trying, really trying to finish Birman Wood😳Some parts are interesting but there are other unnecessarily descriptive, boring parts🙁No chapter, dialogue is not well distinctive I don’t know, not my cup of tea. So I’m trying to finish it using the physical book and audiobook simultaneously. Trying to understand that rating of almost 4 stars and why the book is in this short list☺

[@Nina_DP]

I can't recommend anything off this short list because I haven't read any. But, Greg, read A Sleeping Car Porter. It is glorious!! My PSA to you.

[@skullfullofbooks7398]

Carol Shields Prize has replaced the Women's Prize for Fiction for me. It's easier for me to get the books in the US and they are all pretty good! I was excited about it last year and I managed to read the longlist before the shortlist was out. Brotherless Night is great! Glad to see it on the shortlist.

[@dqan7372]

"Hopefully it's a lovely inn." The 'cheap' room is a $1975 a night / three night minimum / four night recommended sort of loveliness. :) But surely they got her the $4675 a night suite.

[@SupposedlyFun]

WOW! I should have guessed.

[@KierTheScrivener]

Brotherless Night isn't huge. It's 350 about 13 hours on audio. Brotherless Night is on the Women's Prize as well. I read it and really enjoyed it (it took me a little to get situated but once I did it was fantastic).. When We Were Sisters was one of my favourites of last year. I akso just super love this prize!

[@spexi513]

Ooooouh That Birnam Wood cover is wayyy cooler than the 🥱 one I read. I don’t regret reading it & the 🌳 hugger in me felt obligated to do so, but it wasn’t my absolute favorite.

[@touche5616]

I liked Birnam Wood a lot. It's a somewhat silly premise already, and then gets ridiculous at the end. At first I wasn't sure I liked it; I had to sit with it a bit.

[@neetupd8510]

I'm currently reading brotherless night on audio... I have 3 hours left but if asked so far I would rate it 3.8... it's a heavy book...

[@SupposedlyFun]

Good to know--thanks for the feedback.

[@karenmoore4430]

Hi Greg does Montana Bookshop ship internationally. I fancy reading Coleman Hill but not available in UK.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I checked in with them and they said the problem is that the shipping usually ends up costing about as much as the book itself. If you still want to pursue the option, you can reach out to them directly.

[@karenmoore4430]

@@SupposedlyFun thank you Greg for checking. I will have to hope it becomes available in the UK.

[@Reesespiecesomar]

Brotherless Night & History of Burning were both great (though I would say Brotherless Night edges it out). Wasn’t a fan of Birnam Wood.

[@judybrown1624]

It's a good SL. Books I think should have made it are Land of Milk and Honey and Between Two Moons. I have barely started Brotherless Night, but grabbed me right away. I'm close to finishing A History of Burning which has felt a little long, but is a very good multi-generation story. I've finished the other three and would rank them Daughter, Coleman Hill, then Birnham Wood.

[@SupposedlyFun]

You've done a great job reading the shortlist already! Brotherless Night is getting great feedback in the comments.

[@judybrown1624]

@@SupposedlyFun interesting that it is the only book that also made The Women's Prize LL. I haven't made as much progress with that list, but plan to at least read the SL.

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@judybrown1624 I had completely forgotten that it's on the Women's Prize longlist until another comment reminded me. The Carol Shields Prize announces a winner first, but the Women's Prize went with Demon Copperhead after it had already won a Pulitzer, so maybe that wouldn't stop it from getting both.

[@judybrown1624]

@@SupposedlyFun I'm sure I'll have an opinion on that after I've read both shortlists 😊. I have a pretty good record choosing the winner of The Women's Prize. 😌

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@judybrown1624 I look forward to hearing your prediction!

[@Eternalplay]

Birnam Wood was disappointing especially the lame low effort ending.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It's so interesting because another commenter didn't like most of the book but liked the ending.