Women's Prize for Non-Fiction Shortlist Reaction: Plodalong Live!

[@AdyGrafovna]

I have read 9 from the long list and I have mostly loved them. I still have 4 to read from the shortlist though. I have a feeling I might just be a completionist with this list this year. I honestly didn’t anticipate reading the entire list, but I also didn’t realize how much I love nonfiction!

[@AliceandtheGiantBookshelf]

That’s really exciting, I’d quite like to complete the list, although I won’t rush to do so before the winner is announced in June. Which four from the shortlist do you still have to read? 😊📚

[@AdyGrafovna]

Code Dependent, A Flat Place, How to Say Babylon, Thunderclap… but I did just read Thunderclap this weekend. :)

[@hasteyebooks]

Finally watching this too! I've totally lost track (and excitement?) for the non-fiction prize! I remember seeing the shortlist and not thinking much of it. Once my PhD deadlines have calmed down and I've finished the reading for the Fiction longlist, I think I'll look into some of the NF shortlist! I'd like to read How to say babylon, a flat place and all that she carried! If only I could get my hands on any of them haha

[@AliceandtheGiantBookshelf]

I stopped reading much of it for ages but just recently finished Thunderclap and I did read A Flat Place this month too. I recommend How to Say Babylon and Thunderclap, they were both excellent. I had to take All That She Carried back to the library without reading anything except the introduction, sadly. 🤷‍♀️😊📚

[@Heatherskl]

I’ve read Doppelgänger and loved it. The AI one is also is also on my TBR. I don’t know why but memoirs generally don’t really appeal to me . I’m more interested in the science/technology/political genres.

[@AliceandtheGiantBookshelf]

I think I’m the opposite, I enjoy memoirs, particularly if they are focused on something else as well as the memoir aspect. I’m not great at reading about science and technology and things but I’m trying to expand what I read about and learn new things. 😊📚

[@cmleidi]

Another enjoyable stream. Code Dependent is more focused on the personal in relation to AI. I was able to understand it and I'm terrible when it comes to AI and computer-related subjects. I wonder if there was an effort to be different from the fiction prize since all the fiction books I've read (ten of them) have been about mother/child dynamics with some form of violence thrown in.

[@AliceandtheGiantBookshelf]

Thanks Chris. It’s always good to hear that non-fiction about unfamiliar subjects is accessible and informative. I’m looking forward to that one. 10 books featuring mother and child dynamics?! Wow that has to be a record. Does Western Lane count in that as she is grieving for her mother?

[@benreadsgood]

Sorry for my very brief mid-cooking visit! Just catching up now and sad I missed out on all the chat, but pleased to hear Alice shares my enthusiasm for opening sentences with weaponry 😂

[@AliceandtheGiantBookshelf]

Yes to all books with weaponry opening lines, just makes you feel like you've been dropped in to something intriguing!

[@katrinamuritala3207]

Going to read a few of the short list but code conduct doesn’t sound a me book 😂

[@AliceandtheGiantBookshelf]

That’s fair enough. I’m looking forward to finding out more about AI but it will probably be terrifying too. 😊📚