Reading the Booker

I know not many people are interested but this is for my record. It is Booker Shortlist time - 7pm tonight. Exciting time for all of us strange people who have been reading through the Longlist. 

I have read, and enjoyed reading, 8 of the 13 books on the Longlist. The middle six are the ones I have liked the most - all excellent in my opinion. This would be my shortlist but it won't be anywhere near the actual one. 

The two books on the right I am glad to have read but I was not totally convinced by either of them. However, if they got onto the Shortlist I would probably give them another go. The four on the left I have not read and probably won't read, except for James, which I will definitely get round to reading, especially as I reread Huckleberry Finn in preparation. James is by far the most favoured amongst book people and it will almost certainly be on the Shortlist. 

Of course if there is anyone paying attention at this point they will have noticed that there are 12 books. That's because we have the ridiculous situation that one has yet to be published - Playground by Richard Powers. Very likely to be on the Shortlist but so many of us have not even seen it yet. 

 What a lovely day it has been today. And it looks like we might get a few more days the same, which is good as we have visitors arriving tomorrow.