I have not yet read any of these books, in fact I haven't heard of most of them. But what I love about the Longlist is that it introduces me to many books and authors I do not know. Four of the authors are debut novelists (Robertson, Mackintosh, Gunaratne and Johnson) and four are past nominees (Ondaatje, Edugyan, Ryan and Powers).
Let's take a look at the books that make up the longlist:
Snap by Belinda Bauer (UK)English author Belinda Bauer is an award winning crime writer. This novel is about a woman who goes missing, leaving her three children behind. Set in Somerset, this captivating thriller features twists and turns. Val McDermid called it 'the best crime novel I've read in a long time'. Sounds like an intriguing read...
Set in Belfast in the 1970s, during the Troubles, Milkman is a stream of consciousness story narrated by a young woman who is rumoured to be having an affair with a person known only as the Milkman. The novel explores truth and gossip, with a unique writing style. Burns was shortlisted for the Orange prize in 2002 for No Bones.
This is the first time a graphic novel has been longlisted for the Booker, an achievement in itself. The story centres on the disappearance of Sabrina and the aftermath for her friends and family. I am intrigued to read this and have just bought a copy of this beautiful book. I greatly enjoyed Chris Ware's Jimmy Corrigan, and the pictures I have seen of Sabrina remind me Ware's work.
This novel focusses on an eleven year old slave, Washington Black, who leaves a Barbados plantation when his owner dies, and he is taken in by an eccentric new master. They travel the globe - the Arctic, London, Morocco - opening Washington's eyes to new experiences and knowledge.
Set in a London council estate, three young men are enjoying their summer when the killing of a British soldier sparks riots across the city. The novel brings the grit and grime of the city to life over a heated 48 hours.
At age 27, Johnson is one of the youngest Booker nominees for her debut novel. This is the story of Gretel, who as a child lived on a canal boat with her mother. Together the mother-daughter pair invented a language for their exclusive use. Now an adult, Gretel hasn't seen her mother in many years and has all but forgotten their secret language.
Romy Hall is incarcerated in a women's correctional facility, serving consecutive life sentences. Her seven year old son is now being cared for by his grandmother. While life goes on outside, he women inside experience a different routine.
Three sisters grow up on an isolated island with their parents. Protected from the outside world, they never visit the mainland. When three men wash up on shore, everything the girls have ever learned comes into question. A dystopian novel of survival in a hostile world from this debut novelist.
I love Michael Ondaatje and always look forward to reading his novels. This is the story of siblings in London, who stay behind when their parents move to Singapore in 1945. Earlier this year Ondaatje won the "Golden Booker" - The English Patient (1992) was named the favourite Booker winner in the past 50 years, so it will be interesting to see whether he progresses to the shortlist.
This novel is environmental or eco-fiction - centred on diverse characters that have had various experiences with trees and now fight to save a virgin forest. The Booker judges called this 'an ecological epic, a novel of ideas'.
British poet Robin Robertson has written a noir tale of a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder which leaves him unsettled, trying to piece his life together. I am intrigued by this genre-bending, film-like poem and look forward to tracking down a copy.
Connell and Marianne grow up together in a small town in Ireland, but have very different lives. When they both attend Trinity College, Dublin, they realise they have a connection. This is an intimate character study and a love story, with a backdrop critique of class and privilege.
Ryan's book tells three seperate stories of men who have experienced loss. Farouk is a Syrian refugee seeking asylum in Western Europe with his wife and child. Irishman Lampy has just been left by his girlfriend and is tending to his broken heart. John is filled with sadness over his failed relationship and remorse for his actions.
The shortlist will be announced on 20 September 2018, with the winner named on 16 October 2018.
I was a bit surprised that Ali Smith wasn't nominated for Winter, as she has been for her previous season Autumn. I also thought the Kate Atkinson or Rachel Cusk may be on the longlist. Having read none of the titles, I find it hard to predict the winner, but I reckon the following will be shortlisted: Drnaso, Johnson, Ondaatje, Rooney, Ryan. I also reckon that after the last two winners have been American, this year the prize will go to a member of the Commonwealth. A complete guess, but that is where I will start my Booker reading.