Booker Prize Longlist 2026

 This week the Longlist was announced for the 2026 Booker Prize. 

A few weeks ago I released my predictions of who might make the list and I managed to correctly guess only two of the titles (marked with an asterix) and two more were on my extended list (marked with double asterix). But most of these were not on my radar. Clearly I am terrible at guessing this list! 

So let's take a look at the longlisters:

Chloe Aridjis - The Shadow of the Object  (Mexican-British)

Flora is in hospital in Mexico where she meets Wilhelmina, an elderly German woman with pneumonia. The two have a series of conversations where Wilhelmina shared her life's wisdom and her life with her late husband, and her son Max. Flora learns that Wilhelmina collected pre-cinema toys like magic lanterns and shadow puppets. Flora is tasked with taking these things to Max in London. The judges said "We were charmed by the novel’s meditation on friendship and grief, and its suggestion that the most meaningful truths can be found in the shadows." Chloe Aridjis is also the author of three earlier novels Book of Clouds, Asunder and Sea Monsters.

Emma Cline - Switzy  (American)

David, a retired business executive, borrows his former employer's private plane to fly to Europe. On the way he stops in London to visit his daughter, makes a side trip to the home of an estranged friend, and remembers his childhood with greater clarity than his adulthood. Suffering from cognitive decline, David grasps for his memories and seeks to resolve his past failings before his ability fades. American author Emma Cline is best known for her debut The Girls (2016)  and the novel The Guest (2023). The judges said of Switzy: "We live in a time ruled by overpowered and undersocialised wealthy boy kings; Emma Cline’s mordant novel considers what, if anything, remains at the end of one such luxurious yet lonely life."

Makenna Goodman - Helen of Nowhere  (American)

A disgraced professor is shown around a house in the countryside. The realtor points put the house's qualities but also shares information about Helen, the previous owner of the home. Helen tended the land on her own and essentially lived off-grid. The man suddenly sees that the house can be more than a home; it is an opportunity to reinvent himself. The judges said ‘A spellbinding novel or a play with just four characters? In groundbreaking form, Helen of Nowhere blends both to challenge us with a seemingly simple question: How much are we truly willing to change ourselves in order to get back to nature?’ Goodman is an American author who has previously published The Shame (2020).  I have heard good things about this novel and am intrigued.

M John Harrison  - The End of Everything  (British) 
Set in post-apocalyptic Kent, beachcomber Philip finds items on the shore and sells them on the black market. His elderly aunt Marnie paints and protects her home against the lawless roaming predators. Philip finds an artefact that has the potential to change their lives forever. The judges said ‘The sky is glitching, and something strange, formless and growing is soon to come out of the sea, to imitate our speech, forms, and customs. Our left-behind inhabitants scavenge where and what they can, provisional alliances are made and broken, shocking violence occurs, and no one can agree on exactly what has happened. A book not just about everything but about now. Shimmering and oblique, it holds the reader to the surface of something very grave and deep.’ Harrison is an author of speculative fiction and fantasy, and this is his thirteenth novel. 

**Marlon James  - The Disappearers  (Jamaican)

In Kingston, Jamaica in 1988 eight men rehearse a play. They do not really know each other but they share one thing - they are all gay. One night they are attacked in an act of violent hate crime which kills one of the men. The seven survivors have to reckon with what happened and while some want to hide away, others want retribution.  The judges said: ‘The Disappearers is among Marlon James’s most ambitious and history-making works, a novel that examines territory Caribbean literature has rarely dared to occupy..... His dialogue is sharp and propulsive, his phrasing is poetic, visceral and capable of moving from the painful to the darkly hilarious within a single exchange.’ James won the Booker Prize in 2014 for A Brief History of Seven Killings. I had the good fortune of meeting him at the Sydney Writers' Festival in 2016. While I haven't read much of his previous work, I am intrigued by this novel and will seek it out once published in Australia.

Luke Kennard  - Black Bag  (British)

A broke actor is hired by university professor Dr Blend to participate in a psychological experiment. Blend wants to see how his students will react to someone showing up at lectures zipped inside a black bag. The actor takes on this role and soon realises there are unexpected consequences. The judges said ‘Luke Kennard’s of-the-moment satire considers anonymity and disgust, the online rackets of cryptocurrency and energy drinks, and what it means to find love in our unstable times. There’ll be a lot of discussion about what the novel has to say about the state of modern masculinity (fractious; confused) – we also admired its sharply crafted sentences, memorable sex scenes, and humour.’ Kennard is an award winning poet and novelist. 

Kenan Orhan - The Renovation  (Turkish-American)

Dilara's father has dementia. She decides that he should move into her home and organises for a renovation to her apartment in anticipation. Unfortunately the contractors have not built the bathroom she wanted, and instead installed a Turkish prison cell through which she can see the guards and hear prisoners. The judges called this novel ‘a hilarious fantasy which had some of the judges laughing out loud. But it’s more than that. It poses questions about political activism, about where you really belong, and about the different forms that ‘imprisonment’ can take (from dementia to exile).’ The Renovation is his debut novel.

Rebecca Perry - May We Feed the King  (British)

A curator works in a palace dressing rooms for public viewing. The palace was once home of a King who was a reluctant ruler. This novel uses a historical ruler worried about the future of his kingdom and a present woman wanting to run to the past. The judges said ‘It’s a wonderfully enticing, and eye-opening, combination of themes, woven together with an extraordinary delicacy of touch. You can’t read May We Feed the King without reflecting on the fragile boundary between the present and the past. What’s the difference between historical fiction and historical fact? Can history ever be a safe place we can go to escape the present?’ This is Perry's debut novel.

**Gwendoline Riley - The Palm House  (British)

Laura and Edmund are old friends. But when Edmund's father dies and he gets a new boss, he grows distant. Laura has her own worries but she is determined to bring him back.The judges said ‘A note-perfect portrait not only of certain rarefied London intellectual spaces, but also of the people who actually bring their own bloodstreams, histories, tastes, families, first loves, and lonelinesses to them, to make up that impersonal thing we think of as the Establishment... The Palm House is minimalist, precise, and indelible.’ Riley is the award winning author of My Phantoms, First Love and Cold Water. I have a copy of The Palm House and look forward to reading it.

*Elizabeth Strout  - The Things We Never Say  (American)

I absolutely loved this novel and am so pleased it is on the list! Artie Dam appears to have everything - he is a beloved teacher, he has a long marriage and he has a son. But Artie is so lonely that he wants to die. ut an incident changes his outlook and he learns he has so much to live for. The judges said ‘Strout’s prose is about as far from a rant as you could imagine, brilliantly understated and all the more powerful for that. It’s a devastating look at the dangerous cracks in family life and in the contemporary world at large.’ Strout was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2016 for My Name is Lucy Barton and shortlisted in 2022 for Oh William!  Perhaps third time lucky! My review is available here.

*Douglas Stuart  - John of John  (Scottish)

Set in a remote island community, this novel tells the story of a father and sonny the unbearable weight of expectation. The judges said 'We loved the rich, textural detail of the story, which is set in the 80s and examines young Cal’s fraught relationship with his domineering father. There’s a vivid sense of time and place, as the island becomes the site of bristling tensions between secret lovers, feuding families, and a stand-off between tradition and modernity. This excavation of family, violence, and shame is woven through with beautiful imagistic detail, and – unexpectedly but wonderfully – shades of hope.’ This is one of my favourite novels this year, and Stuart is one of my favourite writers. My review is available here. Stuart won the Booker Prize in 2020 for Shuggie Bain, and I would be quite happy if he won again.

Djamel White  - All Them Dogs  (Irish)

Tony Ward returns to the West Dublin gang scene after five years away to find things have changed. He is keen to reinstate his position, but has complicated feelings for another gang member. The judges said 'All Them Dogs, the debut novel by Djamel White, is a mouthy, ballsy and bracingly unsentimental portrait of West Dublin gangland, set well off the beaten track of the city’s usual literary landmarks. It charts the lives, loyalties and dealings of a semi-organised crime world. Yet, the novel’s real achievement lies in something quieter and more easily overlooked beneath the bullets and bone-breaking dramatics: a subtle, textured humanity woven among the violent hyper-masculine protagonists.’ This novel sounds interesting but it may be too violent for my liking. 

Missouri Williams  - The Vivisectors  (British)

Set on a university campus, a power struggle is waging between the academic elite and militant gardeners intent on plants taking over the city. Agathe is frustrated by the unwieldy foliage and disheartened by the professor she works for. He asks her to befriend Adam, an outspoken student and finds herself pulled into the broader conflict. The judges said "A bracing antidote to the cosy campus and the dark academia novel, The Vivisectors instead imagines higher education as a transparent citadel where human axolotls masquerading as professors and students are bent on drawing and quartering each other with no mercy, as their nameless city is overtaken by relentless vegetable growth. No one is protected, everyone is exposed, it is highly doubtful anyone is learning anything, and on top of all that vines are coming up your legs. Genuinely experimental, relentlessly and rollickingly told – in places truly menacing – The Vivisectors is the rare title that actually earns its name.’ Sounds intriguing....

The Booker Prize Longlist is often a mixed bag of novels, but what I love about the Longlist is that it introduces me to many authors and books I do not know. 

Last year I wasn't too thrilled by the longlist and only ended up reading the winning novel, Flesh by David Szalay. This year, the list is quirky and bold. I have read and loved the novels by Strout and Stuart, and I am about to start the novel by Riley. I am keen to read the novels by James, Williams, Goodman and Orhan when they are available in Australia. 

The Shortlist will be announced on 22 September 2026 and the winner on 9 November 2026. Better get reading!

Scandal in St Loo

 The July selection in the 2026 Read Christie Challenge is The Rose and the Yew Tree (1948) in the category of 'best-kept secret'. Agatha Christie published this novel, and five others, under her pseudonym Mary Westmacott to allow her freedom to write stories that were different from the detective fiction she was best known for. 

The Rose and the Yew Tree is a melodramatic tragedy novel which starts with a terrific intrigue, then flashes back in time to show how the story ended up at this point.

 

In Paris, Captain Hugh Norreys is visited by a woman he does not know. This woman insists he immediately comes with her as a Mr Gabriel is on his deathbed and wishes to see him. Norreys cannot imagine why he has been summoned as he has not seen nor heard from John Gabriel for many years. Norreys does not want to visit Gabriel and is delighted to hear that he is dying. He proceeds to tell the woman that Gabriel can 'rot in Hell' as he is an odious man. The woman is shocked and proceeds to speak of Gabriel 'as one speaks of the Messiah' and reveals that Gabriel, the former MP for St Loo, best known as an alcoholic womaniser, is now Father Clement, a devout man of the cloth. Curiosity gets the better of Norreys, and he follows the woman to visit Gabriel in his dying hours. In this opening passage, peppered with hints and intrigues, is the end of the story. The novel which follows has Norreys narrating his history with Gabriel.

We are taken back to 1945 when Norreys is on a train from Penzance where he sits opposite a crying woman, Jennifer. He comforts her and they form an attachment. Shortly thereafter, Norreys is in a car accident on the Harrow Road which renders him a 'maimed, broken wreck with nothing to live for' so he breaks off his relationship with Jennifer. This early vignette shows how Norreys gathers information about people, the assumptions he makes and how he can be blinded by his misconceptions. 

His sister-in-law Theresa moves Norreys into her house in St Loo Cornwall to recuperate, Theresa is campaigning for the Conservative Party and refuses to let Norreys dwell on his infirmity. She has him folding leaflets and conversing with the ladies who volunteer for the cause - Lady St Loo, her sister Lady Tressillian, her sister-in-law Mrs Bingham Charteris, and her granddaughter Isabella - women he refers to as the Three Witches and the Enchanted Maiden. As an invalid, Norreys spends a great deal of time listening to the woes and secrets of others.

Into this mix comes John Gabriel, a suave charlatan who becomes the Conservative candidate in the upcoming election. He is an opportunist and a swindler, a charmer who can persuade all around him to his cause. But when he is seen having coffee with a married woman, then later seen walking along a path with her, rumours swell of potential scandal. But Gabriel has something more in mind and secretly woos a woman away from her betrothed, ruining his political career, and shocking St Loo. Years later Norreys happens to run into Gabriel in Europe but their reunion is cut short by a tragic incident after which they part in anger. Which then brings the story back to the beginning to Gabriel's death bed confession. 

This was a strange, intriguing novel. I really liked Christie's witty turns of phrase which I long to adopt in my own vernacular ('Fine words butter no parsnips'), and her biting political and class satire. The first person narration was also good, with sharp dialogue and a blunt observations. What I struggled with was the pacing as after the vibrant intro I felt the story lulled in parts. However the ending brought the story together, with depth and meaning. 

Christie wrote six novels under her Mary Westmacott alias. While I missed the detective angle, I will definitely being reading more by Christie's alter ego. 

Inhale, Exhale

Australian cartoonist Lee Lai won the 2026 Stella Prize for their remarkable graphic novel Cannon (2025). It was also longlisted for the 2026 Carol Shields Prize for Fiction.

Set in Montreal, Cannon tells the story of Lucy, a queer Chinese-Canadian woman who is trying to keep calm while carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. She works as a chef in a busy restaurant, juggling the demands of customers and her loathsome boss. Her elderly grandfather is ill and she feels responsible for caring for him, despite his unpleasantness. Her best friend Trish, is self-involved and never there when Lucy needs her. While outwardly projecting a calmness and self-restraint, Lucy feels as though she is ready to explode. She jogs and listens to self-help podcasts trying to keep her emotions in check. But as the pressure mounts, and she feels let down by everyone around her, Lucy is on the verge of a breakdown.

Cannon is a wonderful graphic novel - a poignant story of friendship and love, drawn in a compelling minimalism. Lai's monochromatic panels change to cinematic red as Lucy's emotions flare. Hitchcockian magpies gather, seen only by Lucy, like a portent of what is to come. 

At the heart of the novel is Lucy's friendship with Trish. The two women have a realistic bond and their relationship is so well depicted by Lai - with overlapping speech bubbles showing how Trish dominates conversations. They hang out watching horror films, eating, and listening to Trish talk about herself. Lucy is used to being in the background, adopting the role of the stoic colleague, the dutiful daughter, the responsible friend. Unable to express her own needs and desires, Lucy takes care of everyone except herself. Trish is the opposite - giving in to whatever she feels, caring only for her self. But despite their differences, the two women need each other.

I really enjoyed Cannon and am now keen to track down Lai's earlier work Strange Fruit.  I recommend this incredible book for fans of graphic novels, tales of friendship, and those interested in seeing a truely compelling visual artist at work.

Father and Son

Scottish writer Douglas Stuart, author of the Booker Prize winning Shuggie Bain (2020) and Young Mungo (2022), has once again showcased his gifts as a novelist in John of John (2026).

Twenty-two year old John-Calum McLeod, known as Cal, is struggling to find his way after finishing his art school studies in Scotland. His father, John McLeod, tells him he should come home to Falabay, on the isle of Harris, because his grandmother Ella is unwell. Cal loves Ella and has nothing keeping him on the mainland, so he journeys back to his hometown. 

When Cal arrives he finds that Ella is not as infirm as he was led to believe, but perhaps his father wanted him home to help with the weaving and sheep farming on the croft. The relationship between father and son is strained and neither understands the other. John is deeply religious and has strong views about how one should behave. His son is not devout and does not live up to his father's expectations. But both men are more similar than they know - each hiding their true selves and suffering from this repression. 

In this claustrophobic croft, Ella, John and Cal stifle each other. John deliberately speaks Gaelic so that Ella won't understand, while Cal and Ella share in-jokes. The community is full of families like this - burdened by secrets, fearful of shame, desperately lonely, and bound by a deep Calvinist faith and familial love. They hold their kin close, but keep them distant by failing to share their true selves. As Ella says to John, they are 'islands within islands, within islands, within islands'. Their inability to express themselves fully, to even those they purport to be closest to, is a recurrent theme.

John of John is a fascinating and empathetic character study - the people in Falabay are complex, flawed, nuanced and wholly believable. Stuart is such a gifted writer that he can take challenging themes - closeted homosexuality, infidelity, addiction, desire, violence, repression and shame - and reveal them sensitively and without judgement. 

Likewise, the Hebridean landscape is beautifully rendered - bleak, wet, cold and windswept - with a suffocating isolation. I also loved the depictions of weaving and the way in which Cal and John can name the various hues of wool - mauve, ecru, azure, blush - but cannot name their feelings. 

For a story of heartbreak and unspoken queer desire, set in an isolating and rigid community, there was a lightness and hope to this story. I will be thinking about Cal, John, Ella, Innes, Isla and the other characters I have come to love, and wishing them nothing but love and happiness.

The Last Wolf

At the 2026 Sydney Writers' Festival I attended a panel session on crime writing with American author Shawn Andre Cosby. SA Cosby is best known for writing Southern Noir thrillers, set in his home state of Virginia. Reckoning I would enjoy his storytelling, I bought a couple of his novels and after the session I asked Cosby where I should start with his work. After discussing my reading preferences, Cosby recommended All the Sinners Bleed (2023) would be the best place to begin. So I started there, and it has been a perfect introduction to his work.

 

Set in the fictional Charon County Virginia, Titus Crown is the County's first Black sheriff. Titus is a former FBI agent who now leads a team of deputies as they break up bar fights in this small Southern town. The police are called out to a shooting at the local high school where a beloved teacher is killed by a former student. As Titus and his team investigate, tensions flare in the community, and they soon realise that there is serial killer, or killers, in their midst. Between the evangelical church groups, the sons of the confederacy, and the parents in fear for their children, Titus has his hands full as he races to solve this case.

Titus is a wonderful, fully-formed character. He has to delicately balance the expectations of his role, the needs of his family, and the weight of the history in this place where racism is rife and violence is on the precipice. While his work is heavy, Titus has a keen sense of humour which helps to lighten his burden.

Cosby has a descriptive way of writing, heavy on metaphor, with a clever turn of phrase. His creativity is evident in the interspersed short chapters about Charon County itself, the memories it holds from its years as a Civil War battleground, and the ways it was shaped by decades of hate and bloodshed. I appreciate Cosby's nod to Greek mythology in the naming of his county. His intelligent writing elevates the police procedural, subtly layering class and race to produce a deeper, more meaningful story. 

I highly recommend All the Sinners Bleed to fans of gripping crime thrillers. This is a fast-paced story with riveting action. You will be thinking about long after you turn the last page. 

I look forward to reading more of his work as Cosby is well on his way to becoming one of my favourite crime writers. All the Sinners Bleed has also been optioned by Netflix and will be turned into a miniseries. That will definitely be one to watch!

Booker Prize Longlist 2026 Predictions

The Booker Prize Longlist will be announced on 28 July 2026. It has been a wonderful year for books, but always a challenge to predict which novels will be chosen for the longlist as the Booker is known for its surprises. 

To be eligible, the novel has to have been written in English and published in UK/Ireland between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026. While I am not entirely sure when novels were published in UK/Ireland, I am going to take a wild guess at who might appear on the longlist. 

My predictions for the Booker longlist this year are:

1. Virginia Evans - The Correspondent
2. Rozie Kelly - Kingfisher
3. Min Jee Lee - American Hagwon
4. Ben Lerner - Transcription
5. Valerie Luiselli - Beginning Middle End
6. Siang Lu - Ghost Cities
7. Megha Majumdar - A Guardian and a Thief
8. Daniel Mueenuddin - This is Where the Serpent Lives
9. Doireann Ni Ghriofa - Said the Dead
10. Maggie O'Farrell - Land
11. Ann Patchett - Whistler
12. Elizabeth Strout - The Things We Never Say
13. Douglas Stuart - John of John

I had to narrow down my list, so I took off Yann Martel (Son of Nobody), George Saunders (Vigil), Daisy Johnson (Long Wave), Gwendolyn Riley (The Palm House), Marlon James (The Disappearers), Tayari Jones (Kin), Deborah Levy (My Year with Gertrude Stein), Julian Barnes (Departure(s)), Brandon Taylor (Minor Black Figures), Emily St John Mandel (Exit Party) and Barbara Kingsolver (Partita).  It was really hard to whittle my list down to the 'Booker's dozen', and with my luck the ones I have removed will be the ones that make the list. 

From my longlist, I have read the books by Evans, O'Farrell and Strout, and am working my way through the  Douglas Stuart. I am keen to read the others, so I would be happy if they make the cut. Stuart's John of John is definitely a contender for this award, and at this premature stage is my pick for the win.

The judging panel this year consists of the legendary queen of classics Mary Beard (chair), writer Raymond Antrobus, musician Jarvis Cocker, journalist Rebecca Liu and Booker shortlisted author Patricia Loockwood. I look forward to seeing their selections and how well (or not) I guessed.

The other thing I think is great is that the Booker is going to shift its eligibility dates next year. The new window for publication will shift to be from October to July, which means that regular folk like me can get access to all the titles before the shortlist is revealed. In the past, judges had early access to books that would be published up to the end date, and it meant that readers could not get them during the season. Indeed, some of the haven't been available in Australia until the following year, so this is a good move.

The longlist will be announced on 28 July, followed by the shortlist on 22 September and the winner announcement on 9 November 2026. 

Where the Heart Is

Irish-Scottish author Maggie O'Farrell is one of my favourite writers. She is a gifted storyteller with a spellbinding vocabulary and an ability to immerse readers in the worlds she depicts. She is probably best known for her award winning Hamnet (2020) which was turned into a well-regarded film last year. I have read most of her work, and hotly anticipated the publication of her latest novel Land (2026).

Land takes us to Ireland in 1865. It is a decade after the Great Famine and across the nation there is a tremendous feeling of loss with abandoned homes and brokenhearted survivors. On a cold, wet day Tomas stands in a field with his ten-year old son Liam. The two are working on the colonial Ordinance Survey, mapping the contours of drumlins, documenting settlements, and identifying landholdings for the British Government. Tomas is a talented, though untrained, draftsman who can speak English and the local tongue. Liam has been dragged along to hold the pole and measuring chains in the rain to help his father earn a wage for his mother and siblings back in Dublin. In a woodland, Tomas has an unsettling experience which causes a sudden change in his behaviour, and his relationship with his son is never the same. What follows is the ripple of this event over time, impacting Tomas, his wife and children and the choices they make.

Land is designed to be read slowly and savoured. Readers are invited to observe the whorls of ferns, listen to the susurrations of leaves and long grasses, and feel the chill of the damp hills. It is an immersive experience and O'Farrell's ability to deploy her cinematic storytelling to bring the tale to life is remarkable. The story is full of history and confronts the challenges of colonialism, displacement and hardship (not unlike Heather Rose's A Great Act of Love) and the deep love and longing people feel for their homelands. 

While there was so much I loved about Land, there was something missing for me that kept this story distant in parts. Perhaps it was the recurring heartache for this family, but I think it had more to do with the structure. The four part composition, without chapter breaks, caused the story to flip between characters and offered no break, which does not match my reading temperament. The magical realism elements didn't entirely work for me either. While I found the book slow to start, I found the second half stronger than the first, as the children grew up and find their own way in the world. I wanted to know what happened to these characters and developed a real fondness for them. Ultimately I enjoyed this novel, but didn't feel as strong an attachment to it as I did with O'Farrell's prior novels.  

One more thing... the cover illustration by Holly Ovenden is mesmerisingly beautiful.

My reviews of other books by Maggie O'Farrell are available on this blog:

• Hamnet (2020)
• The Marriage Portrait (2022)
• The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox (2006)  

Miles Franklin Award Shortlist 2026

The Miles Franklin Award Shortlist was announced this week. The following six titles are up for Australia’s most prestigious literary prize:

• Randa Abdel-Fattah - Discipline
• Steve MinOn - First Name Second Name
• Konrad Muller - My Heart at Evening
• Omar Musa - Fierceland
• Josephine Rowe - Little World
• Sean Wilson - You Must Remember This

The judges said of this shortlist:

"This year’s Miles Franklin shortlist showcases the capacity of the Australian novel to grapple with the most vexing and profound questions of our time. Grand and intimate, these novels sing the Australian experience into new shapes.”

I am hoping that Randa Abdel-Fattah wins for Discipline, after all the crap she has had to put up with from the media and haters. All will be revealed when the winner is announced on 5 August 2026. 

In Search of Free Will

Elizabeth Strout's latest novel, The Things We Never Say (2026) is an extraordinary, big-hearted story about an ordinary man.

Artie Dam is in his late fifties. He is a beloved history teacher at the high school in his Massachusetts town. He has been married for over thirty years to his therapist wife Evie. He enjoys sailing solo on the bay where he lives. His only child, Dan, is married and has a good job. Artie knows lots of people, but he is desperately lonely. In fact, he is so lonely, he wants to die. There is a weight of hopelessness bearing down on Artie as his country changes in the lead-up to the 2024 election. He feels an intense sadness that people cannot disagree agreeably and that they have forgotten the lessons of history. He wonders whether people have free will. Artie decides he doesn't want to live anymore in this world. But then an incident happens and a secret is revealed. This changes his perspective, introduces new people into his world, and brings about a deeper connection with his son. Artie has much to live for, and yet he doesn't want to live in the same way as before.

Elizabeth Strout has pulled back the layers on male depression and loneliness, and with great empathy she reveals Artie's inner life. The novel explores how we restrain ourselves from asking for help, from reaching out, from saying how we feel, and how we lie overtly or by omission. When Artie begins to speak his truth he finds some people are receptive and others are not. He finds that people have become so impolite and impatient, and there is a decency that has been lost as reflected in the state of the nation. 

Unlike other novels in the Strout universe, this novel does not take place in Maine or feature familiar characters, but it does feature a cheeky reference to Olive Kitteridge. This is a terrific standalone novel and a great introduction to Strout's writing. Artie is a fantastic character and in a world full of outrage and toxic masculinity, we need more Arties to balance the scales.  

I absolutely loved this novel. It is short, sweet and uplifting. Beautifully written, tender and full of life. Highly recommend.

My reviews of other Elizabeth Strout novels are available on this blog:

• Amy and Isabelle (1998)
• Abide with Me (2006)
• Olive Kitteridge (2008) 
• Tell Me Everything (2024) 

Black Sheep

Madeline Cash's debut novel Lost Lambs (2026) is a satire centring on a dysfunctional American family. I had heard great things about it, and it sounded like the perfect novel to begin my holiday with. So I downloaded the audiobook, got comfy poolside and became immersed in the story of the Flynn family.

Outwardly the Flynns are a normal American family - Bud and his wife Caroline, raise their three daughters, Abigail (17 ), Louise (15), and Harper (12) in an unremarkable American town. But the Flynn's relationship is falling apart as Caroline has unilaterally declared they are in an open marriage so she can actively pursue their neighbour. But the 'arrangement' is not something Bud wants, and his anger about the situation is impacting his work and his parenting. The children have their own issues. Abigail is dating a former soldier known as 'War Crimes' Wes. Forgettable middle-child Louise has been chatting online with a person who may be leading her to commit terrorist acts. The youngest, Harper, has a penchant for outrageous lies and has been sent off to a reform camp after being suspended from school. Bud's anger and depression is causing him to fail at work, so his boss urges him to seek help. Bud joins the "Lost Lambs" support group at the local church run by Miss Winkle to work through his feelings.

Ever curious, Harper has been messing around in her father's computer and has discovered dodgy dealings by her dad's employer. I won't say more about the plot for fear of spoilers, but suffice it to say the story is delightfully bonkers and laugh out loud funny. Ultimately, it is a story about family and the shared love among those we call our own.

This is Madeline Cash's debut novel and she is a fantastic new voice. There were so many phrases and moments in this book which were brilliantly written. I would have liked to have spent more time with the sisters, as each one had a unique character and point of view. I really enjoyed the characters of Bud and Catherine, how mismatched they are in their desires and artistic temperaments. The Paul Alabaster character and his storyline was not necessary for me, but I can understand why she went in that direction. 

While reading, Lost Lambs reminded me of Kevin Wilson's hilarious Nothing to See Here, as they both share quirky humour and ridiculousness. I highly recommend the audiobook version, wonderfully performed by Christine Lakin.

Revisiting The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

The June selection in the 2026 Read Christie Challenge is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926) in the category of 'best to read in one sitting'. So while on holiday in Far North Queensland I sat poolside and read the novel in one go. This was a revisit for me, as I had previously read this novel in the 1990s but had forgotten much of the story. 

The story is narrated in first person by Dr James Sheppard, a general practitioner in the village of King's Abbot. He lives with his spinster sister, Caroline, who is a notorious gossip.  Wealthy landowner, Roger Ackroyd calls Dr Sheppard and asks him to come to Fernly Park for dinner. There he meets Mrs Ackroyd (Roger's widowed sister-in-law), her daughter Flora, Mr Raymond (Roger's secretary) and Major Blunt (Roger's old friend). After dinner the doctor has a private conversation with Roger in his study. Roger advises that he was secretly engaged to a local widow Mrs Ferrars who recently died by suicide. The day before she died, Mrs Ferrars told Roger that she had poisoned her abusive husband and was being blackmailed. She has sent Roger a letter revealing the identity of the blackmailer, so he asks Sheppard to leave so he can privately read it. 

Later that evening, Sheppard receives a call from Parker, Roger's butler, asking him to return to Fernly Park as Roger has been found dead in his study, killed with a ceremonial knife. Police are called and signs point to Roger's stepson, Ralph Paton, as the likely suspect. Flora does not believe Ralph was responsible. She reaches out to a new villager, the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, and asks him to investigate. Poirot investigates alongside Sheppard, with the latter performing a similar role to Hastings in other Poirot novels. The story builds with red herrings and subplots, before Poirot brings all the suspects together in a room and declares he knows who committed the crime. 

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is a delicious romp, showcasing Christie at her best. She is an excellent storyteller, crafting wonderful characters like gossipy Caroline. One chapter I particularly loved was where Sheppard and Caroline have friends over to play Mahjong. In between exclamations of 'pung', 'chow' and 'mahjong' and the discussion of rules, there is a gossipy session about the murder. 

I am so pleased to have re-read this novel. It is the only Christie novel to appear on the 1001 novels to read before you die list, and is a great example of her craft for readers new to this author. 

My reviews of other Christie novels are available on this blog: 

The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920)

Murder on the Links (1923)

Murder on the Orient Express (1934)

The Body in the Library (1942) 

The Labours of Hercules (1947)  

Mrs McGinty's Dead (1952) 

A Caribbean Mystery (1964) 

Women's Prize Winners 2026

The Winners of the 2026 Women's Prize have been announced! 

The Non-Fiction prize was awarded to Canadian author Lyse Doucet for The Finest Hotel in Kabul while the Fiction prize was presented to American author Virginia Evans for her debut novel The Correspondent. Each author receives £30,000 and a statuette. 

The winners were announced at a special event in London on 11 June 2026.

Women's Prize for Fiction

American author Virginia Evans won for her debut novel The Correspondent. Written in the form of letters, retired lawyer Sybil Van Antwerp writes to her family, former colleagues, and others. Through these letters we come to know her - her passions, her regrets and her longing. This is a witty, creative novel about an ordinary woman, told in an extraordinary way.  

Julia Gillard, Chair of Judges, said of the winner:

"A remarkable novel, with an exemplary combination of originality, excellence and accessibility. It is no mean feat to write a life in letters, but Evans makes this feel effortless, asking the reader to consider the choices we make, whilst elevating an ordinary life in the most heartfelt of ways. The sheer skill required to render an emotionally resonant and engaging work in this format is spectacular. This is a novel that captured our hearts, and should be read and savoured by all."

I am so happy Virginia Evans won for this novel. It will likely be one of my favourite books of 2026.

Women's Prize for Non-Fiction

Canadian journalist Lyse Doucet first checked in to the Kabul Intercontental Hotel in 1988 when she was posted there by the BBC. She fell in love with Afghanistan and its people and has written this book to share their culture with the world. Doucet was at the recent Sydney Writers' Festival and spoke about her career and how she came to be in Afghanistan. She talked about this hotel, which housed her and other journalists, for many years, and how she came to know the people who worked there. The Finest Hotel in Kabul is her first book. 

Thangam Debonaire, Chair of Judges, said of the winner:

"A perfect work of narrative non-fiction: it is not only cleverly constructed and brilliantly researched, but each and every element is handled with extraordinary sensitivity and warmth – it will move you to tears or make you laugh, or perhaps both. Informed by decades of excellent reporting, Doucet centres the real-life experiences of people – the staff and guests, alongside the hotel itself – and with the future of Afghanistan still being written, this book’s importance will only get stronger as the years go by."

I had thought that Arundhati Roy might win for her incredible memoir, Mother Mary Comes to Me, but I am happy for Doucet.  

Sydney Writers' Festival 2026 - Day Four

Sunday 24 May 2026 is the last day of SWF2026.

Here's how I spent my day.

Whitlam and Howard: Leaders of Consequence

In this session, journalist and biographer Troy Bramston and political analyst Amy Remeikis spoke about former Prime Ministers Gough Whitlam and John Howard with Fran Kelly.  

Bramston has written a biography about Whitlam and talked about how he had a bold reform agenda, was future focussed and achieved a lot in his short time in office. But he had a chaotic leadership style and had not secured a stable cabinet. Despite warnings that his government was in danger, he did not change and his time as leader ended with the controversial dismissal. Bramston argues that Whitlam was a leader of consequence as he put Australia on the map internationally, had a vision of the nation's future, and embarked reforms including medicare, women's rights, Aboriginal land rights, free tuition, promotion of the arts and much more.

Remeikis has written a book which details the case against John Howard. He is often hailed in conservative circles, but in retrospect many of his reforms have caused problems today. She spoke about how he was the opposite of Whitlam. Howard was not bold, he was backward looking and wanted to keep Australia exactly as it was decades earlier, by turning against multiculturalism and First Nations rights, implementing Work Choices and other reforms that maintained the status quo. Remeikis argues that many of today's problems - housing crisis, increased disparity between rich and poor, anti-immigrant sentiment, the rise of One Nation, and many more - is directly related to Howard's time in government.

This was a robust and fascinating discussion. While I may not read either book, I was glad I attended the session.

Fran Kelly, Troy Bramston, Amy Remeikis

Where Dunnit?

As readers of this blog will know, I love a good crime thriller. So I was keen to attend this session with crime writers Michael Bennett, S.A. Cosby and Chris Hammer discussing the importance of place, in conversation with Hayley Scrivenor.

Michael Bennett is a Maori writer who has written the Hana Westerman crime series set in Auckland (Better the Blood). He spoke about how the series draws on Maori heritage and the impact of colonialism on the setting. Westerman is an intriguing single mum detective who has to balance her culture and the mainstream police force. I have not read Bennett's books but after hearing him speak, I want to track them down.

Chris Hammer and me

Chris Hammer is a favourite of mine and I have read all his novels, He is known for his depictions of locations and described how he visited western New South Wales for the setting of his latest novel Legacy. Place is key in his novels and once he gets the location right he can build out his story. He has a new novel on the way, which may be the start of a new series. After the session I met Hammer when he signed Legacy for me. I asked him if Nell Buchanan (a character in many of his novels) would be returning as she is a favourite of mine (and his!) and he said she would be back. He also took a selfie with me! 

SA Cosby is an American crime writer from Virginia who draws heavily on place for his novels. He spoke about setting and how his work is based on where he grew up and continues to live. He talked about his career and how he comes up with his stories. After the session I chatted with him when he signed copies of Razorblade Tears and All the Sinners Bleed for me. I told him I had not read his work and asked him to recommend where to start. We discussed my reading preferences and he suggested I start with All the Sinners Bleed, so I will take him up on the recommendation. He was very personable and I think I will enjoy his books.

After the session I also spoke with Hayley Scrivenor. As I knew she was facilitating this session, I brought in a copy of Dirt Town for signing. We had a great conversation about the first time she was at SWF back in 2022 when she was on a panel with Dinuka McKenzie and Garry Disher. I told her how my festival friend and I bought rush tickets to that session without any knowledge of the writers. I said I had read her two novels and we spoke about our mutual admiration of Disher. She said she is working on a new book which is set in and around circus performers.

Hayley Scrivenor, Michael Bennett, SA Cosby, Chris Hammer

Mick Herron in Conversation

While I had already seen Mick Herron earlier in the festival talking about adaptations, I was keen to attend this session to hear him talk about his latest novel in the Slough House series, with one of my favourite facilitators Michael Williams (seriously, I think Williams is one of the best interviewers around). 

This was an interesting discussion as they spoke about Herron's career. I did not realise he was a poet, but Williams and he spoke about how poetry has influenced his writing. Herron described how he came up with character River Cartwright's name - he had already chosen Cartwright as it sounded like an established British surname, and he knew he wanted a two syllable first name. On a commute to Oxford the train was paused at a river, and he suddenly thought 'River Cartwright' and when he landed on that, he immediately came up with a back story about River's upbringing. 

They spoke about Slough House and Herron said he used to get out at Barbican station for work and passed a building every day and so he was very familiar with what it looked like. Williams asked him about how he comes up with his unique ways of introducing readers to Slough House (for example, following a stray cat through the building). Herron said that is one of the aspects he most enjoys writing, coming up with humorous and innovative ways to do this each time.

Williams asked him about how he suddenly kills off characters and whether he knows how the series will end. Herron said he does know how but he doesn't know when it will end. For the moment he is enjoying writing the series and has a few more in him.

After the session I met Herron again and he signed a couple more books in my series (I didn't feel I could bring all eight books in the box set!).

Michael Williams, Mick Herron

Closing Address: A Braver Australia

Since I had attended the opening night gala, I thought I would go to the closing address as well. The ones I had attended previously were single author addresses (e.g. Jennifer Egan in 2018), but this year there were six people each giving a ten minute address on the topic of 'a braver Australia'. Host Sisonke Msimang introduced the speaker.

Amy Remeikis began, dressed up in an emerald green gown. She spoke about the need to be brave and get loud about injustice. Tony Birch reminisced about his friend, the late actor Jack Charles, who had been removed from his family as a child as part of the Stolen Generations, became a drug addict and was incarcerated, but never let his trauma impact his humanity.

Dr Amy Thunig-McGregor spoke about everyday bravery and the need to teach her children ways to be brave. Jack Toohey recalled the recent protests in Sydney against Israel's President Issac Hertzog, the overreach by police and the biased reporting by the media. He argued that Australians need to be brave and speak out against genocide.

Shankar Chandran admitted she often does not feel brave and suggested that bravery can begin with small acts of personal courage. Artist Ben Quilty was the last speaker. He talked about a regional arts centre he has been involved with and the need to support the arts. 

Sisonke Msimang, Jack Toohey, Amy Thunig-McGregor,
Amy Remeikis, Shankari Chandran, Ben Quilty and Anne Mossop

So that's a wrap on my time at SWF2026. I thoroughly enjoyed each of the 23 sessions I attended. I missed attending with my festival friend this year, but I loved catching up with friends between sessions and meeting fellow book lovers throughout the festival. 

One of the things I love about SWF is how accessible and friendly it is. It is great fun to mingle with writers, publishers, and fellow book nerds.  

While I was exhausted after four full days at the festival, I came home with my mind buzzing and my to-be-read shelf heaving. Cannot wait to explore all the new books I purchased. 

Finally, after the session it was announced that Creative Director Anne Mossop is leaving after four years at the helm. She has done an incredible job with this festival and will be missed. 

Book Signings

Books signed by authors today:

• S A Cosby - Razorblade Tears and All the Sinners Bleed 

  

  SA Cosby

• Chris Hammer - Legacy
• Mick Herron - Dead Lions, Real Tigers, and Spook Street
• Hayley Scrivener - Dirt Town 

My SWF2026 Experience

Read more about my time at SWF2026 here:

• Early Sessions - Lorena Allam, Robbie Arnott, Avani Dias, Lyse Doucet, Anton Enus, Nikita Gill, Lily King, Kate McClymont, Michael Pedersen, and Patrick Radden Keefe.
• Day One - Robbie Arnott, Nick Bryant, Barrie Cassidy, Rosalind Dixon, AC Grayling, Tayari Jones, Yann Martel, Amy Remeikis, Niki Savva, David Szalay, Tasma Walton
• Day Two - Michael Mohammed Ahmed, Matt Alt, Jacinda Ardern, Rebecca Armitage, Susan Choi, Bora Chung, Roddy Doyle, Mariana Enriquez, Kate Evans, Mick Herron, Yann Martel, Charlotte McConaghy, Suzie Miller, David Szalay, and Charlotte Wood.
• Day Three - Randa Abdel-Fattah, Michael Mohammed Ahmad, Roddy Doyle, Kate Evans, Jan Fran, Lev Grossman, RF Kuang, Antoinette Lattouf, Dervla McTiernan, Garth Nix, Hayley Scrivenor.
• Day Four - Michael Bennett, Tony Birch, Troy Bramston, Shankar Chandran, SA Crosby, Chris Hammer, Mick Herron, Fran Kelly, Sisonke Msimang, Ben Quilty, Amy Remeikis, Hayley Scrivenor, Amy Thunig-McGregor, Jack Toohey, Michael Williams.

Sydney Writers' Festival - Day Three

 After two full days at SWF, and four late nights, I took it easy on Saturday 23 May 2026. 

Dervla McTiernan - Three Reasons for Revenge

Internationally bestselling author Dervla McTiernan has written some excellent crime thrillers, including her Cormac Reilly series (The Ruin, The Scholar, The Good Turn and The Unquiet Grave). Last month she published her latest thriller, Three Reasons for Revenge (2026). She spoke with Hayley Scrivenor, author of Dirt Town and Girl Falling.

McTiernan spoke about her career. She was working as a lawyer in Ireland, trying to raise a family, and desperate to write. With a recession in Ireland, and the family never able to get ahead, they moved to Perth. Working part-time, she began to write. Her first novel, The Ruin, was published in 2018 to great acclaim, winning many book prizes. This was the first in her Cormac Reilly series and set her off on her career. With the success of her writing, she was able to quit her job and become a full-time writer and stay-at-home mother. 

Dervla McTiernan and me

They spoke about her latest book, Three Reasons for Revenge, which is the first set in Australia. McTiernan said she had been wary about setting a crime story in Australia as there are so many gifted crime writers (Chris Hammer, Jane Harper etc) who are known for depicting the landscape so well. She was worried she couldn't do the landscape justice. This is a standalone thriller featuring Detective Sergeant Judith Lee, who has to investigate three parcels sent to three seemingly disconnected people. I can't wait to read it!

I really liked McTiernan. She was humble, approachable and authentic. After the session I met McTiernan and she signed a copy of Three Reasons for Revenge for me. We also took a selfie together! 

Hayley Scrivenor and Dervla McTiernan

Silenced

This sold out session featured Palestinian-Australian Randa Abdel-Fattah, and Lebanese-Australians Michael Mohammed Ahmad and Antoinette Lattouf in conversation with journalist Jan Fran. I was keen to attend this session as I have been unnerved by the attempts to silence Abdel-Fattah at other writers' festivals. The whole point of book festivals is to explore ideas, even those one finds disagreeable. I was also interested to hear from Lattouf after her legal battle with the ABC and novelist Michael Mohammed Ahmad. 

Antoinette Lattouf was vibrant, smart and funny. She spoke about her book Women Who Win -  which showcases women who shattered legal and cultural barriers, defying norms and expectations. Some of the women profiled are now well known, but others would have faded into history. Included in the book is Lattouf's own story of how she took on the ABC in an unfair dismissal case and won. She has now joined forces with Jan Fran to create Ette Media, a company aimed at promoting media literacy skills.

Randa Abdel-Fattah

Randa Abdel-Fattah spoke about her career as a lawyer and her work as an academic studying Islamophobia. She is passionate about the war in Gaza and calling out the Israeli government's relentless campaign. She spoke about dispossession and genocide and how the media tries to be 'balanced' but questions how you can be balanced when there is a genocide underway. She spoke about her award winning novel Discipline, which explores the different way of silencing people. 

Michael Mohammed Ahmad spoke about his novel Bugger which is about child abuse within a Lebanese-Australian family. He spoke about how silence happens within families and the struggles faced by victims in this context. Some of what he had to say I had heard the day before in the Dark Materials session, but it was a good reinforcement of his message. 

After the session I met Randa Abdel-Fattah and she signed a copy of her book for me. I wasn't sure if I wanted to read it, but after hearing her speak about it I am intrigued. I would have got the Lattouf book as well, but I felt I have enough on my To-Be-Read stack at the moment and need to clear some before I read that.

Jan Fran, Michael Mohammed Ahmed, Randa Abdel-Fattah and Antoinette Lattouf

Fantastical Worlds

My next session was on fantasy novels featuring international bestselling writers Lev Grossman, R.F. Kuang and Garth Nix in conversation with Carody Culver. I chose this session because I do not read fantasy novels and am not really familiar with the genre, so wanted to expand my reading horizons. 

Garth Nix spoke about his career. He is the author of the Old Kingdom series, the Keys to the Kingdom series and many others. He spoke about how he choses his fantasy elements - necromancy, magic, immortality - and the freedom it gives him as a writer. He also spoke about the books and writers that influenced him.

Lev Grossman is best known for his The Magicians series and his newest book The Bright Sword which re-imagines the King Arthur legend. He spoke about the television adaptation of The Magicians.

Rebecca Kuang spoke about her The Poppy War series which launched her career. She then spoke about fantasy elements in Babel and her latest novel Katabasis. Kuang is well versed in the genre and it was great to see the three authors riffing on their favourite fantasy works in childhood and young adulthood. 

I am not sure I am a convert to the genre, but I am intrigued. After the session I passed by the book signing where Nix and Grossman has massive queues of devotees with stacks of their novels. Kuang was not present as she had to race off to one of her sold out Town Hall sessions.

Carody Culver, Garth Nix, Lev Grossman, RF Kuang

Roddy Doyle in Conversation

While I had heard Irish author Roddy Doyle speak as part of the Booker Prize panel the day before, I was keen to attend this session to hear more about  his life’s work and latest novel, The Women Behind the Door. He spoke with Kate Evans (ABC Radio National).

Doyle spoke about his upbringing in Dublin and his early career as a teacher. His first published novels were the Barrytown Trilogy - The Commitments (1987), The Snapper (1990) and The Van (1991). He spoke about self-publishing and then having success as these were made into films. 

He spoke about the Paula Spencer series which began thirty years ago with The Woman Who Walked Into Doors (1996) and features in his latest novel The Women Behind the Door (2024). Spencer is a woman experiencing domestic violence, and Doyle's novels shone a light into this difficult subject.

Doyle described his writing style as prioritising dialogue, which makes it ripe for adaptation to stage and screen. He spoke about his family and his upbringing. 

Doyle is absolutely delightful, He was humble, funny and authentic. I really enjoyed this session. As I had books signed by Doyle the day before, I did not attend the book signing and made my way home to rest up for the final day.

Kate Evans and Roddy Doyle

Book Signings

Books signed by authors today:

• Randa Abdel-Fattah - Discipline
• Dervla McTiernan - Three Reasons for Revenge 

My SWF2026 Experience

Read more about my time at SWF2026 here:

• Early Sessions - Lorena Allam, Robbie Arnott, Avani Dias, Lyse Doucet, Anton Enus, Nikita Gill, Lily King, Kate McClymont, Michael Pedersen, and Patrick Radden Keefe.
• Day One - Robbie Arnott, Nick Bryant, Barrie Cassidy, Rosalind Dixon, AC Grayling, Tayari Jones, Yann Martel, Amy Remeikis, Niki Savva, David Szalay, Tasma Walton
• Day Two - Michael Mohammed Ahmed, Matt Alt, Jacinda Ardern, Rebecca Armitage, Susan Choi, Bora Chung, Roddy Doyle, Mariana Enriquez, Kate Evans, Mick Herron, Yann Martel, Charlotte McConaghy, Suzie Miller, David Szalay, and Charlotte Wood.
• Day Three - Randa Abdel-Fattah, Michael Mohammed Ahmad, Roddy Doyle, Kate Evans, Jan Fran, Lev Grossman, RF Kuang, Antoinette Lattouf, Dervla McTiernan, Garth Nix, Hayley Scrivenor.
• Day Four - Michael Bennett, Tony Birch, Troy Bramston, Shankar Chandran, SA Crosby, Chris Hammer, Mick Herron, Fran Kelly, Sisonke Msimang, Ben Quilty, Amy Remeikis, Hayley Scrivenor, Amy Thunig-McGregor, Jack Toohey, Michael Williams.