Man Booker Prize 2011 - Longlist

29 August 2011

The longlist for the Man Booker Prize 2011 has been announced. Thirteen books were chosen for the list from a total of 138.The panel of five judges was chaired by Dame Stella Rimington the former head of MI5, who commented that the judges had been delighted "by the quality and breadth of our longlist"

 

Top of the list is the 2004 winner Alan Hollinghurst with his book "The Stranger's Child",  a massive book spanning a century of English lives and the changes in England itself. This is a colossus of a book written by an author whom many regard as the best living English writer. Hollinghurst is an accomplished master of prose and this book is astute, imaginative and beautifully written.

 
Julian Barnes who has been shortlisted for the prize three times is second favourite with his book "The Sense of an Ending"  a 150 page novella written by this highly intellectual writer. The story is based on the memories and recollections of one Tony Webster and the friends and acquaintances of his youth in the sixties. There is nothing remarkable about the man or his life, but Barnes deals with the subject matter with subtle tension. It is intense, skilled and completely unexpected.

 
Sebastian Barry, who has been shortlisted twice, was chosen for his novel "On Canaan's Side".  Barry is a gifted Irish storyteller. This, his fifth novel, continues with the tapestry he so expertly weaves of war love, family, friendships and Irish history. His writing is poetic, lyrical, and emotional yet he simply tells a story. Whether or not he is shortlisted Barry is an author to embrace.

 
Carol Birch for "Jamrach's Menagerie"  Set in 19th century London this is a harrowing tale of adventure and seafaring. The account of a young boy's early life in London and his rite of passage on the high seas is thrilling, although often gruesome and traumatic. Historically it is superbly researched, evoking the sights, smells and sounds of London and life on the ocean. The characters are strong and the tale is expertly told.

 
Jane Rogers for her novel "The Testament of Jessie Lamb"  Set in the near future this is very much a "today" book., dealing with issues which confront and concern us now, bringing to the surface fears for the future of our world, which seems to be determined by scientific experiments. Narrated by a 16 year old girl, a "typical" teenager, rebellious, independent, disparaging the powerful tale deals with ethics, morality and the discrepancy between adult decisions and teenage idealism.

 
D.J. Taylor for "Derby Day" A Victorian mystery beautifully written. The plot is tight and expertly unravelled. Each of the characters is full blown and exquisitely drawn. Historically the setting has integrity and atmosphere. A great read and a well deserved place on the long list.

 
A.D. Miller "Snowdrops" Set in present day Moscow this is a pacey slick and an exceptional debut novel. It expertly depicts the corruption and decadence of post communist Russia, atmospheric and chilling. A sophisticated debut.

 
 
Patrick McGuiness "The Last Hundred Days"  Ceausescu's Romania is the background for this novel. Highly accomplished and tautly written it traces the involvement of a young British student in the terrifying and dangerous environment of Bucharest. McGuiness, who is an acclaimed poet, has firsthand knowledge of Ceausescu's regime and his novel is a chilling account of the brutality of this moment in recent history.

 

 
 
Stephen Kelman "Pigeon English"  Inspired by the murder of Damilola Taylor this is the tale of a young, naive boy caught up in the gangs of an estate in South London. Narrated through the eyes of the boy it portrays the effects of environment on one so young. It is funny and brutal and sad, but it puts the unnerving rise of gang warfare and knife crime in perspective and acknowledges the kindness, laughter and stoicism of the community.

 

 
 
Yvette Edwards "A Cupboard Full of Coats" A story expertly woven around human relationships. Set in Hackney it captures the essence of the East End of London overlaid with the colour of the Caribbean. It's an intense tale of love jealousy and guilt - a stunning debut novel.

 

 
 
Patrick deWitt "The Sisters Brothers"  The author's second book has a familiar format. Two gunslingers are hired to assassinate and the novel follows them on their journey across the Wild West to the victim. But what makes this stand apart are the superb characters. It is a compelling, violent story laced with dark humour and focuses on relationships rather than gun slinging.

 

 
 
Esi Edugyan "Half Blood Blues"  This is a truly beautiful novel. It follows the experiences of a group of Black jazz musicians caught up in the terror and reprisals of Nazi Germany and the aftermath. Its focus is betrayal, loyalty and rivalry.

 

 
 
Alison Pick "Far To Go"  Also written against the background of WW2 this time in Czechoslovakia where people are struggling to survive the horrors that approach them. The compassionate, at times harrowing, moving story follows a young boy on his fateful journey to safety in England.