November 12th marks the date for the prestigious Booker Prize Award held in London. If you have not heard of the Booker Prize, it is an award sought after by authors all over the world and showcases the best of the best in contemporary fiction. Initiated in 1969, each year’s winner received high esteem and regards in the literature realm, along with a £55,000 — which would equate to $98,000 in the United States. While last year’s winner was Paul Lynch’s Prophet Song, this year’s shortlist comprises of five women authors — a first in the history of the award. The nominees also originate from a wide span of countries, which include Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US.
Let’s take a closer look to see who is on this year’s shortlist.
James by Percival Everett
Almost a century and a half later, Percival Everett has taken the classic tale of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and rewritten the narrative in the perspective of Jim, the slave who escapes being sold in New Orleans. With this new vision, Everett is able to display Jim’s character in a new light, as Jim is portrayed to possess more identity, intelligence, and empathy.
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
Also nominated for the Ursula K. Le Guin Prize, this science fiction novel follows the events of six men and women from a spectrum of different countries as they orbit around Earth. The book is a glimpse into the simple human moments of everyday life with the background of the characters looking down at society on their planet.
Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner
Situated in France, Creation Lake follows the suspenseful maze of “Sadie Smith”, a 34 year old American woman, who is secretly an undercover agent monitoring an anarchist collective. As Sadie spins her web to entice her Parisian love, Lucien, she is also enamoured with Bruno Lacombe, who is part of the group she is spying on.
Held by Anne Michaels
After becoming injured on the World War I battlefield near River Aisne in France, John reflects on memories of his life. Flash forward three years later, when John returns home from war and reunites with his love Helena, he discovers he is still haunted by his past and actions.
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
Residing in her late mother’s cottage in the Dutch countryside in the summer of 1961, Isabel follows a strict routine in the way she lives. However, when her brother, Louis, drops off his new girlfriend, Eva, to stay for the season, the new house guest uproots Isabel’s peace. As things begin to disappear within the house, Isabel becomes paranoid and suspicious of Eva, which leads to an infatuation with the woman.
Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
As an exploration of grief, morals, and forgiveness, Wood’s novel follows the journey of a woman who moves to a small religious community in Monaro, Australia. The move is troubling the protagonist due to her lack of faith and knowledge of prayers, along with her haunting emotions of her mother’s death. Even stranger events transpire when the community is visited by a mice plague, skeletal remains, and an unknown visitor.
To find out who this year’s Booker Prize winner is going to be, tune in on their live stream featured on YouTube, Instagram, and Tiktok, starting at 9 pm GMT on November 12th. Those interested can catch the exciting red carpet coverage and interviews beginning at 7pm GMT, only on Instagram and TikTok. BBC News will be on location at the Old Billingsgate in London to cover the event. Make sure to visit The Booker Prizes for more interviews and information on the prize and authors.
To check out some more award-winning books, click here to read 2023 Award-Winning Books to Add to Your 2024 TBR!
Click here to view our Author’s Corner Spotlight: Female Authors bookshelf on Bookshop.org.
