From its humble inception in 1969, the Booker Prize has slowly but surely established itself as one of the top literary prizes in the world. An author who wins the coveted prize is guaranteed fame and success. It doesn't matter how obscure you are as an author prior to your win. Win the thing and you know you've made it. In an instant, you will be the darling of the book trade.
Today, the much-awaited longlist for the award this year has been announced. Looking at the list, I haven't read any of the titles. I don't even know most of the authors. I'm only familiar with the works of Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie. These two giants of the literary world also seem to be among the favorites to snag the award.
The longlist:
. The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
. Night Boat to Tangier by Kevin Barry
. My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
. Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann
. Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
. The Wall by John Lanchester
. The Man Who Saw Everything by Deborah Levy
. Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli
. An Orchestra of Minorities by Chigozie Obioma
. Lanny by Max Porter
. Quichotte by Salman Rushdie
. 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak
. Frankisstein by Jeanette Winterson
Interested in reading the titles in the list? I highly suggest you read first this reader's guide put together by the good folks over at The Guardian.
Not familiar with the Booker Prize? In their own words, they "reward the finest in fiction, highlighting great books to readers and transforming authors’ careers". Visit their website here.
