The longlist for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2013, formerly the Orange Prize, has now been announced. The twenty books that made the cut are listed below.
I’m a little ashamed to say that I haven’t read any of them.
The longlist:
- Kitty Aldridge, A Trick I Learned From Dead Men
- Kate Atkinson, Life After Life
- Ros Barber, The Marlowe Papers
- Shani Boianjiu, The People of Forever are Not Afraid
- Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl
- Sheila Heti, How Should A Person Be?
- A.M. Homes, May We Be Forgiven
- Barbara Kingsolver, Flight Behaviour
- Deborah Copaken Kogan, The Red Book
- Hilary Mantel, Bring Up the Bodies
- Bonnie Nadzam, Lamb
- Emily Perkins, The Forrests
- Michèle Roberts, Ignorance
- Francesca Segal, The Innocents
- Maria Semple, Where’d You Go, Bernadette
- Elif Shafak, Honour
- Zadie Smith, NW
- M.L. Stedman, The Light Between Oceans
- Carrie Tiffany, Mateship with Birds
- G. Willow Wilson, Alif the Unseen
When it comes to literature and writing, I find awards ceremonies to be an interesting phenomenon. In my opinion, the works that are often feted by the establishment are not the novels that the average reader enjoys. Some may be critically acclaimed, but they can be hard to read and lacking a plot-driven story.
So how can we judge the value of a book? Does an award nomination recommend it as something worth reading?
I admit, at the moment I’m behind in my reading. I’m so far behind that I skim through most of my reading material as quickly as I can, abandoning things much more quickly than I ever would have done in the past.
Unfortunately I’ve committed to reviewing a few books that haven’t turned out to be that great, which has had a negative influence on my reading time. But once these reviews are complete, I plan to indulge in reading purely for pleasure – I might even manage to squeeze in one of the books from this list!
Which would you recommend?
Charmaine Clancy says
I have to admit I’ve not ready any either. I do have Gone Girl and Bringing up the Bodies, but haven’t gotten to them yet. These sorts of awards do make me read books, but more because I think I should, rather than because I want to.
Amy says
I completely agree Charmaine, you think that because they have the nomination they must be good, then sometimes end up disappointed.
Caroline says
Ciao, bella! I’m so glad you’re a fellow Neruda fan! 🙂 I ADORE your “Twenty-One Things I Learned in My Twenties” post – all so true and insightful, and I love your simply-captioned photo accompaniments. The ingredients to a blissful life indeed! And speaking of this post – have you seen the annual awards for worst-written sex scenes?! xxx
Amy says
Thanks Caroline, that’s lovely of you! Yes, I adore Neruda, have you read Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair? I haven’t seen the sex scenes awards, I’ll have to look it up, bet there are some hilarious ones!
Hayley says
I haven’t read any of them either – and yes, that’s a little embarrassing. I’m having the same problem with being behind in my reading. I also try not to read too much fiction while I’m writing fiction myself (as I am now) as I find it really affects the tone of my work!
That said, I’ve adored all Emily Perkins’ other books, so I’ll definitely be checking out The Forrests. Have you read any of her other work? She’s a really brilliant writer.
Amy says
Hi Hayley, I haven’t read anything by Emily Perkins but will definitely check her work out! I must admit, I have lost my reading mojo a little but am working to get it back x
Emma says
Hi Amy,
I agree, I would never read a book just because it made an award list but if it appeals to me as well I’ll give it try.
I’ve only read/am reading two from this list. I’d recommend Gone Girl, I had to read it to find out what all the fuss was about and I wouldn’t say it’s the greatest thing I’ve ever read, but it’s a fairly easy, gripping story and a good thriller. Life After Life is a bit heftier, I’m reading it at the moment though and loving it! 🙂
Amy Lord says
Hey Emma, I read Gone Girl recently and I agree. It was entertaining enough, but not as good as I expected from all the hype. I’ve been circling Life After Life, not sure whether I’ll like it, but might have to give it a go at some point!