A Booker Shortlist Round-Up

Unity Books Auckland asked Lisa Mulvey of @Books_Coffees_Wines what their thoughts were on this year's Booker shortlist. If you check out her account, she's a prolific reader and takes time every year to read many of the major literary award shortlists.

If you're looking for a book recommendation, then let Lisa be your guide...

This year's shortlist featured five female authors; however, the favourite to win was the only male author on the list, Percival Everett. Like others, I expected James to win this year’s prize.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this year's Booker Prize shortlist and noticed common themes amongst the books. Themes such as friendship, exile, displacement, isolation, and the meaning of home were prevalent in these novels.

Here are my thoughts on each book, ranked from favourite to least favourite:

1. James

James is my favourite book from this year’s longlist. I have been a fan of Percival Everett's writing ever since I read The Trees, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2022. Once again, I was impressed by Everett’s sheer brilliance with words.

James is a reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The story follows Jim (or James), a slave who learns he is going to be sold. Jim escapes with the help of Huck Finn, who fakes his death to join James on a journey down the Mississippi River toward the free states.

This narrative explores the cruelty of slavery, the power of language, and the best and worst aspects of humanity. It also raises thought-provoking questions about morality: “Was it evil to kill evil?”

2. Stone Yard Devotional

Stone Yard Devotional was a pleasant surprise for me. At times, I almost forgot I was reading fiction; it felt as though I was delving into someone's inner thoughts and memories. The story is contemplative and explores themes of forgiveness and coping with grief.

Our unnamed narrator moves to an abbey to isolate herself from the world. Throughout her time there, she reflects on her life, particularly her struggle to cope with the losses of those she loved. Her experiences highlight the profound impact that people have on our lives. Overall, this proved to be a memorable read, and it was my second choice to win.

3. Orbital

Orbital is the well-deserved winner of this year’s Booker Prize and my third favourite book from this year’s longlist. Filled with stunning prose, Orbital follows a day in the life of a space station during sixteen orbits, all interspersed with beautiful meditations on life. Harvey’s captivating prose illustrates how interconnected we all are in this world.

Gaby Wood, the chief executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, stated that the only criterion as such for the judges is that a book must hold up to re-reading. Orbital is definitely a book I would revisit.

I never expected to enjoy a novel about space, but it transcends that theme; it is fundamentally about humanity and togetherness.

Here are examples of Harvey’s beautiful sentences:

"Maybe the whole nature of things is one of precariousness, of wobbling on a pinhead of being, of decentring ourselves inch by inch as we do in life, as we come to understand that the staggering extent of our non-existence is a tumultuous and wave-tossed offering of peace."

"She finds she often struggles to find topics to share with people at home because the small details feel too mundane, while the more significant experiences seem too astounding, leaving nothing in between."

4. Creation Lake

Creation Lake follows Sadie Smith, a merciless woman who goes undercover to infiltrate a commune in a remote part of France. Her mission is to disrupt the plans of a group of eco-activists.

The narrative is both humorous and intelligent, featuring elements such as email hacking, espionage, sabotage, and even Neanderthals! This was my first experience reading Kushner's work, and I now feel compelled to explore more of her writing.

5. Held

Held begins in 1917 on a battlefield, focusing on an injured soldier named John, who reflects on his memories with his lover, Helena. John is a photographer, and like his photos, each story within the novel serves as a vivid snapshot.

Written in lyrical prose and structured as a series of vignettes, Held spans four generations of families. Each vignette highlights the strong bonds within these families as they experience love, endure loss, and demonstrate resilience and unity. The novel explores the impact of war, family connections, and how our memories shape the present. While I found this to be a worthwhile read, it did not resonate with me as much as it has with other readers.

6. The Safekeep

The Safekeep is set fifteen years after World War II in a rural Dutch town. Isabel lives an isolated life in her childhood home following the death of her mother, and her brother sends his girlfriend, Eva, to stay with her. This leads to significant—and unexpected—changes in Isabel’s life.

The majority of the novel unfolds in this home, where things are not as they seem. Van der Wouden’s prose is both evocative and intriguing. The house itself acts like a character in the story; everything revolves around it: "She belonged to the house in the sense that she had nothing else, no other life than the house, but the house, by itself, did not belong to her."

Although I found the narrative predictable, The Safekeep was an impressive debut novel!