Tomorrow see’s the official independent foreign fiction short-list comes out .So we decide to announce ours today as with last year we choose to read as many if not all the 15 long listed books from the 2014 list and we have reviewed them my fellow jurors David ,Tony reading ,Tony messy ,Jacqui (who has been guesting on all or blogs ) and Bellezza .SO we have read ,given scores and dissected this years long list.We have yet again made a short-list of our own from the 15 books on the list just to show the strength of the list and how it can be viewed by different readers .Its been a journey from Japan ,china ,Iraq ,Germany ,Spain among the few stops .We tackled connect story collections ,memories of Russian youth ,a family waiting for a husband to return ,a son following his fathers footsteps and a stories around the ten commandments .SO after all that we look at the book ,the translation and the long lasting nature of the book for the first time it is hard thing to say but we can try and sense if a book will hang around or just disappear from view .so with out further a do I present the shadow IFFP SHORTLIST ,we will choose our winner from these six books .
The infatuations by Javier Marias .
A women’s journey with a couple she see’s evry day at a cafe ,it shows the difference in what we view and what is real .
Brief loves that live forever by Andrei Makine
A russian youth partly remembered in a collection of short stories ,touching in points .
The Sorrow of angels by Jon Kalman Stefansson
An eerie tale of 19th century Iceland where reality and myth seem to cross .My review this week
The Mussel feast by Birgit Vanderbeke
A wonderful insight into an east german family as the wall is falling .But where is the father ?
A Man in Love by Karl Ove Knausgaard
Part two of the Epic my struggle we see Karl in the book struggling with the early years of fatherhood .
The Corpse washer by Sinan Antoon
A son tries to escape his father’s life with art but the war in Iraq and his mother being ill draw him back to being a corpse washer .
Well that is our list ,you will have to wait to tomorrow to see what matches up with the Official Iffp list .
Which of these six have you read ?
Winstonsdad's Blog 
Apr 07, 2014 @ 11:41:37
I agree with your choices – these books really do sound wonderful (haven’t read a couple of them, but intend to).
Apr 07, 2014 @ 13:41:05
Thanks look forward to your thoughts on them
Apr 07, 2014 @ 13:22:01
All very tempting indeed! I think The Mussel Feast appeals to me most, partly because it was such an experience to be in Berlin in 2012 and see the remnants of that wall. It made us very thoughtful indeed, and I would love to see how the Fall is treated in fiction.
Thanks for bringing us all these great reviews, Stu. I missed not joining in this year, but I really couldn’t manage it while I’m doing the Great Books course at uni.
Apr 07, 2014 @ 13:42:16
This was a very good take on the fall of the wall my only wish it had been translated soon near the time it would maybe have meant more .Hope you may take part next year Lisa
Apr 07, 2014 @ 21:27:39
I hope so too, Stu:)
Apr 07, 2014 @ 20:08:46
I felt a bit inadequate having only read 3 of the 15 long list, but better that I’d read 3 of the 6 on your short list!
As you know, Sorrow of Angels was not to my taste but I can see its qualities. Still hope to read The Corpse Washer. Looks like a good selection to me.
Apr 07, 2014 @ 20:09:49
Thanks I really enjoyed the corpse washer simple prose brilliantly done
Apr 07, 2014 @ 21:08:05
I have ordered The Corpse Washer; it did not arrive in time to read any sooner. But, I look forward to discovering it soon.
It has been such a pleasure to read with you and the other members of the Shadow Jury, Stu. Thank you for hosting this event, it’s the most exciting reading I’ve done in a long, long time, and all the better to participate in it with reading friends.
Apr 07, 2014 @ 21:09:11
It’s been great everyone has read so much this year and seemed to have enjoyed much of what they have read
Apr 08, 2014 @ 19:27:05
I have only read The Mussel Feast and thought it was excellent! An excellent lineup and love that you are all shadowing it. Thanks for sharing.
Apr 08, 2014 @ 19:28:12
Welcome yes mussel feast stands a good chance of winning both shadow and actual prize
Apr 08, 2014 @ 20:18:37
Oh dear the answer is none. I have Infatuations on the shelf waiting to be read. Hope that counts for something! Do you have a favourite?
Apr 08, 2014 @ 20:19:51
I personally was bowled over by simple beauty and prose of the corpse washer but these all great books
Apr 09, 2014 @ 20:54:25
Just saw the short list and this didn’t make it sorry. Neither did the Infatuations which was a surprise to me.
Apr 10, 2014 @ 13:08:09
And to me Marias is a great writer not sure how it missed the cut
Apr 09, 2014 @ 13:37:19
Have you seen the official list yet? I’m a little surprised that Marías didn’t make the cut and also that “Revenge” did. My money is on Knausgaard or “The Mussel feast” for this one.
Apr 10, 2014 @ 13:04:58
Me too they stand out and strangely only two on both shortlists
Apr 09, 2014 @ 16:06:10
I’m hoping to get to The Corpse Washer later this week as our library system tells me it’s finally on its way here!
It been a delight to read along with you and the other members of the shadow group. Thanks so much for having me along on this literary trip and for publishing some of my thoughts as guest posts.
Apr 09, 2014 @ 16:10:34
Just dropping by to add how much I’ve enjoyed reading Jacqui’s posts – and to suggest that I hope the experience encourages her to start her own blog!
Apr 10, 2014 @ 13:06:50
I hope so Lisa she would be a great addition to the blogosphere
Apr 10, 2014 @ 13:06:20
Look forward to your thoughts on this one
Apr 10, 2014 @ 17:39:32
I’ve just had notification that there will be “a delay” which probably means there’s been a run on the books and the publisher is rushing to do a reprint. Oh well, I’ve got a couple of other books to read while I wait *smile*
Apr 10, 2014 @ 06:53:16
Thank you, Lisa! That’s very kind of you to say. It’s been great fun to be part of the shadow group and I’ve certainly enjoyed doing a few reviews!