Well today is the day before the Man booker announce the first Man booker international prize longlist, the new name for the Indpendent foreign fiction prize. I don’t see much change in the books being picked this year Boyd is still the chair and so I feel the list may have a similar feel to other years. Last year i was miles of the mark with my predictions so lets see how I do this year with my 13 choices .
1.
The great swindle by Pierre Lemaitre
This won the French Prix Goncourt slow burning book but very much an homage to french writing of the time the book is set ww1 and just after . My review
2
The Meursault investigation
I said this when I reviewed it every few years a book in translation seems to break free and become a favourite of every one and this book is one such example. A retelling of Camus outsider from the Arab point of view .My review
3
Exiles by Ciler Ilhan
This was my favourite short story collection from last year and Ciler bravely touch many taboo subjects in Turkish society such as Honour killings . My review
4
Submission by Michel Houellebecq
A dystopia france where a Arab led coalition has taken charge seen from a laid back lectures point of view who doesn’t see whats happening to it is too late. This is the one that was on the cover of Charlie Hebdo the week the magazine was attack My review
5
The vegetarian by Han Kang
A triptych of stories around a womans choice to become vegetarian and also her sexual awakening in a way. I like this book although was a tad over hyped by some. My review
6
She is not me by Golnaz Hashemzadeh
I think one World edition title should be pn the longlist they took uk by storm publishing 21 titles last year most of those in translation I loved this tale of trying to fit in as a teen in Sweden.My review
7
Wilful disregard by Lena Andersson
A love story a woman falls for an artist and it is down hil from there . I loved the beauty of the writing in this one .My review
8
What became of the white savage by Francois Garde
A man become shipwrecked in the 1840 and goes native in the Australi of the time . This is the story of that time ansd what happened when he returned to france a Priz Goncourt first novel winner .My review
9
Signs preceeding the end of the world by Yuri Herrea
A sister takes two messages to her brother in the US a mythic like trip as Yuri has removed any sense of place or time to the story. My review
10
My documents by Alejandro Zambra
Another short story collection this time by the Chilean Aljandro Zambra, I loved these I said when I reviewed his novellas he would be a great short story-teller . My favourite was one about a disgraced footballer that fake an injury during a world cup match . My review
11
Tram 83 by Fiston Mwanza Mujila
A high octanne look at life in Congo as there is no law and people trying to make money steal money and some just to get by the best they can in this mad world . My review
12
The boy who stole Attila’s horse by Ivan Repila
Two boys fell down a well this is the tale of what happened after that .Well written .My review
13
Well I decide to name a trio of Spanish books that just on the edge in my opinion two I reviewed on I am part way in .
Out in the open by Jesus Carrasco
The Ilogic of Kassel by Enrique Vila-Matas
In the night of time by Antonio Munoz Molina
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