The Booker Prize Longlist 2020

Hello Gentle Reader

Despite the Covid-19 Pandemic, the world has groaned and demanded it goes back to some semblance of normality. The United Kingdom along with the United States, has two of the worst hit countries by the pandemic; but are also the two most vocal countries demanding a return to the routine. Due to the pandemic, the International Booker Prize had delayed the announcement of its winner, but its shortlist remains as strong and striking as it did when it was first announced. On the contrary the Booker Prize seeks to rehash old and trodden ground, with the scattering of salt and pepper of new writers here and there. Cynicism aside, there may be hope yet for the prize’s future.

Without further delay Gentle Reader, the Booker Prize Longlist for two-thousand and twenty reads as follows: [in no particular order]

Hilary Mantel – UK – “The Mirror and the Light,”

Anne Tyler – USA – “Redhead by the Side of the Road,”

Tsitsi Dangarembga – Zimbabwe – “This Mournable Bod,”

Douglas Stuart – Scotland/USA – “Shuggle Bain,”

Maaza Mengiste – Ethiopia/UA – “The Shadow King,”

Colum McCann – Ireland/USA – “Apeirogon,”

Sophie Ward – UK – “Love and Other Thought Experiments,”

Brandon Taylor – USA – “Real Life,”

C Pam Zhang – USA – “How Much of These Hills is Gold,”

Kiley Reid – USA – “Such A Fun Age,”

Avni Doshi – USA – “Burnt Sugar,”

Gabriel Krauze – UK – “Who They Was,”

Diane Cook – USA – “The New Wilderness,”

Without much of a surprise, the United Kingdom and the United States of America have the highest listed numbers. The sheer quantity produced by publishing houses of these regions overpowers many other regionalities; though there was a conscious effort to look at other regions during the assembly and deliberation of this year’s Booker Prize Longlist. It comes as no surprise to see two literary Grande Dames on the list: Hilary Mantel from the United Kingdom, who has won the Booker Prize twice now; and Anne Tyler from the United States. Hilary Mantel is the headline grabber for the year. She is one of the few writers to receive the Booker Prize, while also being the first female to receive the prize twice; with last years Margaret Atwood being the second.

After the hoopla of last years decision, with the judges deciding to split the award between to writers, caused considerable controversy, with the Booker Foundation unequivocal warnings against the judges from doing so. In the end the prize was split, making Margaret Atwood the oldest winner at seventy-nine, as well as the second female writer to receive the prize; and Bernardine Evaristo became the first black writer to receive the prize.

This year the longlist is mixed with established and new writers, with a taste for diversity in mind. Of the thirteen longlisted writers, nine of them are women, and five of those women are come from different culture and ethnic backgrounds.

Its an impressive longlist, though it is still stalked and overshadowed by Hilary Mantel and the final novel of her Thomas Cromwell trilogy. There will be no denying that “The Mirror and the Light,” will be a high contender of this years prize, but winning the prize may overshadow its literary merit, with controversy and routine scandal once again; one that fixates on the established while alienating equally important writers. The judges this year their work cut out for them, and it’s not an enviable task. The judges have their work cut out from them. They are required to be consciously aware of previous mistakes and controversy, and how to remedy them with their own decisions; judging literary merit before demands of social justice, and any other sociopolitical notion.

Best of Luck to the Judges, and of course the longlisted writers.

Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader

Take Care

And As Always

Stay Well Read

M. Mary