For anyone who missed it, the Man Booker Prize 2011 shortlist has been announced. The shortlisted titles are:
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
Jamrach’s Menagerie by Carol Birch
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan
Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman
Snowdrops by A.D. Miller
It’s an interesting list which, unusually, includes a western and a psychological thriller. Julian Barnes has been shortlisted for the fourth time – will he take home the award this year? – and there are two first-time novelists on the list. The shock exclusions this year are Alan Hollinghurst’s The Stranger’s Child (originally the favourite to win this year!) and Sebastian Barry’s On Canaan’s Side, both of which have been getting rave reviews. We have all the shortlist titles on order, so all should be available soon. The winner will be announced on the 18th of October.
