Hooray for Friday, hooray for books by female authors, and hooray for the Baileys women’s prize for fiction which celebrates and promotes female authors.
On Wednesday 8th March to coincide with International Women’s Day, The Baileys women’s prize announced it’s long list of the 20 books that are in contention to win this years prize. The list consists of 11 debut novels which is mighty encouraging for yet to be published authors.
You can find a full list of the 20 books nominated here. It’s an interesting list and many of the books tempt me it’s 5 on Friday so with some difficulty but I have chosen just 5 I think I would most like to read.
Whispering Through a Megaphone by Rachel Elliot (UK)
A tale of friendship and love that blooms after a chance meeting of two damaged individuals – Miriam, who hasn’t left her house in three years, and can only speak in whispers, and Ralph, a psychotherapist who runs away from home when he discovers that his wife doesn’t love him.
The Green Road by Anne Enright (Ireland) Enright’s sixth novel follows the reunion of five members of an Irish family at Christmas, after throwing themselves into work and relationships all over the world to avoid their pasts.
Gorsky by Vesna Goldsworthy (UK/Serbia)
Russian oligarch Gorsky is led to London by his love for Natalia, now married to an Englishman. Seeking to fill his new Thames-side mansion with books and settle in for the long haul, he makes an appointment with a down-on-his-luck bookseller who receives the commission of a lifetime
My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout (US) This is the tale of a tender relationship between a woman and her mother, set over five nights in the mid-1980s. I.’ve read so many great reviews on other blogs about this novel that it’s probably the one from the list I want to read most.
The House on the Edge of the World by Julia Rochester (UK) Rochester’s first novel follows the lives of a family living by the sea in Devon over many years, hooked to the calamitous event of the family’s father falling to his death from the top of a cliff.
What do you think? Have you read any of my choices? Would you particularly recommend any of those nominated?
Image from The Bookseller
My ‘to read’ list is huge already – soon to be bigger I think!! Will let you know my top 5. Karen xx
Author
I know me too. I keep gathering books to read. Look forward to your list too xxx
OK. Have decided on my top 5…..
In no particular order …. Shirley Barrett, Becky Chambers, Rachel Elliot, Elizabeth Strout and Elizabeth McKenzie.
Now just need to book a retreat and get some serious reading done xx