I am free!! Well, at least out of lockdown. London is open again and what a difference it makes! My winter clothes, which have been held hostage by the local dry cleaner since December, have returned safely home. I’ve been out eating sushi and I had my first takeaway burrito in a long time (goodbye healthy living… π). Next weekend, a stylist will attempt the ungrateful task of getting my hair under control again. And everywhere I go, the city is buzzing with life.
Women’s Prize for Fiction 2021 Shortlist
As you may know, I’ve been reading four books from The Women’s Prize for Fiction 2021 longlist.
- Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi (5 stars)
- Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (4 1/2 stars)
- The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (4 1/2 stars)
- Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller (4 stars)
This week it transpired, that all four of them are included on the shortlist. It didn’t surprise me. First and foremost, I thoroughly enjoyed all four. But I also think, each of them have their own uniqueness in terms of themes and subjects and they have in various degrees been lingering in my mind after I finished them. Noticeably, they are all extremely readable. Whereas I don’t mind experimental literature, which only appeal to a narrow reader base, I think it’s great to see books on prize lists, which may bridge the gap between literary and commercial fiction. I’ve never liked the assumption that books, which are commercially successful, cannot be literary.
The other two on the shortlist, which I haven’t read are:
- No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood
- How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones
So do I intend to read these? Nope. From what I’ve heard, Jones’ novel should come with every trigger warning imaginable and it’s a bleak and difficult read. It doesn’t really tempt me.
If you’ve heard of Patricia Lockwood and know why she is famous, you may be the right kind of reader for No One Is Talking About This, which is autofiction centred around Twitter. Not being a social media person and reluctant to google all the Twitter memes and references, which some readers had to, means I probably won’t read it. I do see the appeal though of the current social media theme (although ironically everything referenced in the book is from 2018, which in the world of social media is old news) and apparently, it has made readers both laugh and cry.
We don’t have to discuss, which book is going to win, right? Surely, that’s got to be Transcendent Kingdom! π€© No? Let me know what you think.
The International Booker Prize 2021
I also skimmed the longlist for the International Booker Prize to see if anything tempted me in the world of translated literature. And guess what. The list featured a Danish author, Olga Ravn.
De Ansatte (The Employees) takes place in the future. The work place is a space ship, millions of kilometres from Earth. From Goodreads:
Structured as a series of witness statements compiled by a workplace commission, Ravnβs crackling prose is as chilling as it is moving, as exhilarating as it is foreboding. Wracked by all kinds of longing, The Employees probes into what it means to be human, emotionally and ontologically, while simultaneously delivering an overdue critique of a life governed by work and the logic of productivity.
I am not patriotic enough to read this, just because the author is Danish, but the blurb had me seriously intrigued. Surprisingly, the audiobook was available in Danish from a well-known audio provider and I listened to the beginning just after downloading. It’s narrated by the author herself and it sounded amazing. I don’t know how it comes across in translation, but in Danish it almost sounded like poetry. Sci-fi poetry. Is that a thing? Later, I learned that Ravn also writes poetry. I can’t wait to listen to the rest of the book.
I could go on talking about books, but I think my annual quota for marathon posts has been spent already. However, my reviewing isn’t going well at the moment, so I may be back soon with another chatty post.
How was your week? Has the Covid situation improved where you are? If you are based in the UK, how have you used your new-gained freedom? And most importantly, which books are on your radar?
The Sunday Post is hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer.
I am so glad you are out and about, along with the rest of London. Dubai has seemingly eased the control too. And these are some fabulous books you have recommended. I have 2 of those for Women’s prize books and the rest are on my TBR. Well, now if only I could get out of the damned reading slump!
Yes, it’s a great feeling to be back to more normal conditions. If only we could start traveling again, I would be happy! I definitely had a good experience with the Women’s Prize this year, reading four pretty amazing books. I hope you will enjoy those, you decide to pick up. Well, there is nothing wrong with a reading slump from time to time. Glad to hear Dubai has started to ease control as well, so presumably there are many things to do other than reading!
Still in lockdown here in Canada. Weather isn’t cooperating at all to allow a nice sit in the sun with a good book. My reading is taken up by recommendations and Jojo Moyes’ books which I’d put on hold at the library and MUST be read or lost. I’ve just finished The Dutch House by Ann Patchett and now I’m on to The Horse Dancer. Enjoy your hard-earned freedom! And sushi.
I am sorry to hear you are still in lockdown, hopefully things will improve soon. Yeah, the temperatures aren’t that great here either, but people are still sitting outside at cafes and restaurants (we can’t sit inside yet). I’ve only read Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, but I enjoyed it. I’ve also watched the movie. What did you think about The Dutch House? I listened to the audiobook narrated by Tom Hanks and loved it! Thanks, I will. π
I think that The Dutch House suffered as a result of my preconceptions about what I thought would happen in it. I liked it but…my review will be out soon. You can’t to seem to go wrong with Jojo Moyes and Me Before You is good. The film was made in my home town of Pembroke in South Wales! Sun was out today so lockdown is not so bad!
I see – I will look out for your review of The Dutch House. π It’s always fun to watch films from locations you know well. I didn’t know, it was recorded in Wales (or that you were from Wales). I seem to meet a lot of people in the blogging community, who have moved away from their home country.
Yes, it is fun although a bit unsettling too when real and fictional worlds collide. And yes, I am a long way away from Wales although it will always have my heart. Lived in lots of different places due to my husband’s work which has been an amazing experience. Feeling the distance at the moment though.
Let me know what you think of the review. I think if Uncle Tom Hanks was reading it to me, it may have livened it up a bit for me.
Have you ever read any of his fiction?
It must be great to have lived in and experienced many different countries! But yes, Canada is far away from Wales, especially in a situation where traveling is not ideal. I haven’t read any of Tom Hanks’ fiction, but he was surprisingly good at narrating. I think most people agreed about that.
Yes, I am lucky. But not everyone views it that way!
I read his collection of short stories which was called Uncommon Type which I reviewed. I thought he was a good writer and I loved the cover design. You can’t beat Hanks. I would recommend it. Some of his stories were really good. Maybe there’s an audio book where he is reading them! Double dose of Hanks!
I guess, it depends on how often you have to move from place to place. If it’s all the time, I would probably start to feel a bit rootless. Good tip about Tom Hanks, I will look out for his short stories!
You know, I feel like I have just have multiple homes, all of which I could slot back into. We’ve moved every two to three years since 2012, from the UK to Perth, Australia to MontrΓ©al, Canada to Calgary and now Ottawa, where we have lived for a year. Phew! All of them different with their own benefits and drawbacks.
With regard to Tom Hanks, I did review them if you want to take a look..
That sounds ideal! I would love to have multiple homes across the world! π
Yes, it’s pretty cool. If I had houses there still, it would make it even easier!
Yay for freedom!!!!
Great book recommendations, I must check them out. Thank you.
Any interest in doing a buddy read with me for non fiction November? π
Exactly, it really is wonderful! Sure, we can do a buddy read for non-fiction November. I guess if we start now, there is a reasonable likelihood I can read the book AND write the post before November.π Any ideas? I think we discussed something relating to animals, but don’t think we had any concrete titles.
I thought Iβd mention now so weβd have time to do it. πIβll have a look and send you suggestions.
Sounds good!
Great! Would you mind emailing me at im at iseultmurphy dot com so we can discuss what our book will be? Iβve a few suggestions already. π
Done!
Got it, thank you! Will send suggestions anon π
π
Hello Stargazer. I read The Vanishing Half a couple of weeks ago and loved it. And I agree with your point about commercial books v literary ones. I’m in Dublin, Ireland and we’re not quite free yet but getting there. A lot of restrictions will be lifted this month. I long for steak and chips in a good restaurant!
I am so glad you enjoyed The Vanishing Half, it really is a great story! Good to hear that you will soon get restrictions lifted in Ireland as well. It has been a blast to be able to go to restaurants again, even if we have to sit outside. But soon the weather will hopefully be so good, so it’s actually preferable to be outside.
You wouldn’t think it was May here today. Wet and windy. It would blow your chips off the table.
The same here, actually. Still, people were sitting outside in their big coats. I did watch out for flying chips! π
My wife and I were vaccinated recently, so weβve been easing back into the world more than we had been. Went to restaurants with friends twice this week. So, things are looking up. And hopefully that will continue to be the case.
Good to hear that you are returning to more normal conditions as well. I haven’t been vaccinated yet, but hopefully it won’t be long. If only we could start traveling again! π
I’ve read three of your first four books – I’ve not tried the Bennett yet. And it wouldn’t be true to say I’ve actually read all the other three. The Gyasi and Fuller I enjoyed enormously, but I had three attempts on the Piranesi, and just couldn’t force myself to turn the pages. What is wrong with me? It’s been so positively reviewed everywhere. I’m not hugely motivated to read the other two on the short list, and I definitely wasn’t keen on a Sci-fi read for the International prize. But what you have to say makes me think I may well give it a go.
Oh no, I am sorry to hear Piranesi wasn’t for you. Perhaps, it was the fantasy element, which didn’t appeal? In any case, I’ve seen other reviewers, who were a lot less enthusiastic about Piranesi than me. As I’ve said before, good thing we all have different taste in books. But we agree about Fuller and Gyasi. Haha, I think it’s rare for genre-fiction to appear on prize lists. Somehow, I doubt The Employees will have many similarities to more traditional sci-fi, though. I will let you know, once I’ve read it.
Yay for no more lock down! I need to cut my hair so badly…
Yes, let’s hope this latest lockdown was the last one! Haha, you should see my hair – I try to avoid mirrors these days! π
Iβve read the same four WP shortlist titles as you and also really enjoyed them! π I think Iβll try to finish the list before the winner is announced, so Iβm intrigued to see if the high standard is maintained.
Yes, I think we’ve had some overlap in our reading recently. Good luck with the rest of the shortlist! I really should read the remaining two books as well, since this is the closest I’ve ever been to reading the full shortlist. Never mind. Maybe, if the Lockwood is a five stars read for you, I just might reconsider. π
I absolutely loved Patricia Lockwood’s Priestdaddy, it became an immediate favorite, but I don’t think I would read the novel even if I was into fiction…social media stuff stresses me out and I don’t go anywhere near Twitter! Still, she is such a hilarious and also poignant writer, so I’m sure she handles the subject well.
Yay for getting out and about again!! Good luck with the hair appointment π
I completely understand your stance on social media. Just listening to people talking about what goes on there from time to time stresses me out. It’s good to know about Priestdaddy, perhaps I should try that one instead. Hilarious and poignant seem to match what I’ve heard from other reviewers, which is why I still have a bit of curiosity about No One Is Talking about This. Thanks, I can’t wait to get my hair back to normal. Hope all is well with you, from my colleagues in US/NYC I’ve heard that the Covid situation isn’t too bad anymore and that vaccinations are progressing. π
I’m also in the UK and it IS wonderful! However, I’m mostly looking forward to May’s easing of restrictions as I want to sit in a restaurant, take my son bowling and maybe – if there are any freaking movies out – go to the cinema! π That said, I’ve taken the plunge and booked a day at a theme park for the bank holiday… No idea how that will go but we’re excited to get out and do something “proper” and fun for the first time since December.
Hope you have a good week!
Yes, if today’s weather continues, I would also strongly prefer to sit inside in a restaurant. I do love the outdoor dining, though. In central London, they have closed a lot of the small streets for traffic and all the cafes and restaurant have got allocated a section of the street for outdoor dining. It gives a great atmosphere. Hope your theme park day was a success! It really is fun to get out and do something fun for a change. I wish you a great week as well!
My husband and I are currently in a 14-day Covid quarantine so I can relate to your sense of freedom. We’ll be glad to get ours back.
Have you read any books by Jane Davis?
Covid quarantine doesn’t sound like much fun, hopefully you will soon be out again! π No, I haven’t read anything by Jane Davis, what kind of books does she write?
Wow I bet London is so different, maybe nearly normal again? I’m intrigued by No One Is Talking About This as I do enjoy Twitter most of the time.
Nicki, good to see you back! π No, not quite normal yet, but we are getting there. But just being able to go out for dinner or visit a real shop is a huge relief. Yes, you may enjoy No One Is Talking About This. I am afraid that all the Twitter talk would just go over my head. ππ
Thanks π
It does sound like you are getting a touch of normalcy. It feels so good, I know! Itβs beyond time for that. And, what lovely books youβve been reading. They all sound so good! Have a great week! π
Thanks so much Tessa, I wish you a great week a well! π I guess the positive thing about lockdown is, we have come to appreciate some of the things in life, which we had just started to take for granted. There is always a tiny silver lining… π
Well, I haven’t read any of the Women’s Prize shortlist so don’t have an awful lot to add to that conversation! π The Danish book does sound intriguing. I feel you should read it in English after you’ve listened to in Danish and let us know if the translation captures the flavour of the original – it’s your civic duty. I haven’t yet made a hair appointment – I’m frightened I might scare the hairdresser back into lockdown… π
These days I mostly read Scandinavian literature in English, which does seem a bit silly. But being a big fan of ebooks and audiobooks, it’s just more convenient. In crime fiction, it doesn’t really matter, but in more literary novels, it may be different to read the translated version. And I do sometimes wonder about that. Whether I’m sufficiently curious about this matter to read the same book twice in two different languages is another matter! π
Sounds like a great relief. I am happy for you. Here in Berlin it is quite the opposite. Unfortunately we are currently having a strict “lock down” again. But every day more people are getting a vaccine and that is the slow way out … By the way, I started reading ‘ Transcendent Kingdom! yesterday.
Oh no, that is not good. But as you say, as more people get vaccinated, things should get better. I can’t wait to hear what you think about Transcendent Kingdom. Personally, I just loved it so much and I really want other readers to have a good experience with it as well!
Glad to hear that things have eased for you! It’s nice to get out again. How the One-Armed Woman Sweeps Her House sounds really good – but I don’t think I can read it. Happy to hear that your clothes were returned to you finally and that you were able to eat takeaway again!
Yes, it’s lovely to get out again. Living in a big city isn’t much fun, when everything is closed. I guess we don’t really think about all the small privileges we have in life until we suddenly don’t have them anymore. I’ve definitely missed takeaway and hairdressers a lot! π
It is great to start getting out isn’t it? I was so excited at having a hair cut and going into a bookshop and just being part of the buzz again!
It’s wonderful! Lucky you to have your hair done already! I can’t wait to have mine cut. I haven’t been to a shop yet, but I love just walking around in the streets and enjoying the atmosphere. Central London has been like a ghost city for a while!
Yay for being out of lockdown!!
It’s a great feeling!
Really looking forward to May 17th when hopefully people will be allowed overnight stays in each other’s homes! Then I can visit my parents.
That will be nice! I haven’t seen my family back home for a while either, but who knows when we can start to travel freely again. In any case, at least we are making progress and it’s good to be out and about again!
Glad you’re enjoying your reading.
That’s good they opened up where you live. They’ve just eased up alot of restrictions here as well with so many people heaving gotten vaccinated now.
Enjoy your books this week!
Thanks so much! Good to hear the situation where you live has improved as well! π
Congrats on coming out of lockdown!!! Thatβs wonderful newsπ
It really is great! Hope things are well, where you are as well! π
Yay to freedom! Enjoy!!! π
These books look interesting – I might read one or two from the short list, and I’m quite curious about The Employees.
Any chance of the wild hair pic? It sounds legendary π
Haha, no hair picture this time around, surely if would scare away any visitors to my blog! However, try to imagine a crossover between “the mad professor look” (hair going randomly in lots of different directions) and a 60s hippie hairstyle (long, natural and ungroomed). That’s pretty much it. But that look is gone now, and I’m back to normal (yay).
Wooohoooooo!!! FREEEEEEEEDOM!!! For me, it’s this Thursday coz I’ll be considered fully vaccinated!!!!!!!!!! And like you, SUSHI HERE I COMMMMME!!! And steak, and burgers,…take a breather from daily cooking!! I need at least a weekend lol been cooking everyday for the fam since the pandemic and I’m exhausted π I’ve not heard of the shortlisted books, and for the reasons you listed, I don’t think I’ll be reading them too. I’m still in search of a good book! The ARCs I’ve been reading aren’t very promising so far π Enjoy your haircut! My hubby did mine ahahha π
That is so AMAZING! Great that you are fully vaccinated and I hope you are enjoying not having to cook every day. I have been eating way too much food since we opened up and have enjoyed every minute of it. Today I had my hair cut and now look like a completely different person. I can’t believe you let your hubby do your haircut, I wouldn’t let anyone but a professional get anywhere near my hair! π
I used to be the same too! So at first I was very hesitant, but then gosh, it was getting just way tooooo long for me and unmanageable! Surprisingly, he did a rather good job! And now, I’m gonna continue to let him do it! π More $$ for books! Woot woot! LOL
More money for books sound like the perfect trade-off! Hope you will get some good ones for the money saved… π I normally have an extremely short, textured pixie cut hairstyle and I’m afraid it’s too difficult to do for an amateur.
ooooo! That was me too! Before kids, mine was a really short pixie cut too and yes, no way am I gonna let anyone else handle that except a pro! I miss my pixie-cut days!
I don’t think, I’ll ever let my hair grow long again (unless there is another lockdown π). It’s just so convenient and easy to maintain!
I find it easier to maintain longer hair. When I had pixie I had to had it cut almost once in two months to maintain the length and had to style it whenever I go out π
Yes, you are right, I do need a haircut at least every other month. But it takes like 30 seconds to wash it, and it barely needs any styling, so I still think it’s worth it!
Ooh, so exciting to see such high ratings for each of the four shortlisted Women’s Prize books you’ve read! I’m with you on rooting for Transcendent Kingdom, though I still have two books left to read so am trying to reserve a final opinion. I also liked hearing about your experience with The Employees- Ravn’s book is one I’ve had my eye on, though I tend not to get very far with the International Booker until I’m finished with the Women’s Prize… two very fun prizes that I’m always sad to see overlap!
I am happy to hear you’re out of lockdown and having a good time- hope you’ll have a great rest of the week!
Haha, you are the sensible one, reserving a final opinion, before having read all of the books. I, on the other hand π Yes, I guess the International Booker may not get too much attention due to the overlap with the Women’s Prize. But I tend to have a “pick-and-choose” approach to longlists. I browse through them and if something catches my attention, I’ll pick 1-2 books to read. Having read four books from the Women’s Prize longlist is definitely some sort of record!
I’m still yet to do anything other than go to my friend’s garden and she’s in my work bubble anyway! Although we’ve had no cases in school since two weeks before the Easter holidays so fingers crossed! I’m just a bit wary because I work with a vulnerable child…
I can understand, you still have to be careful (well, I guess we all do) working with a vulnerable child. If the weather would just improve, sitting in a friend’s garden would be the perfect activity. Hopefully, most areas in the UK will soon be more or less Covid free and most people will have been vaccinated. Fingers crossed, this was our last lockdown!
Congrats on finally gaining some freedom in the UK! Must feel great after more than a year. Here we have been kinda open for a while now, though there are still some restrictions in place (like cafes only work if they have the outside area, clubs are still closed, etc). But vaccinations are going really well so I think that’s going to ease up soon too. Can’t wait, honestly!
It is GREAT! Just back from the hair salon – I feel like a completely different person! (I definitely look like a completely different person…). Yeah, we still have to sit outside as well and the theatres and clubs haven’t reopened. But it is a huge difference compared to a complete lockdown. And hopefully it will get continuously better as vaccination programs continue. π
Hahah, I can imagine how great it must feel! π It’s really crazy how important such small things are (like going to a hairdressers) and we never used to think much of them. The pandemic really changed everything!
Yes, that is very true. It feels like a small luxury now going go the hair dressers or having a meal at a restaurant. In a way it’s a nice reminder to appreciate the small thing in life!
Scifi poetry? definitely intriguing
Isn’t it just!
Oh nooooo! Are you getting rid of your Einstein hair?!?!?! I cannot accept such a fate. You must find an alternative. π Glad to hear about this sense of freedom. Make the most of it. Happy reading! π
Haha, yeah it’s gone now. And what a relief. I was starting to get halfway scared when I saw my monster alias in the mirror! π Thanks Lashaan, I will certainly try to make the most of it.
I am loving the shortlist, too, Stargazer! Iβve only yet to read the Lockwood (I think Iβll give it a go even though Iβm no Twitter pro) and TK! Saving the best for last?! Iβve just finished a buddy read of Piranesi! What a unique read! I loved Jonesβ book because the writing is exquisite and Iβm a fan of emotional reads, but I understand why itβs not for everyone.
Great to hear, you’ve enjoyed it as well! Piranesi was great fun and really unique. Perhaps, I could read Jones’ novel if I were in the right mood? I’m not sure. And you are definitely saving the best for last, if you haven’t read TK yet! It is so good!!