Is it a duty - reading the Booker list? Or more of a communal thing?

More of a communal thing, I think. The Booker, after all, is one of the high profile literary prizes in stature and reward and generates a fair buzz. In previous years I’d read a few titles from the longlist and last year, along with a number of others, decided to read the thirteen. Sure there were titles I didn’t like, but then I don’t always like choices I do make on my own also. But it’s great to be reading the titles and actively comparing thoughts on the books with other bloggers, especially when the rest of the year reading lists are unlikely to converge - so I suppose it creates a real active sense of community between blogs. This year, every title I started after The Clothes On Their Backs did nothing for me and couldn’t hold my attention for long.

Funny you said you’re turning to something else for a while as I’ve been intrigued by the way the Booker has galvanised all the bloggers into reading the lists - particularly as many seem unenthusiastic about particular titles before starting. I don’t quite understand it because, prizes or no prizes, surely some books just aren’t going to be subject matters or styles that will appeal to all. And if they don’t appeal to a particular individual, is there point in reading them? Is it a duty - reading the Booker list? Or more of a communal thing? Mind you, I do enjoy reading reviews when there are several knocking about the blogosphere at the same time to compare so maybe that’s part of the fun of reviewing the Booker longlist. And, having said that, I’m going to potter off and see if there are more reviews of this one on the other blogs.

Good luck with whatever you pick next.

Good to review your thoughts on this one Stewart.

It may well be the last one you read thoughts on for a while, jem. Since reading it I’ve made way into Hanif’s A Case Of Exploding Mangoes (bored!), read the first hundred pages of John Berger’s From A To X twice (bored and lost!), read the first fifty pages of Michelle de Kretser’s The Lost Dog (too much happening in too many places with too many people in too many scenes) and the first chapter of Amitav Ghosh’s Sea Of Poppies. In the end I’ve decided to break it up a bit and read something else because, that way, it will be something I expect to enjoy since I picked it.

I felt as if her writing was a little erratic, sometimes being spot on but sometimes wobbling a bit. And I agree that her parents and uncles dialogue read at times like a 70’s sitcom impression of someone trying to speak English.

Stewart’s review is both fair and accurate — I would only suggest that he may attach weight to shortcomings that others would overlook or overlook strengths that do not fit his experience.

That’s a great piece of feedback, Kevin. I guess I do home in on small niggles and should learn to get over them.

I reread it this weekend and, while still not super impressed, have to say that it holds up very well in a second read and is creeping up my Booker shortlist.

Stewart’s review is both fair and accurate — I would only suggest that he may attach weight to shortcomings that others would overlook or overlook strengths that do not fit his experience. This is certainly a book that I would not hesitate to recommend, even if I have to say that it is not a great book.