As you can tell, I started drafting my post to discuss how much I was looking forward to reading 2019’s Booker winner ahead of time, only to discover the judges had announced joint winners! But, I’m going to stick with my title and graphic because the one book I wasn’t drawn to read – even out of the original 13 – was Margaret Atwood’s The Testaments.
Initially, my reason was simply I’d yet to read The Handmaid’s Tale. An easy fix you’d think, but I shied away, for the world is reflecting it’s contents rather too closely.
When I read the longlist back in July, I pondered whether to give my old Booker read-along another go this year, for there appeared to be a whole host of potential riches. But my lengthy multiple to-do lists persuaded me otherwise, so I added a fair number to my TBR for future reading pleasure.
But the Atwoods, Booker winners both, will dally a while – until I feel stronger, or the world starts to change direction.
Bernadine Evaristo has been on my radar since I first added Mr Loverman to my TBR. At this year’s Hay Festival, I read the first few pages in the bookshop and it took my deepest resolve to put it back … but I was determined to stick to my resolution to make progress on the unread wealth lurking on my kindle. Luckily, there have been some true gems, or I’d have kicked myself good & hard for that decision.
I had a sneaking suspicion that this year’s winner would be Lucy Ellmann’s Ducks, Newburyport. Despite being a beast of a book at over 1,000 pages, I’ve seen nothing but glowing reviews and it’s unusual style seems to be typical of past Booker winners – maybe this year that acted against it rather than for.
I’ve a suspicion my personal favourite will turn out to be either Chigozie Obioma’s An Orchestra of Minorities or Salman Rushdie’s Quichotte, but only time will tell.
Happy Booker reading everyone! Any favourites or disappointments from this year’s winners and lists out there?
© Debra Carey, 2019
debsdespatches.com 
While I appreciate your enthusiasm, I read fewer books each year and rarely anything as smart as these books. Therefore I have nothing to add here other than to say “hi!”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw Ally, thanks so much for stopping to say hi, even though my Booker enthusiasm isn’t your thing 🙂 TBH, I find it interesting the Booker has managed to get the reputation of being for smart books. Literary books certainly, but smart is what I call works of science fiction (rather than sci-fi, if you see what I mean) – they really make my brain hurt on those rare occasions I get brave enough to try one.
LikeLike