Hey, booklovers. It’s time to switch off social media, silence the phone, source some snacks and settle in on the couch. The 2020 Booker Prize longlist is here.
If ever a Booker Prize longlist demanded your attention, it’s this one for 2020. And even the judges think so. Why? Because literary royalty like Anne Tyler and Hilary Mantle sit alongside a slew of first-time authors, making for a list worth exploring. Preferably with some soft lighting and a nice bottle of red.
A ‘truly satisfying’ Booker list
Margaret Busby, chair of the 2020 judges panel, said every book on this year’s “truly satisfying” Booker longlist had earned its place. The final 13 literary novels were chosen from a staggering 169 entries.
Writers of any nationality can vye for The Booker Prize for Fiction, as long as they’re writing in English and published in the UK or Ireland. This year’s contenders include authors from Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Scotland, Ireland and the US as well as the UK.
“Included are novels carried by the sweep of history with memorable characters brought to life and given visibility, novels that represent a moment of cultural change, or the pressures an individual faces in pre- and post-dystopian society,” she said.
“Unplanned, our final selection encompasses both seasoned favourites and debut talents ― a truly satisfying outcome.”
“Some of the books focus on interpersonal relationships that are complex, nuanced, emotionally charged. There are voices from minorities often unheard, stories that are fresh, bold and absorbing.”
So what are these must-read Booker-worthy books that have the judges so impressed?
The 2020 Booker Prize longlisted books
- The New Wilderness by Dianne Cook, Oneworld Publications (USA).
- This Mournable Body by Tsitsi Dangarembga, Grey Wolf Press (Zimbabwe).
- Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi, Penguin Random House (USA).
- Who They Was by Gabriel Krauze, HarperCollins (UK).
- The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel, HarperCollins (UK).
- Apeirogon by Colum McCann, Bloomsbury Publishing (Ireland/ USA).
- The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste, Canongate Books (Ethiopia/ USA).
- Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, Bloomsbury Publishing (USA).
- Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart, Pan Macmillan (Scotland/ USA).
- Real Life by Brandon Taylor, Daunt Books Publishing (USA).
- Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler, Vintage (USA).
- Love and Other Thought Experiments by Sophie Ward, Little Brown (UK).
- How Much of these Hills is Gold by Pam Zhang, Little, Brown (USA).
New authors dominate the 2020 Booker Awards
Booker Prize Foundation literary director Gaby Wood said they were surprised at how many first-time authors had made the grade., showing that “powerful stories can come from unexpected places”.
“When the judges had drawn up their longlist of 13 books, one of them said: ‘Out of interest, how many debuts are there?’ We counted. It was more than half the list,” she said.
“That’s an unusually high proportion, and especially surprising to the judges themselves, who had admired many books by more established authors, and regretted having to let them go.
In this year of seismic change, visibility for new books published in the UK has been drastically low. So, however unintended the ratio, it’s especially heartening to know that some authors who have launched their careers in the midst of Covid-19 may now have a chance to reach the readers they deserve.”
Booker Prize 2020 winner coming soon
The Booker Prize shortlist of six books will be announced on 15 September. The winner will receive £50,000 and worldwide bragging rights, plus a likely huge boost in sales.
Need a refresher after last year’s slightly controversial Booker joint win? The prize back in 2019 was shared between Margaret Atwood for her The Handmaid’s Tale follow-up, The Testaments, and Bernadine Evaristo for Girl, Woman, Other. Check this previous article to rediscover which books made the 2019 Booker shortlist.
Then make sure to follow I Think the Cover Was Red on Facebook so you don’t miss the shortlist announcement once spring hits.
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