Man Booker Prize 2010
Winner
The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson
The Finkler Question looks at what it means to be Jewish in 21st century Britain and looks at male middle age insecurities and belonging, combining wonderful writing with both gentle (and gentile!) and angry humour. Full review...
The Shortlist
Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey
Set against the 1830 July Revolution in France, a young, French aristocrat (based on the real-life Alexis de Tocqueville) is dispatched to the emerging USA together with a British servant. Carey's rich, lyrical prose explores the emergence of democracy, attitudes to art and the power of love as these two unlikely companions find their way in America with varying amounts of success. Full review...
Room by Emma Donoghue
Narrated in the voice of five year old Jack, this is a haunting, innovative and brave story that will stay with you long after the final page. A sad situation, lightly and movingly told. Full review...
In a Strange Room by Damon Galgut
Interesting read that challenges how you view the idea of travelling. Three journeys by a character who plays three separate roles. Skilful writing. Full review...
The Long Song by Andrea Levy
Funny, captivating snapshot of Jamaica at the time of the Baptist Wars and as seen through the eyes of a mischievous, resilient, original woman you won't forget in a hurry. Full review...
C by Tom McCarthy
Don't be put off by the literary labels that critics have used to describe this book. It's a totally readable and fascinating book that can be read at many levels and one that is deservedly on the Booker shortlist. Full review...
Longlisted books which didn't make the shortlist
The Betrayal by Helen Dunmore
A novel of moving insight into a warm relationship lived against the dramatic backdrop of Leningrad in the repressive period of Stalin’s final purge. Full review...
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet is a compelling story of love, redemption and regret. Set in Japan at the end of the eighteenth century, yet timeless in its portrayal of human lives, it provides further proof of David Mitchell’s astonishingly versatility. Full review...
February by Lisa Moore
A thoughtful, reflective novel about coming to terms with the past and future. Full review...
Skippy Dies by Paul Murray
Life and death in and around an Irish private school, in this all-encompassing brick of a novel, which does resolve into an enjoyable plot. Full review...
Trespass by Rose Tremain
A tale of siblings, territory and revenge set in the South of France, this is a dark tale and the reader is kept in suspense about the nature of the tragic events until late in the book. It's also about people's relationship to the land and outsiders trespassing on this and on each other's lives. Full review...
The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas
Tackling a large number of issues, this is a book that will almost guarantee you will be offended at the characters' behaviour at some point. At times brutal, and often controversial, the book doles out a high level of honesty with compassion for the characters. Full review...
The Stars in the Bright Sky by Alan Warner
Warner again re-unites the gang from his highly successful The Sopranos as they prepare to set off for a cheap, last minute holiday at Gatwick airport. He captures the world of people in transit pitch perfectly and there's plenty of laughs, not least at the hands of the wonderfully chavy, Manda. Girls behaving badly - a good holiday read. Full review...
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