The 2009 Independent Booksellers' Prize shortlist has been announced. You can vote allowed for your favourite voting in independent bookshops around the UK. It was a strong shortlist, until 28 August, so get out there and support your friendly local bookseller! The with a richly-deserved winner will be announced in September. Here's what Bookbag thought of them. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites too? (Although we've got links to Amazon as with all our lists, we really would rather you went out and supported your local bookshop instead of buying online this time! Tell them Bookbag sent you!)
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'''The Winner'''
{{topten
|title=The Secret Scripture
|author=Sebastian Barry
|rating=4
|summary=Barry's latest Booker-shortlisted, Costa-nominated novel explores the human impact of Ireland's troubled 20th century history. A very, very good book indeed, beautifully written from start to finish. It is, however, let down by a surprisingly poor ending - but is a recommended read nevertheless.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571215289</amazonuk>
}}
'''The Shortlist'''
{{topten
|title=Child 44
|summary=A look by Oliver Sacks, physician and neurologist, at the powers of music through the individual experiences of patients, musicians and everyday people, largely through a series of individual case histories.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330418386</amazonuk>
}}
{{topten
|title=The Secret Scripture
|author=Sebastian Barry
|rating=4
|summary=Barry's latest Booker-shortlisted, Costa-nominated novel explores the human impact of Ireland's troubled 20th century history. A very, very good book indeed, beautifully written from start to finish. It is, however, let down by a surprisingly poor ending - but is a recommended read nevertheless.