Difference between revisions of "Independent Booksellers' Prize 2009"

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'''The Winner'''
 
'''The Winner'''
  
−
{{topten
+
{{Frontpage
 
|title=The Secret Scripture
 
|title=The Secret Scripture
 
|author=Sebastian Barry
 
|author=Sebastian Barry
 
|rating=4
 
|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.
 
|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>
+
|isbn=0571215289
 +
|genre=Literary Fiction
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
'''The Shortlist'''
 
'''The Shortlist'''
  
−
{{topten
+
{{Frontpage
 
|title=Child 44
 
|title=Child 44
 
|author=Tom Rob Smith
 
|author=Tom Rob Smith
 
|rating=4
 
|rating=4
 
|summary=Leo is a hero after World War 2 and a successful agent in the MGB; a man unquestioningly loyal to his mother Russia, despite having to do questionable duties, until he discovers a mistake in the system and is powerless to do anything. A flawed but engaging detective thriller, which will almost certainly make a great movie.
 
|summary=Leo is a hero after World War 2 and a successful agent in the MGB; a man unquestioningly loyal to his mother Russia, despite having to do questionable duties, until he discovers a mistake in the system and is powerless to do anything. A flawed but engaging detective thriller, which will almost certainly make a great movie.
−
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847391591</amazonuk>
+
|isbn=1847391591
 +
|genre=Crime
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
{{topten
+
{{Frontpage
 
|title=The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
 
|title=The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
 
|author=Mary Ann Shaffer
 
|author=Mary Ann Shaffer
 
|rating=5
 
|rating=5
 
|summary=An entertaining and moving study of love, friendship and literature against the backdrop of the German Occupation of the Channel Islands.
 
|summary=An entertaining and moving study of love, friendship and literature against the backdrop of the German Occupation of the Channel Islands.
−
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0747589194</amazonuk>
+
|isbn=Shaffer_Guernsey
 +
|genre=General Fiction
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
{{topten
+
{{Frontpage
 
|title=Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain
 
|title=Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain
 
|author=Oliver Sacks
 
|author=Oliver Sacks
 
|rating=3.5
 
|rating=3.5
 
|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.
 
|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>
+
|isbn=0330418386
 +
|genre=Popular Science
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
{{topten
+
{{Frontpage
 
|title=Somewhere Towards the End
 
|title=Somewhere Towards the End
 
|author=Diana Athill
 
|author=Diana Athill
 
|rating=3
 
|rating=3
 
|summary=A memoir of the writer and former book reviewer, reflecting on approaching death as well as random thoughts, episodes, likes and dislikes from her ninety years.
 
|summary=A memoir of the writer and former book reviewer, reflecting on approaching death as well as random thoughts, episodes, likes and dislikes from her ninety years.
−
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847080693</amazonuk>
+
|isbn=1847080693
 +
|genre=Autobiography
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
{{topten
+
{{Frontpage
 
|title=Spilling the Beans
 
|title=Spilling the Beans
 
|author=Clarissa Dickson Wright
 
|author=Clarissa Dickson Wright
 
|rating=4.5
 
|rating=4.5
 
|summary=Not just reminiscences about ''Two Fat Ladies'' but a story of a life not always lived wisely but always lived to the full. Highly recommended.
 
|summary=Not just reminiscences about ''Two Fat Ladies'' but a story of a life not always lived wisely but always lived to the full. Highly recommended.
−
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340933887</amazonuk>
+
|isbn=0340933887
 +
|genre=Autobiography
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
{{topten
+
{{Frontpage
 
|title=The Suspicions of Mr Whicher
 
|title=The Suspicions of Mr Whicher
 
|author=Kate Summerscale
 
|author=Kate Summerscale
 
|rating=4.5
 
|rating=4.5
 
|summary=On the night of 29th June 1860 a three year old boy, Saville Kent, had his throat slashed and his body stuffed into a privy in the grounds of Road Hill House, Wiltshire. True crime told as a gripping story. Highly recommended.
 
|summary=On the night of 29th June 1860 a three year old boy, Saville Kent, had his throat slashed and his body stuffed into a privy in the grounds of Road Hill House, Wiltshire. True crime told as a gripping story. Highly recommended.
−
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0747596484</amazonuk>
+
|isbn=0747596484
 +
|genre=Historical Fiction
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
{{topten
+
{{Frontpage
 
|title=A Thousand Splendid Suns
 
|title=A Thousand Splendid Suns
 
|author=Khaled Hosseini
 
|author=Khaled Hosseini
 
|rating=3
 
|rating=3
−
|summary=Purple prose over vivid description, soap opera over genuine emotional depth. Bookbag didn't enjoy this any more than it enjoyed its predecessor, [[The Kite Runner]]. Its weighty setting belies what is in actuality, a pleasant but incredibly light and schmaltzy plot-driven read.
+
|summary=Purple prose over vivid description, soap opera over genuine emotional depth. Bookbag didn't enjoy this any more than it enjoyed its predecessor, ''The Kite Runner''. Its weighty setting belies what is in actuality, a pleasant but incredibly light and schmaltzy plot-driven read.
−
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0747582793</amazonuk>
+
|isbn=0747582793
 +
|genre=General Fiction
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
{{topten
+
{{Frontpage
 
|title=When Will There Be Good News?
 
|title=When Will There Be Good News?
 
|author=Kate Atkinson
 
|author=Kate Atkinson
 
|rating=4.5
 
|rating=4.5
 
|summary=Funny, literary, sharp as a knife, and moving in a dark direction from the horrifying first few pages, this is a deeply gratifying read.
 
|summary=Funny, literary, sharp as a knife, and moving in a dark direction from the horrifying first few pages, this is a deeply gratifying read.
−
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0552772453</amazonuk>
+
|isbn=0552772453
 +
|genre=Literary Fiction
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
{{topten
+
{{Frontpage
 
|title=The White Tiger
 
|title=The White Tiger
 
|author=Aravind Adiga
 
|author=Aravind Adiga
 
|rating=4.5
 
|rating=4.5
 
|summary=The 2008 Booker Prize-winner constrasts India's growing economy with its rural poverty.
 
|summary=The 2008 Booker Prize-winner constrasts India's growing economy with its rural poverty.
−
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1843547228</amazonuk>
+
|isbn=1843547228
 +
|genre=Literary Fiction
 
}}
 
}}
  

Latest revision as of 10:14, 1 February 2024

The 2009 Independent Booksellers' Prize shortlist allowed for voting in independent bookshops around the UK. It was a strong shortlist, with a richly-deserved winner. Here's what Bookbag thought of them. Why not 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!)


The Winner

0571215289.jpg

Review of

The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry

4star.jpg Literary Fiction

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. Full Review

The Shortlist

1847391591.jpg

Review of

Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith

4star.jpg Crime

Leo is a hero after World War 2 and a successful agent in the MGB; a man unquestioningly loyal to his mother Russia, despite having to do questionable duties, until he discovers a mistake in the system and is powerless to do anything. A flawed but engaging detective thriller, which will almost certainly make a great movie. Full Review

Shaffer Guernsey.jpg

Review of

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

5star.jpg General Fiction

An entertaining and moving study of love, friendship and literature against the backdrop of the German Occupation of the Channel Islands. Full Review

0330418386.jpg

Review of

Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain by Oliver Sacks

3.5star.jpg Popular Science

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. Full Review

1847080693.jpg

Review of

Somewhere Towards the End by Diana Athill

3star.jpg Autobiography

A memoir of the writer and former book reviewer, reflecting on approaching death as well as random thoughts, episodes, likes and dislikes from her ninety years. Full Review

0340933887.jpg

Review of

Spilling the Beans by Clarissa Dickson Wright

4.5star.jpg Autobiography

Not just reminiscences about Two Fat Ladies but a story of a life not always lived wisely but always lived to the full. Highly recommended. Full Review

0747596484.jpg

Review of

The Suspicions of Mr Whicher by Kate Summerscale

4.5star.jpg Historical Fiction

On the night of 29th June 1860 a three year old boy, Saville Kent, had his throat slashed and his body stuffed into a privy in the grounds of Road Hill House, Wiltshire. True crime told as a gripping story. Highly recommended. Full Review

0747582793.jpg

Review of

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

3star.jpg General Fiction

Purple prose over vivid description, soap opera over genuine emotional depth. Bookbag didn't enjoy this any more than it enjoyed its predecessor, The Kite Runner. Its weighty setting belies what is in actuality, a pleasant but incredibly light and schmaltzy plot-driven read. Full Review

0552772453.jpg

Review of

When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson

4.5star.jpg Literary Fiction

Funny, literary, sharp as a knife, and moving in a dark direction from the horrifying first few pages, this is a deeply gratifying read. Full Review

1843547228.jpg

Review of

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

4.5star.jpg Literary Fiction

The 2008 Booker Prize-winner constrasts India's growing economy with its rural poverty. Full Review

Bookfeatures.jpg Check out Bookbag's exciting features section, with interviews, top tens and editorials.

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