I read Vernon God Little, Notes on a Scandal, Brick Lane, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time all as they were published--and I wasn't even closely following the Booker at that time! Vernon God Little is the only one that hadn't been on my radar until the winner announcement, which is what inspired me to read it. I remember loving it and still have my copy, but am pretty sure that I would not enjoy it nearly as much with so much remove from my depressed high school self. It's kind of shocking how many great books were in the mix that year and the winner has fallen pretty far into obscurity (in the United States, at least). Thanks again for another great video!
Nice! It’s fun when you realise you’ve been reading the shortlist without trying! Yeah, I think Vernon feels so much of its time in some ways, so I’d be curious about how it lands for you now!
I am in the "Curious Incident" cult camp. I absolutely love that book. I read it in 2003 or shortly after and I've re-read it multiple times since. That was before I was following the Booker, and I just heard about it from a friend and read it. And I'll keep doing so.
Weirdly I read everything on that shortlist except the eventual winner so I am not perhaps entitled to say but yes Brick Lane was wonderful then and has endured since. I loved The Good Doctor too, finding it intensely interesting. You advocate well for Notes on a Scandal. I think I reacted to feeling just a bit emotionally manipulated by it at the time but that was probably unfair. Astonishing Splashes of Colour had faded most but you brought it back to life for me. You may notice I don't mention the Atwood. This may have been the point I fell out of love with her. Curious Incident was initially marketed as a children's book so perhaps that's why it was passed over.
Oh nice! And I definitely understand that about Notes on a Scandal- it is very intentional about misleading you in places, but I loved the experience. And I get that on the Atwood- I think she’s often at her best when she does very deep character studies of complicated people.
Vernon was such a breath of fresh air at the time - I really enjoyed that book and would never have found it without the Booker. Unfortunately the next one he wrote was a one star for me (Ludmilla’s Broken English). But I haven’t read any of the others on this shortlist. In the case of Brick Lane, I went to a reading by Monica Ali when the book was published and it sounded so utterly dull I have never managed to overcome that feeling and actually read it myself. My loss!
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, was the book I gave serval copies away on World Book Night 2007?? I have The Good Doctor on my kindle TBR.
Sounds like a great year for the Booker, though I might have been among the puzzled complainers who though they got it wrong in the end. Maybe the judges were tired of Bookery books. Not sure I've heard of "Astonishing Splashes of Colour".
i do have brick lane and plan on reading it next year and now must get the good doctor and astonishing...did not like oryx and kray...thanks for this review bob..
I read Vernon God Little, Notes on a Scandal, Brick Lane, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time all as they were published--and I wasn't even closely following the Booker at that time! Vernon God Little is the only one that hadn't been on my radar until the winner announcement, which is what inspired me to read it. I remember loving it and still have my copy, but am pretty sure that I would not enjoy it nearly as much with so much remove from my depressed high school self. It's kind of shocking how many great books were in the mix that year and the winner has fallen pretty far into obscurity (in the United States, at least). Thanks again for another great video!
Nice! It’s fun when you realise you’ve been reading the shortlist without trying!
Yeah, I think Vernon feels so much of its time in some ways, so I’d be curious about how it lands for you now!
I am in the "Curious Incident" cult camp. I absolutely love that book. I read it in 2003 or shortly after and I've re-read it multiple times since. That was before I was following the Booker, and I just heard about it from a friend and read it. And I'll keep doing so.
Yes! I really want to re-read it, it’s been years! Glad to hear you like it so much!
Yes Curious Incident really caught my imagination and I even went to see the stage production in London, I still love it.
Ooh, how was it?
@@BobTheBookerer It was really good - it really worked on stage -
Been really enjoying this series. Finding more treasures to look into
Thank you so much!
Weirdly I read everything on that shortlist except the eventual winner so I am not perhaps entitled to say but yes Brick Lane was wonderful then and has endured since. I loved The Good Doctor too, finding it intensely interesting. You advocate well for Notes on a Scandal. I think I reacted to feeling just a bit emotionally manipulated by it at the time but that was probably unfair. Astonishing Splashes of Colour had faded most but you brought it back to life for me. You may notice I don't mention the Atwood. This may have been the point I fell out of love with her.
Curious Incident was initially marketed as a children's book so perhaps that's why it was passed over.
Oh nice! And I definitely understand that about Notes on a Scandal- it is very intentional about misleading you in places, but I loved the experience. And I get that on the Atwood- I think she’s often at her best when she does very deep character studies of complicated people.
when I read notes on a scandal, I constantly heard Judy Dench’s voice in my head 😂
Aha, yes! I had the film tie-in book with Judi on the front, but even without that, that character is such a Judi role!
@@BobTheBookerer It’s one of her best!
Vernon was such a breath of fresh air at the time - I really enjoyed that book and would never have found it without the Booker. Unfortunately the next one he wrote was a one star for me (Ludmilla’s Broken English). But I haven’t read any of the others on this shortlist. In the case of Brick Lane, I went to a reading by Monica Ali when the book was published and it sounded so utterly dull I have never managed to overcome that feeling and actually read it myself. My loss!
Ahh, I’m intrigued to read more of his, but sorry to hear that one wasn’t as successful!
Aha, totally fair! But I think Brick Lane is worth a go!
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, was the book I gave serval copies away on World Book Night 2007??
I have The Good Doctor on my kindle TBR.
Yes! I remember that book being everywhere for a while! Odd in retrospect that it wasn’t in the shortlist!
Sounds like a great year for the Booker, though I might have been among the puzzled complainers who though they got it wrong in the end. Maybe the judges were tired of Bookery books. Not sure I've heard of "Astonishing Splashes of Colour".
Yes! That’s the one I hadn’t heard of at all outside of my Booker project!
i do have brick lane and plan on reading it next year and now must get the good doctor and astonishing...did not like oryx and kray...thanks for this review bob..
Nice! Enjoy!
And totally fair!