The Sigla Blog

Well I blogged about Booker Longlist, now here’s the final six - Zadie Smith, Ali Smith, John Banville, Julian Barnes, Sebastian Barry and Kazuo Ishiguro.

Delighted to see two Irish writers, Sebastian Barry and John Banville (for The Sea) making it to the last round. Wonder when two Irish authors last made it on to the shortlist? Also great to see Kazuo Ishiguro on there for his fine book Never Let Me Go. Zadie Smith’s book is only being published this week but I am very surprised that Salman Rushdie didn’t make the final cut. That said, I’m reading Shalimar the Clown at the moment and I can’t help but feel that he’s trying a little too hard. Maybe the judges did too?

Can’t help but stiffle a little chuckle that Ian McEwan didn’t make it for the awful book, Saturday. He was one of the favourites to win it apparently, but my money is on either Ishiguro or Julian Barnes.