The shortlist was announced a few days ago so you may already be aware of which titles made the list below. It’s an interesting mix of established names and new and a nod towards stretching the boundaries of what a novel can be.
Of the titles I’d read from the longlist, Zadie Smith’s excellent novel Swing Time didn’t make the list and neither did Kamila Shamsie’s Home Fire, however Mohsin Hamid’s Exit West did.
It’s an interesting and unpredictable list, these six deemed to have met the criteria the judges required, making it through the rigorous debate that allows a diverse panel to agree on a final list. One of the judges had this to say:
“All of the six books are remarkable and mostly they are daring and I love what they do with literature. They are really trying to push the boundaries of what it means to be a novel and what the novel says about the world as it is today.”
The 2017 shortlist of six novels is:
Title Author (nationality) (imprint)
4321 by Paul Auster (US) (Faber & Faber)
History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund (US) (Weidenfeld & Nicolson)
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid (UK-Pakistan) (Hamish Hamilton)
Elmet by Fiona Mozley (UK) (JM Originals)
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (US) (Bloomsbury Publishing)
Autumn by Ali Smith (UK) (Hamish Hamilton)
For an excellent and concise reaction to the short list from one of my favourite reviews and bloggers, Eric at Lonesome Reader had this to say about the list, changing his mind about who he predicts will win and tells us about an interview with a tree!
I think the book that I’m most interested to read and that appeals most to my reading inclinations would be Ali Smith’s Autumn, though I’m intrigued by Fiona Mozley’s book Elmet, she sounds like a promising young writer, one to watch for the future.
Eric initially predicted Lincoln in the Bardo to win it, but is now thinking Autumn could well be an alternate winner. What do you think?
Word by Word 
Thank you Claire,
Somehow I have 5 of the winners at home, read three, LINCOLN IN THE BARDO, EXIT WEST and HISTORY OF WOLVES. I am keeping 4321 for Winter reading, Autumn I will read soon.
ELMET I will buy very soon, it will be my next read after HOME FIRE which did not make the Short List.
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Well done Sylvie, what did you think of the three you have read? I’m intrigued now by Elmet, although initially I wasn’t sure due to the style of the language. It’s a pity Home Fire and Swing Time didn’t make the cut.
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Claire, I will never quite understand the choice the jury makes. HISTORY OF WOLVES, in my opinion an ordinary read…while HOME FIRE a great read, addressing our world today, was dismissed.
I am curious to see the winner…
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I am always amazed at the way you manage to read so much new fiction and are able to give us such authoritative and considered opinions about them all… thank you Claire- even though I don’t read much fiction these days, you keep me up to date and in touch with that wonderful world of words you inhabit with such grace and understanding…
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Thank you Valerie, I love keeping in touch with what’s new, although I’m a little choosy about what makes it to the actual reading pile, but I love reading the reviews of others bloggers and keeping informed about those that make the prize lists, especially if they correspond to my particular interest, in their coming from a less considered perspective, and then sometimes, one just has to give in and read a book or an author everyone is talking about, in order to express a view. Thank you for continuing to support my little corner of the world here Valerie, it means a lot and is much appreciated.
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Of those on the long list I’d read five – the three that didn’t get to Shortlist ( Home Fire, Days Without End and Reservoir 13 were all brilliant) while Exit West and Autumn were good but not in the same league as those three. So what do I know – I’ve no idea which will win. However when in Foyles last week young woman at desk assured me Lincoln is brilliant and will definitely win. As I am useless at choosing a winner myself have decided to go with her tip instead so it’s next one for me!
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Well, I think you do know a great deal! And you have a literary sensitivity that I trust more than a panel of judges whose literary opinions I am not familiar with, so thank you for your feedback, it is valuable indeed. Yes, I keep hearing Lincoln in the Bardo is probably the one, it hasn’t appealed to me from the reviews I’ve read, but I guess if it comes my way, I’ll indulge it to have a view. Look forward to what you think of it.
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Was expecting 4321, Lincoln, and Autumn. In the end I suspect Lincoln will win. Just won a beautiful free copy of Reservoir 13 from Harper Collins so will be checking it out before the end of the year.
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Snap, so did I, let’s see if they’ll post to France. 😉
Did you enjoy Lincoln?
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I just received the book today and it’s a beautiful hardcover. It was posted from the UK. Haven’t read Lincoln and won’t be. Doesn’t sound like my cuppa at all.
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Oh great, so maybe I am going to receive it after all. 🙂 I have to say I feel more inclined to read Reservoir 13, but if Lincoln wins, I may get to it one day.
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Not me but I will try Exit West even though I have my doubts about liking it and definitely going to read Swing Time and Autumn and of course Reservoir 13.
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Reservoir 13 is a bit of a snooze fest to be honest. Still trying to figure out how it got nominated. 🤔
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That’s so funny, we had opposite choices of those that we’d most want to read! I went for the Aster, Hamid and Saunders 😀
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I predicted 4 of the 6 that made it to the shortlist. My feeling is that Lincoln in the Bardo is a shoo-in. I would highly recommend Elmet and History of Wolves to you.
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