Today the longlist for the Booker Prize for Fiction 2024 was announced, 13 books, featuring three debut novels and six previously nominated writers.
It features blackly comic page-turners, multi-generational epics, meditations on the pain of exile – plus a crime caper, a spy thriller, an unflinching account of girls’ boxing and a reimagining of a 19th-century classic.
The long listed selection was chosen from 156 books published between 1 October 2023 and 30 September 2024. The Prize is open to works of long-form fiction by writers of any nationality, written in English and published in the UK and/or Ireland.
The list includes the following titles, of which I have read three (reviews linked to title):
Wild Houses by Colin Barrett (Ireland) – A story of two outsiders striving to find themselves as their worlds collapse in chaos and violence, set in County Mayo.
Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel (US) – Funny, propulsive, obsessive and ecstatic, Headshot is equal parts subtle and intense, as it brings us to the sidelines of the boxing ring and above and beyond it.
James by Percival Everett (US) – A profound meditation on identity, belonging and the sacrifices we make to protect the ones we love, which reimagines The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Orbital by Samantha Harvey (UK) – Six astronauts rotate in the International Space Station. They are there to do vital work, but slowly they begin to wonder: what is life without Earth? What is Earth without humanity?
Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner (US) – A woman is caught in the crossfire between the past and the future in this part-spy novel, part-profound treatise on human history.
My Friends by Hisham Matar (US/UK/Libya) – An intensely moving novel about three friends living in political exile and the emotional homeland that friendship can provide.
Held by Anne Michaels (Canada) – In a narrative that spans four generations from 1917, moments of connection and consequence ignite and re-ignite as the century unfolds.
This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud (US) – charts the Franco-Algerian, Cassars’ unfolding story, in a work of breathtaking historical sweep and vivid psychological intimacy, from June 1940, as they move between Salonica and Algeria, the US, Cuba, Canada, Argentina, Australia, and France.
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange (US) – A tender, shattering story of generations of a Native American family, struggling to find ways through displacement, addiction and pain, towards home and hope.
Enlightenment by Sarah Perry (UK) – A story of love and astronomy told over the course of 20 years through the lives of two improbable best friends.
Playground by Richard Powers (US) – Playground explores that last wild place we have yet to colonise and interweaves profound themes of technology and the environment, and a deep exploration of our shared humanity.
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden (Netherlands) – An exhilarating tale of twisted desire, histories and homes – and the legacy of one of the 20th century’s greatest tragedies.
Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood (Australia) – The past comes knocking in this fearless exploration of forgiveness, grief and female friendship.
* * * * * * *
Both My Friends by Hisham Matar and James by Percival Everett were 5 star reads for me, that I highly recommend. Orbital was a unique and different read, but one that at times I felt a little disengaged from.
Plenty more to explore here, have you read any from this list that you highly recommend or are looking forward to reading?
The shortlist of six books will be announced on Monday, 16 September.
Word by Word 
Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood!
Well that is good news!
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Not one I’ve heard of, have you read it Lisa?
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I have indeed, I’ve read all her books except an early one I haven’t been able to source, see https://anzlitlovers.com/category/writers-editors-aust-nz-in-capitals/wood-charlotte/
I heard her speak at two sessions at the recent Sorrento Writers Festival, and she was wonderful.
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Delighted that Charlotte Wood is on this list… she’s so underrated by the rest of the world.
Nice to see Orbital get some recognition too.
I have Held in my TBR, so looking forward to reading that soonish.
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I’ll have to check her out Kim, have you read this title of hers or others that you recommend?
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So far, I’ve only read Orbital and James, and am happy to see both on the list. Though I find that Orbital has stayed with me in a way James did not.
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Yes, a novel set in a space station looking back at Earth does tend to set the reader’s imagination alight. I found Orbital to be thought provoking for its setting, whereas James was more of an adventure, with a strong and memorable character.
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You’re right. Both are worth their places on the list, I think.
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I’ve only read Wild Houses. A solid 4 star but didn’t stay with me in any significant way. Took me a while to get into it and longer to finish than usual. Looking forward to reading your reviews.
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I’ve been curious about Wild Horses, it being Irish writing, but not sure about the premise. Is there anything else that appeals to you from the list or on your TBR?
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I really fancy Enlightenment. So much on my TBR pile already but I might treat myself for my holiday!
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I’ve only read Orbital, which I just finished yesterday (an unusual example for me of good timing!). I’ve a copy of James, waiting for whenever; planned on reading Tommy Orange at some point (I thought his previous novel, There, There was outstanding) & was considering the novels by Barrett & Messud, whose work I’ve generally liked in the past. All in all, I really think this year’s list is more interesting than the ones I seen in quite some time!
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Perfect timing reading Orbital, it’s fun when that happens! It is indeed an interesting list this year, with plenty of familiar names and a wide range of themes and mix of debuts and more established writers.
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I like this list! I’ve just done my own post but I’ve read three (two of which I loved) and would like to read about six more. That’s more than I’m usually interested in!
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Great post too Cathy, I enjoyed reading about your familiarity with so many of the titles, that helps us all get interested too! Always good to see Irish literature featured and new voices especially.
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Thanks Claire, I still would have loved to see Kevin Barry on the list, but one Irish is better than none 🙂
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Definitely not mad about this list. There’s variety, and I’m interested in enough of the ones I haven’t yet read to feel it’s worth engaging with the prize this year. Not always the case!
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That’s true, I’m kind of surprised to have already read 3, I have definitely not been as engaged with this prize in recent years, but this list doesn’t give me that feeling, this feels a little more curious although those that I haven’t read weren’t in my sights, but I’ll be interested to read more reviews by readers to see what might appeal.
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I also loved Stone Yard Devotional.
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This does sound like an author I’m going to be discovering.
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The Natural Way of Things and The Weekend are both worth reading. Wildly different, but will give you some idea of her range.
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I have six of the books on my TBR, which is pretty impressive! I’d be keen to read The Richard Powers book too (is it out yet?) I haven’t always got on with Charlotte Wood’s novels, although most of my fellow Australian bloggers do better. Kim’s recent review has made me think I should try this one though.
So all going well, I will read eight of the books from this longlist – I haven’t had that high a ratio in years!
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I loved Orbital and am delighted to see it on the longlist, especially as it’s a quieter, more meditative book than some of the usual candidates for the Booker. I’ve also just finished another longlisted title but will keep that until I’m ready to post my review. Charlotte Wood’s The Weekend was very well received over here a few years, so it’s interesting to see her latest on the longlist!
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Thank you Claire. I challenge myself each year to read the Booker Prize longlist before the announcement of the winner in November. I read James just a few weeks ago and am thrilled to see it on the list. I just started The Safekeep and am enjoying it. Next, at your recommendation I will read My Friends. How fortunate we are that there are so many excellent authors and how wonderful that you dedicate so much time and energy reviewing them. Bisous
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