Now I have to admit that I thought Morrissey's 'List of the Lost' was guaranteed to win, as it was so excruciating- and he did make the final cut, so he's in the running.
But now, having read the other shortlisted entries, I don't think he has much to be concerned about...
I do wonder (just for a few mad moments) if editors of literary fiction ever have a conversation with their writers about making a mediocre sex scene awful instead, just in the hope of getting a bad sex nomination.
Many will have heard the saying: There is no such thing as bad publicity.
We all know how difficult it can be to get a book noticed among the myriad of other books. So how better to boost sales than by getting onto this shortlist- and even winning.
(No, of course not, I was just letting my imagination get the better of my common sense.) :D
So this year's contenders are:
- Morrissey - List of the Lost
- Aleksandar Hemon - The Making of Zombie Wars.
- Richard Bausch - Before, During, After.
- Joshua Cohen - Book of Numbers.
- Erica Jong - Fear of Dying.
- Lauren Groff - Fates and Furies.
- George Pelecanos - The Martini Shot.
- Tomas Espedal - Against Nature.
If you have a strong enough constitution you can read the extracts in this Daily Telegraph (books section) article.
If I had to choose it would be either, Fates and Furies, or Book of Numbers.
The winner is announced early December.
If I had to choose it would be either, Fates and Furies, or Book of Numbers.
The winner is announced early December.