More books

Following on from yesterday’s post, there is of course a variation on the game: Bookershame. Or, how many of the Booker Prize longlist have you read?

I’ve read none of this year’s and, looking back, have read a mere thirteen of all nominees:

Zadie Smith, On Beauty
Alan Hollinghurst, The Line of Beauty
Barbara Trapido, Frankie & Stankie
Yann Martel, Life of Pi
J. M. Coetzee, Disgrace
André Brink, Rumours of Rain
Molly Keane, Good Behaviour
J. G. Ballard, Empire of the Sun
Keri Hulme, The Bone People
Penelope Lively, Moon Tiger
A. S. Byatt, Possession
David Malouf, Remembering Babylon
Zoe Heller, Notes on a Scandal

Bookershame indeed. As ever, if I count the books I own, it all looks rather more respectable …

While generally sceptical of prizes, it is pleasing to note the Booker’s enduring recognition of South African writing. Not just the usual Nadine Gordimer and J. M. Coetzee, but also Dan Jacobson, André Brink, Christopher Hope, Justin Cartwright, Damon Galgut and Achmat Dangor. More, counting Doris Lessing, and Barbara Trapido’s nomination for the superb Frankie & Stankie.