Manbooker

Please note - for future readers of this post that it was written 2 weeks before the results of the Man Booker prize 2008 were announced - so we have to admit that are readers, and rather embarrassingly the bookies got it very wrong! - right, with that said read on!

With 2 weeks to go until the announcement of the Man Booker Prize winner it looks like Lovereading.co.uk readers are, once again, ahead of the game.

 

In an on site poll the clear leader with 35% of the vote is Amitav Ghosh - Sea of Poppies and it looks like the Bookies are following suit.

 

When the shortlist was announced Sea of Poppies was 4th favourite at 6/1 the odds have now been shortened to 7/2 making it the 2nd favourite.

 

The bookies favourite is still Sebastian Barry - The Secret Scripture now at 5/2 but in the Lovereading.co.uk onsite poll it is currently 3rd with only 17% of the vote behind Linda Grant - The Clothes on Their Backs with 22%.

 

What William Hill and the Lovereading.co.uk readers do agree on, however, is the last placed book which is Aravind Adiga - The White Tiger.

 

Lovereading.co.uk has a special section devoted to the prize and website users can download and read the Opening Extract of all the shortlist totally free!

The White Tiger

Aravind Adiga

A promising debut novel which takes a funny and satirical look at modern day India. Taking a different approach from more recent India-based novels this looks at a darker, more political, side of life.

Format: Hardback

£9.74 Save 25%

The Secret Scripture Sebastian Barry A powerful and moving novel bringing the worlds of Ireland’s past and present together. Great characterisation and a thought provoking story. Format: Hardback £12.74 Save 25%

Sea of Poppies Amitav Ghosh The first in a trilogy set in the Indian sub-continent of the 1830’s. An array of characters set sail on the Ibris and as their stories unfold and intertwine we gain a fascinating insight in to the politics of colonialism. Format: Hardback £14.24 Save 25%

The Clothes on Their Backs Linda Grant Spanning a time from 1950’s London to the present day we follow Vivien’s story to discover her family history, her parents are immigrants who have kept her sheltered from their past, and to find her own place in the world.  A moving and tender novel. Format: Paperback £8.99 Save 25%

The Northern Clemency Philip Hensher A tale of two families living in Sheffield from the 1970’s through to the 90’s. A great saga of a book, do not be put off by the length (738 pages) as it’s compelling stuff. Format: Hardback £13.49 Save 25%

A Fraction of the Whole Steve Toltz One of two debut novels in the 2008 Man Booker shortlist and it certainly deserves the recognition. Great characterisation, plot and observations on a disjointed family. Format: Hardback

£13.49 Save 25%