April 27th, 2022
Hi Readers!
Oh my goodness was I nervous for this years shortlist! The longlist had left me feeling a little underwhelmed with many books that were just absolutely not my thing, and many of them I never plan to read. Thankfully the shortlist is made up of my ideal books with just one I’m hesitant about (because of tw’s) but I might even brave that one.
So firstly, this years shortlist is…
I have read two. One is a new favourite and I will absolutely be rooting for it to win the whole thing.
I have one out of the library I will be reading soon, and the others I’ve got in reserve. Hopefully they come in soon, but we have a little while before the winners announced in June.
The Island Of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
My ideal winner!
I can’t express to you how much I adore this book, although I tried to in my review. I was having heart palpitations whilst watching the shortlist video until I saw the golden branches of a fig tree and I knew it had made it!
Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
I have this out of the library and did start it over the weekend, but I wasn’t in the mood for it (and I have too many prompts I still need to finish for the magical readathon and this completes none of them, lol). I think I will read this next week.
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
I was so excited to see this on the shortlist! I didn’t predict it but had I done an ideal shortlist, this would have been on it.
I’m excited to read this because it sounds like I magical realism I might actually like.
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead
Not surprised this one made it, but very relieved all the same because I definitely want to read it, but it’s a pretty big book and I definitely needed that extra motivation.
It’s another one that has a long wait list at the library though so it might be a while before I can get to it. Thank goodness we have until June!
The Book Of Form And Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki
This is the second one I’ve read, and whilst I wasn’t wowed by it, I’m glad it’s here because it means one less book to read!
I can see why it made the shortlist as it does explore mental health and how we view objects and possessions in an interesting way, I just thought it dragged on for too long.
The Bread The Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini
This is the one I’m hesitant to pick up. I have been hearing nothing but incredible things, but I also know the trigger warnings and themes it explores will make this quite a tough one to read and I’m not sure if that’s something I want to do. I have reserved it from the library though, so if it does come in a might give it a try.
So that’s the Women’s Prize For Fiction 2022 shortlist! Are you excited? Happy? Is there anything you’re gutted didn’t make it? Honestly the only one I thought just HAD to make the shortlist was Island of Missing Trees so I couldn’t be happier.
Comfort Reads 