Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago

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For the second year in a row, I managed to read all of the books from the longlist 🎉

In this video I've shared some reflections on the reading experience, common themes I noted, and I take a look at some Goodreads stats to see what the longlist might look like if Goodreads loggers were in charge.

I've also ranked the books from worst to best, with the top six making up my dream shortlist, plus I take a guess what I think the judges will pick.

Booker announcement on YouTube (7pm BST, Monday 16 September)
youtube.com/live/1AZXdkdJ3ZY?si=B33lV7MTE05ItOlZ

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If you'd like to see my more in-depth reviews of all the books on the longlist, check them out below.

Wild Houses
youtu.be/Zgbr-brGX4U?si=nQOkuYtfrxc8uwi9

Headshot and Orbital
youtu.be/Slbp3_4FiEc?si=joihUPX3vOa7WrZM

James
youtu.be/aFX_E1lEgvo?si=F90aGO0znF6lRqtc

Stone Yard Devotional, Held, My Friends
youtu.be/OnG5pEdh48Q?si=KfkQzzyITkMBks1r

The Safekeep, Playground, This Strange Eventful History
youtu.be/5k5Gqayqtic?si=gSsOfb40_4wbcwP5

Enlightenment, Creation Lake, Wandering Stars
youtu.be/QWHPGC5xa9s?si=cTRfvOhqh7tH5FKz

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Books mentioned
📖 Wild Houses, by Colin Barrett
📖 Headshot, by Rita Bullwinkel
📖 James, by Percival Everett
📖 Orbital, by Samantha Harvey
📖 Creation Lake, by Rachel Kushner
📖 My Friends, by Hisham Matar
📖 This Strange Eventful History, by Claire Messud
📖 Held, by Anne Michaels
📖 Wandering Stars, by Tommy Orange
📖 Enlightenment, by Sarah Perry
📖 Playground, by Richard Powers
📖 The Safekeep, by Yael van der Wouden
📖 Stone Yard Devotional, by Charlotte Wood


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00:00 Longlist thoughts
04:01 Goodreads shortlist
06:58 Ranking and personal shortlist
16:05 Judges shortlist prediction

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Thank you so much for watching.

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✉️ Get in touch at benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
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#booktube #bookerprize #reading