We count on you for this, Martin! Our in-house Booker prize authority.

OK - I've finished A Little Life, by Hanya Yanagihara.

OK, it's flawed. But the book is magnificent - absolutely enthralling. But...are the flaws too great?

I still fancy it to win. But I'm wondering...

Basically, it's the story of four young men, and their relationship over about forty years after they met at college. It's mainly focussed on one of them, who has had an appalling childhood. As the book goes on, we find out quite HOW appalling. Frankly, it's pretty upsetting. But the story is so well told, and the various relationships are so well written, you keep going.

I said it was flawed. There are some chronological clangers - for example, there's a reference to someone "carrying their computer out of the room" in the childhood of one of the characters. Either the book is now set in about thirty years from now (and there's no indication of that) or it's just a silly slip. There are a few of these.

There's also the point that all four of the people end up being exceptional in their own field - not just successful. The actor becomes a famous film star, not just a jobbing actor; the lawyer is a top-class litigant, not just a normal successful one; the artist is good enough to have a mid-career retrospective; the architect/interior designer is massively successful, not just another guy in an architect's office. Come on - that doesn't happen. One of them might have been exceptional - but all four?

There is another serious flaw, which I don't want to discuss because it is also a serious spoiler. Remind me of it if we ever decide to discuss this book!

But the main one is that there seems to be too much violence. It just seems as if the writer was trying their best to see if they can pack as many unpleasant events on one person in the "little life" that they can. To be fair, he does have some happiness too - but....

But even so - a magnificent book. I wouldn't be surprised if it won.

Now onto A Spool of Blue Thread. I'm new to Anne Tyler, so this should be interesting.

Martin, I think it was on yesterday's Radio 4 'Today' prog where they suggested anyone reading the 'Booker' shortlist is likely to cut their throats. Please keep sharp implements out of reach.

I can't see Anne Tyler being quite your thing . . .rather too girly . . . and. although I enjoyed it am surprised it was nominated

Vee, I had to chortle at that remark, as I read the storyline of "A Little Life" to see if it would interest me and groaned! How depressing are the rest of the books, then?

As for Martin's comment about the success rate of the characters, it reminds me of the blockbuster sex and shopping books where everyone seems to have wonderful careers after starting out from a bad position.

Stuff of dreams! Stuff and nonsense!

Martin, I will be very interested in your opinion of Ann Tyler's book. Not only is it a "girly" book, but I found it incredibly boring. I almost wonder if it would qualify as an "Aga saga."

Martin, I was thinking about your comment that the success of all four men who knew each other in college was too much a coincidence. Actually, it can happen, and I know someone to whom it did. My husband, while not famous, had a very successful career as a cutting edge engineer and was involved in the fundamental development of wireless networking A friend of his from the rooming house they shared became a famous Hollywood director. Another friend from that same rooming house became a well known New York photographer. Yet another, not as close a friend, is now a world famous composer. You would probably recognize at least two of the names, and perhaps all three if you know the New York art world. The difference from the novel is that all four went their separate ways many years ago and did not maintain the friendship once they left their university. I myself have never met any of the other three men. I even forget the photographer's name myself because it did not mean anything to me, but I do remember the stories.

I think this does happen at certain universities. It certainly did not happen at mine, at least not to me, but a high school friend of mine who went to my husband's university long after he was there is also acquainted with a number of highly successful people in her field.

Rosefolly - OK...but even so, I found it a bit hard to believe.

Finished A Spool of Blue Thread. Hmmm. Vee - you're right - a bit of a girl book, to my way of thinking. A perfectly good and well written story - but one of the best six novels of the year? Not in my book.

I'm meant to be reviewing it. It's about a family and their life in a house. It's OK.

I started A Brief History of Seven Killings, but I only got fifty pages into it before I lost interest. All very violent, all very well written, all very meh.

So I'm giving Satin Island another go. Here's a quote from paragraph 2.2 (ie second paragraph in the second chapter. Yes, all the paragraphs are numbered.)

When these events (events! if you want those, you'd best stop reading now) took place...

You can't say he doesn't warn us...

But I have to admit that I find the book strangely compelling.

OK, finished Satin Island again. It is short - and as I said, strangely compelling. But a winner? I do hope not.

I'm actually getting a bit sick of the Booker, so I'm taking a break and reading Sister by Rosamund Lupton. A pregnant woman vanishes, and her older sister looks for her. It looks like being a reasonably good thriller, and it's what I need at the moment as a break from worthy fiction.

So - here's where I stand.

Satin Island - I've read it twice. I liked it better the second time, but it's surely not a Booker winner.

A Spool of Blue Thread - far too ordinary a book. I'm surprised it was shortlisted, and I'd be astonished if it wins

A Brief History of Seven Killings - far too much like hard work for me. It's got multiple "Best Book of the Year" awards, though, so it must have a chance.

The Fishermen - a slow start, but in the end I enjoyed it a lot. I will re-read it once I finish Sister. It might win.

The Year of the Runaways - I got half-way through and I ought to try again. But, oh, dear, it is so downbeat. I'd be surprised if it won.

A Little Life - an astonishing book. Far too intense (and long!) to want to re-read immediately. But my tip for the winner.

Thanks for keeping us up to date on your Booker reading, Martin. Your posts cause me to take an interest in the Book Prize outcome that I would not normally have.

Hi all

I have decided that life is too short (especially at my age) to get thoroughly depressed repeatedly.

And this year's short-list is, frankly, far too depressing to get excited about. So, I'm NOT going to re-read any more of them.

Hopefully, there will be a smidgeon of optimism in next year's list !

For those who are interested, Sister was indeed quite a good thriller. Not great, but it kept my interest better than most of the Booker Prize shortlist this year....

I'll be back on October 13th to announce the winner, and how I feel about it :)

Martin, yes I was interested on your opinion of Sister, it had very mixed reviews.

Looking forward to your next post after the Booker Prize is announced.

BTW there was a quiz question on an Australian TV program (I am addicted to watching those shows and so was my husband, who was on 15 to 1 in the UK a couple of times before he was knocked out!) about the Man Booker Prize, I have so rarely thought about the full title that I was almost stumped and just tried to guess!

And the winner is...

A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James.

You can tell how enthused I was about the shortlist this year by the fact that I completely forgot about the prize when it was announced last night, and only heard it on the news this morning.

I suppose I ought to give it another go. But not yet.

At least it wasn't Satin Island.

I wondered why you hadn't posted! I saw the winner on the ABE email offer to buy this morning.

Better next year, perhaps?

I read the synopsis of A Brief History of Seven Killings again. I've decided to skip this one. A Little Life sounds much more interesting.