With the unveiling of the Booker Prize longlist, the 2012 literary Prize season is officially underway. As is usually the case, the list offers a mix of exciting new names, relative unknowns and beloved standbys. The lone past winner (for Wolf Hall, the prequel to her current longlister) is Hilary Mantel. At the other end of the experience spectrum, four debut novelists make the list: Rachel Joyce, Alison Moore, Jeet Thayil and Sam Thompson.
All the Booker Prize longlisters are below (with excerpts where available):
- The Yips by Nicola Barker (review)
- The Teleportation Accident by Ned Beauman (review)
- Philida by André Brink (publisher synopsis)
- The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng (review)
- Skios by Michael Frayn (excerpt, review)
- The Unlikely Pilgramage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce (excerpt, review)
- Swimming Home by Deborah Levy (excerpt, review)
- Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel (excerpt 1, excerpt 2, review)
- The Lighthouse by Alison Moore
- Umbrella by Will Self (YouTube video of author reading)
- Narcopolis by Jeet Thayil (Millions review, excerpt)
- Communion Town by Sam Thompson (review)