I’m not sure about everyone else, but I’ve been waiting for what seems to have been years for today to come around (like a child on Christmas Eve…), but the day has finally arrived, and the twelve thirteen books making up the 2016 Man Booker International Prize longlist have finally been selected. So, without further ado, here are your finalists 🙂
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José Eduardo Agualusa (Angola) & Daniel Hahn
– A General Theory of Oblivion (Harvill Secker)
Elena Ferrante (Italy) & Ann Goldstein
– The Story of the Lost Child (Europa Editions)
Han Kang (South Korea) & Deborah Smith
– The Vegetarian (Portobello Books)
Maylis de Kerangal (France) & Jessica Moore
– Mend the Living (Maclehose Press)
Eka Kurniawan (Indonesia) & Labodalih Sembiring
– Man Tiger (Verso Books)
Yan Lianke (China) & Carlos Rojas
– The Four Books (Chatto & Windus)
Fiston Mwanza Mujila (Democratic Republic of Congo/Austria) & Roland Glasser
– Tram 83 (Jacaranda)
Raduan Nassar (Brazil) & Stefan Tobler
– A Cup of Rage (Penguin Modern Classics)
Marie NDiaye (France) & Jordan Stump
– Ladivine (Maclehose Press)
Kenzaburō Ōe (Japan) & Deborah Boliver Boehm
– Death by Water (Atlantic Books)
Aki Ollikainen (Finland) & Emily Jeremiah and Fleur Jeremiah
– White Hunger (Peirene Press)
Orhan Pamuk (Turkey) & Ekin Oklap
– A Strangeness in My Mind (Faber & Faber)
Robert Seethaler (Austria) & Charlotte Collins
– A Whole Life (Picador)
*****
Well, let’s go back to my predictions and see how close I was…
Geography: 7/13 outside Europe (my guess was 5/12!)
Gender: 4/13 women (my guess was 4/12)
Length: One over 500 pages (as I suspected!)
Presses: 7/13 small presses (although, what is small… my guess was about half)
Genre: 0/13 as far as I can see (my guess was one…)
Pretty close to what I thought – although I’m not sure I would have thought of these titles 😉
*****
The next step, of course, is to source, read, review and rate the selection, and I won’t be alone in my endeavours here. As previously mentioned, we have an eight-strong Shadow Panel ready to go, and we’ll be doing our best to get through the whole longlist and give you a sense of who’s hot (and who’s not…) this year. Stay tuned – there’ll be a lot more appearing here about the prize in the days to come 🙂
Tony's Reading List 
Oh my God, Eka Kurniawan!!! Oh my God, Orhan Pamuk!!! One is from my country and one is my favorite author!!! *faint with happiness*
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Ratih – Glad you’re happy with the list – let’s see how far they can go 🙂
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No Russians then…. Ah well, happy reading! 😀
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Kaggsy – No, the wait continues 😦
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I m fairly happy as have six read including the Pamuk which is longest this year I think
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Stu – Yes, that’s my only major task (well, apart from sourcing some of the books!). As predicted, not too many long ones this year, and a couple of rather short ones too…
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Looks like an interesting mix, some well-known authors and a few (to me) new names. So far I have read only two of the books by Kurniawan and Seethaler, and both are extraordinary. Looking forward to your reviews, Tony!
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Thomas – It’s a good list, even if there are some omissions (Krasznahorkai) – I think I’ll enjoy reading the ones I haven’t already tried 🙂
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Looks a very strong list to me.
I’ve read the Pamuk, Lianke, Kang (albeit Human Acts is even better) and Ferrante and was literally sitting down to start Oe at midnight last night waiting for the list. And another 6 or so were on my “to read” list.
Indeed if I had to make a criticism at all it’s that there isn’t much unexpected on the list, authors or books that weren’t already well trailed. A Whole Life and A Cup of Rage are the only two for me.
As for omissions, can just about forgive them Krasznahorkai given he won the MBI last year, although surprised Mersault Investigation didn’t make it.
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Paul – I agree, a very good list, albeit with some notable omissions (Krasznahorkai, as you mentioned, first and foremost). I also agree with your view on how familiar the books are, but for me that’s a strength, not a weakness – I’m not a fan of choosing obscure books which turn out to be weak…
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“I’m not a fan of choosing obscure books which turn out to be weak…” – yes definitely agree with that, but I do live in hope that awards like this will pick obscure books that turn out to be major discoveries!
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Paul – We can but hope (although I’m not going to get too optimistic!).
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wow, some surprises here, a bit at who’s in, but mostly who’s out! I can’t wait to see your shadow list, you definitely have some work to add at least one to it!
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Emma – Well, we’ll be working on our response over the weekend, so you should soon be able to see the official view of the Shadow Panel!
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can’t wait!
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As I said in my email, I think this is a really strong, truly global longlist. Can’t wait to get started now 🙂
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Clare – What, aren’t you finished already? Time to get moving 😉
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Was Human Acts eligible? I was hoping to see it on the list, but shall have to read The Vegetarian. I think the list is very exciting, lots of titles jump out at me, wanting to read, good luck with the shadow jury reading and discussing, looking forward to and very much appreciate all you have to share!
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Claire – Yes, as far as I’m aware (whether it was *submitted* is another matter…). Still, lots to enjoy here in any case 🙂
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Yes, I imagine it may have been a tough choice if they had to choose between the two, definitely much to enjoy!
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I haven’t read any of the books but I am definitely rooting for Pamuk, whose book is patiently waiting to be read 🙂
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Ally – Hmm, I’m not so sure – I’ve heard a few dissenting opinions there 😉
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