Goldsmiths Prize shortlist 2017

The shortlist for this year’s Goldsmiths Prize was announced tonight:

  • H(A)PPY by Nicola Barker (William Heinemann)
  • A Line Made by Walking by Sara Baume (William Heinemann)
  • Playing Possum by Kevin Davey (Aaaargh! Press) 
  • Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor (Fourth Estate)
  • First Love by Gwendoline Riley (Granta Books)
  • Phone by Will Self (Viking)

I’m not going to have time to read and blog the shortlist this year, but I still wanted to mention it because the Goldsmiths’ remit is very much up my street. A few first impressions, then:

The only one I’ve read to date is Reservoir 13 (reviewed for Shiny New Books here); I’m really pleased to see it on the shortlist. The nomination of H(A)PPY reminds me yet again that I really must read Nicola Barker. Sara Baume’s first novel was interesting, so I’m optimistic about her second. I’ve heard great things about Gwendoline Riley’s First Love.  From past experience, I have mixed feelings about Will Self’s work. Kevin Davey’s name is completely new to me; but his book sounds intriguing, and comes with praise from Gabriel Josipovici, which is a promising sign as far as I’m concerned.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall of the judges’ meetings…

1 Comment

  1. I was very impressed by Barker’s The Yips David (review at mine). I think you’d like it. Otherwise, the Baume and Davey are both new to me (and therefore, for me at least, interesting for that alone).

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