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The 2023 Booker Prize Books To Buy This Christmas
The top literary books to gift any bookworm.
Following the announcement of Irish author Paul Lynch winning the the 2023 Booker Prize for his novel Prophet Song, we've decided that there is no better time to kick off your Christmas gift-giving that purchasing several of the books from the esteemed book awards.
To understand the making of a Booker Prize shortlist book, ELLE UK spoke to Esi Edugyan, chair of judges, and fellow judge, Adjoa Andoh. 'The wonderful thing is that there's no one way to define a Booker nominated novel. A rich shortlist often celebrates a very wide range of preoccupations, styles, tones, etc. You're looking for something that startles, that feels out of the ordinary, something you know in your bones is exquisite,' says Edudgyan. 'Which isn't to say that a work must be outwardly risk-taking - sometimes a quiet, traditional narrative is the thing to send a shiver up the spine. The one commonality that one can expect of a Booker list is literary excellence'.
Andoh says she looks for originality when judging the reads. 'Authentic engagement that makes me want to keep turning the pages and dive into the story; books that share narratives that we’re not familiar with and that widen the canon. They should make me see the world a little differently. When I come out of that book I expect to be transformed in some way in how I’m thinking, how I’m feeling and how I see the world,' she explains. 'I think there’s something very intimate and uniquely compelling about sitting down with a story told to you by one other person. It’s a particular pleasure in a world where we absorb culture en-mass, locally and globally.'
Here's a list of the winning and shortlisted 2023 Booker Prize books that you need to know:
In a nation on the brink, Ireland faces turmoil as its government veers towards tyranny. Eilish, grappling with the disappearance of her husband, gets entangled in a society spiralling into chaos. The novel explores the limits Eilish must go to safeguard her family, and the sacrifices she's willing to make by any means necessary. An important read drawing parallels to contemporary times, Paul Lynch brings forth a tale of a dystopian war-torn Ireland and a mother's perseverance for familial unity.
Study for Obedience By Sarah Bernstein: Shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2023
After relocating to a small remote town to become her older brother's housekeeper after his wife leaves strange events begin to unfold for the unnamed narrator. They soon realise that the townspeople revile and fear her as she is blamed for the wrongdoings. As hostility towards her intensifies, as do her concerns for her safety, Bernstein presents a powerful and disquieting page-turner that explores displacement, complicity, and power.
Difficult times are at the forefront of the Barnes family, as each family member grapples with personal adversities. As their stories unravel a continuum of unfortunate events, Paul Murray masterfully examines how luck and a singular moment can alter our lives, destinies, and the possibility of re-writing a happy ending to a seemingly fateful end. Known for its humour, relatability and honesty, The Bee Sting is the winner of the Irish Book Awards Novel Of The Year 2023.
If I Survive You: The Booker Prize shortlisted new literary debut: ‘So damn funny’ – Rumaan Alam
Regarded as a 'delight' by novelist Diana Evans, Jonathan Escoffery's debut novel is a generational storyteller which observes a Jamaican family's new life in Miami, right from Hurricane Andrew to the 2008 recession. As they face financial ruin, racism and misfortune, the story is centred around the young Trelawny who struggles to come into his own and find a sense of community among his chaotic family life.
This tender coming-of-age novel sees an eleven-year old Gopi find solace in playing squash following her mother's death. Day in day out, she obediently follows her father's strict training routine, allowing her escapism from her sisters and life around her. Chetna Maroo's debut novel dives into sisterhood, the immigrant experience, and the shared journey of overcoming grief.
A beautiful reflection of the hopes, dreams and resilience of individuals living on the fringes of society, This Other Eden is a tale of social pariahs who live on 'Apple Island', a safe haven off the coast of America. Having worked so hard to build a happy life, the Honey family, who have been living on the island for more than a century, face intrusion from mainland 'civilisation', when officials attempt to cleanse the island and their way of life.
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