The 2021 Stella Prize longlist has been announced:
- Fathoms: the world in the whale by Rebecca Giggs
- Revenge: Murder in Three Part, by S.L. Lim
- The Animals in That Country by Laura Jean McKay
- Witness by Louise Milligan
- Metal Fish, Falling Snow by Cath Moore
- The Wandering by Intan Paramaditha
- Stone Sky Gold Mountain by Mirandi Riwoe
- Blueberries by Ellena Savage
- Song of the Crocodile by Nardi Simpson
- Smart Ovens for Lonely People by Elizabeth Tan
- A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing by Jessie Tu
- The Bass Rock by Evie Wyld
Because the Stella nominations are announced alphabetically, I knew by book two that most of my predictions weren’t going to be listed (Baird, Hannon, Hinton and Mason – you were robbed!). Anyway, I correctly predicted four, continuing my crappy record.
I’ve already read two (Riwoe and Wyld); have a few in the reading stack ready to go (Giggs, Lim and McKay); and have placed a bunch of library reservations.
My first impressions – it’s an extremely varied list and, from what the judges had to say, it seems each book is complex (in terms of themes and structure). Do I have the stamina for reading ten complex books before the shortlist is announced? Unlikely. I’ll probably start with Giggs and her book about whales 🙂
The shortlist will be announced on March 25 and the winner on April 22.
It looks like a great list to me, jam packed with books I actually want to read this year (as opposed to last year’s). I will wait until the shortlist announcement before diving in. I’ve already read two and have 4 in my TBR already.
I don’t feel as enthusiastic about the list as I was hoping I’d be – seems to be lacking the kind of ‘relationship stories’/ character-driven novels that I tend to go for. And no memoir (although I guess Witness might fall into that category…).
That said, I am keen to read Fathoms, Revenge, Blueberries and Witness – have heard great things about Blueberries in particular. I reckon that’s all I’ll manage before the shortlist is announced (the year before last, none of my longlist reading made the shortlist – hope that doesn’t happen this year given the shorter timelines!).
Predicting 1/3 is very good! To my astonishment, I’ve read two of these: McKay (meh) and Wyld (my favourite novel of last year — so fingers crossed for her). I’m interested in Fathoms and Blueberries.
The McKay doesn’t really appeal to me, despite all the glowing reviews it’s getting. I thought the Wyld was good but a bit uneven (from memory I enjoyed her first book more). I’ll be starting Fathoms immediately, and Blueberries will be next. A few Aus book bloggers tipped Blueberries months ago 🙂
Interesting list Kate, with a few I really want to read … how many I actually do read will be a different matter. I’m interesting about Lohrey not making it because Lisa and my brother – two people I respect – are both really impressed by it. However, you can’t win them all and this list does sound interesting.
Every year I’m surprised by the omissions (for example, I really thought Phosphorescence by Julia Baird would be there). I haven’t read Labyrinth but I’m waiting on a library copy, on the strength of Lisa’s review.
So keen to read The Bass Rock.
Bass Rock is told from a few different perspectives and although I found it a little uneven, the story of one character in particular was brilliant.
I’m sorry, I can’t take this list seriously when The Labyrinth isn’t on it.
Fathoms is really good. I enjoyed it a lot. But my secret hopes are pinned to The Bass Rock, which you know is one of my favourites. Really like Stone Sky Gold Mountain too.
The Bass Rock is very good!
I am unfamiliar with this award. Is the only criteria that the author be a woman? But the books can be from any genre?
The award is for Australian women authors. Entries can be from any genre (so not always comparing apples with apples!).
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