Okay, it’s been a bit hasty and I accept that my predictions are usually the kiss of death, but…
- Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au
- Sunbathing by Isobel Beech
- Iris by Fiona Kelly McGregor
- Faithless by Alice Nelson
- Found, Wanting by Natasha Sholl
- Bedtime Story by Chloe Hooper
- Desire by Jessie Cole
- Swimming Home by Judy Cotton
- Willowman by Inga Simpson
- Bad Art Mother by Edwina Preston
- The Lovers by Yumna Kassab
- If You’re Happy by Fiona Robertson
There’s a distinct lack of diversity in my predictions (in terms of all of the things that you expect on a Stella longlist) but maybe, just maybe I’ll beat my previous record of four picks.
And you know how when they run the lotto they have ‘supplementary numbers’? I’m doing that with books. My (very generous) supplementary list is:
- Time and Tide in Sarajevo by Bronwyn Birdsall
- The Islands by Emily Brugman
- The Keepers by Al Campbell
- Enclave by Claire G. Coleman
- Hydra by Adriane Howell
- The Coast by Eleanor Limprecht
- Everything Feels Like the End of the World by Else Fitzgerald
- Rattled by Ellis Gunn
- Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby
- Nothing Bad Ever Happens Here by Heather Rose
- A Kind of Magic by Anna Spargo-Ryan
- Tell Me Again by Amy Thunig
The 2023 Stella Prize longlist will be announced on Thursday night at 6.30pm. The shortlist will be announced on March 30; and the winner on April 27.
I’m actually going to the announcement — yay! — because I’ll be in town for my sister’s 50th birthday.
I wish I’d known! (I was tossing up whether to go but a late meeting that arvo made me decide it would be too much of a squeeze). Have a fun night.
I’m taking my 18yo niece who’s recently discovered reading — thought it might be something nice for us to do together.
Great idea.
I hope to explore several of these.
I often feel these longlists are driven by ‘tick the box’ but on the plus side, there have been a few books on longlists that I’ve read, enjoyed, and realised I wouldn’t have otherwise picked it up.
Well, that wouldn’t be my list, but of your predictions, (likewise A Kiss of Death) I’ll go for a toss-up between Iris and Bad Art Mother.
What does it say about me, ha ha, that these are both about Bad Women?!
But don’t be surprised if they favour *yawn* Sad Girls.
I haven’t read all that I’ve listed – picked mostly by the buzz, descriptions and what I reckon they look for. I’m reading Iris at the moment (enjoying it) and I’ve been on the library waitlist for Bad Mother for ages – I’ll buy my own copy if it’s listed so I have a chance to read before shortlist announcement.
I think you did a pretty good job Kate of picking a longlist. I’ve only read Au, but am interested in a couple of the others.
I always think that the Stella Prize novels are much more interesting than the Booker Prize. I hope you have made good guesses, please let us know. Looking forward to see what will be on their lists. Will have a look out for the announcement.
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