Here are the 13 novels longlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize! A new video is up on my YouTube channel discussing an overview of this list and each of these books.

I've only read 2 so far but I'm absolutely thrilled to see “In Ascension” receive this recognition. It's one of my favourite books that I read this year and loved it so much I immediately read it again. MacInnes' tale is a soul-searching journey that inspires wonder! I also recently read debut novel “Western Lane” as part of my Summer Reading list. There's a quiet power to this story narrated by an adolescent girl who has recently lost her mother. It describes in aching detail how she and her father avoid dealing with their grief by losing themselves in the sport of squash.

The judges considered 163 submissions to arrive at this list. The group includes three previously listed authors: Sebastian Barry, Paul Murray and Tan Twan Eng. There are four debut novels including “Pearl”, “All the Little Bird-Hearts”, “If I Survive You” and “Western Lane”. A number of the authors are also poets – which isn't surprising given that Mary Jean Chen is one of the judges. There's great Irish representation with authors Sebastian Barry, Elaine Feeney, Paul Lynch and Paul Murray!

I read the first two stories in “If I Survive You” earlier this year and loved them but got distracted by some other required reading I had to do. So I'm eager to return to this book of interconnected short stories. Given that they centre around the same family and area I guess it can be counted as a novel. Books of short stories aren't usually eligible for the prize but there are plenty of examples of such books from previous years that have made the list. Personally I love this form of fiction.

The rest sound fascinating as well with a number I've been meaning to read including “A Spell of Good Things”, “Old God's Time”, “Study for Obedience”, “This Other Eden” and “The House of Doors”. I've not previously come across most of the other nominees so I'm eager to explore them. The only novel I'm slightly hesitant about is “The Bee Sting” - not because of the size (though it is the longest book on the list at 643 pages), but because I read Murray's previous novel “The Mark and the Void”. For me, it was interesting but not very successful. However, I've not yet read his previously listed novel “Skippy Dies” which most seem to agree was a better novel. Nevertheless, I do like the sound of this new book about a family's fall from affluence so I'm willing to give it a try.

I am SHOCKED not to see “Demon Copperhead” on the list. This novel has been snatching trophies everywhere and it's one of my favourite books from the past year. I know it doesn't need any more promotion, but quality is quality. It's also a shame Zadie Smith's new historical novel “The Fraud” and debuts “The New Life” and “Mrs S” didn't make the list. But who knows? Maybe some of the longlisted books I've not read yet will become new favourites. We'll see and I'm eager to dive into this tempting reading pile.

What do you think of the longlist? What are you planning on reading first?