Although I have anticipated the Man Booker Longlist every year, this year I read the list of thirteen books selected, and moved on.  Nothing seemed appealing – despite the first ever graphic novel – Sabrina – on the list.

Searching for a book on audible, I decided to revisit the list, mostly because I was sure to find a British narrator among the six UK finalists or perhaps some lilting tones among the two finalists from Irish authors.

  Snap by British author Belinda Bauer is now on my iPhone, ready to entertain me with a suspenseful tale of three children whose lives are forever changed when their mother leaves them in a hot car and never comes back. Three years later, Jack, the eldest,  is still in charge – “of his sisters, of supporting them all, of making sure nobody knows they’re alone in the house, and – quite suddenly – of finding out the truth about what happened to his mother.”

  Sabrina, the graphic novel by American author Nick Drasno, deserves to be read turning the pages, but is out of stock at the bookstore – a byproduct of being named to the famous list – but I will wait for it.  “Sabrina is the story of what happens when an intimate, ‘everyday’ tragedy collides with the appetites of the 24-hour news cycle; when somebody’s lived trauma becomes another person’s gossip; when it becomes fodder for social media, fake news, conspiracy theorists, maniacs, the bored.”  Sounds timely.

I’m not sure if I will read any of the others on the list.  Do any appeal to you?

The rest of the list includes:   (Go to the Man Booker website  for a synopsis of each.)

• Milkman by Irish author Anna Burns
• Washington Black  by Canadian author Esi Edugyan
• In Our Mad And Furious City  by British author Guy Gunaratne
• Everything Under by British author Daisy Johnson
• The Mars Room by American author Rachel Kushner
• The Water Cure by British author Sophie Mackintosh
• War light  by Canadian author Michael Ondaatje
•  The Overstory  by American author Richard Powers
• The Long Take by British author Robin Robertson
• Normal People by Irish author Sally Rooney
• From A Low And Quiet Sea by Irish author Donal Ryan