Golden Man Booker Prize

''The shortlist for the Golden Man Booker Prize was announced today (Saturday 26 May) during a reception at the Hay Festival. This special one-off award for Man Booker Prize’s 50th anniversary celebrations will crown the best work of fiction from the last five decades of the prize.

"All 51 previous winners were considered by a panel of five specially appointed judges, each of whom was asked to read the winning novels from one decade of the prize’s history. We can now reveal that that the ‘Golden Five’ – the books thought to have best stood the test of time – are: In a Free State by V. S. Naipaul; Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively; The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje; Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel; and Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders."

"Readers are now invited to have their say on which book is their favourite from this shortlist. The month-long public vote (http://themanbookerprize.com/vote) on the Man Booker Prize website will close on 25 June. To help the public decide, the website will feature videos of each judge discussing their choice."

"The winner, as chosen by the public, will be announced and presented with a trophy at Golden Man Booker Live, the closing event of the Man Booker 50 Festival at Southbank Centre on 8 July 2018 at 7pm. The star-studded event will feature the five judges debating their shortlisted books, along with readings from actors."

I've read all five books on the shortlist, and Wolf Hall is easily my favorite. I encourage everyone to vote, especially if you've read two or more of these books, and let us know what book you choose, between now and 25 June. I'll declare a winner based on your vote.

Current tally:

Wolf Hall: 2 votes

I’ve read all but the Saunders and while Moon Tiger introduces to to Penelope Lively and I’m now a true fan, I voted for Wolf Hall. It’s just so damn good.

Saunders on the SL, really? I thought it was cute and even my third favorite last year, but "golden"? Sometimes when I look through my lists of Bookers read, I"m surprised how many winners or personal favorites in the end didn't turn out memorable at all, while others linger. Wolf Hall is among the latter for me, a real stand-out, and I voted for it.

I read all but The English Patient. I remember the Naipaul as a highly uncomfortable book, in a good way, but I wouldn't read it again. And of Moon Tiger I don't remember any plot at all, but good writing and atmosphere.

>3 Deern: I had the same reaction to the Saunders, Nathalie. One reason for its selection is that the judges chose one book from each decade of the prize. With that in mind, I think these are the other books that would have been considered:

The Sellout
A Brief History of Seven Killings
The Narrow Road to the Deep North
The Luminaries
Bring up the Bodies
The Sense of an Ending
The Finkler Question

I haven't read Lincoln in the Bardo, but from what I've heard of it, I would choose almost any of those books (full disclosure: I haven't read The Sellout either).

>4 lauralkeet: Thank you, I didn't know that. Oh right, should have read all of Darryl's post above. :)
Of those from the last decade (I read all of those) I'd personally prefer Bring Up the Bodies, A Brief History of Seven Killings and The Luminaries, all three still very much with me. From the other decades I would have thought The Remains of the Day and Life of Pi (of those I read) were safe bets, I always thought they were universally loved. I'm the exception when it comes to Pi, but it seemed a safe candidate.

I think Lincoln in the Bardo deserved to be on the short list from that decade. I thought it was exceptionally creative in form and emotional at the same time. I loved Wolf Hall also. I haven't read the others - Naipaul as an author has never really interested me. I read one book by Penelope Lively, How it all began and didn't think it was anything exciting, but I will try Moon Tiger sometime.

English Patient was named the overall winner and its been sitting on my shelf for ages, so I'll try to read it soon.