The Booker Prize Podcast The Booker Prize
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A weekly podcast featuring lively conversations and fascinating insights from the Booker Prizes. Join us as we revisit winning novels from years past, speak to authors and experts from the literary world and peer behind the curtain of this year's International Booker Prize and Booker Prize.
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Empire of the Sun or Hotel du Lac: The Booker vs the Bookies
In 1984, many assumed that J.G. Ballard's Empire of the Sun had the Booker Prize in the bag. But actually, it was Anita Brookner's Hotel du Lac that clinched the prize in the end. This week, we're exploring the bookies' favourite vs the Booker winner to ask which book should have won: Brookner's short, quiet novel set in a genteel Swiss hotel or Ballard's long and action-packed autobiographical epic set in wartime Shanghai.
In this episode Jo and James:
Discuss the Booker Prize 1984 shortlist
Share a brief biography of Anita Brookner
Summarise the plot of Anita Brookner's Hotel du Lac
Explore the characters in Brookner's novel
Share a brief biography of J.G. Ballard
Summarise the plot of Empire of the Sun
Who should read these books
Discuss their thoughts on both novels and which they think should have won the Booker Prize 1984
Reading list:
Empire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/empire-of-the-sun
Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/hotel-du-lac
Small World by David Lodge: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/small-world
Flaubert's Parrot by Julian Barnes: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/flauberts-parrot
In Custody by Anita Desai: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/in-custody
According to Mark by Penelope Lively: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/according-to-mark
A full transcript of the episode is available at our website: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/features/the-booker-prize-podcast-episode-37-empire-of-the-sun-or-hotel-du-lac
Follow The Booker Prize Podcast so you never miss an episode. Visit http://thebookerprizes.com/podcast to find out more about us, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok @thebookerprizes.
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Announcing the International Booker Prize 2024 longlist
It's a big week in the literary calendar (if we do say so, ourselves), as we've just announced this year's International Booker Prize longlist. To mark the occasion, James is joined by Fiammetta Rocco, the administrator of the International Booker Prize, and Eleanor Wachtel, chair of the 2024 judging panel. Listen in as they discuss the prize, this year's longlisted books and why translated fiction matters.
Conversation topics in this episode:
Fiammetta shares how the International Booker Prize began, and how it works in tandem with the Booker Prize
The importance of translators
The surging popularity of translated fiction, especially amongst younger readers
What it's like to be a judge for the International Booker Prize
Common themes in contemporary literature across the world
The 2024 longlist
Reading list:
Not a River by Selva Almada, translated by Annie McDermott: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/not-a-river
Simpatía by Rodrigo Blanco Calderón, translated by Noel Hernández González and Daniel Hahn: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/simpatia
Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck, translated by Michael Hofmann: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/kairos
The Details by Ia Genberg, translated by Kira Josefsson: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-details
White Nights by Urszula Honek, translated by Kate Webster: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/white-nights
Mater 2-10 by Hwang Sok-yong, translated by Sora Kim-Russell and Youngjae Josephine Bae: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/mater-2-10
A Dictator Calls by Ismail Kadare, translated by John Hodgson: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/a-dictator-calls
The Silver Bone by Andrey Kurkov, translated by Boris Dralyuk: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-silver-bone
What I'd Rather Not Think About by Jente Posthuma, translated by Sarah Timmer Harvey: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/what-id-rather-not-think-about
Lost on Me by Veronica Raimo, translated by Leah Janeczko: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/lost-on-me
The House on Via Gemito by Domenico Starnone, translated by Oonagh Stransky: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-house-on-via-gemito
Crooked Plow by Itamar Vieira Junior, translated by Johnny Lorenz: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/crooked-plow
Undiscovered by Gabriela Wiener, translated by Julia Sanches: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/undiscovered
A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.
Follow The Booker Prize Podcast so you never miss an episode. Visit http://thebookerprizes.com/podcast to find out more about us, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok @thebookerprizes.
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The Booker at the Oscars: The Remains of the Day
It’s the third and final installment in our mini-series where we revisit Booker Prize novels whose cinematic adaptations were nominated at the Academy Awards. In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, which won the 1989 Booker Prize. Ishiguro’s moving portrait of the perfect English butler was adapted four years later by James Ivory, in a film which received eight nominations at the Oscars. Tune in to hear Jo and James discuss the novel – which also happens to be our March Monthly Spotlight – and its silver screen counterpart.
In this episode Jo and James:
Share a brief biography of Kazuo Ishiguro
Summarise the plot of the book, and share their thoughts on it
Explore the character of Stevens and the idea of dignity which he based his life on
Discuss the narrative devices Ishiguro uses throughout the novel
Delve into James Ivory’s adaptation, and the differences between book and film
Reading list:
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-remains-of-the-day
An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/an-artist-of-the-floating-world
A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.
Follow The Booker Prize Podcast so you never miss an episode. Visit http://thebookerprizes.com/podcast to find out more about us, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok @thebookerprizes.
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The Booker at the Oscars: The English Patient
Welcome back to the second of our Booker at the Oscars mini-series where we explore Booker Prize novels whose silver screen adaptations went on to experience Academy Award success. This time we're revisiting The English Patient, the joint Booker Prize 1992 winner by Michael Ondaatje (the other winner was Barry Unsworth's Sacred Hunger) and its silver screen counterpart, directed by Anthony Minghella.
In this episode Jo and James:
Share a brief biography of Michael Ondaatje
Summarise the plot of the book, and discuss their thoughts on it
Explore the four main characters we meet in the novel
Delve into Anthony Minghella's film adaptation and the differences between book and film
Reading list:
The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-english-patient
Sacred Hunger by Barry Unsworth: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/sacred-hunger
Black Dogs by Ian McEwan: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/black-dogs
Butcher Boy by Patrick McCabe: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-butcher-boy
Warlight by Michael Ondaatje: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/warlight
Anil's Ghost by Michael Ondaatje
The Histories by Herodotus
In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje
A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.
Follow The Booker Prize Podcast so you never miss an episode. Visit http://thebookerprizes.com/podcast to find out more about us, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok @thebookerprizes.
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What makes a classic novel? Plus six Booker Prize classics
When does a book transcend from contemporary literature to a classic? Does someone have to confirm its classic status? And can all Booker Prize novels be considered classics just by being part of the Booker canon? This, and more, is what Jo and James are trying to get to the heart of in this week's episode. Listen in as they discuss what makes a classic novel and chat about which Booker books should be known as classics.
In this episode Jo and James:
Consider what makes a classic
Each pick three novels from the Booker Library that are – or should be – considered classics
Discuss the plots of their chosen novels and why they are deserving of classic status
Reading list:
Something to Answer For by P.H. Newby: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/something-to-answer-for
A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/a-month-in-the-country
How Late It Was, How Late by James Kelman: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/how-late-it-was-how-late
St. Urbain's Horseman by Mordecai Richler: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/st-urbains-horseman
Atonement by Ian McEwan: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/atonement
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-remains-of-the-day
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-handmaids-tale
Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/shuggie-bain
Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/schindlers-ark
The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-english-patient
Autobiography by Morrisey
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/midnights-children
The Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-siege-of-krishnapur
The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-conservationist
Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/oscar-and-lucinda
The Ghost Road by Pat Barker: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-ghost-road
Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/disgrace
Staying On by Paul Scott: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/staying-on
The Famished Road by Ben Okri: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-famished-road
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/cloud-atlas
The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-line-of-beauty
Autumn by Ali Smith: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/autumn
Crudo by Olivia Laing
No One is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/no-one-is-talking-about-this
Waterland by Graham Swift: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/waterland
G. by John Berger: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/g
Read Alex Clark's piece, “Which novels in the Booker Prize archives should be considered classics?”: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/features/which-booker-prize-novels-should-be-considered-classics
A full transcript of the episode is available at our website: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/features/the-booker-prize-podcast-episode-33-what-makes-a-classic-novel
Follow The Booker Prize Podcast so you never miss an episode. Visit http://thebookerprizes.com/podcast to find out more about us, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok @thebookerprizes.
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The Booker at the Oscars: Schindler's Ark vs Schindler's List
It's Oscars season so we're off to the movies. Welcome to the first in a new mini-series where we explore Booker Prize novels whose silver screen adaptations went on to experience Oscar glory. We're starting with Schindler's Ark, the Booker Prize 1982 winner, which also happens to be the first Booker-winning novel to become a film that won a Best Picture Oscar. Listen in as we dive into the book and its film counterpart.
In this episode Jo and James:
Share a brief biography of Thomas Keneally
Revisit the origin story of Schindler's Ark
Consider whether “non-fiction novels” are really novels
Summarise the plot of the book, and discuss their thoughts on it
Explore the character of Oskar Schindler
Delve into Steven Spielberg's adaptation, Schindler's List, and the differences between book and film
Reading list:
Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Empire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard
Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner
Erasure by Percival Everett
The Trees by Percival Everett
The Place at Whitton by Thomas Keneally
The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith by Thomas Keneally
Gossip from the Forest by Thomas Keneally
Confederates by Thomas Keneally
An Ice-Cream War by William Boyd
The Daughters of Mars by Thomas Keneally
A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.
Take a look at all of the TV and film adaptations of Booker Prize novels here.
And to watch the full interview with Thomas Keneally, head to our YouTube channel here.
Follow The Booker Prize Podcast so you never miss an episode. Visit http://thebookerprizes.com/podcast to find out more about us, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok @thebookerprizes.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Customer Reviews
How did I not know this was a thing?!
I have LOVED everything about the Booker Prize from the judging process to trying to read through the Longlist and guess the winner. This is a podcast created for Uber book nerd. And it is wonderful.
Can’t understand!
It is nearly impossible for a non-UK listener to understand him, and she laughs way too much! I can not listen which disappoints me terribly.