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#wp25
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BarbaraBB
Women's Prize For Fiction | Women\'s Prize For Fiction
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I am okay with this #WP25 shortlist. I didn‘t read Good Girl, all others I liked except for The Persians. I am rooting for The Safekeep to win the prize.
What are your thoughts on the shortlist?

Amor4Libros I haven‘t read Tell Me Everything, and I liked all the others. The Safekeep is my pick, also! 18h
TheKidUpstairs Ditto. Didn't love The Persians, didn't read Good Girl (and not really interested), and I'm not a Strout fan (but I acknowledge that's my own personal taste). I'm very happy to see the other three on here, definitely rooting for The Safekeep as it was one of my top reads last year. 16h
Lesliereadsalot Safekeep would be my pick from this list. I did like All Fours and always like E. Strout. (edited) 16h
See All 26 Comments
BarbaraBB @Amor4Libros Have you read earlier books in the Lucy Barton series? It‘s so good and I do think you‘d think so too! 16h
BarbaraBB @TheKidUpstairs I know that you don‘t like Strout and I am always surprised since we mostly agree on the books we like! 15h
Jas16 I am still waiting on library holds so haven‘t made much of a dent I the long list at this point. 15h
sarahbarnes I read three of these before the list came out and based on that, agree that I‘d love to see The Safekeep win. Although echoing @Lesliereadsalot that I really liked All Fours and am a Strout super fan so would be happy with any of those really. 15h
Amor4Libros @BarbaraBB I haven‘t read any, adding it to TBR! 😊 15h
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes Me too, I wouldn‘t mind them to win either! 👯 15h
BarbaraBB @Amor4Libros I‘d be interested to hear your thought. The first is 15h
Amor4Libros @BarbaraBB Just borrowed it from the library! 🤗 15h
charl08 I've still not read the tagged - just didn't grab me when I started it for the Booker and then I got distracted by other shiny new books. Maybe I'll get the paperback and try again... 14h
Deblovestoread I‘m going to give Good Girl a shot as I have it from the library. I will be thrilled if The Safekeep wins. 13h
squirrelbrain I‘m rooting for Safekeep (still!) - it was top of my list. I‘m a bit disappointed with the shortlist, but then the longlist wasn‘t stellar to start with. I‘m still enjoying The Persians actually, more than I expected, so we‘ll see how that goes…. 13h
AnneCecilie I was hoping Nesting would be there since everyone seems to love it. I would be quite happy if The Safekeep won, I loved that book 12h
Amor4Libros @Deblovestoread I liked Good Girl 🤗 11h
TheKidUpstairs @squirrelbrain have you read Good Girl? I haven't really been interested, wondering if it's worth giving it a try? 10h
squirrelbrain @TheKidUpstairs - I have read it and it came 12th on my list, so that tells you what I thought of it. 😬 Actually I didn‘t hate it, but it was very repetitive- bad decisions, partying and drugs, all a bit depressing. 9h
BarbaraBB @Amor4Libros Exciting! Let me know what you think. 9h
BarbaraBB @AnneCecilie I didn‘t like Nesting much. I don‘t want to sound like a snob but it felt like a book I‘ve read many times before 🤷🏻‍♀️ 9h
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain no the longlist was far from stellar. Glad you‘re enjoying The Persians. I did too - for the first half. 9h
BarbaraBB @TheKidUpstairs @squirrelbrain That settles it. I wont read Good Girl and focus on the International Booker longlist again, which is much better this year imo 9h
BarbaraBB @charl08 I‘d be interested to hear if you change your mind if you pick it up again! 9h
BarbaraBB @Deblovestoread Maybe I‘ll change my mind if you read it and love it. For now I am very hesitant! 9h
TheKidUpstairs @BarbaraBB I think I'll pass on it, too @squirrelbrain it sounds like one that could be a really good book for the right reader, and I just don't think I'm the right reader for it! 8h
44 likes26 comments
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BarbaraBB
Women's Prize For Fiction | Women\'s Prize For Fiction
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Here is my #WP25 shortlist.
It‘s just 5 because the other 3 I read (Nesting, Persians and Dream Hotel) for me were just not good enough. I loved Strout, July and Van der Wouden but they do feel a bit “last year”, I read them that long ago.
I did enjoy Fundamentally and am now reading and liking Somewhere Else.
In general I am underwhelmed by the longlist and I am not even sure if I‘ll read the shortlist. Curious which books it will be though!

ChaoticMissAdventures I couldn't get my hands on the Strout but I feel like it might make it on and I will have some time to get to it. Great prediction! 24h
squirrelbrain I agree that some of the books feel very ‘last year‘ - it seems like ages since we read them! 🤷‍♀️ 22h
CarolynM You got 4 out of 6 👏 (edited) 19h
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BarbaraBB @CarolynM Well indeed! I didn‘t realize! 18h
BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures I guess you will now. If I were you, I‘d read the series. They are all so good - and short! 18h
ChaoticMissAdventures @BarbaraBB I am going to try it, I read one of them years ago and wasn't impressed, but I am s different person now and maybe I will like it! 15h
BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures Keep me posted, I am very interested in what you‘ll think in a different phase of your life! 15h
sarahbarnes Wow, you almost called the shortlist here! 😀 Adding Somewhere Else to my list since you liked it. 15h
squirrelbrain You did pretty well there! Better than me anyway…. 🤣 13h
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes @squirrelbrain I am happy with the shortlist considering I didn‘t like the longlist much. At least they chose my favorites lol! Sarah, I haven‘t finished Somewhere Else yet and it‘s a straightforward read about being Jewish in Europe in the 20th century but I am really enjoying it! 9h
46 likes10 comments
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ChaoticMissAdventures
Women's Prize For Fiction | Women\'s Prize For Fiction
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#WP25 short list prediction/hope

I thought this was not the best list I have seen from them, but then I went to make my predictions and had 8 I wouldn't mind seeing make it!

Thinking about the qualifications of the prize the book must show: excellence, originality and accessibility. From this I thought that the 6 above were my good guesses of what we might see tomorrow.

2 Books that I thought would be okay were Good Girl and Fundamentally

BarbaraBB I haven‘t read Amma, A Little Trickerie or The Artist. I might it they are shortlisted. In general I am disappointed after not liking The Dream Hotel, Nesting and The Persians much. 24h
31 likes1 comment
review
TheKidUpstairs
The Persians | Sanam Mahloudji
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Mehso-so

This book has such potential. I was fully invested in the beginning, in what seemed to be a family story of a group of complex women who have been taught to strive for wealth and position over genuine human connection and love. But the book seemed to stall after the first half. It just never went anywhere, there was not really any character development (and what was there, wasn't earned). In the end, I just don't get the purpose. #wp25

BarbaraBB I agree wholeheartedly. It could have been so much better. 2d
52 likes1 comment
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BarbaraBB
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#WeeklyForecast 14/25

I am about to start Somewhere Else of the #WP25 longlist. After that, I‘ll wait what books will be shortlisted and decide which ones to read. So far I am preferring the #InternationalBooker longlist over the #WP25 so I am having two more of that list lined up for this week!

squirrelbrain Have a great week! 3d
ChaoticMissAdventures I have Big Bird on my TBR for this week also! Hope you like it. 3d
Lesliereadsalot I have Big Bird on my radar too. PS 1/2 way thru Point Zero on your recommendation. Where the heck is Teiko‘s hubby? 3d
See All 9 Comments
Hooked_on_books I loved the Balle! I dove right into book 2 and really want the others to be translated. 3d
sarahbarnes I hope you like Big Bird! I‘m anxiously awaiting Volume from the library. 3d
BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot I hope you‘re enjoying it! I loved how Japanese it felt. 3d
BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books I am happy to hear that! 3d
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes I have high hopes! 3d
Leoslittlebooklife The Balle novel is on my tbr too, its plot sounds very intriguing. 3d
58 likes9 comments
review
BarbaraBB
The Persians | Sanam Mahloudji
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Mehso-so

Another so-so #WP25 book. What could have been an interesting story fell short imo. I learned little about Iran after the revolution and the Persian family members living in the US didn‘t really came to life. Shirin became a caricature towards the end of the story, Seema‘s role was unclear to me. Bita and Niaz could have been more interesting and I wonder why Shirin even had a son - Mo didn‘t add a thing. The longlist is a bit disappointing.

BarbaraBB 📸 Artwork by Buhlebezwe Siwani 3d
squirrelbrain I thought they were all caricatures to start with, but then it grew more interesting as the story moved back in time to Iran. I‘m only halfway and I like it but I don‘t think it will be on my shortlist. 3d
ChaoticMissAdventures What gorgeous art!! I read and listened to this and had a hard time keeping the ladies straight. I agree with you, I was being generous with calling it a "pick" 3d
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BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain They probably were from the start indeed but after a while it became tiresome, especially Sirin! 3d
sarahbarnes I haven‘t jived with the WPF list in a few years now. I just haven‘t been as drawn to the books as to some other lists. 3d
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes I usually pick the ones that I feel drawn to from both lists but this year the #WP25 ones are a bit disappointing while the Booker ones exceed my expectations! 3d
62 likes6 comments
review
ChaoticMissAdventures
A Little Trickerie | Rosanna Pike
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Pickpick

This was my most anticipated book of the #WP25 longlist, and once I got used to the writing I enjoyed it. I did think it went a bit long at the end, I started to struggle picking it up and it took me longer to finish then I would have thought, but overall I thought it was original, creative and a good read. I found the characters endearing (though Tibb needed some therapy, hearing how she blamed herself over and over was a bit wearing)
4/5

squirrelbrain Great review! 4d
BarbaraBB I am still on the fence about this one. I will read it if it makes the shortlist. I am curious about your favorite so far! 4d
ChaoticMissAdventures @BarbaraBB I don't know about a favorite for me .. this years books felt a bit weak. It isn't like other years where I am picking up multiple books I feel are 5⭐ The Artist I really enjoyed, but for me there are no Brotherless Nights or Demon Copperheads. I have 3 more to go so maybe one of those. 4d
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BarbaraBB I feel the same. The ones I liked best are the ones I read before they were longlisted. 4d
TheKidUpstairs @BarbaraBB me too. The Safekeep and All Fours were both great! 4d
BarbaraBB @TheKidUpstairs Yes! Those I mean too! 3d
43 likes6 comments
review
ChaoticMissAdventures
The Persians | Sanam Mahloudji
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Pickpick

A soft pick for this #WP25 book.
I think I am just a bit burnt out, I can see why the judges picked it, there are some really good scenes, and the characters are compelling, it was just missing something a little extra that I expect from Women's Prize books. I also had a hard time keeping the storylines straight and would pick the book up and be confused who the POV was on.
Good not great 3.5/5 ⭐

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 4d
squirrelbrain I listened to a bit more of this yesterday and it‘s better than I initially thought it was, but I don‘t think it will make my shortlist. 4d
BarbaraBB I hope to finish this one today and feel the same about it as you do. But I have another 100 pages to read so you never know 😀 4d
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ChaoticMissAdventures @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB I also liked it more than predicted, all the negative reviews on it had me curious and I don't really agree with them. I am not mad about it being on the list like I have been with some books other years (Remember Pod by Lalani Paul?) 4d
TheKidUpstairs I'm about the same place as @BarbaraBB with about 100 pages left. I like it, and there are definitely things I really appreciate about it, but I'm not falling in love with it 4d
squirrelbrain Haha - Pod is the worst book I ever read, I think! 🤣 4d
squirrelbrain I feel like that about a lot of the list this year @TheKidUpstairs - most of the books are good, but nothing outstanding. 🤷‍♀️ 4d
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain Agree. I am a bit disappointed 4d
37 likes8 comments
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BarbaraBB
The Persians | Sanam Mahloudji
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That‘s a promising first sentence! This might be exactly the kind of book I‘ve been looking for after way too much (and too realistic) dystopian novels. #WP25

Amor4Libros This one is so good! 😊 7d
BarbaraBB @Amor4Libros I have high expectations now! 7d
LeeRHarry That‘s a great first line 😁 7d
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Bookwormjillk Wow, so much going on in that one line. I love it. 7d
TheKidUpstairs I'm about half way through this one, so far so good! 7d
AmyG Ha! 7d
ChaoticMissAdventures I am reading this now, interested in your thoughts. There is a lot going on! 7d
squirrelbrain I just started this on audio on the way home - listened to the first 2 chapters and I‘m not convinced I‘m going to like it. 😬 6d
Cathythoughts I‘m not sure I‘ll like it either @squirrelbrain But , I‘m going to give it a go…. 6d
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @Cathythoughts I am 50 pages in and liking it. Not sure where it‘ll go. 6d
69 likes2 stack adds10 comments