On the shelf

The Booker Longlist

It8217;s a ritual that began last year, and since it8217;s that time of the year again, the literary world is making a desperate effort to catch up on the main fiction titles of the past twelve months. Names of the novels in contention for the Booker shortlist have been made public. Michael Frayn, almost a regular on the list, is back with Spies; girl wonder Zadie Smith is present with a still to be released second novel; and post-Oprah, Rohinton Mistry8217;s basket of joy continues to spill over.

8226;The Strange Case of Dr Simmonds and Dr Glass by Dannie Abse
8226;Shroud by John Banville
8226;Critical Injuries by Joan Barfoot
8226;Any Human Heart by William Boyd
8226;The Next Big Thing by Anita Brookner
8226; Peacetime by Robert Edric
8226; Spies by Michael Frayn
8226; Still Here by Linda Grant
8226; The Mulberry Empire by Philip Hensher
8226; Life of Pi by Yann Martel
8226; If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor
8226; Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry
8226; Dorian by Will Self
8226; Unless by Carol Shields
8226; The Autograph Man by Zadie Smith
8226; To the Last City by Colin Thubronn
8226; The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor
8226; Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
8226; Dirt Music by Tim Winton