The Great Booker Debate
Join our panel of authors: Karl Gale, Luisa Plaja, Emma Seaman, Belinda Seaward, Kate Furnivall

Torquay Library, Lymington Road, Torquay TQ1 3DT
Tuesday, 14 October 2008, 7:00PM - 8:30PM
Tickets £2, available from Waterstone's in Torquay & Newton Abbot and Torquay Library. The ticket cost is redeemable against any purchase made on the night.

Join our panel for a glass of wine and hear their thoughts on which of the Booker Shortlisted titles are the best. Our panel is made up of 5 published authors plus a mystery guest and will be chaired by Paul Trainer from Torquay Library

Wish I could come!

Aw, it's been cancelled.

If anyone wants my opinion on the Booker shortlist, please ask.

Luisa, I'm asking.

Oh no! I wasn't expecting anyone to reply.

Um... Give me a minute...

I'm sure I would have been great on the night, you know.

I thought the winner was going to be announced on the 14th?

Have only read one of the books (Sea of Poppies) although I did think that a couple of the others looked interesting...

Yes, the announcement of the winner is also on the night of the 14th.

For my thing, each panellist was given one book each to focus on. Mine was The Clothes On Their Backs by Linda Grant.

I'm writing about it now for Waterstone's, instead of talking about it.

Oh, that's a shame it's been cancelled. I'm sure you'd have been brill, Luisa.

Luisa, did you like it? I thought it was okay but not riveting. I don't know what was on the longlist and what didn't get on. I hope she wins though because I want to see what she'll be wearing in close up. I've been following the story of her 'What shall I wear?' on her blog.

I was surprised by the detail in that blog, but having read the book I'm much less surprised. I thought the book explored some fascinating issues, and I enjoyed it. There were parts I liked less, though, such as the way she skimmed over certain events and relationships.

Now I'm off to try and say that a lot more clearly!

If anyone is interested in an online debate with one of the Man Booker prize judges - Louise Doughty - over the winning novel and it's close second (Barry's Irish novel), then it will be taking place on her blog at the Daily Telegraph's website first week of January - giving interested parties time to read both Novels.
If anyone's interested, bookmark her blog and I'll try to remember to post a reminder when the debate starts:
http://my.telegraph.co.uk/louisedoughty
For further details see her blog post: Truth and beauty Friday, October 24, 2008

- NaomiM