Two Irish Writers make the Women’s Prize Longlist!
The longlist for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2023 was announced last night, just in time for International Women’s Day and I was delighted to see two Irish authors make the cut. Maggie O’Farrell has been longlisted for The Marriage Portrait and the wonderful Louise Kennedy has been longlisted for her debut novel Trespasses.
I imagine O’Farrell will make the shortlist; I liked The Marriage Portrait more than Hamnet but still had quibbles, but I would love to see Trespasses go further.
Of the other longlisted books, I have only read one and that was Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. I’m not surprised that it was longlisted but I wasn’t a fan, finding it to be a bit too on the nose with its message.
Of the rest, I’m most interested in Children of Paradise by Camilla Grudova, Homesick by Jennifer Croft (which sounds more like a memoir to be though) and Cursed Bread by Sophie Mackintosh.
There were a lot of books I expected to see on here, particularly Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel (too early?), Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton (too late?) and The Hero of this Book by Elizabeth McCracken, about which I’ve heard great things. I’m also halfway through Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin and I really thought it might be in with a chance.
It will be interesting to see how these get whittled down. What did you think of the list? Anything you are pleased to see? Any glaring omissions?
Ireland Month #readwomen louise kennedy maggie o'farrell women's prize
Cathy746books View All →
I am a 40 something book buying addict trying to reduce the backlog one book at a time!
746books.com 
Yeah we’re definitely on the same page here! I would also have liked to see Birnam Wood.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Only one of my wishes was fulfilled but as that was for Trespasses to be on the list, I’m delighted.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sry to hear, you weren’t impressed by Demon Copperhead. That is the only one, I actually own. Of the rest, The Bandit Queens, Wandering Souls and Homesick might tempt me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘Trespasses’ by Louise Kennedy is on my TBR list; I did not realize it is her first novel.
I did not care for ‘The Hero of this Book’ at all.
LikeLike
Oh really? That’s interesting to hear. Kennedy had just written a short story collection before Trespasses. Keeping the fingers crossed for her!
LikeLike
Very disappointed not to see Catton or Zevin. I haven’t read any of these, for the first time ever I think! I’ll be a bit more of a spectator regarding the Women’s Prize this year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I’m not sure I’ll try to get to too many more of them. I’m really enjoying the Zevin.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was one of my books of 2022—just so good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wanted all the books in your final paragraph to be there! Sigh. I’ll also be checking out the Croft and Grudova soon, I hope.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So great to see the two Irish novels on there, I’ll soon be reading Trespasses and will no doubt get to The Marriage Portrait.
I thought the list was excellent, crossing genre, country and style of writing, it seemed to me to reflect the variety of readership as much as anything, ensuring there is something there for everyone, acknowledging how subjective ‘love’ for books can be.
I’m keen to read Wandering Souls and Homesick, Stone Blind looks intriguing, I do love a good feminist retelling of a Greek myth, Laline Paull’s Pod definitely, I thought The Bees was excellent, it was in my Top Reads the year that came out and Fire Rush sounds promising too from what I’ve heard. Oh, too many good books when I don’t need a diversion from Reading Ireland! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t really follow the Women’s Prize, instead opting for the Australian equivalent (the Stella Prize) whose long list was announced last week. I have Trespasses in my TBR and am planning to read it for Reading Ireland Month.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I liked it a lot, hope you do too. I feel very much out of the loop with this longlist!
LikeLike
Ooh, I’m just about to start listening to the audiobook of Trespasses, hopefully for Reading Ireland if I manage to get through it in time (I’m so slow with audiobooks). So to have your recommendation and its longlisting is a nice encouragement.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really liked it FF, hope the audiobook is good!
LikeLiked by 1 person
As much as I enjoyed the O’Farrell, I don’t think she’ll win this time. Hamnet was the better of the two books, to be honest (although not by too much).
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved the Grudova, and was intrigued by Homesick. Not read any of the others – but it seems those two are ones most would like to read. Trespasses is in my pile – hope to get to it this month, or soon if not.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Homesick looks good I think. I’m halfway through I’m A Fan and it’s good, if a bit full on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are several titles on that women’s prize list that really intruiges me. I am hoping to read at least a couple.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just finished I’m A Fan and it wasn’t really for me. Going to try Homesick next.
LikeLiked by 1 person