The Orange Prize for Fiction is awarded annually for the best fiction novel written by a woman. Here is this year’s longlist:
- Rosie Alison The Very Thought of You
- Eleanor Catton The Rehearsal
- Clare Clark Savage Lands
- Amanda Craig Hearts and Minds
- Roopa Farooki The Way Things Look to Me
- Rebecca Gowers The Twisted Heart
- M.J. Hyland This is How
- Sadie Jones Small Wars
- Barbara Kingsolver The Lacuna
- Laila Lalami Secret Son
- Andrea Levy The Long Song
- Attica Locke Black Water Rising
- Maria McCann The Wilding
- Hilary Mantel Wolf Hall
- Nadifa Mohamed Black Mamba Boy
- Lorrie Moore A Gate at the Stairs
- Monique Roffey The White Woman on the Green Bicycle
- Amy Sackville The Still Point
- Kathryn Stockett The Help
- Sarah Waters The Little Stranger
I have just two of these books – Hearts and Minds by Amanda Craig and Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, which won the 2009 Man Booker Prize – will it win this one? And I’ve currently borrowed The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters, which was shortlisted for the 2009 Man Booker Prize.
Will these three be on the shortlist when it is announced on 20 April?
BooksPlease 
I only have one of these books, The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver. I’ve read so many good things about The Help that I have it on reserve at the library. It would be fun to work my way through more of this list. Sounds like a challenge.
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A good friend just raved about The Help, which I hadn’t heard of before. I would put my money on Wolf Hall.
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I’ve ordered Hearts and Minds as I thought it sounded good. Did you like it? I’ve only read Sarah Waters’ book, but I have Wolf Hall on my pile. I have this feeling she might win (not knowing about any of the other books of course!), but it would be nice to see another book get the prize.
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Margot, Lacuna is one I really want to read too. There are quite a few on this list that I don’t know about.
Jane, I hadn’t heard of The Help either. I know that it’s no reason, but I hope Wolf Hall doesn’t win because it already has one award and it’s good to have variation, I think!
Danielle, I haven’t read Hearts and Minds yet. I agree with you about Wolf Hall (although I haven’t finished it yet). I’ve started The Little Stranger and it’s looking good so far.
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