Not that I usually follow this. But I thought it worth mentioning as Alan Garner is on the longlist this year for Treacle Walker. 87 years old! A great man and a great book. Go Alan!
https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/prize-years/2022
Booker Prize – 2022
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Treacle Walker! The name alone intrigues me. I suspect I would enjoy it from this review.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/nov/01/treacle-walker-by-alan-garner-review-the-book-of-a-lifetime
I’ve only recently (re)discovered Garner, after reading his children’s books in my childhood and then recently finding out he had subsequently moved into more complex, weird, mature literature in the years since Elidor and all that. He’s a bit of a national treasure, and Treacle Walker is a great addition to his canon – a spooky, cryptic little novella.
I got a little obsessed with Treacle Walker when it came out. I was so happy with it, and it’s that kind of book it’s easy to get obsessed with. I got the kindle version (for portability), the hardback (for the lovely design: a fabulous deep blue colour with the Uffington white horse on the cover) and the Audible audiobook (for Robert Powell’s fantastic narration: he has the perfect voice for Garner’s fiction).
Thanks for the heads up. I haven’t read anything by Alan Garner since I read ‘The Weirdstone of Brisingamen’ at primary school. I enjoyed it then and will check out this book and maybe delve into his back catalogue.
Update. He is now on the final shortlist!