Booker Prize to be announced today, here’s a short story of 6 shortlisted contenders

The Booker Prize is the world’s one of the most prestigious literary awards for a single work of fiction in English and published in the UK or Ireland. It is set to announce its 2024 winner tonight among the six shortlisted books at Old Billingsgate, London.

From a list of 156 entries made between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024, six books have been shortlisted. They are: Held by Anne Michaels, Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner, Orbital by Samantha Harvey, James by Percival Everett, The Safekeep by Yale van der Wouden and Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood.

Among the contenders for the Booker Prize, there are five women authors and only one man — from five countries.

Here’s a brief introduction to each of the six shortlisted titles to a glimpse into their worlds:

Held by Anne Michaels: Held is a profound exploration of war, damage, trauma, memories and history which is passed from one generation to another. Expanding through more than four generations, Anne, a Canadian novelist and poet, makes the reader dive into the world of connection and consequences through her writing.

Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner: Creation Lake is one of the best works by the author Rachel Kushner, who has been nominated twice for the Booker Prize. It is about a 34-year-old American woman, Sadie Smith, a woman with bold opinions, ruthless tactics and clean beauty. She is an undercover agent and is sent to infiltrate a commune of eco-activists in rural France.

Orbital by Samantha Harvey: Orbital is an exploration of consciousness, humanity, and the human condition. Six women and men are watching their planet from space and enjoying the breathtaking scenes. They are far from their homes but still feel connected. The news of the death of someone’s mother reaches them and now the fragility of human life can be seen in their words and expressions. Harvey, the author, is longlisted twice for the award.

James by Percival Everett: Everett, a nominee for the Booker Prize, who was also nominated earlier, explores two individuals Jim and Huck who are desperate to be free from societal norms. Jim, who was enslaved by his owner, is being sold to a new owner. He escapes and hides himself because he doesn’t want to get separated from his family. He finds Huck who faked his death because of his violent father. Both of them embark on a journey and raft along the Mississippi river.

The Safekeep by Yale van der Wouden: The Safekeep is a poignant, multilayered story about family secrets, historical trauma, and the search for belonging by Wouden. Wouden currently lectures on creative writing and comparative literature in the Netherlands. Isabel, the protagonist, lives in her late mother’s home and is joined by her brother’s girlfriend Eva. Though the second world war would have ended, the remains and secrets are still there. On a sunny day, Isabel finds something that she never thought would have existed there.

Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood: Stone Yard Devotional is a stunning exploration of human resilience in the face of loss. A middle-aged woman moves to Sydney taking refuge in a small religious community. Three evocative incidents are mentioned: mouse plague, the skeletal remains of a woman who was probably murdered and a visitor plunges the narrator back into her fast. Besides this Stone Yard Devotional, Wood is the author of seven novels and three works of non-fiction.

As the announcement draws near, readers and critics alike wonder who will take home the prestigious Booker Prize. The decision will be made a panel comprising Edmund de Waal, an artist and author; Sara Collins, an award-winning novelist; Justice Jordan, a Fiction editor of the Guardian; Yiun Li, a popular writer and professor; and Nitin Sawhney, a producer, composer and musician.

The winner will be awarded £50,000 and a trophy named Iris (after the winner Iris Murdoch). The other shortlisted contenders will receive £2,500 and a bespoke bound edition of their book. The event will be live-streamed on YouTube and TikTok.