2007 Man Booker Prize Winner Prediction -

         Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones

The TurboBookSnob unreservedly believes that The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng is the best novel of 2007, regardless of the fact that it did not make the shortlist.  The recent furor over the length of Ian McEwan's novel only heightens the travesty over its exclusion from the shortlist.  It is a brilliant novel, full of language that is beautiful and memorable.  Set in Penang during World War II, it rivals Barry Unsworth's The Sacred Hunger as the best MIN (Moral Indignation Novel) in the history of the Booker Prize.  It should have won the prize this year hands down. 

Because of her overwhelming support for The Gift of Rain, the TurboBookSnob is breaking with tradition, and is not choosing a novel from the shortlist that she believes should win.  This is the book that should have won.  Period.

Instead, she is predicting that the judges will choose Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones as this year's winner.  It is an engaging novel, although it lacks the greatness that elevates The Gift of Rain.  Set on an unnamed island in the early 1990s, it centers around a white gentleman named Popeye who, during the turbulent times of war, undertakes the task of teaching the black children of the island by reading Great Expectations with them.  It is an "easy" read, however it can still be considered "literary" because of its references to Dickens and his novel.  It seems like exactly the sort of book the judges may believe would appeal to both book snobs and book groups.  It should fly off the shelves of Waterstones and Barnes and Noble following its win - indeed, an article in the New Zealand Herald stated that

"Online retailer Amazon.co.uk reports that sales of Mister Pip have surged week-on-week since the Booker longlist was announced in August."

Of course, the judges always seem to place a great deal of emphasis on shocking the public with their decisions, and so in reality, it is anyone's game.  It will be interesting to see which novel they choose.  Any choice they make, however, will be less deserving than The Gift of Rain, and that is indeed a tragedy.

Official Winner Announcement

The official shortlist will be announced on Tuesday October 16th, 2007 at a ceremony at London's Guildhall.

2007 Winner Prediction
	Title/Author	The TurboBookSnob's Comments
	Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones Publisher: John Murray	This novel seems to have what the judges are looking for in a Booker Prize winner this year, although the TurboBookSnob does not believe that it has the depth, texture, or beauty of language that should be necessary to win the most coveted of literary prizes. TurboBookSnob Review Coming Soon!
"It is Bougainville in 1991 - a small village on a lush tropical island in the South Pacific. Eighty-six days have passed since Matilda's last day of school as, quietly, war is encroaching from the other end of the island. When the villagers' safe, predictable lives come to a halt, Bougainville's children are surprised to find the island's only white man, a recluse, re-opening the school. Pop Eye, aka Mr Watts, explains he will introduce the children to Mr Dickens. Matilda and the others think a foreigner is coming to the island and prepare a list of much needed items. They are shocked to discover their acquaintance with Mr Dickens will be through Mr Watts' inspiring reading of "Great Expectations". But on an island at war, the power of fiction has dangerous consequences. Imagination and beliefs are challenged by guns..." This the first time that Lloyd Jones has been nominated for the Booker Prize.