Welcome to Litsy!

I enjoyed this. As others have said the writing style is paired down and sparse. I think that reflects both the idea of the Eastern European and the Man. This is a character study and can be taken quite philosophically.
It is also a bit depressing! István goes along to get along and that leads to some really unfortunate situations. I really appreciate how Szalay portrayed mental health in aan we would assume avoids it.

I finished this just b4 the prize announcement. I see the merit in the life story of Istzan, a Hungarian immigrant, + found the book v absorbing but I dont know if I actually liked the book. Its a book abt modern masculinity, so he is monosyllabic drawn into sexual relationships and struggles to express his feelings, including significant losses. It certainly is a book to discuss in a time where toxicity of negative male influences is prevalent.

Well. That was depressing.
Very effective writing style, but I have some reservations about the plot. Soft pick.
Can I see why it won the #Booker ? Yes, but I would still have gone with Audition 😂

https://youtu.be/QZkjTuw3Tvw?si=97d1Shc_4_tBKZbE

Thoughts on this year's Booker winner.

Still ill and droopy lol.

I thought the concept was brilliant and original. Without giving anything away, I found myself wanting to save the characters. No, go left, don't call....

The paranoia was intense. I assume immigrants, whether Albanian or Guatemalan, live with daily paranoia. I don't assume, I know. They have to keep a low-key profile ALL the time. Who is safe? Who will help? The exhaustion.

After I post, I plan to look at other reviews.

Hugely anticipated this and then it felt odd.
I had a brief idea of the plot but not enough to pre empt what it would read like.
I think I need a book club focus on it?

Oh. Ah well.

#notmyfavourite !

Just announced the winner of this year‘s Booker Prize

I‘m quite happy about this since I enjoyed it while I read it

I just started this, my fourth book from the #Booker shortlist. I like the writing style, but damn that first chapter was uncomfortable! 🫤

White US male has mild midlife crisis and takes a roadtrip whilst re-evaluating his life and thinking a LOT about basketball. Everything is so mundane and unexceptional, it is both realistic and dreary. Very readable and I enjoyed all but the technical basketball talk. This is so American I would expect it to be a Pulitzer candidate (except Greer already won with a funnier version), but I am surprised to see it on the #Booker shortlist. Soft pick.