Today saw the shortlist for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction award revealed – and, with a female author scooping the prestigious literary award for the past two years running, we have our fingers crossed that 2014 will carry on the women-winning streak.
It's possible: the shortlist of six authors includes female British writer Ali Smith with her experimental novel, How to be Both – the third time she's nearly made it to the final stage. American writer Karen Joy Fowler also made the cut.
The judging panel commented on the list: 'It is a strong, thought-provoking shortlist which we believe demonstrates the wonderful depth and range of contemporary fiction in English.'
That shortlist in full:
Joshua Ferris (US) - To Rise Again at a Decent Hour (Viking)
Richard Flanagan (Australian) - The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Chatto & Windus)
Karen Joy Fowler (US) - We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves (Serpent's Tail)
Howard Jacobson (British) - J (Jonathan Cape)
Neel Mukherjee (British) - The Lives of Others (Chatto & Windus)
Ali Smith (British) - How to be Both (Hamish Hamilton)
The winner will be revealed on Tuesday 14 October.
