Best of the Bookers

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Booker prize, a panel of judges have just narrowed down all the winners to announce a shortlist of the Best of the Booker. The contenders are:

Pat Barker - The Ghost Road

Peter Carey - Oscar and Lucinda

J.M. Coetzee - Disgrace

J.G. Farrell - The Siege of Krishnapur

Nadine Gordimer - The Conservationist

Salman Rushdie - Midnight's Children

The bookies have their money on Rushdie (he won the Best of the Bookers done twenty years ago), but don't be surprised if Coetzee takes it - Disgrace is one of the most powerful and unforgettable novels I've ever read. The winner will be decided by reader votes and announced on July 10th. You can vote yourself here.