My to-read list has just lengthened – the Bailey’s Prize Longlist is out!

I’m always thrilled for the announcement of the Bailey’s Women’s Prize for Fiction.

Every year, the Bailey’s Prize recognizes the best fiction of the year penned by women authors. You may ask yourself, Why a separate list for women? Some feel women are not yet equitably represented on the lists of other major literary prizes. I tend to agree with that argument, others may not.

But no matter which camp you’re in, the list is always highly anticipated for readers.

The 2017 Longlist was just released – you can see it here.

Some of these authors I already know, many more are new to me, but I look forward to exploring their novels:

Stay With Me, Ayobami Adebayo
The Power, Naomi Alderman
Hag-Seed, Margaret Atwood
Little Deaths, Emma Flint
The Mare, Mary Gaitskill
The Dark Circle, Linda Grant
The Lesser Bohemians, Eimear McBride
Midwinter, Fiona Melrose
The Sport of Kings, C.E. Morgan
The Woman Next Door, Yewande Omotoso
The Lonely Hearts Hotel, Heather O’Neill
The Essex Serpent, Sarah Perry
Barkskins, Annie Proulx
First Love, Gwendoline Riley
Do Not Say We Have Nothing, Madeleine Thien
The Gustav Sonata, Rose Tremain

Happy reading to all as we look forward to the short list and eventual winner.