Are here… finally. I love this prize and have done for ages, this year being all the more special because I am judging the First Novel Award and can finally talk about the shortlist. But before I do in more depth in the next day or so here are the shortlists, tell me what you think about all of them.
2017 Costa Novel Award shortlist
- Jon McGregor for Reservoir 13 (4th Estate)
- Stef Penney for Under a Pole Star (Quercus)
- Kamila Shamsie for Home Fire (Bloomsbury Circus)
- Sarah Winman for Tin Man (Tinder Press)
2017 Costa First Novel Award shortlist
- Xan Brooks for The Clocks in This House All Tell Different Times (Salt)
- Karl Geary for Montpelier Parade (Harvill Secker)
- Gail Honeyman for Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (HarperCollins)
- Rebecca F. John for The Haunting of Henry Twist (Serpent’s Tail)
2017 Costa Biography Award shortlist
- Xiaolu Guo for Once Upon a Time in the East: A Story of Growing Up (Chatto & Windus)
- Caroline Moorehead for A Bold and Dangerous Family: The Rossellis and the Fight Against Mussolini (Chatto & Windus)
- Rebecca Stott for In The Days of Rain (4th Estate)
- Professor Stephen Westaby for Fragile Lives: A Heart Surgeon’s Stories of Life and Death on the Operating Table (HarperCollins)
2017 Costa Poetry Award shortlist
- Kayo Chingonyi for Kumukanda (Chatto & Windus)
- Helen Dunmore for Inside the Wave (Bloodaxe Books)
- Sinéad Morrissey for On Balance (Carcanet)
- Richard Osmond for Useful Verses (Picador)
2017 Costa Children’s Book Award shortlist
- Sarah Crossan for Moonrise (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)
- Lissa Evans for Wed Wabbit (David Fickling Books)
- Kiran Millwood Hargrave for The Island at the End of Everything (Chicken House)
- Katherine Rundell for The Explorer (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)
Which ones have you read, which ones are you excited to read and, of course, what do you think of the debut category. I am very excited to be able to talk about them all…
Savidge Reads 
So happy to see Xan Brooks’ Clocks in this House on there – such a good choice. I also loved Tin Man, but hasn’t everyone who has read it?
i don’t think anyone who reads Tin Man can fail to love it. Oh, that book, all the love.
Delighted to see Tin Man on the list – a book read on recommendation about which I was dubious for the opening few pages, but which totally hooked me: unshowy, perhaps, but very powerful storytelling that sneaks up on the reader – and a case of a women writing two very believable, complex male characters.
I think the world and it’s wife are happy about Tin Man, it could be interesting though as Reservoir 13 is also a huge favourite with lots and lots of people. I am desperate to read that one.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is the best book I have read this year, in fact, for a very very long time. Good Luck Gail!
So pleased you are a fan of Eleanor, Linda.
The clocks in this house all tell different times.
Oh my God I thought I was the only one who has read it. I loved it.
I thought it was brilliant also have Eleanor Olipjant on audio. The other two I haven’t heard of.
Also nice to see Fragile Lives in the Biography shortlist. I do love a good medical memoir. It was fascinating
Currently reading under a pole star – I’m almost never reading anything when it’s up for a prize, so good to be current! Great book so far.
I have heard from two very professionally bookish people that Eleanor Oliphant is the best book they have read in ages and they both highly recommended it to me. So why am I still stingey and unwilling to shell out for the hardback? A conundrum. But since it is on the shortlist…
Adored Reservoir 13 and I’m so happy it’s on the shortlist. I’ve also been wanting to read Eleanor Oliphant for AGES and this is just the push I need (read the opening five chapters on Emerald Street’s site and then didn’t buy it because laziness.)
Loved loved loved Home Fire! Tried Eleanor Oliphant a couple of days ago. I just couldn’t get into it; I thought “I’ve read this book before… many times.” Really can’t wait to read In the Days of Rain; I saw it on your Instagram, Simon, and have been pursuing it.
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