Simon’s observation abt how Thunderclap might be received by a visually impaired person was so interesting to me. I listened to the audiobook & found the descriptions so detailed that I didn’t feel like I missed anything by not having a print copy in front of me. Now I’m so curious to learn how others, in particular those who are visually impaired, perceived the book.

I'm so excited to read Code Dependent now after hearing it would be your winner Louise!! I always wanted to read it but must say I've put it higher up the list now! I have Doppelganger and How to Say Babylon but haven't read them yet! I loved A Flat Place 🩷 Also Matresence and Some People Need Killing. I've loved the Non Fiction focus this year and it's been so nice watching all your videos and feeling all of your enthusiasm for this prize. Thank you! I think HTSB will win ✨😬

Oh Louise I am absolutely shocked by your number one choice, in a good way 😂 I just would never have thought you would have gone for that book. I love that I am surprised, it’s made me smile. This is why it is great to listen to other people’s views, perspectives can be so different. I have read five of the shortlist and my personnel favourite was Thunderclap. Just like you did with Code Dependent I left this book to last because I did not expect to like it, not because of the author at all but because of the art aspect but I ended up loving it. My theory then was that if a book can do that to me then it must be good. Hope that you enjoy your Women’s Prize Day 📚

I am currently reading Code Dependent - which I think it is an extremely important book. I also bought Eve and Vulture Capitalism - both of which I am looking forward to reading. I purchased Babylon on audiobook - brilliant, stunning, but relentless. I may still get Thunderclap, which I sampled and was immediately drawn into. But it was such a wonderful selection that one could probably draw on it for months to come. Well done to the sponsors and the selectors for giving us this prize.

I love videos with the two of you together, they’re always good for a laugh. I found it interesting when Simon was talking about sometimes worrying if the book was too clever for him. I often have the same concerns

As someone who reads much more non-fiction than literary fiction I am so happy y'all made videos of your experience with the non-fiction prize this year. It's really interesting to see y'all's journey with reading the nominees this year and I like hearing you each parse out what worked and what didn't for you.

Late to the party as I nodded off and had to pause and return to both this and your Women's Prize for Fiction Winner Predictions - all me not you with life being busy/exhausting I hasten to add - because I found it so interesting and fun I wanted to hear what you both had to say when I was less tired. Prime example of how fantastic it is readers have different tastes in books or some books would get all the love and some books no love at all. I love non-fiction and fiction books with an art theme.(Siri Hustvedt has written great ones in both). PS. Not relevant or book related but love both of you green tops!

Both of you are always great fun - enjoyed this video. I read many more non-fiction than fiction books each year about 4 nonfiction to 1 fiction. I'm about to begin How to say Babylon this afternoon. Thank you for another fun, informative, and thought provoking video. Looking forward to the next.

I finished the final book last night-whew! I genuinely enjoyed every book on this list and would be happy with any of them winning. I was most surprised by my response to Thunderclap-loved it! My heart is with HTSB and my head was saying Doppelgänger until I finished Code Dependent. I wouldn’t be surprised if it took the prize. It is timely, so well-written, accessible, and my most annotated. All She Carried is one I want to read again. I think I sped through it and missed a lot.

Just love you two together! Really enjoyed that…adding as ever to my TBR list 😊. Code Dependent will be the first I’ll look at I think - sounds like a very significant book.

I always enjoy hearing your video conversations. The little improvised choreography at the end when you are waving goodbye just made me smile!

I was only able to finish (and LOVE + recommend to everyone) Matrescence, which didn’t make to the short list. Have some others on my summer TBR shelf, will read them no matter who wins. Thank you for turning my attention to this prize and sharing your thoughts since the announcement.

So interesting. Thank you

I haven’t read all the shortlist but I’d be happy to see “How to Say Babylon” take home the prize. I’ve been sitting on the fence as to whether or not to read “A Flat Place” but thanks to you and Simon, I intend to get stuck into it as soon as possible.

I’ve been so excited for this I’m with you this has been fabulous long list - Flat Place was my second and How To Say Babylon my first

I’m in Norfolk, we love our big skies 😂 But I’m originally from the North East and I do admit to missing hills and mountains. So many books added to my TBR from both of your recent videos

I read Code Dependent on your recommendation and I absolutely loved it! I hope it wins ❤

Great discussion once again! I definitely want to get to A Flat Place. I’ve got it here but just haven’t picked it up yet. You’ve made me quite interested in Code Dependent. I’ll have to see if I can find it on audio.

That ending ❤

Looking forward to watching this. My favourite book from the longlist was not shortlisted (Intervals). Of those that were shortlisted I’d like to see How to Say Babylon or Doppelgänger win.

I had never heard of doppelganger, and as you began speaking about it I thought - 'Oh, she wrote the Beauty Myth!' but that was Naomi Wolf 😅 so crazy

It’s so fun to see I have almost the same list and thoughts as you do, I would be really pleased if Code Depended won. Hoping that more people will read it. How to Say Babylon is my winner though, it was so good.

Great seeing a video with you both together again,it made me smile. I'm really looking forward to seeing who wins the prize. Btw I'm from Norfolk, was born in Norwich but left the city to moved to a quieter town when I was 37 but still in Norfolk 😅😂

The only book I’ve read is A Flat Place which I am so, so happy to hear that you both loved 😍 I’m very eager to get to How to Say Babylon - and to me it has winner written all over it. (But Code Dependent sounds like a winner too to be fair). Very curious to find out for both prizes! Exciting that you’ll both be there to see it happen 🙌 - When I learned that one of the shortlisted books was about art, I was absolutely sure Simon would be likely to put it sixth, haha.

Enjoyed this very much! I’ve only read two so far, A Flat Place and Thunderclap. I like green hills and the sea so I didn’t expect to love A Flat Place but I did. Her descriptions were beautiful and I learned a great deal from her diagnosis. It makes me understand childhood trauma much better. I knew I couldn’t physically hold Thunderclap because of the weight so listened to it on audio read by the author. I thought it was brilliant. I didn’t look up any of the paintings because I found her descriptions were enough. Also read Wifedom which was fascinating and sad. Have fun tomorrow 🎉📚❤️

That waving/dancing/not dancing at the end made my day!!! What a strong set of books for this prize, both long and short lists. My favorite was Thunderclap (sorry Simon) but I think How to Say Babylon will win. I’ve heard a lot of love for A Flat Place too.

I think How to Say Babylon will win, for all the reasons you have given and as Simon says: it’s the complete package. But the book of my heart is A Flat Place. It contains such a unique perspective…I’d be thrilled if it wins. For me: it’s the one I’ll remember and return to, And one I may not have discovered if not for the Women’s Prize. Otherwise- unlike Simon 😊- I love reading about art so I loved Thunderclap. And I have to say that I sort of flamed out on Doppleganger, even though I learned so much from it about some of the terrible divisions we have in the US. I liked Klein’s voice. But at some point I put the book aside and it went feral on me and now I’m not sure I’ll go back! But I do admire it! Louise (and Simon) you might have sold me on Code Dependent!

I've only read Thunderclap, which I really enjoyed, to the point I bought a canvas print of The Goldfinch! But I am interested in some of the short list, and hope to get to them at some point. Very exciting to see who the winner will be. Best Wishes 💕 📚

My hold for All that she Carried has just come in from my library. Roll on tomorrow’s announcements.

I think it's so interesting to watch this prize this year. There are so many different types of nonfiction. How do you compare a memoir with a historical tome like Shadows at Noon? They don't even seem to be in the same genre. With the shortlist, the judges do seem to be people who prefer memoir over other types of nonfiction, whereas I tend to like more traditional nonfiction. It will be interesting to see if other judging groups in other years preference other types. I have only read half of the shortlist, but I did not love How to Say Babylon. It got a bit boggy for me. I am rooting for Thunderclap to win, which surprised me as I have never read nonfiction about art before.

I'm interested in Code Dependent

Great video, thanks for sharing. I was super disappointed in the short list - none of my favorite books made it! It seems to be a list very heavy on memoir and memoir elements, and I prefer my nonfiction straight, separate from memoir. Though I haven't been able to read them all, I liked Young Queens best and thought it was fantastic history nonfiction. Oh well, I wouldn't have found any of these books without this prize, so that's good.

You've definitely piqued my interest.

So interesting both - Thanxx 👍 I’ve only read Thunderclap (a library loan but I’d like to own) & A Flat Place (purchased ) - I really enjoyed both 🥹👏🏻 I’m on p70 of How to say Babylon & it’s grabbed me 😌 I purchased All That She Carried & I have Doppelgänger & Code Dependent on loan from the library. I also purchased Wifedom because that appealed to me (yet to read). It will be interesting to see who wins 🤗