My Book Group along with others in Hampshire are reading the books on the Orange Prize short list to pick what we think is the best novel before the actual panel, chaired by Kristy Lang, choose the winner next week.

The £30,000 Orange Prize always seems to cause a bit of controversy as an all-female panel award the prize to the best novel written in English by a women whatever her nationality, country of residence, age or subject matter - but of course this is seen by some as discriminating against men. I don't know if it is or not as I believe somewhere in the region of 80% of fiction is read by women.

Anyway, as I have been on holiday for a couple of weeks, I have only managed to read three from the shortlist. I have to say, I am glad I'm not sitting in Kirsty Lang's chair, if this as the best of the bunch.

Nancy Huston Fault Lines
Sadie Jones The Outcast
Charlotte Mendelson When We Were Bad
Heather O'Neill Lullabies for Little Criminals
Rose Tremain The Road Home
Patricia Wood Lottery

Tibbie - for many years I wouldn't read anything written by a female believing they just didn't have it in them to tell a decent story - i know - what kind of misogynistic thinking is that? Anyhoo - in a dry spell - couldn't find anything to hold my attention - came across this:

THE SIEGE
Helen Dunmore
Grove Press
Historical Fiction
ISBN: 0802117007

A great read - not what I expected - way more.

Hi scunnert, I believe Helen Dunmore won the Orange prize in '96 and that this novel, The Seige, was short-listed in 2002. So yes, maybe the Orange prize does go some way to introducing good female writers to both male and female readers!

I hadn't realized that Dunmore had been an Orange prize winner and that "Siege' had been shortlisted. Perhaps I should pay more attention. Thanks for the info Tibbie, I'll check out others.