Mitchell’s latest is not as strong as his previous. I’d be suprised if he won. Sarah Waters would be a popular choice with the reading public. Many UK lit critics are saying Andrew O’Hagan’s Bear Near Me is a fine work.

The longlist is too long. It’s a recent development and whilst it has it’s merits (boosting often over looked novel’s profile) 19 books is silly. How many of these 19 will be remeber in 5/10 years time. Not many, I’d hazard.