BOOKER TIE!

For the second time in the Booker history, a tie has been declared. In 1992, THE ENGLISH PATIENT by Michael Ondaatje and SACRED HUNGER by Barry Unsworth shared the prize.

Well who said that history never repeats itself, because after five hours of deliberation, this year's judges found it impossible to decide between THE TESTEMENTS by Margaret Atwood and GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER by Bernadine Evaristo, breaking the rules by declaring them joint winners.

For me personally I could not be happier. I five starred Evaristo, hoping either it or Shafak would win, and Atwood is one of my favourite authors of all time. This also makes Atwood the oldest winner ever.

I believe that this tie will be very unpopular and polarizing with the reading public as Atwood received much criticism over her sequel to THE HANDMAID'S TALE. Many readers believed that is was a sequel that was not needed and that it tarnished the classic original.

Oh well, now it is that time in the literary year to sit back and listen to all the people whinge about this result. ;-)

A huge congratulations to two great women, two great authors, and two great books.