Who's the Booker favourite?

For the first time in many years, there are no clear favourites for Booker 2004, even as many big names are already out.

It is time to for the backbiting to begin. For the Booker shortlist for 2004 is to be announced next week. And for the first time in many years, there are no clear favourites, especially as many big names did not even make it to the longlist.

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The longlist for this year, the 34th time that the award will be given away, excludes name like VS Naipaul and David Lodge. Lodge had the misfortune to write about Hhenry James in his Author, Author the same year as Colm Toibin wrote The Master, also on James.

Naipaul’s Magic Seeds misses out too. Add line about

So has made it? Six of the 22 who made it to the longlist are newcomers. This includes Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for Purple Hibiscus and Louise Dean for Becoming Strangers.

And not to be forgotten, Susanna Clarke’s 800-page tome, Jonathan , which is said to be a publishing event to rival Rowling’s Harry Potter, is a first time novel too.

And as the Prize translates into megabucks, the bookies have already installed favourites.

And the bookies have tipped British writer Howard Jacobson for Who’sSorry Now? as the favourite. Jacobson has never been nominated for the Booker before, so this is being seen as a bit of a surprise. Also lending credence to the fact that the race is indeed wide open.

Others who are said to be possible winners include Zadie Smith, William Boyd and Anita Brookner.

No Indian has made it to the list this year.

So watch out for who make the cut to the final six. And of course the big day is October 19, when the winner will join the pantheon of many other illustrious authors of the recent times.