It's starting tomorrow

Last week the long awaited long list came out for the Man Booker Prize. Every year for the past ten years or so I have waited for it and dabbled in the list, hoping to guess short-listed books before that list emerges in September. If I guess wrong I have to start again and read six in six by the October announcement.

This year we have been joined by two more friends for the final night and they are cooking so even better. So my first choice from the long list has arrived. It's the shortest on the list and given Ali Smith has done well before hopefully she will be short listed.