We love a prize and we love a special episode, and so we’re delighted to have an excuse to get together to discuss the 2022 Women’s Prize shortlist and its winner, The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki. 

The Women’s Prize is the UK's annual book award that celebrates the best books written by women. Key criteria for the Prize are accessibility, originality and excellence in writing. Judges are asked to ignore the reviews, publicity spends, an author’s previous reputation, and any sense of ‘who deserves it’ to choose the novel that inspires them, moves them, makes them think – and that they admire and enjoy.

And so listen in to hear our frank but friendly take on the shortlist, Ozeki’s big win, and whether we agree with the judges. Maybe you don’t have time to read them all and just want to read one? Leave it to us, we’ve got you covered.

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

The Hand the Devil Knead by Lisa-Allen Agostini

The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

The Sentence by Louise Erdrich

The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki

Have thoughts on this episode? Join us over on our website where you'll find the page for this episode, a transcript and our comments forum. Which of the shortlist was your favourite? Drop us a line and let us know.

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