this year's list. And suspect you are right in feeling that The Sense of an Ending doesn't have enough concrete "story" for this year's jury -- the Barry, on the other hand, well might. My frustration was only slight and I believe this is the best book I've read this year so far, certainly the best on the Booker list so far, and I doubt any others I might get around to will overtake. I look forward to seeing your ranking in the new longlist thread on the Booker forum. People who have read as many as you help make it a bit more of a fair assessment. What has put you off Rogers? I have it from the library and might give it a try, but I don't hold high hopes for it. Colette: Dystopian novels just aren't for me -- and too many readers whom I respect have found this novel to be wanting on other counts as well. I have found a guest review from someone who likes the book. I've read it now. I have no problem with the dystopian element -- that has been done very well elsewhere. Here though, the scenarios are not thought through well enough, and too much presented is black and white. It is basically a teen read, and along with Pigeon English, which I also deem a teen read, I now take back my earlier comments and think this is certainly a year to criticize the judges based on the