Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction Longlist 2014

I've been a fan of the prize formerly known as the Orange Prize ever since I was a teenager.  Over the years, I've been introduced to so many great titles and authors, such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Barbara Kingsolver and Andrea Levy, to name just a few.  Every year I try to read as many of the long-listed titles as possible and follow the prize all the way through to the winner's announcement.  This morning the long list was revealed, and I'm already excited for all the great reading that is sure to be ahead of me.

My thoughts on the long-listed books and any reading plans (links to goodreads):

  

• Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - I've already read and loved this one (my review).  I thought it was a masterful look at what it is like to be a migrant, but as much as it was a 5-star read, it wasn't my favourite Adichie.  Still, I'll be very surprised if it isn't short-listed.
• Maddaddam by Margaret Atwood - No surprises to see this on the list either.  I loved Oryx and Crake and own this one, but need to read Year of the Flood before I can get to it.  Which will definitely be happening soon.  I have reserved Year of the Flood at the library and I'm number #1 on the list, so my wait should be under a week.
• The Dogs of Littlefield by Suzanne Berne - This one was new to me. It's an examination of the darker side of a suburban society as the neighbourhood dogs start to be mysteriously poisoned.  It sounds pretty interesting but hasn't been purchased by my library, so I'm holding fire.

  

• The Shadow of the Crescent Moon by Fatima Bhutto - Another new to me title, but one that I'm keen to try.  It's the story of five young people in Pakistan's Tribal Areas.  Position in reserve list: #1, but all copies are currently out.
• The Bear by Claire Cameron - A young girl must look after herself and her brother after a vicious bear attack kills their mother on a camping trip.  No copies in the library system as of yet.
• Eleven Days by Lea Carpenter - A mother's story when her son goes missing on a special operations mission on the night of the Bin Laden raid.  Again, no copies purchased by my library system, although I am want to read this one.

  

• The Strangler Vine by M.J. Carter - Someone from the East India company goes missing in Calcutta in the 1800s.  This appears to be a historical mystery, which isn't normally my thing, but I am going to give it a go.  Position in reserve list #12, and for one copy, so I'm in for a bit of a wait!
• The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton - I'm not surprised to see this one here.  I was already wanting to read this, and will be soon, as I'm #1 on the list.
• Reasons She Goes to the Woods by Deborah Kay Davies - This seems to be a quirky coming of age tale told in vignettes, which makes it one of the more interesting titles on the list.  No copies available, unfortunately.

  

• The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert - Botany, the nineteenth century and exploration.  It's another long book, but it's definitely got short-list potential. Position on reserve list #1
• Burial Rites by Hannah Kent - I was so excited to see this one on the list, as I've been wanting to read it for months.  I've seen so many positive reviews of it on other blogs.  Position on reserve list #15.
• The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner - A story set in the 1970s about a radical art movement.  No copies at the library, but it's not one I'm overly keen to try anyway.

  

• The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri - I've never read any Lahiri, although I've been meaning to for years. I will be reading this one as I already have it on my kindle.  Definite short-list potential
• The Undertaking by Audrey Magee - Hmm, yet another WW2 novel.  I'm not that disappointed that my library hasn't purchased it yet.
• A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing by Eimar McBride - This is a stream of consciousness novel about the relationship a woman has with her brother, who had a brain tumour as a child.  One of the more unusual picks on the long-list.  Again, no copies.

  

• Almost English by Charlotte Mendelson - I'm always keen to read novels about the immigrant experience, and this one is centred around a young Hungarian girl attending a prestigious English public school.  I should be able to pick this one up off the library shelf tomorrow morning.
• Still Life with Breadcrumbs by Anna Quindlen - This is a biographic novel about the photographer Rebecca Winter.  I have reserved it, but the library copy is still on order, so the wait is unknown.  Position #6
• The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout - On the surface, this sounds like a very ordinary story about family life.  I'm not excited about this title, so probably won't read it.

 

• The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - No surprises here either.  I've tried to read The Little Friend in the past and not got on with it, so I've been avoiding this book until now.  Hopefully I'll enjoy Tartt more on the second try. I am #38 on the reserve list.
• All the Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld - This appears to be about a hermit living in Australia.  I'm #2 on the list.

My initial reaction to the long-list is that it looks to be shaping up to be a good year for the prize this year.  There's a lot of big name authors (Atwood, Adichie, Tartt, Lahiri) and titles (The Luminaries, Burial Rites).  Have you read any of the titles?  I'd love to know your thoughts on them if you have, to help me prioritise!