Booker Shortlist offers

The short list was announced yesterday and the news is that it's a feel good list for these dark, depressing days.  So if you always said you'd read them all before the winner is announced (October 12th) maybe this is the year to do it. Here they are

Peter Carey Parrot and Olivier in America
Emma Donoghue Room
Damon Galgut In a Strange Room 
Howard Jacobson The Finkler Question
Andrea Levy The Long Song
Tom McCarthy C

If you live in an Apple house (and gradually our's is becoming more Apple inclined after years of resistance - current tally one big glossy computer, one less glossy Macbook and a very precious iPod)  The Man Booker Prize App is now free to download from the App Store to an Apple iPhone or iPod Touch and is the UK's first app for a literary prize. I'm not sure what you do with it - my technical understanding is way behind the gadgets lying around - but I am guessing that you get extracts and other goodies. 

READ IRELAND (a kind of Irish Amazon but more cuddly) has a special offer. Order three shortlisted books and they will send them anywhere in the world free of charge.  Order them all and you also get  10% discount. And because it's READ IRELAND and not Amazon and you get the feeling that they've read the books they're selling and like them, you are allowed to substitute one or more of the books left languishing on the long list. (It's happened to me and I know how it feels: you get invited to the party but no one remembers who you are...early night.) Click on the title of this post to go to READ IRELAND'S website. I haven't any connection with them - just bought a few books over the years and like their reviews on the regular email newsletter.