Costa Book Awards 2011

The shortlists for the various Costa Book Awards have just been announced, and several of my previous recommendations feature.  Four books have been shortlisted in each of the categories.  In the Novel category, both The Sense of an Ending (Julian Barnes) and Pure (Andrew Miller)  have been shortlisted, along with A Summer of Drowning (John Burnisde) and My Dear I Wanted to Tell You (Louisa Young).  In the first novel category I am particularly pleased to see City of Bohane by Irish writer Kevin Barry, which I hope will do well.  Category winners are announced on Wednesday 4th January 2012 and the Costa Book of the Year awards presentation ceremony is on Tuesday 24th January 2012.