Here at Ballymena Today we love books. We already go along to Ballymena Bookclub at Waterstones in the Fairhill Shopping centre and we love nothing more than tackling books which have been nominated for a prestigious prize. This year six authors work has been nominated for the 2015 Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction.

A few familiar names have popped up in this shortlist. Most of the authors, most notably, Ali Smith, Sarah Waters and Anne Tyler are familiar with the award process as they have been nominated for lots of awards before. This year the short list offers a varied bunch of great writers, established and new. They are:

  • Outline by Rachel Cusk
  • The Bees by Laline Paull (which we have already tore through!)
  • A God in Every Stone by Kamila Shamsie
  • How to be Both by Ali Smith (this comes recommended by members of Ballymena Bookclub)
  • A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler
  • The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters

The winner wins a fantastic £30,000 and the shortlist usually is a good indication of what we should be planning as out summer reads. At Ballymena Today we are planning to read The Paying Guest by Sarah Waters and we will let you know what we think!