Man Booker Prize longlist predictions

Every year throws up some dead certs and some surprizes, veteran and debut authors, and now the prize is open to all books written in English worldwide, I feel the Man Booker Prize longlist is increasingly difficult to pin down.  I went to the Man Booker website to see who is judging this year:

Baroness Young has a long history of being involved in cultural affairs including African writing; I’d never heard of Lila Azam Zanganeh – but she is of Iranian descent, lived in Paris, lectures at Harvard – a polyglot; Sarah Hall is a superb author and no stranger to experimental fiction; Tom Phillips, who again I’m unfamiliar with, is an artist who has made a collage out of a Victorian novel; Colin Thubron is the famous travel writer and novelist. First impressions suggest that as a very varied bunch, they are likely to pick some interesting books!

There are a handful of books that I’ve read, that are eligible and I think could be longlisted, (I’m not going to suggest any I’ve not read). They are:

• The Fatal Tree by Jake Arnott (reviewed here). This year’s Golden Hill, Arnott’s latest is a historical romp, rich in detail and argot.
• English Animals by Laura Kaye (reviewed here). As a debut, this quirky outsider’s view of Little England might just make the longlist.
• The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden (reviewed here). Is there room for an enchanting fairy tale? I keep hoping – a real longshot though.
• White Tears by Hari Kunzru (reviewed here). Although a novel of two dissonant halves, it might be Kunzru’s turn this year.
• A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (reviewed here). This novel just oozes charm – loved it.
• The Lie of the Land by Amanda Craig (reviewed here). More funny novels should get nominated. This one also has heart.
• Tin Man by Sarah Winman (not reviewed yet). Simple and lovely. Made me cry.

What do you think?