All the authors shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2025

string

This book, written by Michael Shurtleff, provides comprehensive advice on auditioning techniques. Drawing from his extensive experience in casting over 200 Broadway shows and various film and television productions, Shurtleff offers practical guidance for actors. The book includes his famous '12 Guideposts' for monologue and scene work, such as 'Relationships – how to create them onstage' and 'Conflict – what are you fighting for? ' It covers every aspect of auditioning, from basic acting techniques to handling distractions and risks, and is applicable not only to actors but also to other areas of life where 'auditions' occur.

Kiran Desai's 'The Inheritance of Loss' intricately weaves together the lives of its characters against the backdrop of globalization and cultural identity. Set between India and the United States, the novel explores themes of displacement, colonialism, and the search for belonging. Through the stories of Judge Jemubhai Patel and his granddaughter Sai, Desai examines the complexities of post-colonial India. The novel delves into the impact of Westernization on traditional societies and the struggles individuals face in navigating a rapidly changing world. Desai's rich prose and insightful observations offer a poignant reflection on the human condition.

Published in 1878, 'Anna Karenina' is a novel by Leo Tolstoy that delves into the complexities of Russian society in the late 19th century. The story centers around the extramarital affair between Anna Karenina, a married socialite, and Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky, which scandalizes the social circles of Saint Petersburg. The novel also follows the parallel story of Konstantin Levin, a wealthy landowner, and his struggles with marriage, faith, and managing his estate. Tolstoy explores a wide range of themes including love, loyalty, betrayal, hypocrisy, and the differences between rural and urban life. The novel is known for its detailed character development and its profound commentary on the human condition.