Orange Prize shortlists literary ladies

If you are a fan of Brit lit, female authors, or both, you’ll probably find reads aplenty in recently announced shortlists for the Orange Prize for Fiction and the Orange Award for New Writers. These book awards go to women who write in English and whose novels were first published in the United Kingdom. The 2006 shortlists confirm what lovers of limey literature have been thinking for months: It’s a banner year for the Brits!

Here’s the Orange Prize for Fiction shortlist:

• The History of Love, by Nicole Krauss: Read the The Elegant Variation discussion of this book.
• Beyond Black, by Hilary Mantel: Check out my Cuppa Joad review of this dark, perplexing novel.
• The Accidental, by Ali Smith: Immerse yourself in this frontrunner’s Bookslut review.
• On Beauty, by Zadie Smith: Enjoy Robin’s glowing Cuppa Joad review of this beauty.
• Everyman’s Rules for Scientific Living, by Carrie Tiffany: Read all about it in the Gather review.
• The Night Watch, by Sarah Waters: Dive in to the Eve’s Alexandria review.

Here’s the Orange Award for New Writers shortlist:

• Disobedience, by Naomi Alderman: Get to know Alderman via her Guardian Unlimited feature.
• The Dream Life of Sukhanov, by Olga Grushin: Check out the New York Times review.
• A Thousand Years of Good Prayers, by Yiyun Li: Find out about this remarkable collection in the Guardian Unlimited review.

Check back on June 6 for news of the winners.