Costa Shortlist

The Costa book awards recognise the most enjoyable books from English and Irish based writers in the categories first novel, novel, biography, poetry and children's book. The shortlist was announced earlier this week, and the winners will be announced on 5th January. To find out more visit the Costa Book Awards website.

Costa First Novel Award

Witness the Night by Kishwar Desai
Coconut Unlimited by Nikest Shukla
The Temple-Goers by Aatish Taseer
Not Quite White by Simon Thirsk 

Costa Novel Award

Whatever You Love by Louise Doughty
The Blasphemer by Nigel Farndale
The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell
Skippy Dies by Paul Murray

Costa Biography Award

How to Live A Life of Montaigne by Sarah Bakewell
My Father's Fortune by Michael Frayn
The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal

Costa Poetry Award

Standard Midland by Roy Fisher
The Wrecking Light by Robin Robertson
Of Mutability by Jo Shapcott
New Light for the Old Dark by Sam Willetts

Costa Children's Book Award

Flyaway by Lucy Christopher
Annexed by Sharon Dogar
Bartimaeus: The Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud
Out of Shadows by Jason Wallace