It is a family tradition to watch the Booker Prize ceremony. And we were enthusiastic about this year’s nominees.

We enjoyed Natasha Brown’s longlisted novel, Universality, and Katie Kitamura’s minimalist novel, Audition, which made the shortlist. I was enthusiastic about Kiran Desai’s moving, quirky family saga, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. Captain Nemo admired Susan Choi’s Flashlight (his favorite) and loathed David Szalay’s Flesh (the worst book he’s read this year).

Before we watched the film, we had to check out the bookies’ predictions. Why, I don’t know, since they’re usually wrong. Desai’s The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny was in first place, and close behind was Andrew Miller’s The Land in Winter. (The publication date of the latter in the U.S. is Nov. 11 – tomorrow.)

Finally, Roddy Doyle went up to the podium and said: “And the winner is…” 

We waited tensely.

“Flesh.“

Groans.

“Are the judges high?” This is my favorite question when I watch the Academy Awards.

Captain Nemo was disappointed. This was the only book on the list he thought didn’t deserve to be there.”Remember Milkman?” 

Well, I remember the title.

He felt that was another dud on a magnificent shortlist.

I’m done with the Booker this year. I have to save my energy for next year’s Booker.

And I’m not eager to read Szalay’s book.

But you know what they say: De gustibus non est disputandum.