The Booker Prize is 50 this year and to celebrate the organisers have launched the Golden Booker, a prize given to the best winner during it’s five decades. Five judges have picked one candidate from each decade and now it’s up to you and me to choose the overall winner.

1970s – VS Naipaul’s In a Free State

1980s – Penelope Lively’s Moon Tiger

1990s – Michael Ondaatje’s The English Patient

2000s – Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall

2010s – George Saunders’ Lincoln in the Bardo

I have to admit I haven’t read all of these, and In a Free State I hadn’t even heard about. I certainly won’t vote for Wolf Hall, as it’s on my list of books I never finished. I have a sneaking suspicion that this book sits half-read on many people’s bookshelves. I loved The English Patient as a film, but never actually read the book and not sure if I will now that I know the plot, but it’s known to be a wonderful read so perhaps it will win. Lincoln In the Bardo was a good, although incredibly challenging read, and I’m not sure it will make it to the top for that reason. Penelope Lively is an author I’ve wanted to read for a while, so Moon Tiger has now been bumped right to the top of my reading list and perhaps her book is the one I will end up voting for. Will keep you posted!

We can all vote here until midnight on the 25th June, the winner will be announced on the 5th July.