OK second Booker finalist finished; Washington Black fantastic - could well win; as it says on the cover "a masterpiece"; reminded me of Charles Dickens. Buy it, read it, you'll love it.

Big rave and spread in the Sunday Times Culture section - someone else would love to see it win because it is so eminently readable. Don't you love a winner you actually loved reading? Like Wolf Hall.

I certainly shall read it. Love that the Booker is now regularly including more populist but still quality stuff. Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies two of myfavourite reads last 10 years but v frustrated at wait for final part of trilogy..But I suspect it will be worth it!

Many brilliant books didn't win (Notes On A Scandal; Never Let Me Go) but I found them in the last 6 and really enjoyed them. Yes I loved both Mantel books and was able to tell her when I found myself standing next to her and her husband in the queue waiting for our seats at the theatre after a bomb scare!

Brilliant! And "never let me" go possibly my favourite novel in a long time..How did Hilary respond?

WELL - WRONG AGAIN! I still have Milkman to read (the winner last night - Spoiler alert) and am enjoying the Richard Powers so it looks like Milkman will be one of my many winter reads.

My meeting with Hilary Mantel - we were stood there for half an hour; an odd lady; her husband totally silent; she was quite chatty (I jokingly berated her for not having the third book finished). She enjoyed the fact that I made quite a profit betting on her to win the Booker both times (I liked Book Two almost even more than WH). I find writers very willing to communicate in person; got a nice handwritten letter once from Ian McEwan - almost totally dyslexic! His Editor must go through hell correcting his manuscripts - he's one of my great favourite writers. I find Salman Rushdie unreadable (even his children's book).

Booker final: DO read Washington Black. It may not have won but it is absolutely fabulous.

PS For me, Never Let Me Go is the best book of this century so far. Followed by Pullman's Dark Materials (cheating a bit - three books).

Thanks for sharing. Astonished that Mcewan is dyslexic to that level must have a great editor! I also loved Dark Materials - didnt read for ages as assumed was a kids book but it iscthat rare thing an everyone book. Disagree on Rushdie; Midnights Children one of my favourites. though forgetting his style he is rather hit and miss...