These statements vary in length and there is plenty of blank space to be found. The story is set out as a series of witness statements from the crew onboard the Six-Thousand Ship. It’s amazing that there is space to open up such a grand dialogue but Olga Ravn manages to make it work even in such a short book.Ī book that is even shorter than it first seems as well. It deals with such large topics and asks so many big questions. The second was because there is a lot going on in this deceptively small piece of literature. The first was that I was in something of a slump when I started this, which I can’t blame this book for. It definitely appealed to me that the book was around 130 pages long because I figured I’d be finished with it no time. It was such an interesting concept and I was sure that it would be a fantastic reading experience. Out of all of the novels shortlisted for this years’ International Booker Prize, The Employees was the one that appealed to me the most. I knew that I had to read it and I had to read it soon. However, sometimes a book comes along that has such an exciting premise that I can’t not pick it up. Even then, I don’t tend to read them in time because I never do. So, I tend to have a look through the lists and then see if any take my fancy.

For one thing, who can get their hands on that many books? For another, who has such a small TBR that they can happily add so many books to them? If I tried to do this with the major literary awards then I’d never cope. Then they manage to make their way through them before the winner is revealed.

They take note of the longlists and shortlists when they’re released. I’d love to be the kind of reader who keeps up with all of the literary awards.

The Employees by Olga Ravn