at the age of 64. and literary critic stephanie merritt. merritt.you make of the short list this year? short list this year? rather highbrow idea of what literary books ought to be. literary books ought to be. meant to reward the most enjoyable books. books. might give the judges a bit of a problem, is it the most enjoyable? problem, is it the most enjoyable? vague and no one can quite define what it means. what it means. actually quite upsetting such as helen dunmore. helen dunmore. read but it is a beautiful book and for me the strongest. for me the strongest. life affirming even knows these are poems about her death and dying. poems about her death and dying. judges to choose between five such very different books. very different books. poetry against a memoir that is so beautifully written. beautifully written. the way that, what it leaves you with the end. with the end. on the short list that are strong in that regard. that regard. prize influences perhaps what people actually go out and buy? actually go out and buy? oster has a huge impact on