The judging panel has even complained that publishers only submitted "heavyweight" and humourless books in the mistaken belief they were more likely to win.

They criticised publishers for offering "pretentious, portentous and pompous" works.

Hotly-tipped authors Zadie Smith and Howard Jacobson have been left off this year's shortlist, and instead Carol Shields and Yann Martel lead the pack.

William Trevor, Rohinton Mistry, Sarah Waters and Tim Winton complete the list of the six authors competing for the literary world's most prestigious prize.

What do you think of this year's shortlist? Do you feel that it could have been more adventurous? Have the big names been left out of the running unfairly? Or is it a fair reflection of the best of today's writing?

This Talking Point has now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

Her books are colourful, vivid, well researched

Suzanne, UK

With a list of just six authors it's obvious that many people will feel aggrieved that the writers they feel most worthy of recognition are not included. Sarah Waters is the only writer I am familiar with and I certainly don't think her work is either "prentious" or "pompous". Her books are colourful, vivid, well researched - she gets my vote.
Suzanne, UK

If this shortlist is based upon novels that skew off at huge and irrelevant tangents towards their climax, then "Life of Pi" should win hands down!
Phil, England

Most Canadians are too modest to write to this Talking Point and highlight the fact that half the finalists are Canadian, but I'm not.
Tracy Howe, Canada

William Trevor is a subtle and ingenious writer and I hope he wins. I am surprised that William Boyd's Any Human Heart isn't on the list.
Juanita, USA

A pointless snapshot of the prejudices of critics

Andrew, UK

The only people who care about these silly prizes are authors, publishers, and the media. They reflect a pointless snapshot of the prejudices of critics and the chattering classes. The Booker Prize has no more relation to literature than the Turner Prize has to art.
Andrew, UK

Pratchett, Hornby and co don't need any publicity, do they?

LEE MONKS, UK

Whatever the perceived vagaries of The Booker Prize, it does, as has already been pointed out, publicise novels other than (often enjoyable) light reading. Pratchett, Hornby and co don't need any publicity, do they? Admittedly, it does seem to be a slightly patronising, stuffy award, but the judges themselves appear to realise this, so perhaps things will change. In any case, highlighting the talent of Sarah Waters and William Trevor, and perhaps exposing them to a larger audience can only be positive.
LEE MONKS, UK

I think that I should be winning this year's Booker prize... my book is beautiful and poetic. Only problem is, I haven't had the guts to publish it yet...
Morris Jacobs, South Africa

The Booker prize is a valid prize for literary achievement, not for how many books are sold. If this was the critera Jeffrey Archer's cell would be lined with awards, and what for? Writing absolute drivel! It's a shame Zadie Smith isn't on the shortlist, but Sarah Waters is a fantastic writer, and deserves all the attention and recognition she will undoubtedly get.
Georgina Burns, UK

All the books are deserving winners, written with fluency and vivid narrative. It is better than some of the drivel that is written by those on the bestseller lists: they are at best doorstops - these are real literature. And for those who haven't heard of them, maybe it's time to be more original in their reading, not just the beach-trash-cash machines that tend to dominate the market at the moment.
Tarquin, UK

Like the Good Housekeeping vacuum cleaner of the year, book awards are nothing more than a publicity tool to get people to buy more products.
Felicity, Ex-UK

Go on - read something thought-provoking for a change!

Giles, England

To me the Booker prize has always been worthwhile. Given the number of books that hit the shops every week it is good to have a list of six recommended novels, which I will spend the next three months or so happily reading. It is a real pity, judging from some of the comments on this Talking Point, that many people have either lost interest in reading altogether or are content to stick with celebrity autobiographies and Terry Pratchett. Go on - read something thought-provoking for a change!
Giles, England

I actively avoid any books that have been submitted for the Booker Prize. I read for entertainment, and the judges themselves admit that publishers enter only dull and heavyweight books for the competition. Bestseller lists have much more relevence to me.
Peter Connolly, England

This is the same old list of subsidised authors. Where is the real talent such as Britain's best selling author Terry Pratchett? Nearly all of his 26 Discworld books have reached the bestsellers list. It's time the Booker Prize was awarded to an author with talent and originality.
James, UK

The usual pumped out twaddle

David, UK

James, UK is spot on; why on earth do any of these people deserve a prize? How many of you have read their books? (And liked them?) I haven't read them all, but the ones I have, are the usual pumped out twaddle, which supposedly display a talent for literature according to the pretentious critics. Where is the acclaim for the real dynamic/interesting authors ie Tad Williams, Iain M Banks etc?
David, UK

I doubt you've ever read any of them, James. I yield to none in my admiration for Pratchett but Sarah Waters is a fine writer too and prizes have nothing to do with who's a best-seller - do you want rubbish like Jeffrey Archer on the list? And so what if they're subsidised? If we did not have subsidised public libraries, theatre performances etc, we would have an even more ignorant and uncultured population than we now do. There's nothing wrong with pointing people at something more intellectually demanding and rewarding than they might have the wit or energy to seek out for themselves.
Sheenagh Pugh, Wales

Winton is a deserving nominee. His beautiful prose evokes the Australian outback and its inhabitants magnificently. Well worth a read! Pop down to your local library and check it out.
Iain Bertram, UK (Australian)

Certainly, cronyism and commercialism, pervade the selection process

Igonikon Jack, USA

As a writer, I can't honestly say that these book awards, however prestigious they may be, reflect the best interest of the reading public. Certainly, cronyism, commercialism, and, of course, nativism, sometimes pervade the selection process. In the age of the internet, a portion of these works should be posted to allow outsider readers to register their impressions. These impersonal evaluations should be taken as a percentage of the overall award criteria and judgement points. Igonikon Jack, USA
Igonikon Jack, USA

Sadly, the Booker prize has become synonymous with pseudo intellectual media-types. Rightly too.
Steve, UK

Recipe for intelligence: Take one Booker winner (paperback when available) bend spine thoroughly, place in front room on coffee table. Serves dozens of friends who want to copy the look. (Read the hype, it's quicker than the book).
Forbes Cunningham, UK

Some here have said the Booker is just a tool to sell more books: well, duh! Of course it is.

Alan Simpson, Belfast, NI

The list is very safe with four regular nominees in Trevor, Shields, Mistry and Winton although Yann Martel's "Life of Pi" is enjoyable, original and good-natured so my hopes lie there. Some here have said the Booker is just a tool to sell more books: well, duh! Of course it is. The point is that it might get people reading more interesting books than the tripe by America's highest paid typists that clogs up the rotten bestseller lists. What books do those who want more "relevence" (sic) think should be on the list? Suggestions have been thin on the ground, but it's not good enough to criticise unless you have an alternative. Someone mentioned veteran schlockmeister Tad Williams - er, for which book? they're all the same - and Iain M Banks - a great talent indeed but one so lazy that he hasn't published a good book since 1990. His most recent title "Dead Air" took him six weeks to write and it shows.
Alan Simpson, Belfast, NI

Who cares, other than the rest of the media? I've never heard of any of the finalists, and I care even less about the story books they've written.
Dr Duncan Campbell, UK

Just another way to sell books. It seems to be only for the publishers benefit and to get some unheard of authors heard of. Like Dr Campbell states "Who cares?" I don't and it will not make me buy any of them. Overpriced and overrated.
Alan Collins, UK

Maybe those complaining should read one first

KJ Elsdon, Marbella, Spain

You can say what you like about arts awards like the Turner and the Booker, but at least they start people talking about art and literature for a change! Maybe the people who fulminate about the books being incomprehensible and overpriced should do us all a favour and read one or two before offering their opinions! Who do I think will win? Well, William Trevor and Carol Shields have to be the sentimental choices - although that's not to say that they're not brilliant writers! - but my choice is Sarah Waters. Not only do I have a soft spot for novels set in the Victorian period, but I also come from Pembrokeshire and it would be great to see a local girl win!
KJ Elsdon, Marbella, Spain

It is sad that all I have read so far on this comments page is condemnation (Dr. Duncan), where as any other discussion on the Brits, Emmys, Oscars, or even Turner Prize is met with at least some intellectual debate.
Idan, UK