Michelle Haynes
This is a beautifully written book. Her use of language is stunning and I had to stop several times to make a note of her sentences and ideas. I think it is in a class of its own. I have read very few modern novels that could be compared with this one. I am grateful to Woman's Hour and Lisa Jardine for introducing me to it. It has stayed with me and I am recommending it to everyone.

Lynda Duthie
A truly beautiful novel. From page 1 the reader is enveloped in a beautiful, poetic prose and taken on a journey with Jakob through fear and panic, rescue, love, education, reflection, learning... Athos remains my literary hero - what knowledge, wisdom, compassion! My copy has so many corners turned down - I used to read and reread out loud to my partner. Now I just look back for a thought for the day. A life- changing book which merits the prize (Ihope all the friends to whom I have given a copy agree!)

Marie Mundt
The beauty of the poetic prose lifts and sustains the reader through the pain contained in this novel. When I came to its end I turned to read again with a strange feeling of gratitude.

Judith Sayers
I read this book years ago and was deeply moved by the story and the clarity of the writing. Fugitive Pieces has stayed with me in a powerful and profound way. As a first time would-be novelist I look to it as the standard to aim for.

The Book Group, Newcastle
It was relatively easy for each of us to put the case for an individual favourite from the list. However we intended to try to select one novel to nominate as a group, and this turned out to be quite a challenge. We have eventually agreed on Fugitive Pieces: the quality of the writing, its complexity, poetic language and deep humanity make it a profoundly moving and rewarding novel.

Helen Cole
I started reading this on a bus and missed my stop. I have never read anythig that has so moved me, both in terms of the beauty of the prose and the huge themes of the story. I envy anyone who reads it for the first time.

Anna Dreda
This is surely in a class of its own; a long, philosophical poem to life in all its hugeness. Reading it has to be done slowly; we need space around the pages to let our own thoughts weave with hers, to let ourselves feel the truth of the writing in the deepest places of our physical and emotional being. Its a book that wears its knowledge lightly, simultaneously diving deeper into the wreck (to paraphrase Adrienne Rich) of the holocaust. This is a book so full of love, that is so profound, that so patiently asks the biggest questions; each time I read it I am astonished all over again, and deeply, deeply glad to have read it.

Denise West
I read this novel 7 years ago but it still remains vividly in my memory. I was moved to tears reading it on a train but I could not put it down. On another level the sheer beauty of the language swept me along. I have reccommended it many times to other readers and I hope its reverberating beauty of theme and prose stays with them as it has with me.

Chris Ball
I cried at the description of Jakob bursting from Athos's trousers shouting, 'Filthy Jew, Filthy Jew', after becoming something like the submerged remnants of the different world Athos is excavating. It's not just the poetic language, the sense of place is also powerful. In discussion with others we wondered whether the book lost it's way, but all agreed we had not read anything quite like it, that worked its way into us as readers.

Christine West
I found this book almost unbearably painful at times - but so beautifully written I had to continue. I think I would recognise Anne Michael's prose anywhere now, that wonderful almost-poetry. So vivid, I looked up Jakob Beer on the net. Fiction, yes, but wholly believable. An important book which will be read by future generations as a reference for the difficult details of Jewish suffering in the 30's and 40's - and beyond. A noble book. A woman writing (twice) in the voice of a man, quite a feat!