I vote for The Sense of an Ending

I wish J.Barnes would get the prize. I mean the author - not just the book. Not only I love Barnes and literature, but share his passion and view on "the art of written works" and "real literature" in particular.

Real literature was about psychological, emotional and social truth as demonstrated by the actions and reflections of its protagonists; the novel was about character developed over time.

The quotation is from The Sense of an Ending. Yes, if I am for novels I am for psychological ones.

I love Barnes for his refining writing about things that "contained anything remotely novel-worthy".
The last quotes - ibidem.

Nothing to be frightened of to declare: yes, I prefer that kind of things and literature, and barn owls because they are not what they seem.