Check out the 2021 Waterstones book of the year shortlist

Prestigious literary awards bore you? You might prefer a more popular list instead, then.

The UK bookstore chain Waterstones, like Barnes & Noble in the US, invites its sellers to nominate titles for an annual award.

From those nominations comes a shortlist for the Waterstones book of the year.

The chain’s retail director described the 2021 nominees as “eclectic and diverse” and “a true reflection of our booksellers’ passion for sharing outstanding books with readers,” according to the Guardian.

Here are the books that could take home the top prize on December 2:

• Around the World in 80 Plants, written by Jonathan Drori and illustrated by Lucille Clerc 

• The Appeal, by Janice Hallett 

• Greek Myths, written by Charlotte Higgins and illustrated by Chris Ofili 

• Klara and the Sun, by Kazuo Ishiguro 

• Storyland, by Amy Jeffs 

• The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, written by Paul McCartney and edited by Paul Muldoon 

• Julia and the Shark, by written Kiran Millwood Hargrave and illustrated by Tom de Freston 

• Open Water, by Caleb Azumah Nelson

• You Are a Champion, by Marcus Rashford and Carl Anka 

• Ariadne, by Jennifer Saint 

• They Both Die at the End, by Adam Silvera 

• Amur River, by Colin Thubron 

• British Museum: History of the World in 25 Cities, written by Tracey Turner and Andrew Donkin, and illustrated by Libby VanderPloeg