Arundhati Roy's long-awaited second novel,finds its place among the 13 novels shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2017. The Booker judges opine that Arundhati’s novel is "a rich and vital book [that] comes from the bowels of India".The Man Booker Prize worth £50,000 prize, was bagged by Arundhati Roy, 20 years ago, in her 1997 debut novelA shortlist of six selected from these 13 will be declared on 13 September, while the winning book will be announced on 17 October.According to Baroness Lola Young, chair of the 2017 judging panel, for its 49year, the 13 shortlisted novels for the Man Booker Prize “showcase a diverse spectrum - not only of voices and literary styles but of protagonists too".This year's list of contenders has a ratio of seven men to six women – the gender split similar as last year's long list.Barry's novel, made him win the Costa Book of the Year prize twice and now is a long-listed book. Ali Smith, Zadie Smith, Mohsin Hamid, and Barry had also been earlier shortlisted for the Man Booker.The first-time nominees include Emily Fridlund and Fiona Mozley along with four US writers. Last year the Man Booker Prize went to the first American recipient.The veteran writer Paul Auster, age of 70, known for, has his first novel in seven years in the list. Colson Whitehead, George Saunders and Fridlund make up the rest of the US contingents, while Mozley and Jon McGregor complete the quartet of UK contenders.Two Irish authors - Sebastian Barry and Mike McCormack - and two novelists who were born in Pakistan, Mohsin Hamid and Kamila Shamsie have made the list quite complete.Out of the 144 submissions published in the UK between 1 October 2016 and 30 September 2017, these 13 have made lead so far:Paul Auster, 4 3 2 1Sebastian Barry, Days Without EndEmily Fridlund, History of WolvesMohsin Hamid, Exit WestMike McCormack, Solar BonesJon McGregor, Reservoir 13Fiona Mozley, ElmetArundhati Roy, The Ministry of Utmost HappinessGeorge Saunders, Lincoln in the BardoKamila Shamsie, Home FireAli Smith, AutumnZadie Smith, Swing TimeColson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad