Barnes, Ishiguro Favorites for Booker

The AP Says Julian Barnes and Kazuo Ishiguro were favorites Monday to win the Man Booker Prize, Britain’s top literary honor.

The prize, which comes with an $88,000 check, is open to writers from Britain, Ireland and the Commonwealth of former British colonies. Founded in 1969 and long known as the Booker Prize, the award was renamed when the financial services conglomerate Man Group PLC began sponsoring it three years ago.