I've not read any of these but Pigeon English and The Sister Brothers look the most appealing.
Pigeon English was nothing special, just gimmicky.
Pigeon English was possibly shortlisted for its zeitgeistyness, and I think would have won if the decision had taken place a month earlier.
That said though I have a weird feeling that Pigeon English will win it.
From what I've heard of all the others, I wouldn't be too surprised if Pigeon English won.
As for Pigeon English, what's really important is that it's a wonderful novel; give it a try.
Pigeon English was readable but it was also first novel-y and, worse, inauthentic.
Pigeon English is his first novel.
In this case, though, my praise is quite irrelevant because - unusually for any novel, let alone a first one - Pigeon English is critic-proof.
OK, now the list is out I can see that Pigeon English is included.