"Life of Pi" tipped as Booker of Bookers favorite

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Bookmakers installed Canadian writer Yann Martel's "Life of Pi" on Thursday as favorite to land a "Best of the Booker" award marking the 40th anniversary of the prestigious book prize.

Next in line to scoop the award was Salman Rushdie's "Midnight's Children" which won the Booker in 1981.

Third came Michael Ondaatje's "The English Patient," the 1992 Booker winner which was adapted into an Oscar-winning film.

A panel of judges is to draw up a shortlist by May and then literary fans will have until July to vote for their favorite Booker winner.

(Reporting by Paul Majendie; Editing by Stephen Addison and Paul Casciato)