Several months ago I came across a list of the Pulitzer Prize winners and was shocked that I'd read so many of the winning novels. As luck would have it, I've read exactly 13 from the list.
1. The Age of Innocence
by Edith Wharton (1921) - Loved it2. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck (1932) - Loved it
3. The Grapes of Wrath
by John Steinbeck (1940) - Loved it4. To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee (1961) - Loved it5. The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty (1973) - Ho-hum
6. The Color Purple
by Alice Walker (1983) - Very good7. Beloved
by Toni Morrison (1988) - Very good8. A Thousand Acres
by Jane Smiley (1992) - Quite good9. The Stone Diaries
by Carol Shields (1995) - OK10. The Hours
by Michael Cunningham (1999) - Loved it11. Empire Falls
by Richard Russo (2002) - Very good12. Middlesex
by Jeffrey Eugenides (2003) - Loved it (review to follow)13. Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller (1949) - (drama category) - OK
Anyone care to make any predictions for this year's winner (in fiction)?
From the official Pulitzer Prize website:
2007 Pulitzer Prizewinners and Nominated Finalists will be announced on Monday, April 16, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern daylight time. The announcement will be posted online at 3:15 p.m. Finalists are not announced in advance.
Wow, I did 13 Pulitzers today, too--on 3mchat.blogspot.com. It's so sad Thursday 13 is ending. This was only my 4th entry and I really enjoyed doing them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining the Book Awards group. I've already got a personal challenge to do 12 Pulitzers this year, so I thought it would be fun to discuss at least some of them with other bookaholics.
Happy Reading!
Sadly I have only read four from your list! I need to read more contemporary (well classics for that matter, too) American fiction. I really tend to neglect it and I am not sure why!
ReplyDeleteI don't usually pay too much attention to the Pulitzer Prize, but I had a look and I've read 12 (10 Fiction/Novel, 2 Drama). And 8 of them are in your list! :)
ReplyDeleteI'll have to jog over and look at that list, tomorrow (it's a bit late - I wasted a bit of time watching Hugh Laurie clips on YouTube), but I've only read three from your list. Several others are on my shelves, waiting.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely adore Pulitzer Prize winners. There are very few I dislike; unfortunately, two are on your list. I didn't like (understand?) Beloved or The Hours.
ReplyDeleteI've been tempted to host a Pulitzer Challenge, if there weren't so many others out there. But, let's read the one which is announced in March, okay?
Oh dear, I have some catching up to do, I have read only 5 from your list of 13 Pulitzer Prize winners, Les!
ReplyDeleteI've read 18 of them (I've got a long way to go). A Pulitzer Prize Challenge would be a great idea! My favorite off the whole list is "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay".
ReplyDeleteMy favorite book of 2006 was 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy, but most people think it is to 'genre' to win anything major. Pooh on them.
I've only read five from your list. I love reading these prize winning lists but I'm always so behind. Did you know that Jane Smiley has a new book coming out (maybe it's out already). I'm very curious about it as I enjoyed A Thousand Acres a lot.
ReplyDeleteMichelle - What a coincidence that we were both thinking about 13 Pulitzers, especially since this year's winner won't be announced until April (it's not like we've been talking about it!).
ReplyDeleteAs far as Thursday Thirteen going into retirement, I don't really mind. I like the idea of making a list of 13 related items (gave me something to write about), but I never posted to the original website. I'm going to stick with it, but maybe only twice a month.
Looking forward to the Book Award discussions.
Danielle - I was honestly surprised I was able to come up with 13. I have a few more in my stacks that I hope to get to in the near future.
Nat - I don't usually pay much attention to this (or any) award either. Funny that you and I share 8 on our lists. You're my reading/book twin!
Nancy - Ah, nothing like a few Hugh Laurie video clips. I lurve YouTube!
Bellezza - Beloved is one of those books that just made an impression on me. I read it with a couple of friends when we first started a f2f book group and I think it was the discussion of the book that made me really appreciate it. I've tried others by Morrison and I'm afraid she's one of those authors I can honestly say I'll NEVER read again.
The Hours was an especially good read for me as I had just recently read Mrs. Dalloway. Then I watched both films. Really got into Virginia Wolff a couple of years ago. Need to read more by her!
I've just joined a Book Award group (Pulitzers, Hugos, Edgar, etc., etc.). If you're interested, I'll pass the Yahoo group address over to you. Michelle (3M) is the moderator.
Lotus - Hey, that's almost half. :)
Kookiejar - Wow! I'm impressed. OK, you and Bellezza have both expressed an interest in a Pulitzer Prize Challenge. I could possibly be talked into one. I'm anxious to read The Road. My husband said it was beautifully written. I need to read it before it's due back at the library.
Iliana - Yes, I had heard about Smiley's new book. I think it comes out in March. I saw a mention of it over on Bookreporter.com this morning. There's also a review there somewhere.
Yes, les, please. I'd love to join the Book Award group, so any information you pass on to me would be much appreciated. And, I still think we should talk about hosting a Pulitzer Challenge, if you're interested.
ReplyDeleteBellezza - I would love to partake in a Pulitzer Challenge, but I'm not certain I want to host one myself. Maybe I will later this year, toward the end of summer perhaps. Right now I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all sorts of projects and upcoming travel plans, so I best hold off for a while.
ReplyDeleteYes, after more thought, I agree. Overwhelmed is the word for my life since returning to work.
ReplyDeleteBellezza - I'm not surprised! But summer is around the... well... it's coming. Trust me. It'll be here before you know it!
ReplyDelete