I have zero current Pulitzer predictions, but I am reminded that in high school once I was going on a rant about how Gone With the Wind was a terrible book that should never have won a prize. (I almost never stay books are bad, but I stand by that assertion—it is a terrible book by every single measure except that a lot of people love it.) Anyway, my very smart teacher said, okay, so what book should have won?
Reader, it was hard to find a list of books published in 1936 in the early 1990s. I even went and asked someone at the university library. I suspect it is still hard to get an inclusive list, but based on my brief Googling and not very extensive reading, I would like to suggest Katherine Anne Porter’s Pale Horse, Pale Rider. I’m not sure how the Pulitzer committee feels about the short story/novella category, but the title story/novella is a banger and a decidedly good depiction of American life at a particular time. (There were also a lot of excellent children’s books published that year—Caddie Woodlawn won the Newbery, but I saw many others I enjoyed when skimming through lists.)
Thank you for allowing me to use your comments section for my own mini-blogging, as always!
Big Swiss and Chain Gang All-Stars were two of my favorite books from last year. While I've had to give up purchasing too many books (no money or space) , I did purchase both of these. I would love for Chain Gang to win but I've never had luck in choosing the winners. I don't know who the judges are but I picture old white males with limited imagination. Shows my prejudice!
Daniel Mason....North Woods!
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead won both the NBA and Pulitzer a few years ago.
I stand corrected!
I would love it if North Woods or Absolution by Alice McDermott won. They both meet the "about American life" criteria.
Absolutely "Absolution"
I was surprised Mason’s “North Woods” didn’t make your list. It was ambitious — very American-centric — and beautifully written.
Haven't read it and hasn't really been on my radar, but clearly resonant with this audience, which is very interesting.
North Woods is an amazing piece of story-telling. Beautifully written and brilliantly structured.
I’m guessing Dayswork. But would be thrilled if Big Swiss actually got the win!
I'm with you: Chain Gang All-Stars
I have zero current Pulitzer predictions, but I am reminded that in high school once I was going on a rant about how Gone With the Wind was a terrible book that should never have won a prize. (I almost never stay books are bad, but I stand by that assertion—it is a terrible book by every single measure except that a lot of people love it.) Anyway, my very smart teacher said, okay, so what book should have won?
Reader, it was hard to find a list of books published in 1936 in the early 1990s. I even went and asked someone at the university library. I suspect it is still hard to get an inclusive list, but based on my brief Googling and not very extensive reading, I would like to suggest Katherine Anne Porter’s Pale Horse, Pale Rider. I’m not sure how the Pulitzer committee feels about the short story/novella category, but the title story/novella is a banger and a decidedly good depiction of American life at a particular time. (There were also a lot of excellent children’s books published that year—Caddie Woodlawn won the Newbery, but I saw many others I enjoyed when skimming through lists.)
Thank you for allowing me to use your comments section for my own mini-blogging, as always!
LitHub has a good list of the top ten books from every decade in the 1900s :)
It is both bad and very, very good that LitHub did not exist when I was in high school.
Big Swiss and Chain Gang All-Stars were two of my favorite books from last year. While I've had to give up purchasing too many books (no money or space) , I did purchase both of these. I would love for Chain Gang to win but I've never had luck in choosing the winners. I don't know who the judges are but I picture old white males with limited imagination. Shows my prejudice!
My money is on Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
I really, really need to read Chain Gang All Stars!
200% fewer? Math isn’t your strong suit I guess.
I'm rooting for Chain-Gang All-Stars. Absolutely phenomenal.
Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips announced as the winner. I was very excited to see Ed Park's Same Bed Different Dreams show up as a finalist.