O.k… Now it’s your turn to predict who you think will win this year’s Pulitzer Prize for Fiction! I did a little research and found the following list of possible — maybe even probable — winners… I would love to hear what YOU think!
The top 15 books written in 2008 are predicted to win (in order of probability):
| 1. | Home by Marilynne Robinson |
| 2. | The Widows of Eastwick by John Updike |
| 3. | Indignation by Philip Roth |
| 4. | The Lazarus Project by Aleksander Hemon |
| 5. | Fine Just the Way it is by Annie Proulx |
| 6. | The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich |
| 7. | A Mercy by Toni Morrison |
| 8. | Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri |
| 9. | Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout |
| 10. | Dangerous Laughter by Steven Millhauser |
| 11. | Telex from Cuba by Rachal Kushner |
| 12. | Netherland by Joseph O’Neil |
| 13. | My Sister, My Love by Joyce Carol Oates |
| 14. | Lush Life by Richard Price |
| 15. | Our Story Begins by Tobias Wolff |
So, which have you read and which do you think deserve the coveted prize? I have only read Unaccustomed Earth, Netherland, Dangerous Laughter, and Home — which is excellent, but to appreciate its greatest it must be considered with Gilead (which won the Pulitzer). What do YOU think?
By the way, if you book club decides to read any of the works I’ve previously read, I have discussion questions available…
Morning, Kristen!
I’m still thinking Morrison’s A Mercy has a better shot. I’ve only read 4 of the list as well (Olive Kitteridge, Unaccustomed Earth, and Netherland, too), but Morrison’s struck me as a must-read book for college literature classes. It’s an instant classic in a way the other wonderful books were not. They may well turn out to be classics (Olive Kitteridge is fabulous for it’s structure and shifting narration), but right now I place them in the ‘really excellent reads’ category. I think Pulitzer will go for something more like Morrison. Wish I’d read Home so I could see why you give it the number one spot!
I have been reading many different opinions and most people say that they think Morrison should win. I’m still hoping that Roth’s Indignation gets it. If you agree with me or want to read more about it take a look at my blog (http://norcalbookstravelandthought.blogspot.com/2009/04/phillip-roth-vs-shakespeare.html). It is long bit about Roth’s newest novel and Shakespeare.
Hello, Heidi and Jeffrey! Thank you for your predictions! Sounds like I need to bite the bullet and read A Mercy. I truly love and appreciate Morrison’s work, but it’s never easy, is it? I will always remember reading Beloved — I had never experienced that level of pain and agony from the written word before. Whew…
Me again, Heidi! By the way, I did not give Home the top spot (although I enjoyed it) — it was just the top pick according to the surveys I reviewed!
Kristen,
A Mercy was much easier to read than I expected. I held back on it, too, but it showed up on my library’s new book shelf and I couldn’t bear not to attempt it. It takes a bit to understand what Morrison is attempting but once you ‘get’ the individual voices I think you’ll really appreciate it. It is NOT a book for everyone– you do have to work at it a bit but I suspect you’ll enjoy the challenge. There’s A LOT to discuss, too. My book club won’t attempt it so I was left hanging.