photo credit: Mykl Roventine
So, I was so happy to find an email waiting for me this morning with a list of the early front-runners for the Pulitzer Prize! Now, this early list will be revised after a number of “predictor variables” are announced (PEN/Faulkner, PEN/Hemingway, NBCC winners, ALA’s notables, etc.). Apparently these awards help prognosticators, who are simply going on the author’s previous award history at this point. The next list of front-runners should be released in about a month — I’ll be sure to post it, too! By the way, the final prediction model will be based upon “analysis that ultimately incorporates over 30 independent or predictor variables such as newspaper notable and best book lists; other awards and award nominations for 2009; and authors previously nominated for the Pulitzer and other awards.”
Any initial thoughts? I’ve only read The Lacuna (not quite worthy, in my opinion), just started Let the Great World Spin, and have Spooner on my bedside table…
| 1. | My Father’s Tears: And Other Stories by John Updike |
| 2. | Lark & Termite by Jayne Anne Phillips |
| 3. | Homer & Langley by E.L. Doctorow |
| 4. | The Humbling by Philip Roth |
| 5. | The Maple Stories by John Updike |
| 6. | American Salvage by Bonnie Jo Campbell |
| 7. | Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann |
| 8. | In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin |
| 9. | The Red Convertible by Louise Erdrich |
| 10. | Chronic City by Jonathan Lethem |
| 11. | A Good Fall by Ha Jin |
| 12. | Dear Husband by Joyce Carol Oates |
| 13. | Little Bird of Heaven by Joyce Carol Oates |
| 14. | Spooner by Pete Dexter |
| 15. | The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver |
| 16. | Generosity: An Enhancement by Richard Powers |
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Powers’ Generosity: An Enhancement pull it out this year. It’s just the sort of brainy, nerdy book Pulitzer voters seem to love!