Carnival of Books: Pulitzer Winners!
By Kristen on Apr 24, 2009 in Future Classics...?, Life - a little bit better, Literary News
In lieu of Friday Finds and in honor of the upcoming Pulitzer Prize announcement… I have the honor of hosting a Pulitzer Carnival of Books today!
Now, here’s a little background on what the heck a Carnival of Books is! I have welcomed bloggers and other readers to email me with posts and reviews about past Pulitzer Prize winners.
First, here is the most recent Pulitzer winner in fiction, announced last Monday
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
I will be reading this next week and look forward to sharing my impressions!
Next, here’s a list of past Pulitzer winners, as well as the criteria for winning .
Now, on to the carnival of reviews!
- Heather from 30+ A Lifetime of Books reviewed Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri and The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
For another take on Oscar Wao — check out Everyday Reads’ review, too!
- Sarah from Small World Reads reviewed A Death in the Family by James Agee
Alcott and Earhart reviewed The Road, as well as other titles by Cormac McCarthy
Christina from Jackets and Covers reviewed Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Allison’s website Pulitzer Palaver is a Carnival of Reviews all by itself!!
- And, for something a bit different… check out Rebecca’s review of Pulitzer winning photography on her blog Rebecca Reads
Thank you, fellow readers, for submitting your reviews!
Here’s a list of my own reviews of Pulitzer winners:
- The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
- The Road by Cormac McCarthy
- Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
- The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
So, here are my questions for us to ponder…
How do you think the Pulitzer (in fiction) should be determined?
How do YOU evaluate fiction?
Welcome back!
Great job! I’ll have lots of fun browsing through these reviews.
Heather J. | Apr 24, 2009 | Reply
Oh wow, that was a few days earlier than I expected. I put a reminder on my site yesterday to tell people to get their entries in…and then it’s already up!!
Thanks for including the photograph book post of mine. I think it’s nice to remember that Pulitzer isn’t just for fiction. I’ve also reviewed some fiction but I wasn’t sure which direction you were going.
As for how it should be determined, I think writing and story should both be taken into account. I think they do it by committee’s majority vote, which I think is a pretty good. Of course, each year is biased by modern ideas, but that is, I think, kind of the point!
Rebecca Reid | Apr 24, 2009 | Reply
How fun! I hope I am not too late. I am hosting a Pulitzer-related challenge on Rose City Reader. I don’t know if the timing will work with the Carnival, but maybe Carnival participants will be inspired to continue their Pulitzer reading.
Rose City Reader | Apr 24, 2009 | Reply
Great Carnival, even though I am late getting to it. I really like how you arranged it.
I’m not sure how he Pulitzer (in fiction) should be determined. I wish I did have some input in that because it is faily often that I don’t agree with the choices.
I’m glad Interpreter of Maladies got it. I didn’t know that Gone with the Wind got it but it was very deserving.
Teddy | May 27, 2009 | Reply
Thank you, Teddy! Feel free to include any reviews you’ve done of Pulitzer winners, too — either by leaving a link in a comment or by emailing me. I tend to like Pulitzer winners, so I would love to read other viewpoints, too!
Kristen | May 28, 2009 | Reply