Welcome to the second KevinfromCanada contest — this time we are looking for who will be the Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction when it is announced on April 20.
The Pulitzer doesn’t announce a shortlist, so we are all starting from scratch. They do usually announce two “finalists” when they announce the winner so I am looking for entries that say:
1. What book wins the Pulitzer.
2. What books are the finalists (maximum two and you don’t actually have to name any if you don’t want to.)
The winner will be the entry that names the prize winner and, if more than one entry gets that correct, which of those entries has the most finalists named. If no one gets the winner, we will move to “finalists” to determine a winner — in the event of any tie, the entry that comes in first will be the winner. The judge’s decision (that is me) will be final in any case.
The prize: A $75 gift certificate at the online bookseller of your choice that will accept my credit card. All entries, questions and observations are welcome — please don’t just enter but also say why you have made your choice so others can have the benefit of your thoughts.
I certainly intend to be part of this contest. My entry for the winner is A Mercy by Toni Morrison, the finalists will be Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri and Telex from Cuba by Rachel Kushner. I am actually cheering more for my finalists than I am for my winner selection. Lahiri’s short story collection is excellent — but she has already won the prize for The Interpreter of Maladies which even I have to admit was probably a better book. Kushner’s book was a finalist for the National Book Award and I read it last fall — it is one of those books that grows in memory, which is always a good thing.
Enter soon and enter often. Well, don’t enter often but by all means send a second entry in the name of your spouse, favorite pet or whatever. The whole purpose of the co
ntest is to introduce as many titles of interest as possible.
These are my entries. Good luck to all.
KevinfromCanada 
March 22, 2009 at 12:57 am |
The only year I picked it was the year The Road won. In fact, I was giddy in my seat before the announcement, hoping McCarthy would win.
This year, I’ll surprise no one and say that Joseph O’Neill’s Netherland will win.
Finalists:
Susan Choi: A Person of Interest
Marilynne Robinson: Home
Now, if only I had a dog who could also enter . . .
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March 22, 2009 at 1:01 am |
An interesting entry. Are you sure that O’Neill meets the citizenship requirement — given that he qualified for the Booker, it would mean that he would have to have dual citizenship (Carol Shields did — she won the Pulitzer and assorted Canadian prizes because she did). If you do discover the O’Neill is not eligible, you get another entry. Also, your sons are more than welcome to enter.
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March 22, 2009 at 3:30 am |
I wasn’t sure until he won the PEN/Faulkner. You have to be an American citizen to enter that one too.
My wife, incidentally, might be joining the contest here. My sons would only be interested in seeing Thomas the Tank Engine win. I might be able to educate them on some finer fiction before April though.
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March 22, 2009 at 9:55 pm |
By the way, Kevin, I’m not sure if your interested in posting a link to this contest in my Pulitzer forum or not, but please feel free or let me know if you’d like me to do it.
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March 22, 2009 at 10:46 pm |
Thanks for the offer, Trevor. Could you please add the link in for me?
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March 23, 2009 at 8:37 am |
So what is the tie breaker if I just copy you or Trevor’s entry and it is correct? Ha.
Seriously though, I’ll need to look into the criteria. I have gleaned US citizen from the comments here, but what date range are we looking at?
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March 23, 2009 at 2:50 pm |
Tiebreaker would be first entry received — so you would lose :).
Here’s a link to the Pulitzer website: http://www.pulitzer.org/
And Trevor, who knows more about the rules than I do has a forum on the Pulitzer at his site: http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/pulitzer-prize-for-fiction/
You have almost a month to investigate all of this — good luck.
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March 23, 2009 at 7:34 pm |
In a nutshell, the criteria are fairly simple: fiction first published in the United States during 2008, written by an American citizen. The book has to be available for the public to purchase.
There is a slight caveat that the work “preferably deal with American life,” but that doesn’t always seem to be the dispositive criterion.
I don’t think The Road or The Shipping News, for example, deal particularly with American life. However, many others (American Pastoral, Middlesex, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, Gilead, Interpreter of Maladies, Martin Dressler, Independence Day, Beloved and the list can go on and on) are quintessentially American novels that look hard at the American experience. Though, that’s not to say they are exclusively American.
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March 23, 2009 at 10:31 pm |
It is only a guess on my part but I bet that “preferably deal with American life” was a Joe Pulitzer stipulation in the original prize definition. Given that he and Hearst founded “yellow journalism” and were both rather keen on exporting their vision of America to the rest of the world (hmmm, does that raise current thoughts?) it would seem to make sense. Your observation that recent selections have tended to honor the direction more in the absence than the presence is well-taken — why not just ignore the criterion instead of changing it.
And then, given your recent post on The Age of Innocence, it only won the Pulitzer because the Columbia trustees refused to accept the jury’s recommendation of Sinclair Lewis’ Main Street because it was too anti-American. All of which indicated the trustees didn’t understand Edith Wharton’s book. Lewis got them back five years later when he refused to accept the Pulitzer for Arrowsmith. This historical Pulitzer mess makes Booker controversies look like child’s play, which they are. Does all of this make Philip Roth’s Indignation a contender this year? I was rather surprised not to see it on your list, Trevor — perhaps Mrs. Berrett is saving it for hers?
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March 23, 2009 at 10:46 pm |
I think it is interesting that Roth has been a finalist three times (The Ghost Writer, Operation Shylock: A Confession, and Sabbath’s Theater) and a winner only once with American Pastoral. This leaves out The Counterlife and The Human Stain, which were both incredible books (my review of The Human Stain is posting tomorrow). Because of that I don’t think Indignation is substantial enough to make it this year, though I did consider it when making my pick here.
I’m fascinated by any insights into Pulitzer contoversies, by the way, if you have any more! I didn’t know that Wharton wasn’t the jury’s pick that year.
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March 24, 2009 at 12:56 am |
She was some pissed when she found out, but accepted the Prize nevertheless. Ever since, there has been a taint to the fact that she was the first female winner, but wasn’t the jury’s choice. I have to say that anyone reading the two novels now would have to say that The Age of Innocence is the better novel.
As for this year’s prize, I would not be surprised at all if Indignation shows up as the winner or, more likely, a finalist. It certainly doesn’t have the ambition of the other Roth works that you mention, but in many ways the execution is much better. I don’t like him as much as you do — which might explain why I put Indignation higher up in my evaluation. I certainly would not be surprised if a jury reached the same conclusion.
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March 24, 2009 at 1:08 am |
Sorry, I can’t resist a blog promo, vaguely tied to the Pulitzers — well to yellow journalism at least. Given that Pulitzer and Hearst created the field, it is only right that we recognize the A.J. Lieblings, Heywoud Brouns and Damon Runyons who actually wrote in that world. Afflict the comfortable was their credo and they executed. Journalism was my trade and I can assure you they have no current compadres — comforting the comfortable would seem to be the modern mode.
Some months ago Max at Pechorin’s Journal and I were musing about what a great writer Damon Runyon is (he is Mrs. KFC’s all-time favorite, by a longshot). Sportswriter, poet, short-story writer, journalist — he covered assorted conflicts for the yellow-journalist Hearst papers — and almost continuously revived Broadway lyricist (isn’t there yet another revival of Guys and Dolls on stage now?) he has never slipped out of the public eye. I’m reading a collection now — a post will be up before the Pulitzer is announced, I promise. Do stay tuned.
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March 24, 2009 at 4:11 pm |
I’m not going to make any Pulitzer bets, I know nothing about it in all honesty and rely on others for prize coverage, but I am hugely looking forward to the Runyon writeup. I’m a huge fan as you know Kevin, a wonderful writer, I’m interested to see what you have to say about him.
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March 24, 2009 at 4:50 pm |
Max: I don’t think a lack of knowledge should serve as any barrier to entry in the contest — none of us are jury members, after all. So please enter. Your opinion is as valid as anyone elses.
I’m reading Runyon a few stories at a time. And I suspect the post will be more an essay than a review — he is a great writer and I find that the impact he has on me is in many ways more important than what he actually writes. We shall see.
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March 24, 2009 at 10:10 pm |
Hm, unfortunately I think Trevor is probably correct with Netherlands. That’s taken though, so I shall have to find another candidate.
Richard Price vaguely appeals as a left field suggestion, but I can’t see what’s ultimately a crime novel winning.
I shall have to mull on the topic.
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March 25, 2009 at 12:03 am |
Price was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner, Max. I would like to see him get some Pulitzer recognition.
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March 25, 2009 at 2:51 pm |
The American prizes tend to get spread around, which is why I think Netherland won’t win and opted for Morrison instead. And I’d critique my own choice by observing that it might be too obvious and the Pulitzer jury may look to recognize a less well known name.
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March 25, 2009 at 3:41 pm |
Right then, in the interests of having a competition, my bet goes on Price.
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March 25, 2009 at 4:33 pm |
It really is a rare year that the same book wins two of the awards. The last time a book won the PEN/Faulkner and the Pulitzer was The Hours in 1999. And the only other time a book won both was in 1996 when Independence Day did it. So I’d say Netherland is a long shot. It is much more common for the NBCC and Pulitzer to coincide, which has happend eight or nine times in the thirty-plus years the NBCC has been around. But that won’t happen this year!
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March 26, 2009 at 7:09 pm |
My prediction for the 2009 Pulitzer for fiction is: My Sister, My Lover by Joyce Carol Oates.
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March 26, 2009 at 8:53 pm |
Thanks, Rob. This is the kind of courageous prediction that the contest is meant to encourage.
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March 27, 2009 at 12:20 pm |
Step back people, it’s me, the reigning champion from Kevin’s first competition (and what an unimpressive, flukey victory it was too). So I have thrown my Darts of Chance at the Board of Fate and come up with,
Winner: The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich
finalists: Netherland by Joseph O’Neil and A Mercy by Toni Morrison
surely lightning doesn’t strike twice…
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March 27, 2009 at 2:41 pm |
I was defrinitely hoping the reigning champion would put his title on the line. And a very interesting entry, I must say — an off-the-wall first choice coupled with a pair of conventional finalists.
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March 28, 2009 at 10:01 am |
Well, I’m a bit clueless really so a bit of research (google) and a flair for the dramatic, not to mention the backing of Philip Roth (he called it her masterpiece), and there we have it.
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March 29, 2009 at 1:43 pm |
Can the same person win twice?
If so, I’m going to go with Marilynne Robinson for Home. I finished it this morning and absolutely loved it. That is very strange as I didn’t like Gilead and it’s basically a different take on the same story… I don’t know of another author who has published the same story twice, but I found it very effective. Kevin, did you say you read Home before Gilead? I’m wondering whether that would work, and I am guessing that it wouldn’t have for me.
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March 29, 2009 at 2:40 pm |
A most interesting entry. I did read Home and didn’t like it very much — various reviews of Gilead have convinced me I probably wouldn’t like it either. My impression is that most people either like or dislike both and that your experience is not the normal one. I do have to admit that a number of readers whom I respect do like the book.
The best example of the “same story” phenomenon is probably Lawrence Durrell’s Alexandria Quartet — the first three volumes visit the same circumstances from three individual’s point of view, the fourth takes the story along further. Here is a link to an excellent TLS review of the new Folio Society edition :
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/the_tls/article4618977.ece
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March 29, 2009 at 3:13 pm |
Incidentally, Collette, the same person can win twice, and even for the same series: Updike won twice for two different Rabbit books. I imagine it’s something the jury takes into account, but if it’s the book they consider to be the best . . .
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March 30, 2009 at 1:01 am |
As voted by my heart over my head:
Winner: Serena by Ron Rash
Finalists:
A Mercy by Toni Morrison
Netherland by Joseph O’Neill
Plague of Doves was a good read–I was surprised it wasn’t on some of the award lists.
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March 30, 2009 at 5:23 pm |
Awww look, there’s no books left for me to choose:-)
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March 30, 2009 at 5:31 pm |
Hang on, no one’s mentioned Elizabeth Strout yet, I’ll nab Olive Kitteridge as a runner -up in that case though I’m so out on a limb this is dangerous because I don’t even have a copy let alone read it, but I did read the last one, does that count? I’ll opt for Toni Morrison’s A Mercy to win which I do have waiting here for my Orange readathon and I love Louise Erdrich so I’m going to have stab very appropriately at The Plague of Doves as a runner-up too. Someone’s got to play this Rycroft chap at his own game 🙂 Thank heavens for google I say but I might change my mind in a few days, is that allowed?
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March 30, 2009 at 6:26 pm |
You are allowed to change your mind up to the deadline, although that may say something about your changing tastes. As I understand your entry, you are opting for Morrison to win (as I am), followed by Strout (excellent choice) and Erdrich as finalists (that’s where you and I split). And of course you have three weeks to submit an entirely new entry — the Kayaker or Offspringette could certainly show up as entries without question.
And I do think a Tinker entry would be interesting and off the beaten track, so far. Shadow Country with its references to the Civil War? Indignation for its exploration of Korean War implications? And perhaps Netherland for investigating a more modern version.
We have not even contemplated Bookhound’s entry, which might be the most interesting. Perhaps you might tell him that he is expected to weigh in.
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March 31, 2009 at 6:55 pm |
[…] Morrison had to knock off two award winners, though each had to go through the mountain that is 2666. It could be a foreshadowing of Pulitzer honors, as the past two Rooster winners also won the Pulitzer (a contest to predict the winner is being hosted here). […]
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April 3, 2009 at 7:20 am |
Hi everyone, this is my first post here and the topic interests me. I think everyone got heavy Road/Oscar Wao vibes the last couple years, so the Pulitzers weren’t much of a shock. This year I feel it is wide open, with a bevy of worthy books to choose. “Netherland” has everything going for it-it’s beautifully written and quintissentially-American-with-an-edge that the Pulitzers have awarded as of late. I enjoyed “A Mercy” very much and the puzzles Morrison created in it, but it doesn’t seem like a real Pulitzer tome. Ethical questions were raised with shades of mastery and parts were very well written indeed, but a lot of it seemed like typical Morrison paint-by-numbers. I miss her bigger books dammit- the Nobel made her lazy. Maybe I’m still reeling from my “2666” hangover. I think “Plague of Doves” and an out-of-left-field choice will be runners-up.
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April 3, 2009 at 3:14 pm |
Welcome to the site Scott and thanks for a thoughtful overview. I’m a little confused — could you post again with your choice of winners and whatever runners-up you want to include? Thanks.
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April 4, 2009 at 11:04 pm |
Hey Kevin – Remember me? We used to work together at GPC many moons ago. I stumbled on your blog through a review you posted that was linked to the Chapters website. So thrilled to make this connection again and read your blog.
I couldn’t resist entering your contest. My prediction…
Winner: A Mercy, Toni Morrison
Runners Up: Netherland, Joseph O’Neil and The Widows of Eastwick, John Updike (in homage to his passing…)
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April 4, 2009 at 11:18 pm |
Hi, Cherine — I do remember, although I don’t like to think it was that long ago (guess that is part of aging). Thanks very much for your entry — Updike as a runner-up is a very interesting proposition. Hope to see you commenting often. Kevin
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April 5, 2009 at 7:56 pm |
I’m going to go for a dark horse and say Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout as the winner, with A Mercy by Morrison and Home by Marilynne Robinson as finalists. An all-women line-up (unlikely, but there you go!).
I know I should say A Mercy or Home as the winner, with Olive Kitteridge as the finalist, but since both Robinson and Morrison have won it before…
I really liked Unaccustomed Earth by Lahiri, but she has won it before, and to me the stories were too much focused away from the U.S. to win.
I only hope that Updike, Roth, or O’Neill doesn’t win. I didn’t care for Netherland and I don’t like Updike or Roth as writers.
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April 5, 2009 at 8:18 pm |
Oops, I just realized you wanted the reason for our choices as well.
I read Olive Kitteridge last year and loved it. It was “a novel in stories.” Not all the stories had Olive in them, but they all gave insight into her character.
I read and very much liked A Mercy, but I’m not sure it was better than Beloved, which won. As for Home by Marilynne Robinson — I haven’t read it yet but I loved Gilead and her writing in general. I will eventually read all her books.
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April 5, 2009 at 10:57 pm |
3m: Thanks for the entry and the excellent observations. Good luck. Kevin
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April 5, 2009 at 11:54 pm |
I am predicting that Indignation by Philip Roth and Toni Morrison A Mercy will be finalists. I am predicting that Home by Marilynne Robinson will win. I would really like Louise Erdich to win but don’t think she will. Maybe I’ll be surprised!
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April 6, 2009 at 3:27 am |
Kevin,
I found you through The Asylum. Yours is a great blog, too.
I will submit one (largely uninformed) entry.
Winner: Lush Life by Richard Price
Finalists: A Mercy by Morrison, Netherland by O’Neill
Of the legitimate contenders this year, I have read only Netherland. I have never read anything by Price, but am eagerly awaiting Clockers. I am years behind, you see.
I really enjoyed Netherland, but many have already picked it and I want to believe something else was better. (The other 2008 books I have read do not come close.) I want to believe Price is a writer I should have been reading for years, so I am picking him as an aspirational favorite.
Morrison has won before, or I would have gone with A Mercy. While slight, everything I have read points to it as one of her best.
I considered, but chose not, to take a flyer on Dangerous Laughter by Stephen Millhauser, not least because I have no idea if he or his book qualify. The NY Times liked it though, and compared him to Poe and Nabokov, two of my gods. But, in the end, I just couldn’t do it. It’s out there for someone else…..
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April 6, 2009 at 7:41 am |
Hi Kevin- mine wasn’t a formal prediction per se because the Pulitzers tend to nominate a third book out of left field (American Woman, Shakespeare’s Kitchen, You Are Not A Stranger Here to a lesser extent) along with another nominee and winner that are more expected (The Road, Gilead, Oscar Wao, etc.) Maybe Netherland for winner, Plague of Doves as nominee #1, and, um, The Lazarus Project as nominee #2?
On a different note, I was pretty surprised when March won a couple years back. Was that on anyone’s radar prior to its win? Thanks.
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April 6, 2009 at 3:16 pm |
Abby: An interesting entry — those who like Roth tend not to like Morrison, and vice versa. Thanks for entering.
KHubers: I too am a big fan of John Self and Asylum — it is a honor to be compared to that blog. It’s interesting that you raise Millhauser as a a possibility (I’m pretty sure it does qualify). I’ve looked at it a number of times but for some reason can’t bring myself to buy it.
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April 7, 2009 at 3:08 am |
My vote goes to Shadow Country with A Mercy and Netherland as the runners up.
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April 7, 2009 at 4:03 am |
I was wondering if we would get a Shadow Country entry — it is a dark horse but if the judges opt for an epic (and they often have) it would be quite a logical choice.
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April 7, 2009 at 4:13 pm |
I’ll admit I only chose it because you suggested it might win because of length on Trevor’s blog (wow sentence!). You’re not the only one who likes to be the contrarian.
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April 12, 2009 at 11:43 am |
With “Home” as my chosen winner, I would like to add “Netherland” and “A Mercy” as finalists.
The reason is simply that I prefer to choose books I’ve read. I am not actually very far into “Netherland” yet but I am finding it highly enjoyable and I am surprised it didn’t get further than the Booker longlist last year.
I found “A Mercy” a questionable read until the end – I loved the end, so was won over.
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April 12, 2009 at 2:56 pm |
Colette: I salute you for restricting yourself to choosing books that you have read. Next year, I may try to devise a scoring system that awards double points for books that the entrant has actually read (which will, of course, also decrease the number of entries).
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April 15, 2009 at 4:40 pm |
I’m pretty sure all of these have been mentioned at some point and if I had time, I’d check for certain, however, I don’t, so I’ll have to hope that no one has come up with this exact combo:
Winner:
The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdich
Finalists:
Home by Marilynn Robinson
Netherland by Joseph O’Neill
Also, it’s worth noting that my book club and I will be rooting for Olive Kitteridge.
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April 16, 2009 at 2:52 am |
Mr. Benchly, some one has come up with the same combo: William Rycroft. But you’re in good company since he won the last contest!
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April 16, 2009 at 3:52 am |
You are more than welcome to make an adjustment, Mr. Benchly. Thanks for doing the hard work, Trevor.
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April 16, 2009 at 4:50 am |
Winner: Netherland
Nominees: Home and Dangerous Laughter
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April 16, 2009 at 1:01 pm |
Wait…
William Rycroft picked Mercy and Netherland as the finalists. I picked Home and Netherland. Do I still need to make adjustments?
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April 16, 2009 at 3:13 pm |
No you don’t, Mr. Benchly. Certainly the laziness of the contest administrator has made a royal cock-up of your entry so far. My apologies.
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April 16, 2009 at 4:28 pm |
The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich
Finalists: A Mercy by Toni Morrison and City of Thieves by David Benioff
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April 16, 2009 at 6:11 pm |
Scott: I do appreciate the off-the-wall pick as a finalist. I think you are right that at least one of the three will be that kind of book — hope you hav picked the right one. Kevin
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April 16, 2009 at 8:03 pm |
Sorry! Over the past few months A Mercy and Home have somehow merged in my mind. I can no longer tell the difference when I see them in print, apparently!
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April 16, 2009 at 11:53 pm |
Hm… I have a funny feeling Netherland is going to take the prize.
I’m changing my vote to:
Winner: Netherland
Finalists: Home; A Mercy.
I’ve read through the posts and I don’t think I have duplicated anyone’s else’s choices exactly. If I have, then take my earlier submission.
I’ve still got a few days to change my mind.
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April 17, 2009 at 12:04 am |
I do love people who change their mind. I feel it shows a learning attitude that reflects maturity.
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April 17, 2009 at 9:21 am |
A heart not head choice = completely uninformed guess:
Winner: Louise Erdrich – Plague of Doves
Finalists: Toni Morrison – A Mercy
Jhumpa Lahirir – Unaccostomed Earth
Glad to see the blog is going so well.
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April 17, 2009 at 2:09 pm |
Thanks for the entry and the compliment, CaroleJ. I am having a great time.
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April 19, 2009 at 6:43 am |
I’ll give it a try as well:
Winner: Unaccustomed Earth
finalists: Netherland, A Mercy
I don’t think it’s going to prove true, though:)
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April 20, 2009 at 7:39 am |
I must say, Netherland was every much as good as Home for me. Since finishing it I have read a few reviews and interviews with Joseph O’Neill, and was interested to see that during the years he spent writing Netherland he re-read Marilynne Robinson’s Housekeeping multiple times “for the slowness”.
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April 20, 2009 at 8:54 am |
Looking at the Pulitzer web site and previous winners and finalists (this is the first time I have done this, telling you how uninformed by choices are!) I see that Annie Proulx was a finalist in 2000 for Close Range, and as it appears she released Just the Way it Is in 2008, I wonder if she will appear on the list somewhere. I am not changing my entry, just making an observation.
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April 20, 2009 at 8:56 am |
I’m getting a feeling that Indignation is going to appear as a finalist, but I’m not changing my entry as I want to stick with books I’ve read (not a way to win, I know, but a bit fun).
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April 20, 2009 at 3:06 pm |
I hadn’t read that about Joseph O’Neill’s reading Housekeeping, a brilliant book! Thanks for tying two of my best reads together, Colette!
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April 20, 2009 at 6:23 pm |
It was in The Book Depository interview:
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/interview/with/author/joseph-oneill
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April 20, 2009 at 7:25 pm |
Olive Kitteridge won, Kevin. Not sure who the finalists were yet, though.
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April 20, 2009 at 7:30 pm |
Trevor: It is interesting that I can find finalists in every other categoy but this one. I do have a winner (3m) and dovegreyridder had Olive Kitteridge as a finalist — I won’t be posting final results until we see who the finalists were, but it won’t affect the outcome.
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April 20, 2009 at 7:31 pm |
Finalists: The Plague of Doves and All Souls
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April 20, 2009 at 7:42 pm |
Well, congrats to Olive. I look forward to reading her.
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April 20, 2009 at 8:02 pm |
All Souls is definitely not the type of book I’d have pegged for the Pulitzer. In fact, its current cover on Amazon makes it look like it belongs in the smutty teenage fiction section of the store. Hopefully they change the cover to appeal to a Pulitzer-reading crowd. It does look interesting though.
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April 20, 2009 at 8:14 pm |
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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April 20, 2009 at 8:15 pm |
Finalists are here:
http://www.pulitzer.org/citation/2009-Fiction
Also nominated as finalists in this category were: “The Plague of Doves” by Louise Erdrich (HarperCollins), a haunting novel that explores racial discord, loss of land and changing fortunes in a corner of North Dakota where Native Americans and whites share a tangled history; and “All Souls” by Christine Schutt (Harcourt), a memorable novel that focuses on the senior class at an exclusive all-girl Manhattan prep school where a beloved student battles a rare cancer, fiercely honest, carefully observed and subtly rendered.
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April 20, 2009 at 8:18 pm |
Looks like dovegreyreader had 2/3.
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April 20, 2009 at 8:21 pm |
Sorry for all the posts here, but I am very excited that I picked the winner. I read Olive Kitteridge last year, but ironically it’s one of the few books that I don’t have reviewed on my blog. I did rate it 4.5/5. It’s very good, and I do encourage others to read it!
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April 8, 2010 at 1:55 pm |
The Pulitzer is coming! Will there be a third contest?
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April 8, 2010 at 3:15 pm |
Mr. Benchly: I’m sorry there will not — I left getting it organized until too late. (Plus I was following the Tournament of Books and the contest that Kerry at Hungry Like the Woolf was running.) Keep checking back — if the IMPAC shortlist (due out April 12) is interesting I may repeat last year’s IMPAC contest.
EDIT: I see the IMPAC website has two different dates for the shortlist announcement — I suspect April 14 is more likely. I also had a look at the longlist and I am now definitely hoping to see a good short list that will feature books from around the world, which makes for a very good contest for this blog. Stay tuned — I will try to post on it as soon as possible after the shortlist is out.
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