These are the books I have read year to date. One of my goals is to eventually read all of the award winning novels; Pulitzer Prize Fiction, National Book Award, Man Booker Prize, National Book Critics Circle Award, PEN/Faulkner Award, and at least one book from Nobel Prize for Fiction winners. This is not a task, but an amazing adventure. Reading authors you otherwise would never read! Reading a variety of different topics and learning something new every time you pick up a new book!
I decided to start this year out by reading the oldest book from each award category that I personally own. After reading a lot of newer modern fiction recently , it was a delightful change of the literary palate. As you see, I also sprinkled in a couple thrillers and one quasi-YA.
For now I will be grading on a 5 STAR scale until I can think of something more creative and unique than 'STARS'. Any suggestions??
I decided to start this year out by reading the oldest book from each award category that I personally own. After reading a lot of newer modern fiction recently , it was a delightful change of the literary palate. As you see, I also sprinkled in a couple thrillers and one quasi-YA.
For now I will be grading on a 5 STAR scale until I can think of something more creative and unique than 'STARS'. Any suggestions??
 | Pulitzer Prize Fiction - 1918 (first Pulitzer winner) First Printing **** A growing-old-getting-used-to-new-generation tale. I found Ernest Poole's style very similar to W. Somerset Maugham; subtle and smooth. |
 | National Book Award - 1950 (first NBA winner) First Printing *** I really wanted to love this book. Protagonist named Frankie Machine...a tough card-dealing heroin addictive SOB. What could possibly go wrong? It meandered way too much. Nelson Algren had us going strong for awhile and then BAM! pulled back the reigns slammed on the brakes and took (in my opinion) wrong turns every now and then. Overall though, a decent read. |
 | 2015 (Goodreads Choice Winner) Signed First American Edition **** Paula Hawkins' debut psychological thriller is a rollicking train ride with plenty of 'switches' and 'tunnels' (okay tunnels may be a stretch here). Very Hitchcockian. Thoroughly enjoyed the novel and looking forward to the movie. |
 | Man Booker Prize - 1971 First American Edition **** After reading A House For Mr. Biswas and now In A Free State, I am officially hooked on Naipaul. Love his eloquent no-appologies (and sometimes depressing) style. And I always learn so much when I read him. This is a collection of short stories and one novella. |
 | National Book Critics Circle Award - 1976 First Printing ***** WOW! Favorite read this year so far! Didn't expect to get what I got out of this book. A tale about two battling octogenarian siblings who share a house...his to be exact. He locks her in an upstairs room for days, whereupon she finds an exploitative novel (half of the pages ripped out) that she sets out to read. A novel within a novel manifests. Hilarious and surprisingly provocative. This was the first John Gardner novel I have read, and trust me when I say I am looking forward to reading many more! |
 | 1998 First American Edition **** If you have not read Graham Joyce do yourself a favor and drop everything you are doing and run to your local independent bookstore and buy any book from Joyce (highly recommend The Silent Land). My 4 year old daughter picked out this book for me to read (she loves doing this at times)...she picked it out solely based on the title. This book leans heavily YA, which is not typical for Joyce. Echoes of Catch-22 and Dandelion Wine. |
 | PEN/Faulkner Award - 1981 (first PEN/Faulkner winner) First American Edition *** Experimental fiction wins the PEN/Faulkner? Wasn't a fan. I did learn some about Germany as the book was educational at times. However it was a real yawn and took strength to press through and finish. |
 | Nobel Prize Fiction - 1903 1881 American Edition **** A very pleasant read. Simple yet divine. A peek into human nature and a wonderful painting of Scandinavian life in the 1800's. Thoroughly enjoyed Bjornson's style that I picked up a copy of Captain Mansana at Powell's this past week. |
 | 2013 (Goodreads Choice Award) First Printing *** I finally brushed the dust bunnies off of the 4th Robert Langdon adventure. Another iconographical thrill-ride, this time through the museums and historical cities within Italy and Turkey. Very informative and educational...always enjoy learning about history and secret organizations from Dan Brown. But the novel itself? Cheesy and unbelievably silly at times I literally rolled my eyes and shook my head. Recommended only if you have read the first 3 Langdon jaunts. |
For more book reviews, check out my Goodreads page.
RSS Feed