Pulitzer Prize for Fiction 2022 Winner Reaction

WOW. The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction announcement was full of surprises. Let's look at my reaction, talk about what I wanted to win, who the winner was, and who the finalists were. Expand for more information 👇
The 2022 Pulitzer Prize winners: www.pulitzer.org/prize-winner...
Further viewing 🎥
My 2022 Pulitzer Predictions: • Pulitzer Prize Predict...
My reaction to the 2012 Pulitzer controversy: • Do Book Prizes Owe Us ...
Last year's winner reaction: • Pulitzer Prize for Fic...
The winner 🏅
The Netanyahus: An Account of a Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family, by Joshua Cohen
The Finalists 🥈
Monkey Boy, by Francisco Goldman
Palmares, by Gayl Jones
#PulitzerPrize #PulitzerPrizeForFiction #PulitzerPrize2022
My husband made a cookbook! Check it out here:
www.blurb.com/b/10189765-my-m...
But wait, there's more!
Email: supposedlyfungreg-at-gmail.com
Storygraph: app.thestorygraph.com/profile...
Instagram: / supposedlyfun
Twitter: / supposedlyfun
Website: supposedlyfun.com/

[@Kate-uj2wb]

i loved the netanyahus! and feeling quite smug at having read a left field pick before the hype this will generate haha

[@SupposedlyFun]

You did well! Looks like Netanyahus is already coming up as out of stock, so it may be a while before it gets back into stores.

[@user-iu4ws6vh5s]

Smugness deserved! Independent publisher, Fitzcarraldo, which published Netayahus and other winning and nominated books, is a publisher to watch.

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@user-iu4ws6vh5s Seems like it definitely is!

[@noteonthetext]

I listened to the Netanyahus because you mentioned it in your Pulitzer prediction video. Really great audiobook.

[@SupposedlyFun]

That’s good to know! Thanks for the feedback.

[@jacksontalley]

I was happy to see 2 known books and a surprise winner on the list. I have read almost all of the "well-known" books so now I have the chance to read three books I never would have read.

[@SupposedlyFun]

That's a good way of looking at it!

[@Ruby-jm4no]

The Netanyahus was great. A very smart book. I definitely want to re-read it now and can't wait to hear people talk about it.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@sandrazuks9017]

Fitzcaraldo editions are also publishing 'The Netanyahus'.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Lots of excitement for Fitzcarraldo in the comments. 😊

[@jenniferadam2258]

Oh, I loved Palmares! Glad to see it as a finalist. I had The Netanyahus on my TBR after seeing your earlier video. I actually like it when obscure books are chosen. 😁

[@SupposedlyFun]

I can't really complain since I love using book awards as tools of discovery, but this just happened to be a year when I was really rooting for a particular novel. 😂

[@lindysmagpiereads]

Greg, your excitement is contagious! Palmares is the only one of the three I’d much heard about. Haven’t read it, though.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you! Palmares sounds fascinating.

[@melrose718]

Wow is right! I thought for sure I had already read the winner (Love Songs) and was ahead of the game! Never heard of any of these. They all have very few ratings on GR, so Pulitzer has struck again with their unpredictable choices....The year they picked the grossly violent Andersonville & The Confessions of Nat Turner was one of those years! Lucky my Library has it so I can read right away...but I am disappointed. Sometimes I wonder if there are other reasons for the selections than we know of. At least it's a short book, that's something :) Great reporting Greg, I've really enjoyed all your Pulitzer info so much!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Some juries for awards like to introduce readers to authors they feel haven't been discovered properly yet. I would bet that's how the jury was thinking about this year's prize. Thank you for the kind words.

[@loriroemer1122]

I was speechless. Have just put a hold on the winner at my library

[@SupposedlyFun]

I look forward to your thoughts if you get to it soon!

[@briannagill3616]

All of your videos have inspired me to follow along and I actually watched the announcement today! I immediately ordered the Netanyahus which I actually had put on my to-read list after hearing you speak of it initially! unfortunately I got an email saying it was out of stock.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Yeah I’m worried it will be out of stock for a while reprinting, but I could be wrong! I hope you enjoyed watching the announcement. I love doing it when I have free time.

[@user-iu4ws6vh5s]

So happy to see Gayl Jones get recognition and hopefully, sales. Have read The Healing, Corrigedora & Eva’s Man. Sad about Love Songs but it got a fair amount of (deserved) buzz and praise given its heft. Haven’t read any of these yet.

[@SupposedlyFun]

True, Love Songs isn't hurting for attention. It seems the jury this year wanted to shine a light on some lesser known books and authors. I respect that, even if I do mourn for Love Songs even still.

[@kiranreader]

wow!! this was so surprising!! i just got a copy of it from my bookstore, it was the last one there!

[@SupposedlyFun]

How lucky you got one! Hopefully, it will be good. 🤪

[@booksvsmovies]

lou reading things has a fascinating in-depth review of Palmares and I would recommend checking out her perspective as a Brazilian. She offers a lot of great critique of the book.

[@SupposedlyFun]

That's good to know--thanks so much for the recommendation!

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Really fun to watch your reaction. I was hoping Jeffers would win it as well though I'm so glad Palmares was shortlisted. It was one of my favourite novels that I read last year. Gayl Jones is such a powerful and unique writer. I'd also definitely recommend her novel Corregidora which is set in America. I've had The Netanyahus on my shelf since it came out as I heard good things about it so I'd like to read it soon. Hope you enjoy all 3.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Corregidora has been getting great feedback in the comments, so I'll need to look for that one for sure. My library has a copy of Palmares, so that should be doable (hopefully soon).

[@alldbooks9165]

I am super excited about the Cuban history written by a Cuban American woman especially after my Cuban reading from last year.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I thought to myself “did Doris talk about that?” When it was announced. 😂🤣

[@AJDunnReadsandWrites]

I think _The Netanyahus_ sounds really good. Since it won I'll probably read it at some point.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I look forward to your thoughts on it.

[@GuiltyFeat]

I’ve one previous book by Joshua Cohen, Moving Kings which was a middling read for me. He’s published by Fitzcarraldo in the UK. The best news is that I have booked to see Cohen live in conversation at the International Writers’ Festival in Jerusalem next week. Planning to pick up a copy of The Netanyahus there (it has local interest as the actual Netanyahus live 5 minutes from the venue) and get it signed by the author. Cheers.

[@SupposedlyFun]

What luck! That should be a fun event.

[@pdxleo]

😮😮😮!

[@SupposedlyFun]

🤯

[@ameliabarlowbooks]

I was rooting for Crossroads and have a copy of Love Songs on my shelves all ready to go - what a surprise! looks like Fitzcarraldo have published the Joshua Cohen in the UK, I'm going to try and get hold of a copy today. what a shocker!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Definitely a shocker! I look forward to your thoughts if you do get a copy of Netanyahus.

[@deborahwager5883]

The Netanyahus is at my library, and no holds on it yet. So I'll have it soon!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Nicely done! My library had the two finalists but not Netanyahus.

[@sage2181]

Love your reaction video. I've already seen book bloggers who haven't read this book dismiss it, and it's so clearly an anti-Jewish sentiment whereas no one would ever do such a thing if the book was about any other culture of people. I bought this months ago and now am trying to find my copy!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thankfully, I've only seen one reaction that felt somewhat anti-Jewish. Hopefully, that won't be a recurring thread when people discuss this book.

[@joniheisenberg6691]

This was a stunner. I am glad I am not the only one who was unfamiliar with “The Netanyahus.” I was rooting for Jonathan Franzen. “Crossroads” in my opinion is a stellar novel.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I haven't read Franzen since I DNF'ed both The Corrections and Freedom, but I've heard a lot of good things about Crossroads.

[@joniheisenberg6691]

@@SupposedlyFun I didn’t care for “The Corrections” either. I didn’t grasp what the hype was about. I think “Crossroads” did a great job of wrestling with the choices people make and the reflections on those choices.

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@joniheisenberg6691 Thanks for the feedback.

[@foxedfolios]

Can’t speak to Palmares specifically, but great to see Gayl Jones get some attention. Don’t tend to follow the Pulitzer but these are some very interesting choices. 🤓📚

[@SupposedlyFun]

They are definitely interesting choices. I love using book awards as tools for discovery, so I can't really argue with this.

[@readandre-read]

Wow, they caught me completely off guard with these selections. I'm guessing a lot of librarians and booksellers are scrambling to order these.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I'm guessing that's right! Looks like Netanyahus is already listed as out of stock.

[@KurtAnderson812]

I have no words. I haven’t read one of the finalists and I’m not sure if I will be doing so anytime soon.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I ordered The Netanyahus because I have to read it for my Pulitzer Prize Project, but I'm not super excited about it.

[@KurtAnderson812]

@@SupposedlyFun I actually just checked and was able to get all three from my library. So I guess I’ll give them a read this week

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@KurtAnderson812 I look forward to your thoughts! My library had Palmares, so I put a hold on it. They also had Monkey Boy but... I'm not actually sure about that one.

[@user-yg6ft1iu1i]

Palmares is really good. Wasn’t really interested in The Netanyahus but am now

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’m actually looking forward to Palmares.

[@mradcaqbdb]

Jaw-dropping! That was my reaction. I was shocked that they went for such under-the-radar books. I know of Gayl Jones because I’ve wanted to read her book Corregidora for a couple of years now but haven’t gotten to it. Monkey Boy? Doesn’t it seem like they had to go out of their way not to include even one of the big books? When things like this happen, I do feel a bit played, fair or not. I don’t know if these books are any good or not. I got the audiobook of The Netanyahus from the library right after the announcement. Gotta say the opening narration is pretty drab, but I only listened to a couple of minutes. I was definitely hoping and expecting Love Songs to win or maybe The Trees or Great Circle. This feels a little Tinkers to me, but I defer to your expertise with the prize. Thanks for getting your reaction up so fast! I was dying to hear your thoughts.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It definitely feels like a Tinkers year--but it might feel even more like that if either of the finalists had won over Netanyahus. At least Netanyahus had a modest presence in book awards and end-of-year-best lists? I look forward to your thoughts once you get further in.

[@mradcaqbdb]

@@SupposedlyFun Maybe, but I was familiar with Gayl Jones and Palmares before today. I actually just ordered two gorgeous Virago Modern Classics of hers from Blackwell’s, Corregidora and Eva’s Man. Didn’t realize she was “discovered” by Toni Morrison until just now. I think I’d have been less shocked had Palmares won. Jones has another book coming out in September.

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@mradcaqbdb From the descriptions, Palmares is the one that jumped out to me the most. I;m glad my library has it. I'll have to seek out her earlier work!

[@sage2181]

The audio is amazing, but so expensive.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I was really surprised to David Duchovny as a narrator and I don't know why.

[@nfbuckeye]

Well, this is certainly one I would have never read, but will now. I read...well, at least try to read...the fiction winner every year. Does sound intriguing. I managed to snag a copy off of Amazon.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It should be interesting for sure!

[@MichaelFinocchiaro]

Great review, thanks. I read the winner - it was down at #16 on my list of about 50 candidates - and thought it was good, but not extraordinary. Interesting to note, Cohen is only the 5th Jewish man to win the prize (after Chabon in 20001 and the holy trinity of Bellow, Malamud, and Roth) and not any Jewish or Latina women. I was rooting for Lincoln Highway and The Five Wounds personally. I have never heard of the runners-up either.

[@SupposedlyFun]

That is interesting--thank you for sharing. I very nearly didn't include The Netanyahus on my list but when I saw it on the PPrize Prediction site I like to check in on, I decided to go for it. That was close!

[@alastairmcalpine7467]

Very sad for HFJ. Like you, I thought Love Songs was a timely and worthy winner, but I also haven't read any of the finalists and only heard of the Netanyahus when I watched your prediction video. I also am a fan of Crossroads and Cloud Cuckoo Land (but Doerr wasn't gonna win twice with that one). As a side note: the waiting list at my local library for novels like The Matrix and Harlem Shuffle is hundreds of readers long. There was NO wait for The Netanyahus. This book has truly flown under the radar.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Seems like everyone who was interested in it managed to squeak into their library's copy with no wait. It will be interesting to see how much demand goes up.

[@troygaspard6732]

I had no idea that there was one for fiction.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It has a long and storied history!

[@charlottemolloy]

I read the Netanyahus back in March just because it sounded interesting not because it was on my pulitzer radar. It's on scribd as an ebook so no need to wait for copies if you have that! I very much enjoyed it and fits the pulitzer brief perfectly, I just thought a bigger name like du Bois or Franzen would be natural shoe ins this year- so a nice surprise that it went to someone else! Cohen's writing is great, I look forward to reading this other work, especially Moving Kings.

[@SupposedlyFun]

On my Scribd, it just says that The Netanyahus isn't available in my country. 🤷‍♂️ Thanks for the feedback on the book!

[@sabinelipinska8614]

I read Corregidora by Gayl Jones and to me it was amazing. I loved it but about Palmares I read mixed review, more negatives even.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Corregidora has been getting good feedback in the comments so that looks like one for me to check out--thanks for the recommendation.

[@maryleary3308]

I’m beginning to think they shouldn’t have winners. It’s too much like comparing apples and oranges. I Loved all the books I read from your list of possibilities and it’s like picking a favorite child. They’re all so different. And I always love them for different reasons. But then again, I’ve been faithful to my husband☺️

[@SupposedlyFun]

It is like comparing apples and oranges, but I do love having them. It's always entertaining--that's the only constant!

[@athertonca]

I was so excited for the Pulitzer Prize announcement and I have to say it was a tad disappointing for me. There were no holds on The Netanyahus or Monkey Boy at my library, so I have those two in hand. Maybe they will be amazing books-I am approaching them with an open mind. There is a two-week hold on Palmares, but I am suffering from Magic Realism Fatigue, so I don’t know if I will read it.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I love book prizes because they help me find new books, so I really can’t fault this-even though I’m still sad for Love Songs of WEB Du Bois.

[@StriketheSunMD]

I didn't even remember that the Pulitzer prizes were being awarded. Do you follow any other categories or just the fiction category?

[@SupposedlyFun]

I loosely follow other categories but not closely at all.

[@annegibson6072]

I am so disappointed. I did predict the Nonfiction winner. I really enjoyed Invisible Child by Andrea Elliott. I really enjoyed Covered with Night.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I didn't attempt to predict any of the other categories but Invisible Child has been on my list of books to look out for, so I'm excited it won. Nice prediction!

[@annegibson6072]

@@SupposedlyFun I guess one out of two is not bad

[@SupposedlyFun]

Definitely not!

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

I’ve only heard of Palmares.

[@SupposedlyFun]

You were way ahead of me! 😂

[@kevinoloughlin5172]

Just finished the winner this weekend. Didn't really care for it, meh...Was it only released in paperback?

[@SupposedlyFun]

I believe it was only released in paperback.

[@jorgem71962]

I DNF "Monkey Boy." I was bored out of my mind. "Palmares" is great. I have a copy of "The Netanyahus" but have not read it yet.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Monkey Boy is the one I am least interested in-thanks for the feedback.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

I was already interested in Palmares as The Guardian reviewed it enthusiastically so I noted for when it became cheaper. I bought Corregidora in the meantime but haven't read it yet. On the other hand the Guardian review of The Netanyahus was altogether off-putting and being a campus novel was a further dissuassion for me. Intriguing.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Corregidora has been getting good feedback in the comments, so I'll have to look for that one. I'm not altogether convinced I will like Netanyahus but I'm going to try it!

[@susanhillman7257]

My local independent has this book on their shelves, so I reserved and will pick it up tomorrow.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Oh how lucky! Thank you for supporting indie stores! ❤️🥂