Pulitzer Prize Series 1918-2020: The Best of the Pulitzers (no spoilers)

[@aaronfacer]

That little story about The Road made me crack up! I now have an indelible mental picture of a group of sweet old ladies reading it for a book club or something!! 😆

[@booksimnotreading]

Aaron, it was unreal. Even the paperback is black, but these people just blindly came in to buy it. I think it’s an instant classic, but I am not sure that was the book for everyone who bought it.

[@MarilynMayaMendoza]

Hi Kelly, I read Gone With The Wind in 1962. I wasn't even a teenager anybody read the book with my cousin. We both didn't have telephones, so we wrote letters to each other talking about where we were in the book and how we were loving it. I sound as if I lived in the eighteen hundreds but that's how it was in the 50s and 60s, at least in my part of Brooklyn. I read The Grapes of Wrath and it was incredibly sad and I loved it. I think I also saw the movie. I've never read any John cheever, but I think I want to rectify that situation. I tried to read mrs. Dalloway but I couldn't deal with the stream-of-consciousness at that time. I think I can now. Great video. Aloha

[@booksimnotreading]

Marilyn, as always I love hearing your stories. I can easily picture two teenagers writing to each other about Gone with the Wind! 🌺

[@gaylep4404]

Can't wait to watch this one -- later today with a cup of tea! Will be interesting to see if we have any favs in common!

[@booksimnotreading]

I look forward to your thoughts!

[@loramull6377]

New subscriber here. Enjoy listening to you and without creepy sounding, I think you have the best laugh😂. So keep on laughing and reviewing! Excited to learn more. Reading Grapes of Wrath and loving it so much..❤

[@booksimnotreading]

Hello Lora! Welcome! I’m so glad you found me. Ah, The Grapes of Wrath! I love that book. There’s a great debate on Booktube about whether East of Eden is better than The Grapes of Wrath. Have you read East of Eden? I look forward to getting to know you better. 💛

[@loramull6377]

I have not read East of Eden but did write it down on my TBR. However, my next read will be Now in November if I can find based on your rec!

[@booksimnotreading]

@@loramull6377 Lora, I just found your response in the held section of my comments - no idea why! Sorry for the great delay. I hope you can find a copy of Now in November. They re-printed it in America last year, so hopefully it won't be too hard to find! Great book!

[@StephanieJCohen]

Enjoyed hearing about your favorites. Adding Now in November and Andersonville to my TBR. I loved The Hours. And agree that the ending of Grapes of Wrath is extremely powerful. One of best endings to a book.

[@booksimnotreading]

Please let me know what you think about those books when you read them! Very exciting!

[@GinaStanyerBooks]

I loved this so much Kelly. I’ve only read The Hours from this list, but there are so many here that I’d like to read. I’m glad you included Gone With The Wind - sometimes it worries me that people get into a pickle from mentioning certain books or authors.

[@booksimnotreading]

Thanks Gina! Yes, I talked about Gone with the Wind often early on in the life of my channel, but as it's grown I've heard some pretty negative things about it - hence my next video. I hope you'll watch it.

[@bridget1540]

I'm smack dab in the middle of Gone With the Wind (I just finished the part where Tony Fontaine visits Scarlett and Frank, and the KKK is forming.). First time through and I'm blown away by it and Margaret Mitchell. So, so good! It was my mother's favorite book. She read it so often the pages were falling out.

[@booksimnotreading]

Bridget, my mom and my grandmother were always telling me to read it and then when I did, I just got completely sucked in and could not put it down. Thank you so much for commenting and sharing this story with me!

[@adamhasideas6813]

I just finished reading 'Now in November" and I really enjoyed it. The writing was lyrical and insightful. I liked how she showed the effect that the Depression had on each of the three sisters and the contrasting impact this time period had on the women, the farm, and family dynamics. Also loved "Gilead" so much. Robinson's writing is beautiful. 25 novels down in my Pulitzer journey and I have to say that most of them have been very enjoyable. Only a few (so far) have been so-so. "A Fable" by Faulkner was the only one I had to drag myself through. Admittedly, I have a lot left!

[@booksimnotreading]

I plan on rereading Now in November this year, but I really need to reread Gilead as Robinson is a genius, I think. I hear you about A Fable. No one can explain it to me! I even asked my pastor who studied literature - no response. You are doing great. Hang in there and keep me posted! 🍀

[@adamhasideas6813]

@@booksimnotreading I look forward to reading Marilynn Robinson's other books, because I loved "Gilead" so much. As far as "A Fable" goes, here is my attempt at meaning (only one person's guess!!) Faulkner once said that his major theme in his later works was man's dualism, "the human heart in conflict with itself". It plays out in "A Fable" as the Corporal representing the spiritual side of a person, at odds with the Marshal, representing the physical self. In this battle of wills, the Corporal has managed to pull off a cease fire from trench warfare during World War I. The powers that be are determined that the war must go on. Therefore, the Corporal must be executed for his insurrection, or at least surrender in a humiliating fashion. There are parallels to Christ's passion narrative, but they are not fully developed. So, which nature of humankind wins out in the end? The corporal is executed, but his sacrifice has made an impact. People do not find fulfillment in hierarchy or organizational institutions, they find it in connection with other lives, or the source of life. It was such a dense read for me, I re-read many sections while going through it. I set it aside for a while before continuing. There were many times I didn't know who (or what) Faulkner was referring to. It felt laborious much of the time. I wanted to like it so much, I loved "As I Lay Dying", but this was a different beast. I only finished it because of my Pulitzer journey, it was a slog.

[@booksimnotreading]

@@adamhasideas6813 Adam, you DEFINITELY have ideas! What a great review and by far and away the best explanation I have heard thus far. Have you thought of having a Booktube channel?

[@BookishTexan]

I've never read _Andersonville_ but you reminded me of when it was published which makes me wonder if the author wasn't using the Andersonville Prison as an analog for Nazi death camps. Random thought. Glad to see _The Nickel Boys_ made your list.

[@booksimnotreading]

You should read Andersonville!!!

[@lorrainetaylor9852]

Thanks for this great video. I also want to read East of Eden. I wonder if I will like it as much as Cannery Row ( my favourite so far but it’s hardly ever mentioned) and Of Mice and Men. And I’m on board with your other subscriber who sings the praises of The Killer Angels!. It’s a pretty bleak list but if the prize book meant to be a reflection on American society then maybe that’s just how it is....

[@booksimnotreading]

In the future I might do a Pulitzer light kind of video to talk about some of winners that are a bit comedic. There aren’t many, but definitely we could discuss the few there are. If you look at the whole list of winners, overall, I’d say it’s pretty bleak.

[@CourtneyFerriter]

I just reread Gilead for Maybe Midrash and loved it. It's such a wonderful and reflective book. The Grapes of Wrath I read in high school and quite liked. The Hours I remember reading and liking, but I think I like the film version more (probably because of Meryl Streep, TBH). Of the 16 Pulitzer Prize-winning books I've read, I think Beloved is the best (I assume this is one of the 'gaps' you referred to in your video, lol). Second place would probably be Malamud's The Fixer. Third place would be a toss-up between Interpreter of Maladies and Gilead.

[@booksimnotreading]

Cool to hear someone talk about The Fixer! Yes, please watch my next Pulitzer video re Beloved!

[@jordanparsons5703]

I'm on your side regarding The Road. I was so surprised when I started watching Booktube how many people hate it. It seemed so obviously an instant classic to me.

[@booksimnotreading]

Jordan, it IS an instant classic. I was floored by how many people disliked it on Booktube, but this is one Pulitzer that I am totally willing to stand behind. It will withstand the test of time.

[@flannerymonaghan-morris7461]

@@booksimnotreading well to be fair, Cormac MacCarthy’s writing style isn’t for everyone. A good number of booktubers aren’t really into his kind of prose, which is why so many people hate it.

[@booksimnotreading]

@@flannerymonaghan-morris7461 I have no problem with people who have read The Road and dislike it. I stand by my remark that it is a classic though.

[@flannerymonaghan-morris7461]

@@booksimnotreading I do too.

[@BrutalSnuggles]

I think people (esp on the internet) have problems with McCarthy because he's so male centric. I can't think of a work he made with a female protagonist, so that animosity gets passed to his awarded books

[@mame-musing]

I bought “The Hours” at a library sale two years ago (😳?) and have not yet read it so it’s helpful to know reading “Mrs Dalloway” before hand may make it more relevant. I agree, the ending of “The Grapes of Wrath” is remarkable. “Now in November” is a book I’ll need to seek out. I had never heard of it. I hope there are a few more “4 stars” on your next video.🤞

[@booksimnotreading]

Hi Mary! I do appreciate your comment. Now in November is definitely worth seeking out! I do hope you’ll watch my next Pulitzer video! 😃

[@LittlePrairieLibrary]

The Road! I think I like it more now than when I read it. I needed to sit with it and mull it over, and while I liked it when I read it, I feel more strongly about it now than when I read it (almost 2 years ago now). Totally agree with Gilead as well, that book captured my heart very quickly. I have yet to read any Steinbeck, but I feel like I'd love his writing.

[@booksimnotreading]

I’d advise you to stay away from The Pearl, but The Grapes of Wrath is off the charts. And I think he wrote it in less than six months or something crazy like that. Definitely worth checking out!

[@lisal2017]

I ordered a copy of Now in November after hearing about it on a Pulitzer video you did 2 years ago. I had plans to read it and a Pulitzer for fiction winner each month last year (made decision was pre pandemic) and I think I may have actually only read two! I am currently reading Gilead and enjoying it. Meeting with my zoom book group on Monday to discuss!

[@booksimnotreading]

I can’t wait to hear what you think of Now in November. The writing is really incredible. I love hearing about book clubs reading Gilead!

[@ilam3778]

The Road, The Grapes of Wrath and The Nickel Boys are the only books I've read from this list, and I absolutely loved all three of them. I was obsessed with Mrs Dalloway and Virginia Woolf in high school and I watched the adaptation of The Hours, but I'd like to read the book at some point, preferably together with Mrs Dalloway, like you said. P.S. really enjoying these videos!

[@booksimnotreading]

Oh! You must read The Hours! I don’t know when I can fit rereading The Hours with Mrs. Dalloway - my reading life feels very crowded at the moment. But The Hours is excellent. Let me know when you read it!!

[@ilam3778]

@@booksimnotreading I will! It probably won't happen until much later in the year, though, because I have a lot on my plate right now and I wouldn't be able to give these books my full attention.

[@idkhur]

Nooo not The Road! I didn’t hate it but after the 576th time McCarthy describes how gray the sky is and how dark the road is, I got really annoyed. The problem I had with Gilead is that it’s too quiet far too often; and of course Housekeeping is much much better. Sadly, it lost to your beloved Rabbit is Rich (sarcasm intended).

[@booksimnotreading]

I still haven’t read Housekeeping (so many books, so little time!). I knew there would be some dismay about The Road! I was bracing myself. I am surprised by the folks who didn’t enjoy Gilead. You are not alone.

[@LarryHasOpinions]

Glad to have another road sceptic here :-D

[@nathanfoung2347]

boy did you poke the bear in this video. I really enjoy these videos, it makes me rethink my TBR.

[@booksimnotreading]

This was the video I was super anxious about. But the bears are hibernating for the moment or they decided not to be bears. I don’t know. What are you re-thinking on your TBR?

[@nathanfoung2347]

@@booksimnotreading Grapes of Wrath and Gone with the Wind needs a bump up the list and Killer Angels as well. The Pulitzer prize doesn't get much attention in Australia and not many if any are taught at school. But one of my favourite books of all time is "The Age of Innocence" and such a wonderful film adaptation by Scorsese as well. I sometimes wonder if film adaptations affect my appraisal or enjoyment of a book eg. The Color purple, To kill a Mockingbird, Olive Kitteridge, the Shipping news, the Hours. It did'nt for The Age... But your pulitzer videos have definitely reminded me to take a closer look again.

[@booksimnotreading]

@@nathanfoung2347 Thanks Nathan!

[@nathanfoung2347]

@@booksimnotreading I managed to find a copy of "Now in November" so I hope to get to that to this year...

[@booksimnotreading]

@@nathanfoung2347 That’s great! Tell me what you think!

[@jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

Interesting video...so many books I still have to read...

[@booksimnotreading]

I hope you found some books to add to your TBR! 😃

[@jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

@@booksimnotreading To my shame, of the books you showed, I've only read The Grapes of Wrath...

[@booksimnotreading]

@@jimsbooksreadingandstuff No guilt trips! Did you enjoy The Grapes of Wrath?

[@jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

@@booksimnotreading The Grapes of Wrath was a tremendous read, it was also quite depressing at times, and I agree with you it has such a powerful ending. But, I enjoyed East of Eden more, I think because it was broader in scope and had a more optimistic undertone.

[@booksimnotreading]

@@jimsbooksreadingandstuff Thanks Jim! I am excited for East of Eden!

[@MichaelRomeoTalksBooks]

I'm currently reading The Nickle Boys. It is so well written.

[@booksimnotreading]

It’s an excellent book!

[@karlandreasen]

Looks like the 30's were a real mixed bag for you, some of your best and worst reads right next to each other. I really liked Angle of Repose and I get what you mean about the ending, but that unsettled feeling you get from the ending is kind of what makes me want to reread it. Maybe that was Stegner's intent?

[@booksimnotreading]

Maybe. The rest of the book is what makes me want to read it again! Jason and I still talk about certain scenes from the book.

[@flannerymonaghan-morris7461]

I love all of the Pulitzers for fiction, though that probably is because I am voracious. One thing that is interesting is that there was supposed to be an Angle of Repose movie, but it fell into development hell a few years back. I hope it gets made though…the thing is is that casting Lyman Ward would probably be extremely difficult, though with open casting, I think we could get a talented disabled actor to play him. I mean, Lyman is probably one of the meatiest roles a disabled actor could play, and I could imagine SO many disabled actors wanting a part like that.

[@booksimnotreading]

Angle of Repose was made onto an opera in the late 70s, but I don’t think it’s been performed since. I can’t see it as an opera though in my mind. Thank you for commenting!

[@flannerymonaghan-morris7461]

@@booksimnotreading I think it’s honestly made more for a movie or miniseries. I think the one reason that the opera hasn’t been performed that much is because of the fact that disabled operatic baritones (the role of Lyman was written for one) are rare, let alone any disabled singer. And you are slightly off the mark: the opera was first performed in 1976. But hey, you never know what could be made into an opera. And you are welcome by the way. I just REALLY want that movie to be made.

[@sandra7319.]

The way you describe Andersonville it's going on the Wishlist.

[@booksimnotreading]

Sandra, please let me know what you think about it when you get around to reading it.

[@elizabeth-betsyjohnson7195]

Agree on 5 of the 6 I've read from your list. Hated Gilead, I KNOW I KNOW🤣 fun fact: i chose Oliver for my youngest son's middle name after reading Angle of Repose in 2003. I really admired character Oliver Ward 🤣

[@booksimnotreading]

That is so awesome that your son’s middle name is Oliver after Oliver Ward! He’s a great character. It’s such a good book!

[@acruelreadersthesis5868]

The Grapes of Wrath! The Road! 😄 I own Angle of Repose and The Hours want to read them soon. I don’t own The Nickel Boys, but I do have The Underground Railroad.

[@booksimnotreading]

I think you will really enjoy Angle of Repose and The Hours. You do still stand by The Road, right?

[@theaelizabet]

Now in November? Josephine Johnson? How have I not heard of this book? Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

[@booksimnotreading]

I am doing everything I can for that book. I have been talking about it on my channel for SO long, but now hopefully more people will seek it out. The writing is so good!

[@theaelizabet]

@@booksimnotreading Just found a reasonably priced Franklin Library edition on EBay! (After checking my library first of course.)

[@booksimnotreading]

@@theaelizabet Yeah!

[@BrutalSnuggles]

Gonna be reading Andersonville soon! Unrelated, have you read Ulysses?

[@booksimnotreading]

Cool! I love it when people decide to pick up books I think deserve more attention! I haven’t read Ulysses. I am a chicken. 🐓 Why do you ask? Is it one of your favorites?

[@BrutalSnuggles]

@@booksimnotreading I read it In the last year, definitely a beast but worth it. The trick is accepting that it's meant to be taught, so I used an online guide. It's very much a part of the canon, and as such is definitely "an author's book". There are tons of references and homages to it, and reading it reveals them along the way

[@josmith5992]

I was surprised to have read four of these, Gilead, The Road, Grapes of Wrath and Angle of Repose and I love them all so have high expectations for the rest of the list although I don’t think the civil war books are for me 😬I have The Hours and the John Cheever stories on my TBR though and am keen to get to them both.

[@booksimnotreading]

I think you will really love The Hours! It’s a Jo book for sure!

[@jobuckley2999]

Oh, great choices by the way.

[@booksimnotreading]

Thanks Jo.

[@AmandaJHMorton]

Karen Swallow Prior in her book On Reading Well discusses The Road and uses it to discuss the virtue of Hope.

[@booksimnotreading]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing, Amanda!

[@AaronReadABook]

I wasn't impressed with The Road. I read a lot of post apocalyptic stuff and it didn't really stand out for me, maybe worth a revisit though. Gilead and Lonesome Dove are top two winners I've read. Andersonville is going on my tbr. I can't believe you are withholding folio society copies from us!

[@booksimnotreading]

Oh The Grapes of Wrath edition is so cumbersome. We kept the hardcover of The Road as a reading copy. God forbid I somehow damage those books! I call them ornamental books. Makes me crazy. I knew The Road would be a controversial choice. Lonesome Dove is a four-star book for me, so it’s definitely up there. I hope you will let me know what you think of Andersonville. 😃

[@Moonpome]

😂 Funny, I saw Andersonville at the thrift store yesterday but didn’t even pick it up because of -you know who- saying how awfully dull it was. I read Gone With the Wind in High School, in a Literature of the South class, it was as you say, an engaging read, the class discussed the author’s point of view regarding racism, I wonder if that book could even be part of a 2021 curriculum🤔 The discussion is important. I liked The Road but didn’t love it, it seemed to me a science fiction book for readers who aren’t familiar with the genre, I was dismayed that it won the prize. I think it should have gone to Richard Powers for The Echo Maker. I still haven’t read the Cheever stories but have always wanted to.

[@booksimnotreading]

Good to know you enjoyed The Echo Maker so much. Amazing you read Gone with the Wind in high school. My mother and grandmother were always pushing me to read it. Thanks for sharing with me!

[@ryand141]

I wouldn't read these just because they're PP Winners. I would go to a bookstore and read the first few pages. If it's something that is captivating then it will happen immediately.

[@booksimnotreading]

Thanks for watching and commenting! 💛

[@MilesWilliams88]

"I still don't really know what dude bro is" ... amen, haha. I watched another video a while back from a booktuber named Bookish. He talked about "dude bro lit" for about five minutes straight. I clicked off. I can't take someone serious that actually trys to use that as a criticism for literature.

[@booksimnotreading]

Hi Miles! Thank you so much for watching and commenting! I have asked in several videos about it, but no one seems to have an answer. I haven’t thought about in some time, so your comment made me smile. I hope you’ll stick around! 💛

[@jobuckley2999]

The Bible is racist, misogynistic and cruel but I let it slide. I will let Gone with the Wind slide too.

[@js.3490]

I thought that after we spoke, you liked the ending a little better. I also gave the book four stars but I thought the ending was artfully done. Hmmmmm...... :)

[@booksimnotreading]

It’s still a bit confusing to me. Glad you liked the ending!

[@LarryHasOpinions]

i actually hated the road... 🙄 sorry :-D

[@booksimnotreading]

I certainly didn’t expect everyone to agree with me, so there’s no need to apologize.

[@meekootsa]

Nobody, male or female, should win this prize twice. Shows how stupid and slanted the judging is.

[@booksimnotreading]

Hello! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on the Pulitzer Prize with me!

[@MadmanGoneMad2012]

I see an avid advocate of participation awards.