Monday, April 20, 2009

Thinking In Pulitzer


Maybe Joyce Carol Oates might win for My Sister, My Love this year. She's never had a novel win a Pulitzer, although she's been nominated 3 times. She should have gotten it years ago for The Goddess And Other Women, a collection of short stories that was published in the 1970s. C'mon Pulitzer committee. What writer has worked harder than JCO for so many years?
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I've still got a strong hunch about The Story Of Edgar Sawtelle, though. I saw a first edition of this novel at Yongsan Station on Saturday morning and I was so tempted to go ahead and buy it in case it's the winner, but I held off. Two reasons: I was sure to jinx myself as well as Mr. Wroblewski and I was feeling too damn lazy to cart around a massive Chunkster like that all weekend.

Sigh. Waiting for the announcement is so difficult. It's worse than the Oscars because I don't even know who the finalists are. There's still a cheer or two left in me from the readathon, so...

Go!
Go!
JCO!

7 comments:

Ana S. said...

Oh, it's today! I completely missed that for some reason. It would make me very happy to see JCO win. I saw that some were also betting on A Mercy. I know Toni Morrison has won before, but I wouldn't mind seeing her win again either.

Bibliolatrist said...

I would love to see JCO win...I don't think Sawtelle has much of a chance. Then again, what do I know -- considering JCO hasn't won before, who knows how they make their decisions?

teabird said...

I'm also keeping my fingers crossed for JCO. Never won a Pulitzer? Incredible and very, very wrong.

I went to one of her book-signings a few years ago, and I was amazed at how funny and personable she is.

Jessica said...

I'm so glad you wrote this post - for some reason I had it in my calendar for 5/29!

I will be peeved if Sawtelle gets it, because I read it and didn't care much for it.

Want to hear a JCO joke? A journalist calls her office, and the secretary says, "I'm sorry, Ms. Oates is very busy writing a novel." The journalist says, "That's okay, I'll hold."

Anonymous said...

I've not read any JCO (shrinks & cowers... will somebody be shocked?) WHAT should I start with? that short story collection?

Anonymous said...

the only JCO i read was 'black waters' and i really liked it. no idea why i never picked up another...i'll have to work on that.

Bybee said...

Nymeth,
John Updike, Booth Tarkington and William Faulkner have repeated so it's not unheard of.

Bibliolatrist,
The criteria is kind of hazy..."preferably a novel about some aspect of American life."

Teabird,
I keep thinking JCO will hit it since she's been close 3 times. If I met her, I'd probably stutter and burble. It would be like meeting a rock star.

Jessica,
I've never heard that joke before! LOL

I think Oprah messed up Sawtelle's bid.

Bookclubcare,
For novels, start with Black Water, Foxfire or You Must Remember This. Short stories...I really love The Goddess And Other Women and if you just want to read one short story, read "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" I'm sure it's available somewhere online.

booklineandsinker,
I'm kind of hit-and-miss on JCO myself. The last novel I read by her was The Falls and it didn't really float my boat. I want to try her YA. For nonfiction, I also want to read On Boxing.