Book Awards Reading Challenge

June 4, 2007 /

I discovered a new book reading challenge that I’m all over like a cheap suit…this one is called the Book Awards Reading Challenge. Coincidentally, Ted got me hooked last week on yet ANOTHER internet timesuck, which would be goodreads, where you can keep track of all of the books that you ever remember reading, look at what your friends are reading, compare your lists and ratings with them, and figure out what NEW books you might want to read. Fun, huh? Definately. (Mom, it looks like you can upload your spreadsheet maybe…if you want another time suck in your life. 😉 ) Back to the challenge…this challenge is to read one award winning book a month, starting in July 2007, and ending in June of 2008. So that’s 12 award winning books in 12 months. Cool. So, without further ado, here’s my list, in no particular order of when I’m going to read them, etc.:

The Inheritance of Loss, Kiran Desai – Man Booker Prize, 2006.

I believe I own this, but as I don’t catalog my books, and the majority of them are packed and in storage right now, it will have to wait until after we move. But I spoke to a woman on BART about it one day, and she said it was SO good, she was rivited, so I’m really looking forward to this one.

The GiverThe Giver, Lois Lowry – Newbery Award, 1994.

I see this book a lot at the bookstore, but I’ve never picked it up. While perusing a few people’s lists on goodreads, though, this book kept popping up. So I’ll give it a go, and since it’s a children’s book, Maya can read it after me. 🙂 Double plus good.

Waiting, Ha Jin – PEN/Faulkner, 2000.

I borrowed this book from Cherry a few years ago, and haven’t picked it up for some reason. Now I will have an excuse. If I like it, maybe she’ll want it back..hmmm.

The Road, Cormac McCarthy – Pulitzer, 2007.

I recently won a book of my choice via a drawing on Lotus Reads, and this was one that I didn’t pick, but looked really good. So I’ll grab it from the library and check it out.

March, Geraldine Brooks – Pulitzer, 2006.

This is the story of Mr. March, the absent father from Little Women, who was off at the Civil War when that book took place. This is, as I understand it, his side of the story. I read another book written by Ms. Brooks last year, Year of Wonders, which was very good. So I’m looking forward to this one.

Middlesex, Jeffrey Eugenides – Pulitzer, 2003.

I’ve seen this one around, and I’ll have to wait until I unpack to see if I actually own it. But again, it was on a lot of people’s lists over at goodreads, so I want to give it a shot.

The Shipping News, Annie Proulx – Pulitzer, 1994.

I haven’t heard much about this one, but what I’ve heard is good, so I’ll give it a try.

Gilead, Marilynne Robinson – National Book Critics’ Circle Award, 2004.

I thought I had read this, and it was just so-so. But then I realized I had it confused with another book, Gilgamesh (not the epic of), which was, well, so-so. So I want to see if this one is as good as people say it is.

Atonement, Ian McEwan – National Book Critics’ Circle Award, 2002.

I may own this…not sure. But I’ve heard great things, so it’s on the list!

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Mark Haddon – Costa Whitbread, 2003.

I’ve not heard of this award, but this one has been on a lot of folks’ lists, so I’ll give it a shot.

Vernon God Little, DBC Pierre – Man Booker, 2003.

I’ve never heard of this book, but it sounds intruiging. It’s a dark comedy, about a small town in the aftermath of a school shooting. Not a cheery subject, to be sure, but isn’t that the point of dark comedy?

Runaway, Alice Munro – Giller, 2004.

I haven’t heard of this award, either, but I really like Alice Munro, so I’ll take it.

If you’re interested in participating in this very cool book challenge, go on over to 3M’s Book Awards Challenge blog. She’s made it very easy for you, with all of the awards right there in the sidebar, and if you click on the name of the award, she has lists of books that have received that award, listed by year. Very cool, huh? Thanks, 3M, for making it so easy, and what a GREAT idea for a challenge! Thanks also to Kookiejar, because I found this challenge on her blog. 🙂

17 Comments

  • Wendy

    June 4, 2007 at 6:31 am

    I’ve read The Shipping News (pretty good), Atonement (very, very good) and The Curious Incident (excellent) – great reads, all…

    I just read a book I think you would like – called The Accidental by Ali Smith – very different but extraordinary!

  • Gina

    June 4, 2007 at 9:17 am

    I just read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time a month or so ago. I liked it, but wasn’t really sure why it was quite so acclaimed.

  • Maya's Granny

    June 4, 2007 at 10:12 am

    I already seem to read anything that’s mentioned by Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert and some of the books your SIL, Kathy, mentions in her book column every week, and new books by favorite authors. I’d better not go looking for more.

  • kookiejar

    June 4, 2007 at 10:57 am

    I’m glad you decided to join up! I’m doubly glad you’ve decided to read ‘The Road’. It was my favorite book from last year. Very powerful.

    ‘Curious Incident’ was also wonderful.

  • MsMamma

    June 4, 2007 at 11:47 am

    I have Middlesex and twice tried to read it but put it down for what, I don’t know. I need to read more. I’m going to start lightly by taking PK up on his more serious reading challenge. 😉

  • Py Korry

    June 4, 2007 at 2:15 pm

    Not even one non fiction book? Now THAT would be a challenge for you — since, you know, have a tough time reading non fiction books. 🙂

  • ally bean

    June 4, 2007 at 2:15 pm

    You are ambitious and organized. I applaud you. I’ve read one on your list and didn’t like it, so I won’t say which one it is. And I have The Curious Incident in my pile o’books to read sometime soon.

  • Kvetch

    June 4, 2007 at 2:24 pm

    The Giver was the first book my son read that he liked. Really liked. He was in 7th grade. Now he just finished 9th grade and has read more books this year than in all his previous years combined.

  • Emma

    June 4, 2007 at 5:31 pm

    Even though it’s a children’s book and one of the first books I ever read, The Giver is hands-down the best book I’ve ever read. I pretty much re-read it every other year or so, I love it so much.

  • lalunas

    June 4, 2007 at 9:50 pm

    The Giver was really good, and The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night Time was excellent. It was writen from the perspective of an audistic young man. It was fasinating to understand how their mind works. I fear the others I have not heard of. But thank you for posting those books, now I have an excellent selection to choose from.

  • wanderlust scarlett

    June 5, 2007 at 1:05 am

    Ahhhh a whole new addiction for me to indulge in… what a wonderful collection of new literature! The question is now… where to begin?

    Thanks for the great info!

    Scarlett

  • Black Belt Mama

    June 5, 2007 at 7:54 pm

    I used to teach The Giver. Creepy book-bothered me as a teacher.

    Also, the Ian McEwan book is very good. If you like that one, pick up his other one “Saturday”.