And the award goes to...

"Great, big, serious novels always get awards. If it's a battle between a great, big, serious novel and a funny novel, the funny novel is doomed."

                                                 --Neil Gaiman, author of "Coraline"

The literary world was surprised by the announcement there would be no Pulitzer Prize awarded this year for fiction. The last year no award was given was 1977. Honorable mentions included Swamplandia! by Karen Russell and Pale King by the late David Foster Wallace. Pale King is a perfect choice for this month - it spins the tale of life at an IRS center in Peoria, Illinois.

It can be a mystery why some books win prestigious awards. Or why other books get shut out (because they're funny?). Nevertheless, award lists can be helpful when searching for that next good read.

Check out http://www.ala.org/ for more award-winning lists.

Newbery Medal - Given for "distinguished contribution to American literature for children" according to ALA.
2012 - Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos.
Other Newbery books to consider:
1993 - Missing May by Cynthia Rylant.
1995 - Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech.
1996 - Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman.

Caldecott Medal - Given to the artist of the "most distinguished American picture book" according to ALA.
2012 - A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka.
Other Caldecott winners to consider:
1991 - Black & White by David Macaulay.
1992 - Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg.
2002 - Three Pigs by David Wiesner.
2006 - The Hello Goodbye Window by Chris Raschka.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Award - "Honors authors or illustrators whose books have made a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children" according to ALA.
2012 - Tomie dePaola. A sample of his work: Strega Nona and 26 Fairmount Avenue.

 Coretta Scott King Award - "Recognizes outstanding books for young adults and children by African-American authors or illustrators" according to ALA.
2012 - Author: Heart and Soul by Kadir Nelson
Illustrator: Underground by Shane W. Evans.

Notable Books for Adults - The Notable Book Council lists outstanding books.
2012 (Fiction) - Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt; Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach; Tragedy of Arthur by Arthur Phillips and Swamplandia! by Karen Russell.
2012 (Non-fiction) - Memory Palace by Mira Bartok; Information by James Gleick; and Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.

A sample of Pulitzer Prize winners:
(fiction)
2011 - A Vist from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan.
2009 - Olive Kittredge by Elizabeth Strout.
2006 - March by Geraldine Brooks.
2005 - Gilead by Marilynne Robinson.
1996 - Independence Day by Richard Ford.
1995 - Stone Diaries by Carol Shields.

(autobiography)
2011 - Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow.
2009 - American Lion by Jon Meachum.
2006 - American Prometheus by Kai Bird & Martin Sherwin
2002 - John Adams by David McCullough.

(non-fiction)
2011 - Emperer of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee.
2010 - The Dead Hand by David Hoffman.
2002 - Carry Me Home by Diane McWhorter.
1998 - Guns, Germs & Steel by Jared Diamond.
1986 - Common Ground by Anthony Lukas.

National Book Awards - Administered by the National Book Foundation.
(fiction)
1999 - Waiting by Ha Jin.
2002 - Three Junes by Julia Glass.
2007 - Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson.

(non-fiction)
2005 - Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion.
2008 - Hemingses of Monticello by Annette Gordon-Reed.
2010 - Just Kids by Patti Smith.

The Orange Award is the United Kingdom's annual award for female fiction writers. Winners will be announced May 30. On the shortlist:
(Irish) Anne Enright - The Forgotten; (Canadian) Esi Edugyan - Half Blood Blues; (British) Georgina Harding - Painter of Silence; (American) Madeline Miller - Song of Achilles; Cynthia Ozick - Foreign Bodies; Ann Patchett - State of Wonder. 

Leaning Tower of Books

Where is human nature so weak as in a bookstore?

--Henry Ward Beecher

I enjoy walking into a room and seeing a stack of books. What's even better is when it is my stack of books! I rarely leave a bookstore or library empty-handed, even when I have promised myself (or my husband) that I am only "browsing."

These are the books that I will be reading soon.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. Bradley, Alan. The title caught my eye and who could turn down this plot? "Young Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist, is intrigued by a series of inexplicable events: a dead bird is found with a postage stamp pinned to its beak..." 

The Man With the Golden Arm. Algren, Nelson. First published in 1949, this classic tells the story of "urban underbelly" and a WWII veteran named Frankie Machine.

The Imperfectionists. Rachman, Tom. Named one of the best novels of the year by Slate, NPR, The Kansas City Star and The New York Times, among others...Rachman tells the story of reporters and editors working for an English-language Roman newspaper. 

There But For The. Smith, Ali. My book group's selection for April. What would you do if one of your dinner guests suddenly locked himself in an upstairs bedroom? 

When I Was a Child I Read Books. Robinson, Marilynne. Pulitzer Prize-winning author shares essays with us on subjects ranging from her Presbyterian roots to the political climate today and, of course, her reading habits from childhood to adulthood.

Cutting for Stone. Verghese, Abraham. The reviews have been gloriously positive. A graduate of University of Iowa's Writers' Workshop, Verghese is a professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Lush Life. Price, Richard. I am late to discovering Price's novels. This book has been described as "dark and edgy" with "snarling dialogue" and "tight writing."

Eire Forever

"I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree."

William Butler Yeats

Leprechauns. Guinness. Cathedrals & castles. Soda bread. Cottages. River Shannon. Red hair. Concannon. Dublin. Book of Kells. Green hills. Salmon. Story-telling. Waterford.

Irish gifts to all of us.

Other Irish gifts are magical books, music, a movie & a play (to name just a few).

If you are gearing up for a weekend of corned beef (or Irish salted beef) and beer between basketball games, don't forget some of these Irish winners.

Books

Maeve Binchy - Irish author of many novels, such as my own Binchy favorite, "Firefly Summer."

Frank Delaney - You'll be swept away to Ireland with his novels... "Ireland" and "Tipperary."

Mary Pope Osborne - Her Magic Treehouse series is geared for children, but adults who love a good story will enjoy reading Osborne's books, too. This month, read "Leprechaun in Late Winter."

Colm Toibin - I am reading his novel "Brooklyn" this week. The story begins in Ireland and moves to Brooklyn, New York.

Frank McCourt - "Angela's Ashes." Heartbreaking memoir of author's childhood in Limerick.

Samuel Beckett - He wrote more (a lot more) than "Waiting for Godot." Read his "Complete Short Prose 1929-1989."

Irish folktales, including "Clever Tom and the Leprechaun."

Authors - James Joyce, Jonathan Swift.

Movie

"Secret of Roan Inish." Based on a Scottish folktale, this film was tweaked to become a love letter to Ireland. Beautiful photography and magical story. And seals!!

Play

J. M. Synge - "Playboy of the Western World/Riders to the Sea."

Music

Listen to Van Morrison, Irish Tenors, Cranberries or Chieftains this weekend. 

"To be Irish is to know that in the end the world will break your heart."

Attributed to Daniel Patrick Moynihan (and others)

It's All About Us

"If society will not admit of woman's free development, then society must be remodeled." - Elizabeth Blackwell*

March is Women's History Month.

There are larger-than-life women in history who changed society or certainly left an imprint. These trailblazers come to mind: Gloria Steinem, Sojourner Truth, Jane Addams, Sandra Day O'Connor, Nellie Bly and Amelia Earhart.

There are also women whose names are not always as well known. Their accomplishments are very important too and they deserve our thanks.

And, there are the moments when women's lives changed for the better.

Famous or not, let's give all of them our loudest applause this month.

1760s - First female publisher...Mary Katherine Goddard published the Providence Gazette, and also served as the first female postmistress in 1775.

1782 - Deborah Sampson, disguised as a man, enlisted in the Continental Army.

*1849 - Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman in the United States to receive a medical degree.

1860s-1890s - The "Seven Sisters" colleges were established for women. The seven were: Vassar, Wellesley, Smith, Radcliffe, Bryn Mawr, Barnard and Mount Holyoke.

1869 - Arabella Mansfield was the first woman in U.S. history granted permission to practice law (in Iowa).

1884 - First public high school for girls opened in Worcester, MA.

1920 - Ratification of the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote.

1925 - Nellie Tayloe Ross, of Wyoming, was the first female governor.

1933 - Frances Perkins was the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet. She was named Secretary of Labor by President Franklin Roosevelt.

1938 - Pearl Buck was the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. She had been awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1932 for her novel, The Good Earth.

1972 - Women dominated the Grammy Awards. Carole King won for best record, best song and album. Carly Simon was named as best new artist.

1987 - The National Museum of Women opened in Washington, D.C.

         - Aretha Franklin was the first woman inducted in the 

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

2009 - Kathryn Bigelow was the first woman to win Best Director/  

Oscar for her movie The Hurt Locker.

Recommended Books

Non-fiction

Personal History - Graham, Katharine. This is a revealing memoir of Graham's evolution from dutiful daughter to owner of the Washington Post.

What Now - Patchett, Ann. You may be 22; you may be 52 - one of life's questions is "what now?". This amazing essay brings us along on Patchett's personal journey. Patchett is also a successful novelist (Bel Canto, State of Wonder).

Girls Like Us - Weller, Sheila. A tender yet revealing look at three musically powerful women: Carole King, Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon.

Happiness Project - Rubin, Gretchen. Yes, this book exhausted me with the lists and goals. Yes, I still recommend it. Who doesn't want to improve her life?

Mothers in Charge - Harris, Paul Nigel, editor. Two Philadelphia mothers joined together to fight violence. What brought them together? Their two sons were murdered by the same man.

Let's Take the Long Way Home - Caldwell, Gail. A beautifully written memoir detailing the sweetness of women's friendships and the love of a good dog. Every woman should read this book!

Bossypants - Fey, Tina. My favorite chapter is the love letter to Amy Poehler titled "I Don't Care If You Like It." Tina's advice to all for us? "Do your thing and don't care if they like it." 

Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Skloot, Rebecca. Lacks' cells were used to combat viruses, develop the polio vaccine and other medical breakthroughs. Neither she nor her family ever benefited from the cells' use.

The Girls from Ames - Zaslow, Jeffrey. This is a story of 40 years of friendship and sticking by each other in good or bad times. Judging by the writing, Zaslow had a tremendous respect for women. Sadly, Zaslow was killed in a car accident in February 2012.

Shelf Life - Shea, Suzanne Strempek. Shea was recovering from cancer treatment when she decided to work in a friend's book store. I guarantee you'll laugh and cry throughout this book. Check out Shea's fiction, too.

Fiction 

These Is my Words - Turner, Nancy. Turner's novel is drawn from her great-grandmother's own experiences about life in Arizona in the 1880s.

Prayers for Sale - Dallas, Sandra. Historical fiction at its best...Dallas is wonderful writer. Read this tale spun by Hennie Comfort in 1930s Colorado.

The Girls - Lansens, Lori. I often recommend this book. The plot drew me in and the pages were quickly turned. This is the story of conjoined sisters, Rose and Ruby.

My Name is Mary Sutter - Oliveira, Robin. This novel covers the bases: role of women in 1860s America; Civil War; medical care, etc... Mary Sutter is an amazing young woman.

Wednesday Sisters - Clayton, Meg Waite. Five women first meet in the turbulent 1960s and we are invited along as they each share their secrets in a writing group.

The Paris Wife - McLain, Paula. Fictionalized account of Hemingway's first wife, Hadley, and their time together in Paris. It didn't change my mind about Hemingway (I'm not a fan) but I will be reading "A Moveable Feast."

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Smith, Betty. If you didn't read this classic back in middle school, read it now. Francie Nolan is still one of my literary heroes.

Trixie Belden - Campbell, Julie. Way back when, I was hooked on the series beginning with "The Secret of the Mansion." Trixie is spunky, brave, and kind. The series may be geared for nine-year-old girls, but slightly older girls will still enjoy the adventures of Trixie, Honey & Jim.

Revenge of the Radioactive Lady - Stuckey French, Elizabeth. The cover art caught my eye but the writing kept my interest. This is the wild story of Marylou Ahearn, who at 77, planned to kill the doctor who had given her a radioactive "cocktail" many years before. 

Happy Reading!

  

Yeah, I'm gonna change some habits this year

"Anybody who knows me knows I'm no fan of dictionaries or reference books. They're elitist."

-Stephen Colbert-

"The Colbert Report"

Bad habits come in all shapes and sizes.

There are the big bugaboos such as smoking or drinking & eating too much. Sadly, that includes mac&cheese and chocolate pie. There are second tier bad habits, such as procrastination or too much television that can also have a negative influence on our lives. Even sadder, that includes "The Good Wife," "30 Rock" and "Colbert Report."

But wait! There's more! How about bad language habits? And I don't mean dropping f-bombs or other Nixonian expletives. Late last year, I suddenly realized how many times I started a sentence with an unnecessary "yes" or "yeah." It made me cringe. My husband swore he hadn't heard my dreaded sentence "starters." Was I imagining it? I think not.

There are other bad (lazy?) language habits. While on a trip with my sister and cousins, we all started laughing about the overuse of great. Great dinner. Great scenery. Great book. Stop!!

I am in favor of expanding my vocabulary and never using great again. Will a better vocabulary automatically mean I'll sound stuffy or pretentious? What if I use galumptious to describe dinner? Or say a book was mirific? Instead, I'll start small and use superior, peerless or transcendent.

As for my habit of starting sentences with an unnecessary yes or yeah - I'm working on it.


Yeah.


 

Books that can help us conquer bad language habits

Webster's New World Thesaurus - An easy-to-use edition. Includes a section on synonyms that "are not always interchangeable." This is helpful when wrestling with continual or continuous; perseverance or persistence.

The Thinker's Thesaurus - Meltzer, Peter. Without this tome, I wouldn't be able to call someone a mooncalf or describe a novel's plot as blandiose. Just in case a reader questions his "truthiness"*, Meltzer often gives examples of where some of the more far out words can be found, such as The New York Times' use of illaqueable in 1996, which is an obsolete word that simply means ensnared.

Bryson's Dictionary for Writers & Editors - Bryson, Bill. Instead of saying a "troubled teenager," call him/her an enfant terrible. Bryson gives an easy-to-remember lesson on irony versus sarcasm. And, did you know that just deserts has only one s? That is because it has nothing to do with dessert. According to Bryson, instead it springs from the French for "deserve."

The Highly Selective Dictionary for the Extraordinarily Literate - Ehrlich, Eugene. Don't be put off by the grandiose title. The book is both handy and fun. Do you get confused between affect and effect? Or discreet and discrete? Ehrlich will help with everyday language as well as the occasional "wow" factor of a word such as obviate (verb) - make unnecessary or to neutralize; or canard (noun) false report or hoax.


Choose the Right Word - Hayakawa, S.I. Offers even more synonyms to the dreaded great. Instead, try using notable or eminent. And if you like to nitpick exact word definitions, this book is perfect...consummate, flawless, ideal.



Stay tuned - grammar books will be reviewed soon. And no, it won't be painful.


*Used by Stephen Colbert in 2005. Truthiness was declared "Word of the Year 2006" by Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Happy Trails to You

"Fasten your seat belt; it's going to be a bumpy night."

Margo Channing (Bette Davis) "All About Eve"

I don't like to fly.

Why not, you may ask.

It's the total loss of control; it's the announcement of a cruising altitude of (gulp) 30,000 feet; turbulence; tiny bathrooms; ice that always tastes stale; the kid who kicks the back of my seat; it's the air mask demonstration; and again, turbulence.

It's the dreaded middle seat.

Yes, I know that statistically I am in more danger in a car. (However, I read that if we flew as often as we drive, the stats would certainly be different. These are things I try to NOT think about while driving to the airport)

And, grudgingly, I admit I enjoy arriving in Florida or New York a few hours after leaving my driveway. It is a thrill to see a familiar, much-loved face smiling at me, waiting for me.

But during the flight, I usually bury myself in a book and don't look up until the plane touches down. I look for suspense authors who will keep my mind occupied during the flight. It is no surprise that these authors always seem to be front and center at any airport bookstore. I take that as a sign that I am not alone with my white knuckles, fluttering heart and bouts of boredom.

These authors are good travel companions:

Harlan Coben - I haven't read any of his Myron Bolitar series, preferring to read thrilling novels such as Tell No One or No Second Chance.

Tess Gerritsen - Her books are suspenseful and at times, creepy. Try Bloodstream, Life Support or the Rizzoli & Isles series.

Nelson DeMille - A prolific writer, it is difficult to choose a few of his many titles. If DeMille is new to you, I recommend Charm School, which transports readers back to the Cold War, complete with a KGB conspiracy; and Word of Honor, an examination of the subsequent lives of men accused of committing an atrocity in Vietnam.

Michael Crichton - The king of the suspense novel. The late author's influence is still felt in books and on television. On flights, bring along Congo, Andromeda Strain or Sphere.

Stephen King - Okay, maybe you don't want to add to the tension while flying, but the longtime author of thrillers promises keeping your mind occupied with his classics - Carrie, Green Mile or Misery.

Buckle up!

Independents' Day

in.de.pend.ent. adj. Free from influence, guidance or control of others; self-reliant.


Movies may come to mind when you hear John Sayles' name. But books? Back in the 1970s, the future independent film director was writing short stories and novels. Check out his collection of short stories, "Anarchists' Convention." Not surprisingly, his films, including "Secret of Roan Inish", "Eight Men Out" and "Matewan" are all character-driven stories. Not a car chase or a green screen special effect to be seen.


An idea for a book had been kicking around in Sayles' mind and when a strike hit the entertainment industry a few years ago, he took that time off to return to writing and completed "A Moment in the Sun." A massive 968 pages, the book is a sweeping look at the world in the late 1800s. Fictional characters mingle with actual historic figures such as Mark Twain and Joseph Pulitzer.

Sayles discovered that selling a highly independent (and long) book had the same troubles as selling a highly independent film. Does the book industry believe that Americans, in general, no longer have the patience or attention span for a long and serious book? Enter McSweeney's publishing house which was founded by Dave Eggers, an author himself. At last, the book saw the light of day and was published this past summer.

When it was time for Sayles to tour for "A Moment in the Sun" he chose independent book stores from coast-to-coast. He and his partner, Maggie, set off to drive across America in a rented Prius and shared their adventures in a blog:


http://johnsaylesbaryo.blogspot.com


Visiting an independent bookstore is a good way to get to know a city. Make some time to kick back in a leather chair, have a cup of coffee or glass of wine, and thumb through a few books at any of these fine establishments. Buy a book, too!


*Tattered Cover - Denver (three locations). The 16th Street at Wynkoop location has wooden floors, scarred leather furniture and almost endless rooms. In other words, a perfect bookstore.

*Strand - New York City. The ad said 18 miles of books. I thought it was hyperbole until I stepped inside. Now I think they may have underestimated the mileage!

*City Lights - San Francisco. It felt like walking into a shrine. And the shop is a shrine of sorts, dedicated to books and ideas. (above photo - City Lights)

*Prairie Lights - Iowa City, IA. The shining star of Iowa City, which is also a UNESCO City of Literature. IC is the home to the famed University of Iowa Writers' Workshop. (Trivia question: can you name any of the other UNESCO Cities of Literature? See answer below)

*Powell's - Portland, OR. A really good travel agent will suggest trying a bottle of wine from one of Oregon's excellent wineries (I suggest Chehalem), and a walk through Powell's.


While roaming around bookstores, look for these books by John Sayles:


A Moment in the Sun
Anarchists' Convention (short stories)
Union Dues
Pride of the Bimbos
Thinking in Pictures
Los Gusanos
Dillinger in Hollywood (short stories)


The reading community of Nashville has a new patron saint. Author Ann Patchett (State of Wonder, Bel Canto) was so upset that her city would be left without an indy bookstore that she is now the co-owner of Parnassus, which opened in November 2011. Thank you, Ann!!





>>UNESCO's Cities of Literature: Dublin, Ireland; Edinburgh, Scotland; Melbourne, Australia; Reykjavik, Iceland and Iowa City, USA<<