Hola ya'll. Several of us in a book club I belong to are gradually making our way through the fiction Pulitzer winners. I just noticed there was a group on LT for the same challenge. Are ya'll still active?

I think we're here, probably just busy with the summer (or winter, depending where you are ). I'm getting ready to read The Confessions of Nat Turner and should probably get on that now that I've caught up on Early Reviewer reading. I have several other Pulitzer novels on my Kindle, but I've been waylaid by the US Presidents Challenge.

I'm still here, but I haven't been able to get to any more prize winners. Between ER books and the two monthly book clubs I'm in I only get to pick one or two reads myself per month, and lately I've been picking either 'fun' books or 'informative' ones.

I have good intentions, though. :o)

One of the books I'm currently reading (I juggle many books at the same time) is the Pulitzer-prize winning "Humboldt's Gift" by Saul Bellow. I've read a number of books by Bellow; some I've loved ("Herzog" and "Mr. Sammler's Planet"); some were just so-so ("Dangling Man," "The Victim," and despite being considered top-notch by the literary establishment, I also thought the novella, "Seize the Day," was just so-so); and one I just can't seem to get through, because I find this book (that's considered a masterpiece) just plain old BORING: "The Adventures of Augie March."

Concurrent with reading "Humboldt" (I'm about 100 pages into it; I love it) I'm also reading Bellow's first work of non-fiction, "To Jerusalem and Back." I'm about half-way through -- it's top-notch.

A little mini-bio on Bellow, for those unfamiliar with him: He was born in Canada, came to America (Chicago) when he was nine. He's Jewish, he's a genius, and he's no longer with us. But I hope his books will survive forever.

A postscript on Saul Bellow, and a vey important postscript: he won the Nobel prize.

I'm glad to hear. I just wanted to check before I joined and made a thread. I plan to read The Age of Innocence this month with MaryZorro and co. (MaryZorro is the one initiating and leading the fiction Pulitzers as side reads for our book club.) I'll start a thread here once I've finished it. My last Pulitzer was Empire Falls, which was a slow read but I enjoyed it. I plan to read more by Russo in the future.

By the way, the book club is an online book club and if anyone happens to want to read and discuss any Pulitzers with us, we would welcome them. Let me know and I'll PM you the site we're on. I'll post our upcoming reading schedule when I put up my thread.

Forgive my ignorance -- I know about books, not about the protocols of websites, or how to navigate them. I just came on this site and saw a gazillion threads and posts, and literally did not know which way to turn. I landed here, and feel content. Again, forgive my ignorance, but I don't understand why we're supposed to go elsewhere, I am uncertain of the meaning of some of the acronyms contained in the posts, and just feel overwhelmed. A librarian recommended me this site because I guess he sensed I hungered for book talk. It took me a year to try it --most of my free time is spent reading those 50 books a year referred to in my screen name.

I thank you in advance for any guidance you can provide. I am in awe of those who have mastered the intricacies of a web of world-wide proportions. About all I can handle is a web named Charlotte! :)

I read "The Age of Innocence" and loved it. I also read Edith Wharton's "Ethan Frome" for school, many, many years ago; I think I liked it, but it's so long ago, I can't be 100% sure. And I read one other book by Wharton, a book I remember being an example of "literary torture": "The House of Mirth." Wharton is a major novelist, "Mirth" is considered a major classic, but that's just my little ole opinion, for what it's worth.

Hola about50ayear. The Age of Innocence is the next Pulitzer that I plan to read. I read the beginning of The House of Mirth online several months ago but I hate reading books online so abandoned it.

Buenas tardes, chrine! I really hope you like "Innocence." And I think I'd rather have to go the dentist every day than read a book online! (Well. maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but just a bit. :))
I don't just love reading with all my heart and soul, I also value and appreciate books as physical objects.

A tiny factoid for all you Saul Bellow fans:

He loaned $3,000 to Michael Powell in the late 70's which allowed Michael to open the largest independent bookstore in the world: Powell's Books in Portland, Oregon.

Thanks, Mr. Bellow!

fig2, #12 -- great factoid! If you're not familiar with a non-fiction book called either BOOK or BOOKS by Larry McMurtry, I have a hunch that based on the info you shared in your post, you might enjoy it. Happy Reading!

Message edited by its author, Sep 9, 2009, 12:43pm.

So funny you should mention that; I love Larry McMurtry and have been salivating over that book since I first saw it! I'm trying to hold out for a used paperback, but we'll see if I can wait that long... sigh...

fig2/#14: I hope one comes along soon! I've read a number of novels by McMurtry, but still haven't gotten around to his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "Lonesome Dove." (I own it; I found it at a used book sale, very good condition, price 25 cents.) Did you, or anyone else here on this Pulitzer thread, read it?

I did read Lonesome Dove and loved it. A perfect piece of literature: 5-star worthy. And, I hate westerns, so there you go.

I got my copy autographed when he came to a reading in my city - I was thrilled about that - and he was a very nice man!

Message edited by its author, Sep 9, 2009, 5:32pm.

fig2/16 I hate westerns, too, and came to McMurtry via a book I found on a B & N remainder table many, many years ago. It's called "Somebody's Darling," and what I especially liked about it was that he included a vivid description of a bookseller/bookstore in it. I don't have my notebook with me where I keep a record of everything I've read, but I know I read "The Last Picture Show," I read the book the movie "Hud" was based on ("Horseman, Pass By") and a weird book that was the first book in a recent quartet he wrote. (I can't remember the title; maybe "Sin Killer"?) Weird book, but still well-written. It's possible I read one other; I have to check.

That's really cool that you met him. I loved that he wore jeans with a tux when he accepted his recent Academy Award.

Message edited by its author, Sep 10, 2009, 2:50pm.

Try Cadillac Jack - it's hilarious....

Thanks, fig2/18 -- I love funny books!

An addendum to my first response on this thread: I gave up on "Humboldt's Gift," by Saul Bellow, about 70 pages into it. I don't know what's happening with me and Bellow -- I loved "Herzog" and "Mr. Sammler's Planet" so very much.

I am currently reading the Pulitzer Prize-winning (non-fiction) "Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt. I read McCourt's books in reverse order, something very unusual for me: "Teacher Man," "'Tis," and now "AA." My favorite was "'Tis." I've been reading "AA" forever; I think if I had read it first I would have finished it lickety-split, the way I did the other two.

Message edited by its author, Oct 17, 2009, 10:53am.