A book review of Jesmyn Ward’s fourth novel, Let Us Descend, a historical fiction rendering of the pain of life under slavery. … More Let Us Descend, by Jesmyn Ward: A Spoiler-Free Book Review
The Grapes of Wrath is considered by many to be the Great American Novel. But was it stolen from another novelist? … More Is The Grapes of Wrath Plagiarism? A Pulitzer Prize Deep Dive
In an unprecedented move, the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction was a tie between Trust and Demon Copperhead. How did this happen? What could have led to a tie, and was it deserved? … More How Did Demon Copperhead and Trust Tie for the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction? A Pulitzer Prize Deep Dive
There was no shortage of big-name contenders for the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, but the winner was a lesser-known novel. How did The Netanyahus by Joshua Cohen beat the odds? … More Why Did The Netanyahus Win a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction? A Pulitzer Prize Deep Dive
Who will win the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction? I’ll look at the potential winners and make a prediction for the book with the best odds (and decide what I want to win). … More Pulitzer Prize Predictions for Fiction 2023
Ernest Poole won the first Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for the novel His Family, a quiet domestic drama about societal change. But did the wrong book win? … More Did the Wrong Book Win the First Pulitzer Prize for Fiction? A Pulitzer Prize Deep Dive on Ernest Poole’s ‘His Family’
I don’t think I know anyone who has ever mentioned Edna Ferber’s 1917 novel Fanny Herself to me. But it’s a book that deserves a lot of recognition, in my opinion. … More Discover This Book: Fanny Herself by Edna Ferber
Josephine Johnson is the youngest winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel Now in November, but her career mysteriously stalled. What happened? … More Was the Youngest Pulitzer Prize Winner Blacklisted? Now in November: A Pulitzer Prize Deep Dive
The Pulitzer Prizes were first given out in 1917 but the Fiction prize was withheld. Instead, it officially launched the following year. Why? … More The Origins of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (And Why There Was No Winner the First Year): A Pulitzer Prize Deep Dive
Andrew Sean Greer’s Less won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Is this sequel necessary? Does it live up to the original? … More Turns Out Less Really Is More: My Review of Less Is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer
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