Announcing ... the Page by Page Book Club

I've mentioned earlier, when big literary awards are announced, how I feel like there are lots of award-winning books I've never read.

So, my reading goal for 2010 is to rectify this.

I've selected six award-winning books to read next year, one every two months. I'd love for some of you to join me, and share discussions of these books. I've selected winners of the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award and the Man Booker Prize (a literary award in the British Commonwealth).

I'm hoping this project will get me reading more highbrow literature, though I don't plan to give up the more escapist fiction I also enjoy. I hope to spark discussion. Please, join in and share your thoughts.

The reading schedule is as follows:

Jan-Feb 2010: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (2009 Pulitzer winner)

March-April 2010: Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip M. Hoose (2009 National Book Award winner for young people's literature)

May-June 2010: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (2009 Man Booker Prize winner)

July-August 2010: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz (2008 Pulitzer winner)

September-October 2010: Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann (2009 National Book Award winner for fiction)

November-December 2010: The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje (1992 Man Booker Prize winner)

All of these books are new to me except Olive Kitteridge, of which I've read the very beginning but not the rest. Most, obviously, are recent award winners; The English Patient is on the list even though it's 17 years old simply because it's something I've been wanting to read.

Keep an eye out for more discussions and activities as the year progresses. Happy reading in 2010!

Comments

[Fred Burwell]

Hi Sara,

O.K. you're on! This sounds like fun. I look forward to discussing these with you and others. All new books and authors to me.
Best,
Fred

[Miriam Vance]

Dear Sara,
I am hoping to read many of the books you have identified and have ordered the first one from amazon.com.
I have not read any of them previously.

iriam

[Jean Thomas]

How do you vote for the community book read

[Sara]

Hi Jean,
The community read poll is on The Courier's site, www.thecourier.com. Scroll down past the sports stories and you'll see it. Thanks for your interest!