On thinking about the books I have read the last few years, I realized that I was reading far more British than American books, not that there is anything wrong with that, but it seemed odd because I am American. One of the reasons, I think, is that most of my projects are based in Great Britain even if the prizes accept entries from other countries. So, I decided to wrap up one of those projects and start a new one for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
Even though I have enjoyed reading many of the shortlisted books for the James Tait Black Fiction Prize, I decided to wrap up that one, as the Booker Prize is a little more mainstream. I will continue to read the shortlist for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, because I enjoy historical fiction so much.
One advantage of picking the Pulitzer Prize is that I have already read several of the finalists and winners, and several of them were favorites. I will continue to read the books in the James Tait Black list until I have finished all of them from 2010-2023. I have nine more to read and eleven to review.
Those who have been following my Angela Thirkell project might remember that we only have three more books to go before we finish the entire Barsetshire series (29 books). One of those reviews will appear tomorrow. So, that’s another project that’s winding up.
whatmeread 
That will be an exciting project. So many good books to read. I have really enjoyed this year’s winners, Trust and Demon Copperhead. When I checked the list I realised I had read quite a few without necessarily realising they were Pulitzer winners. I wish I was more disciplines to actually develop a project and better still stick to it!
Yes, I didn’t realize that some of the ones I read were up for the prize, either.
Excellent challenge, there is great range in the Pulitzer
I hope so!
Ambitious but fun! I’m way too insular in my reading so I’m looking forward to having you tempt me to cross the Pond a bit more often. Of your initial list, I’ve read only two – Trust and A Registry of My Passage Upon the Earth – both of which I thought were brilliant!
Oh, good! I haven’t read either, so something to look forward to!
If you don’t mind my asking, are these projects you set up for yourself, or are they “challenges” from groups with certain/special interests?
I started the Walter Scott Historical Prize challenge first, just emulating Helen of She Reads Novels, but then I ended up reading such good books from it that I added the others myself.
If you don’t mind my asking, are these projects you determine/set up yourself, or aare they “challenges” from various groups?
Always fun to have a project on the go. I tend to vary between British and American authors, and the two are always my top two every year. I like your Pulitzer Prize one and that you can continue with it each year but just do three books.. Of course before I followed your link I looked them all up and have read old ones (The Age of Innocence, Arrowsmith, Gone with the Wind, To Kill a Mockingbird) and did quite well on 80s and 90s (Foreign Affairs, Lonesome Dove, Breathing Lessons, A Thousand Acres, The Shipping News, The Stone Diaries, The Hours) then nothing since Middlesex, though I have Demon Copperhead TBR. Have fun with it!
I haven’t looked them all up. That would be interesting. I’ve read a lot that you listed, though.