Awards

The Great American Read - how did you do?
November 2nd 2018
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The Great American Read, the 8-part series in which PBS attempted to determine which novel is America's favorite, is over.  On October 23rd the network announced (to no one's surprise) that the winner was To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

To Kill a Mockingbird was on my list of favorites too, as were many of the other titles on the list of 100 novels which were selected for inclusion in the contest.  Continuing in the spirit of competition, I hereby announce that all of my best-... Read Post

Holiday Reading
December 18th 2015
If you're lucky you'll have some time off next week.  Many Americans aren't that fortunate. What do you plan to do with your time?  I will be reading Jenny Lawson's new(ish) memoir Furiously Happy and returning to some old favorites: Carl Hiassen's Tourist Season and Daniel Boorstin's The Discoverers. If you're looking for book suggestions, the staff of Jezebel have compiled a list of their favorite reads this year. And Slate's critics have compiled a list of the year's overlooked books. If... Read Post
Love Is In the Air
February 14th 2014
In honor of Valentine's day, we turn our attention to romance novels.  If you are a fan, you might know that there is an organization called Romance Writers of America which each year recognizes outstanding published romance novels and novellas with the RITA awards.  Below are lists of the 2013 finalists in a few of the categories.  There are many more.  For a complete list, click here. Historical Romance Beauty and the Bounty Hunter by Lori Austin Bride by Mistake by Anne Gracie Defiant by... Read Post
We Have a Winner!
April 1st 2013
Reginald Bakeley's Goblinproofing One's Chicken Coop has won this year's Diagram Prize for oddest book title, joining such illustrious tomes as Greek Rural Postmen and Their Cancellation Numbers, Bombproof Your Horse (do-it-yourself seems to be a recurring theme) and Highlights in the History of Concrete. The book's U.S. editor, Clint Marsh, told the BBC, "Reginald and I take this as a clear sign that people have had enough of goblins in their chicken coops." We at SPL are very happy for Mr.... Read Post
The Diagram Prize, 2013
March 19th 2013
It's Diagram Prize time again! Which book will win the coveted Oddest Title of the Year Award? Below are a few of the contenders. Click here for more!