Read With Us . . . This Summer

Every year for many, many years I've followed the Women's Prize for Fiction (through several sponsorship and name changes) with great interest. Born of frustration over the lack of recognition for women writers among the top fiction prizes, the Women's Prize was established in the early 1990s, and has since become one of the most prestigious literary prizes out there. It is awarded annually to a female author of any nationality for the best original full-length novel written in English and published in the UK in the preceding year.

I mark my calendar every year with with announcement dates for the Women's Prize - the Longlist, the Shortlist, the Winner. . . and then I get to reading as many of the books as I can get my hands on. By the time they've narrowed it down to the Shortlist, I'm never disappointed! (Last year's winner was Hamnet, a favorite of mine -- and I know a fave for many of you, too.)

Bonny, Carole, and I are really excited to announce that our summer Read With Us book selection . . . is lifted directly from the 2021 Women's Prize Shortlist!

We'll be reading Unsettled Ground by British author Claire Fuller. NPR has this to say in its review:

'Unsettled Ground' is a terribly beautiful book, and although its premise may seem quiet, it is full of dramatic twists and turns right up until its moving, beautiful end.
            --- Ilana Masad, NPR

Although I haven't had a chance to read it yet, I've been waiting to pick it up since the Women's Prize Longlist announcement back in March! Unsettled Ground was only released in the US about a month ago, but I've seen on Goodreads that a couple of you have already had a chance to read it (lucky you!). My library hasn't got its copy yet, apparently, but I am #1 on the hold list, so I'm sure it won't be long. The book is available in hardback and Kindle on Amazon, and I'm sure you can pick up a copy at your local bookstore as well.

We'll be talking more about the book and providing some background information later in July and August. Then . . . mark your calendars now for our blog book discussions AND a Zoom discussion on Tuesday, September 14 (7:00 pm Eastern time; Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel).

I see (on Goodreads) that many of you have this book on your "to read" lists, so I'm hoping you'll be eager to join in and . . . Read With Us!

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Previous Read With Us book selections:

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Fever by Mary Beth Keane

I'm Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez

Wild Game by Adrienne Brodeur

The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

 

Comments

[Juliann]

Great choice. I read this book at the end of May and loved it. I have already recommended to friends which is unusual for me. Enjoy

[Kat]

I just got myself on the waitlist at my library! I am hoping it moves quickly!! :)

[Margene]

All the books on the Women's Prize is are worthy of winning this year, but Unsettled Ground is my #1 favorite. I think you'll (and everyone else) will like it as much as I do!

[Kim in Oregon]

Looks good! I just got it and will move it up my reading queue.

[Vera]

As I commented on Bonny's blog, I keep picking up...or getting on Overdrive...books by this author, but I never seem to read them. Not sure what the issue is for me. It's a long wait list at my library for this one, but I may request it and see how long it takes.

[Patty]

Yes! I’ve been in the wait list for a bit - arrival may time perfectly with our summer trip to CO. Very excited about this choice. And regarding CO and yesterday’s post - yup! Glad you had a wonderful visit. XO

[Sarah]

Excellent choice! I just finished it and really enjoyed it -- that NPR review is spot on!

[Mary]

I finished this one last weekend and loved it (I ordered my copy from Blackwells in the UK, so I even have the gorgeous black cover, too). Marked Sept 14 on my calendar - maybe we'll be discussing the Women's Prize WINNER!