Welcome to Literary Award Season

In The Book Review podcast, MJ Franklin and colleagues Emily Eakin, Dave Kim, and Joumana Khatib discuss the recent book award season, focusing on the Booker Prize, Nobel Prize, and National Book Awards. The panel shares initial reactions to the award season, describing it as mystifying, curious, and unpredictable. They delve into specific awards, analyzing the winners and shortlisted books, and debate the nature and purpose of literary prizes, considering whether they truly honor great art or simply reinforce existing market structures. The discussion includes personal reading experiences, surprises, and the value of book award archives.