Publishers Weekly Picks for Best Books of 2015

So I have to admit to a small panic attack when I read Publishers Weekly list of their chosen top books of 2015.  I haven't read any of them! They range from non-fiction and widely touted, Ta-Nehisi Coates work Between the World and Me to short story collection, Crow Fair by Thomas McGuane and southern mystery Delicious Foods by James Hannaham.

My backlog of "to be read" books are stacked around my place, but at least of few of these will be added to the list. 2015 is almost over and they'll be a whole new wonderful crop in 2016. I better get busy.

What have been your favorites? Let us know!

America's Summer Reading; With and Without "Girl on a Train"

Quartz online magazine does a great job of mapping out the summer's most popular books in 15 cities across the country according to library statistics. The big winners? Girl on a Train and Go Set a Watchman.  Not surprised? Yes, those are the two with the most hype.

A second map Quartz has included are the most popular books that are not Girl on a Train or Go Set a Watchman.  Check it out. It's interesting to see what others are reading.

One of the books is Our Souls at Night, by Kent Haruf, which is reviewed here, as the review for Girl on a Train.  Come back for a visit to read a review of Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman

10 Man Booker International Prize Finalists Announced

For 48 years the Man Booker Prize and its judges have been discerningly selecting what they deem as the best fiction writing. The aim is to promote sales and to promote reading of intelligent works.

Launched in 2005, the Man Booker International Prize is awarded every two years to a living author who has published fiction either originally in English or whose work is generally available in translation in the English language. The winner is chosen solely at the discretion of the judging panel and there are no submissions from publishers. 

The Man Booker International Prize 2015 winner will be revealed Tuesday 19 May 2015. See a list of the finalists here. I haven't read these authors - yet.  Have you?  Please do share and let us know your thoughts.  

Nominees Announced for the 2015 PEN Literary Awards

The world of literary awards is vast, but PEN has been around for 90 years. PEN is an international association of writers known for defending writers throughout the world to support free expression.

PEN just announced their longlists for the 2015 PEN Literary Awards, spanning fiction, nonfiction, biography, essays, translation, and more. The finalists will be announced on April 15. The winners for all 2015 awards will be announced on May 13 and honored at PEN's Literary Awards Ceremony on June 8 at The New School in New York City. 

Take a look at the PEN nominees - there are some wonderful reads here.