Did the Pulitzer Prize Make a Mistake With Night Watch? A Pulitzer Prize Deep Dive

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2 ай бұрын

I read 2024's Pulitzer Prize-winner for Fiction so you don't have to. I'll talk about how Jayne Anne Phillips won for Night Watch, if this book deserved a Pulitzer, and more. Expand for more information. 👇
Links 💻
My Text Post About Night Watch (With Sources and Links): supposedlyfun.com/2024/05/31/...
Further Viewing 🎥
My Predictions for the 2024 Pulitzer Prize: • Pulitzer Prize Predict...
My Pulitzer Prize Ranking (So Far): • Pulitzer Winner Rankin...
What Is the Great American Novel? • What Is the Great Amer...
1917: The Origins of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction: • The Origins of the Pul...
2010: How On Earth Did Tinkers Win a Pulitzer? • How On Earth Did Tinke...
The 2012 Pulitzer Controversy: • Do Book Prizes Owe Us ...
2022: Why Did The Netanyahus Win a Pulitzer? • Why Did The Netanyahus...
2023: How Did Trust and Demon Copperhead Tie? • How Did Demon Copperhe...
Time Stamps ⏰
What Is Night Watch About? 04:10
Why Did This Win a Pulitzer? 06:51
Is Night Watch a Good Book? 14:52
Who Is Jayne Anne Phillips? 28:24
Are There Adaptations or Sequels? 30:01
What Was Night Watch's Competition for the Pulitzer? 30:37
Should Night Watch Have Won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction? 32:24
Titles Mentioned 📚
Night Watch, Jayne Anne Phillips: bookshop.org/a/99775/97804514...
North Woods, Daniel Mason: bookshop.org/a/99775/97805935...
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, James McBride: bookshop.org/a/99775/97805934...
Absolution, Alice McDermott: bookshop.org/a/99775/97803746...
Tom Lake, Ann Patchett: bookshop.org/a/99775/97800633...
My Affiliate Page on Bookshop: bookshop.org/shop/supposedlyfun
If you would like to support this channel, please feel free to use Super Thanks or the affiliate links to Bookshop, but please do not feel obligated. I appreciate your presence regardless.
But wait, there's more!
Email: supposedlyfungreg-at-gmail.com
Storygraph: app.thestorygraph.com/profile...
Instagram: / supposedlyfun
Website: supposedlyfun.com/

Пікірлер: 237

@BookishTexan

Haven’t read it. I have to be honest and tell you that any book that generates such a visceral reaction makes me curious.

@MJ-in-Canada

Greg throws the book across the room. That says it all, folks.🤣

@MJ-in-Canada

Night Watch drew me in and kept me interested up to a point but then it quickly had me asking, “What is the point you’re trying to make, Jayne Anne Phillips?” I enjoy historical fiction because it leads me off-piste down rabbit holes so the lists and photos, etc., were enjoyable for me although completely unnecessary and puzzling as to why they were included. The sexual assault scene was brutal and drawn-out to the point where I yelled, “Stop hitting me over the head with this!” Having read the excellent McBride, Woods, and Patchett books, I am left scratching my head as to why Night Watch was chosen as the winner.

@MarsBerman

I hated it from the minute I picked it up. You gave me the right to throw it away and worry about Pulitzer's meaning.

@katie5773

The fact that you threw it across the room tells us all we need to know, Greg! You so rarely do that, it's obvious it has offended you greatly. I'm sorry you were so disappointed this year. A lot of what you were saying accounts for why I generally don't read any of the prizes. I don't need some secretive process or some judges I don't know telling me what great literature is. It's all so subjective. And it seems clear to me that each year there's a different agenda with the Pulitzer in particular. I hope you are reading something much better now ❤🧡💛💚💙💜

@drewplatt

I agree. I wanted to love it, but constantly checking the percentage of completion on my Kindle is not a good sign. I didn't hate it; I just thought, "OK, in a year, when anyone asks me about that, I can regurgitate what it's about as if it were a movie I watched on a plane."

@gpeaches

Damn interesting review... When you were talking about the depictions of SA and feeling physically ill, I have only ever felt that when reading Kent Hafuf's Plainsong... I HATED that book. The gratuitous violence against women, animals, and children, and the random sexualization of women at every turn was vile. I am still so gobsmacked that people rave about that book. It felt like I was reading an old predator's smut novel. Hated it with a burning passion. But I can easily tolerate depictions of violence in thrillers and other novels without feeling triggered. Plainsong is the only book I've read that has triggered a physiological response that mimics when I feel like I'm in danger of being SA'd.

@michaelbroderick2282

Wonderful rant. If this book wasn't going onto your Pulitzer shelf, I could envision a book toss that would've sailed right through that window behind you.

@griffincearley4753

Hey Greg! I totally agree with your review, but I wanted to point one thing out, I think the photos actually are all photos of things (or the photos themselves) that are referenced in the book, so that directly enter in the plot. For example, the photo of the soldiers that you mentioned is actually, I believe, the photo that Dearhbla (sic? who knows/cares) keeps and describes of her kind-of son, hubby of Eliza. I totally agree that a lot of the historical details are useless and confusing, as well as with the rest of the review. Love your videos! Thanks!

@TKTalksBooks

I have lost faith in the Pulitzer.

@MsPixieD

Just saw this on my TV and had to hop on my phone to leave a comment. This. This is why I love you so much, Greg. Such a well-tempered, thorough, sincere, apt, interesting analysis. Your videos often mention having a discussion, and it really feels like one, not like being talked at, particularly one point in the video where it sounded like you were responding to something we viewers just said. Makes it feel very immersive and real-time.

@athertonca

Yes, I have read Night Watch through the Libby app, first as an audiobook, then as an ebook…so yeah, twice. It’s telling that Libby predicted I wouldn’t get the ebook for 18 weeks and it was available in less than three.

@shannongeier8155

I sort of want to buy the book and just throw it across the room every week or so, with all my life's frustrations piled upon it. Greg, you're so inspiring! 😍

@readandre-read

When I think of all of the books that they must have read and considered, I really struggle to imagine how they agreed on this winner.

@nathanfoung2347

Great review Greg. Thank you, you put so much effort into the Pulitzer videos it is always entertaining and grestly appreciated. Go well.

@alldbooks9165

Wow. Thanks for reading that book, so I don’t have to.

@alastairmcalpine7467

Like you, I’m starting to worry if the Pulitzer is ok.

@HeronCoyote1234

I’ve tried reading Pulitzer Prize winners. Too many of them, I just scratch my head, thinking, am I missing something? Apparently not.

@janethansen9612

I haven't seen anyone give this a good review yet. I am envisaging a corner of the floor of your library where Night Watch, Rabbit Run and The Netanyahus live.

@lilmorsecody

what an amazing collection in the background!! im between homes at the moment so all my books are in storage. I used to love collecting books, mostly poetry and art books. I can't wait to get them back❤