Wizard of Odds

There has been a hue and cry of late to handicap the PEN/Faulkner Awards. The name is The Happy Booker, folks, not The Happy Bookie, but since you asked…here goes:

No betting on “the spread,” since we’re not relying on points, just three judges—Kathryn Harrison, David Anthony Durham, and Herbert Gold—and five books. Everyone knows by now that the folks at PEN can be a little tricky, able to pull a long shot out of their hats when you least expect it—think “The Caprices,” the appropriately named collection by Sabina Murray back in ’03. And while the judges have sung the book body eclectic, they have also fallen for some more predictable choices, aligning with Pulitzer judges on selections like Independence Day and The Hours.

So is this the year of long overdue recognition, a nod to young promising talent, or perhaps a welcome-back-into-the-fold-of-fiction group hug? Is it just a National Book Critics Circle Award Nominees redux, with Marilynne “Welcome Back!” Robinson facing off against Edwidge “Winning Streak” Danticat ? Who knows. But I for one cannot wait to see what everyone will be wearing on the red carpet—nominees, please remember: You wear the dress, the dress shouldn't wear you.

The NBCCA ceremony takes place this Friday, March 18, at the auditorium of the New School, 66 West 12 Street, at 6:00 p.m. The event is FREE and open to the public—“ FREE and open to the public,” PEN/Faulkner folks are you getting this?

The Happy Booker home-brewed odds-o-matic:

3-to1 that the P/F statuette holder will mention “we are all winners here” in their acceptance speech.

Even money: Ha Jin's "War Trash" This is my gut reaction, even though the P/F folks have already given Jin a prize for his mantle back in 2000 for “Waiting”
6 to 4 Marilynne Robinson's"Gilead" —my heart says Robinson, though I am not certain this is her year—please don’t tell me we have to wait another 23 for her next nomination?
4 to 1 Steve Yarbrough's”Prisoners of War " —Not the obvious choice but not the long shot. Timely theme, wonderfully written, a quiet and subtle book about race, America, and the wages of war. Worth reading, regardless of the award.
12 to 1 Edwidge Danticat's “The Dew Breakers" —Wonderful writer, lots of press and popular nods from the Today Show and the Story Prize earlier this year. Could this be her time?
25 to 1 Jerome Charyn 's"The Green Lantern " —37 books, Thirty-seven. Some would say this kind of recognition is overdue. You make the call.

Disclaimer: Of course the Happy Booker knows that online gambling is frowned on by the Feds and the like, so these odds are for entertainment purposes only…

The PEN/Faulkner awards will be followed by a $100/plate gala dinner honoring all the nominees. If you want to hobnob with this fine literary crowd in DC, you’re going to have to pony up the dough. In NYC, where dollar values are double, the National Book Critics Circle Award gala seats go for only $40—clearly the bargain here. (note to Rake’s Progress: I feel your pain.)

Where will the Happy Booker be on Awards Night? Probably tuned into the E! pregame show at home, watching as various overdressed DC hobnobbers talk about their designers, jewelers, and literary preferences. And frankly, no matter how they spin it, the 5 second delay will drain the excitement and spontaneity from the show.

Note to those in NYC: Marilynne Robinson appears tonight at the 92nd Street Y, for a conversation with fellow author, Mary Gordon. Don’t miss it!

Comments

[Christy]

I'd put my money on Marilynne Robinson. She's due. (Due being a tricky, delicate concept for this award. Mr. Charyn might need to consider Dixon's (20 books) and Sorrentino's (30 books) also-ran status in past awards and practice his own I'm-just-glad-to-be-nominated grin in the mirror). Anyway, didn't Stanley Fish tell us recently that religion is the new sex--that it's what everyone smart will be talking about? There's a whole lotta religion in that Robinson book.

And yet, I've been wrong pretty much every year since I've known about the award.

But will some fashion designers _please_ take pity on the writers and consider a charity dressing event, particularly for those who do not understand that the reinforced-toe hose with comfy sandals is not, I repeat, not dignified evening wear (again, reference past events for valuable learning lessons). Even in Washington, DC, the city where the shoulder pad will not die. Could we not convince Harry Winston to don the lady nominees with sparkles? Prada suits for the writing gentlemen? Oh, for the likes of the well-dressed writer who makes the rest of us scribblers look like we actually might pull our heads up off the desk every two decades and get out into the sunlight--such as Allan Gurganus and Ann Patchett, class and grace in excellent shoes.

[Dan Wickett]

I'm pulling for your mid-level choice - Yarbrough has quietly put together a stunning portfolio of work over the past 15 years or so - three great story collections, three great novels and a single limited edition story with rarely a wasted or misplaced word in the bunch.

I agree with Wendi completely - POW is well worth your time, prize winner or not.

Enjoy,