This is it. I have read seventy-three books this year and the four mentioned below are what I think to be the very best. Whenever I read, I'm always looking for such books. Gorgeously written (beautiful prose), with fascinating characters and most important, that makes a powerful statement. Every story has something to say, but it's how you say things that makes your statement remembered. The bravado and the style of it. This category rewards the novel I've read in my 2010-2011 reading year, which I thought to be the very best. The books in competition here were not eligible for most of the other categories, because I had to keep a little suspense. The nominees are...
Anthony Neil Smith - Choke On Your Lies
Norman Mailer - The Executioner's Song
Francis Scott Fitzgerald - The Beautiful & Damned
Vladimir Nabokov - Lolita
The Awards will be handed out on the first week of December, following this schedule
December 5 - Best Book Cover, Funniest Book and Best Short Story
December 6 - Best Non-Fiction Book, Best Series and Best New Book
December 7 - Best Crime Novel, Best Literary Novel and Best New Writer
December 8 - Best Female Character and Best Male Character
December 9 - Best Novel
Mark your calendars, spread the word and discuss, who you will think will be the winners of the 2011 ceremony?