“Reading takes us away from home, but more important, it finds homes for us everywhere.”
— Hazel Rochman
As someone who enjoys spending the North American winter holidays curled up with good books, one of the pleasures I take from this time of year — even this year — is deciding what those books will be!
With authors and subject matter located throughout the globe, here are just a few of many resources you can use to find your next great read (or gift!):
Awards
Likely the best known literary prize on the globe, the Nobel Prize in Literature was first awarded in 1901.
The Giller Prize is given to a Canadian author of a novel or short story collection.
Pulitzer Prizes are awarded to books of American fiction, drama, poetry, history, biography, and general nonfiction. PEN America also offers numerous awards, including prizes for emerging writers, as well as for outstanding works of fiction, poetry, literature in translation, and nonfiction.
The Women’s Prize for Fiction is given to a novel published in the United Kingdom, written by a female writer from any country. The Booker Prize is given to a novel published in the UK or Ireland, and the International Booker Prize to a novel translated into English, with equal prize money going to the writer and the translator.
Other awards in specific genres include the James Beard Book of the Year and the IACP Cookbook of the Year, the Edgar Awards for mysteries, and the Nebulas for science fiction.
Don’t forget
Independent bookstores and libraries can also be an excellent way to find your next favorite book. Many will work with you via telephone or email, and have adapted book pickup or delivery services to comply with COVID-19 restrictions. Even better, quite a few have moved their readings, book clubs and other events to virtual formats that are accessible from anywhere.
