Saturday, December 12, 2020

AWARD WINNERS OF 1965 PART ONE

 


This weekend I will bring you some mini reviews of books that won the big prizes in 1965. Above is a 1965 Mustang, possibly the hottest car of the year, just to give you a bit of lore. For My Big Fat Reading Project, I always read the award winning novels of the year. These days there are over 20 such awards and it is impossible to keep up. In 1965 there were just 8 on the list. Below are the first four.

The Pulitzer Prize:


The Keepers of the House, Shirley Ann Grau, Alfred A Knopf, 1964, 239 pp
The winners are usually published during the year before the prize is awarded. This was a family saga spanning generations of the Howland clan from the days of Andrew Jackson to the 1960s. Abigail Howland is a seventh generation daughter. Her grandfather, also a central character, is an eccentric who still maintains the family's wealth and standing in his Deep South community.

It is extremely well written yet for all its literary quality is a page turner. Civil rights have become law in the nation but as we all know, that law does not penetrate into southern towns much, even to this day.

While William Howland is a fascinating character, his granddaughter Abigail was more interesting because of her increasing awareness as a woman, as a white woman, and ultimately as a fierce warrior for her own rights. How hard it is for people who have viewed life in a certain way for centuries to change those views!

The novel is a look at changing race relations from the white point of view. The entire gambit, from descendants of slavery to the violent men who join the Ku Klux Klan while carrying on with Black women to the "genteel" society white women must navigate is braided together in a gripping tale.

The Newbery Medal:

Shadow of a Bull, Maia Wojciechowska, Atheneum Books, 1964, 155 pp
The first of two major awards for children's books is the Newbery Medal, for books meant for kids aged 8-12. This is a wonderful story about bullfighting. Though it is not a sport I would ever want to attend, bullfighting is an integral part of the culture in Spain. 

Monolo Oliver is the son of the greatest bullfighter in all of Spain, who lost his life in the ring. It is expected that Monolo will repeat his father's success but the boy definitely does not feel any urge to fight bulls.

Still he tries to find his courage. Some of his father's friends teach him the sport and the day comes when he must face his first bull.

In a vibrant coming of age tale, Manolo figures out how to deal with the pressure and find his own way in the world. Wonderful writing and plot. Lots of info on bullfighting, including a glossary. Immersion into the culture surrounding the sport. 

The Caldecott Medal:


May I Bring A Friend?, Beatrice Schenk De Regniers, Atheneum Books, 1964, 48 pp
The Caldecott Medal is an illustrator's award for picture books meant for younger children. 

In this colorful story, a young boy is invited to tea by the King and Queen. He asks if he may bring a friend and they say of course! He brings a giraffe. A lovely time is had by all.

Next he is invited for six more days in a row and brings a different animal, or three, each time. The royal figures love every one.

The illustrations by Beni Montressor, exhibit a color scheme of many shades of purple, yellow, red and orange. A true feast for the eyes!

The National Book Award:

Herzog, Saul Bellow, Viking Press, 1964, 371 pp
Saul Bellow's winning novel was also #3 on the 1964 bestseller list. I reviewed it here and enjoyed it probably the most of the 1965 award winners.

I will be back soon with the remaining awarded books of 1965.

Have you read any of these books? In their own ways each one gives a feel for the mid 1960s.


23 comments:

  1. Beautiful Mustang. Quite partial to those beasts..... [swoon] Not read any of those books though... [grin]

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    1. Well, you got a swoon out of my post at least. I try to provide something for everyone!

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  2. It is so interesting to go back to past years and do this. In one way 1965 seems so long ago. Yet I tend to read things that are much older. It is fascinating to see whether or not these various are are winners is still respected or widely read.

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    1. All my libraries have full collections of the children's book winners. Not all Pulitzer or NBA winners have stood the test of time but those prizes did give their books more longevity, I think.

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  3. geez, now I feel bad that I haven't read any of these:( New owned a Mustang nor, did any of our family members but, they were quite the car.

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    1. I had a hard time finding The Keepers of the House. None of my libraries had it. But I found it in
      eBook form on Nook. The rest I did find in libraries. I never owned a Mustang either but my husband's dad was a VP at Ford Motors so they always had the latest cars. Hubby remembers cutting his finger when washing a hubcap at age 12. He still has the scar!

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  4. 1965 seems so long ago. Way back in BC - before computers! Imagine that!

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    1. And yet it was only 55 years ago.

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    2. Pre-personal PC, not pre-Computer.... [grin] Strange days though... [lol]

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  5. If you haven't already read it I can recommend the SF classic 'Dune' which won the 1966 Hugo & Nebula Awards.

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    1. I did read it! Coming up in my next post.

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    2. Cool. [grin] I'll be interested to see what you thought. Was it a re-read or are you new to it? I read it about 40(ish) years ago and am planning to re-read it and the next 2 books in the series next year (in advance of the delayed movie) followed by the next 3 in the series which I haven't read before. Plus I'm planning to at least start re-reading the Asimov 'Foundation' series too... '21 should be FUN.

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    3. I read Dune for a reading group. It was my first time and I was impressed! My husband is reading the Foundation series now. Asimov can take credit for introducing me to sci fi and an old friend of mine can take credit for pressing those books into my hands.

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  6. I've not read any of the books on your list! In fact, the only book I've heard of is Herzog by Saul Bellow.

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    1. I was particularly surprised by The Keepers of the House. I had not even ever heard of it until it showed up as the Pulitzer Prize winner for 1965.

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  7. I have always been martial to a Mustang. They're such beautiful cars. I love this project of yours, it is always so cool to see past award winners. I've not read any of these, or even heard of most of them.

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    1. Those first years of the Mustang! You wouldn't believe how much excitement the car brought. I love my project too.

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  8. i've unsuccessfully tried to read Herzog; too much like what Nixon sounded like imo lol...

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  9. '65 was the year my late father was born. I've only read May I Bring A Friend from this list because it was something my grandmother had lying around when I used to visit her as I kid.

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    1. Interesting! I am sorry you lost your father so early. I am thrilled that you remember that picture book. I found it a treat.

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  10. That mustang is one hot car! I probably can't call myself a reader .... if I haven't read one Bellow book in my life yet .... but I can rectify that in time .... just not sure are they for me?

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    1. As far as Bellow goes, you will never know until you try one. Despite his sometimes maddening characters, he is quite the humanist and I think that would sit well with you.

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