Let me underscore the obvious here: Reading fiction is
important. It is a vital means of imagining a life other than our own, which in
turn makes us more empathetic beings. Following complex story lines stretches
our brains beyond the 140 characters of sound-bite thinking, and staying within
the world of a novel gives us the ability to be quiet and alone, two skills
that are disappearing faster than the polar ice caps.
Unfortunately, the world of literature lacks the scandal,
hype and pretty dresses that draw people to the Academy Awards, which, by the
way, is not an institution devoted to choosing the best movie every year as
much as it is an institution designed to get people excited about going to the
movies. The Pulitzer Prize is our best chance as writers and readers and
booksellers to celebrate fiction. This was the year we all lost.
—Ann Patchett, novelist and bookseller, writing in today's New York Times
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