1 post tagged “sanfrancisco”

I'm heading to the California Book Awards after work today. It's the 75th anniversary, so I'm pretty sure they're getting me a diamond, which I'll refuse because of, you know, Kanye.

This will be the first even I attend at The Commonwealth Club, and I don't quite know what to expect. I joined largely because of the radio program, and to get to see some of the speakers. And of course, because I wanted to ask Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas what kind of effect a lesbian Batwoman will have on the price of oil, canola. So I did. Or, wait. So I will. Next time. Or whenever it comes up again. Anyway.

I'm feeling provincial and intimidated. I haven't read any of the authors, other than Jared Diamond (and it was an old book of his, Guns, Germs and Steel .) I thought about buying the Vollman book at The Booksmith the other day, but something about his name intimidates me. I think it's the "T."  Furthermore, I don't know what to wear. What should I wear? Who are these people? Are they going to judge me? I hate being judged. That's not what awards should be all about.

In any case, the nominees are:

Gold Medalists:
William T. Vollmann (fiction)
Adam Hochschild (nonfiction)
Kay Ryan (poetry)

Silver Medalists:
Judy Budnitz (fiction)
Lisa See (fiction)
Yiyun Li (first fiction)
Jared Diamond (nonfiction)
Jon Agee (juvenile)
Joyce Maynard (young adult)
Philip Fradkin (Californiana).