Aspen Words Literary Prize 2026

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Aspen Words Literary Prize 2026

This is one of my favorite lit prize lists for getting a good overview of the best in publishing. I’ve rarely dnf’d a book from past years and of the six I’ve read from this year’s list I’ve liked every one of them. There is a little crossover from other lists but a lot of these are titles that are unique to this list alone. Give it a look and see what you think.

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Thanks, @Anne_Glasgow! I hadn’t heard of that one before. According to the web site:

“The Aspen Words Literary Prize is a $35,000 annual award for an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture…Annually, open to authors of any nationality, the award is one of the largest literary prizes in the United States, and one of the few focused exclusively on fiction with a social impact.”

I’ve read three (on my fourth), and of those, This Here is Love by Princess Joy L. Perry was the most impactful for me. I can see why the others, The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb and Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy made it to the list. I’m about halfway through King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby so not sure about that one yet.

Have you read any of the books on the list, Anne? I’m curious as to what you thought of them. I might actually have time to read a couple of books just for fun in the next few weeks and I’m looking for recommendations.

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I’ve read 6 from the list:

The True True Story of Raja the Gullible-Alameddine (National Book Award Finalist)

King of Ashes-S A Cosby (Barnes & Noble best of 2025)

Culpability- Bruce Holsinger

Wild Dark Shore-Charlotte McConaghy

Endling -Maria Reva (Booker finalist)

So Far Gone-Jess Walter

I like them all very much. I hope to read more from this list—probably starting with The Wilderness-Angela Flournoy.

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