Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award 2026

Book News and Events
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Here is an interesting award recognizing distinguished fiction that tells American stories in a uniquely American voice, one that reflects Mark Twain’s incisive curiosity and humanity. Celebrating its tenth year.

Longlist 2026

Are You Happy?: Stories — Lori Ostlund

Atavists: Stories — Lydia Millet

Big Chief — Jon Hickey

Buckeye — Patrick Ryan

Crooks — Lou Berney

Dream State — Eric Puchner

Flashlight — Susan Choi

Fox — Joyce Carol Oates

Heartwood — Amity Gaige

Life, and Death, and Giants: A Novel — Ron Rindo

Maggie; Or, A Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar — Katie Yee

My Darling Boy: A Novel — John Dufresne

Narrow the Road — James Wade

Old School Indian — Aaron John Curtis

People Like Us — Jason Mott

Sacrament — Susan Straight

So Far Gone — Jess Walter

Stag Dance — Torrey Peters

The Doorman — Chris Pavone

The Emergency — George Packer

The Imagined Life — Andrew Porter

The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny — Kiran Desai

The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne — Ron Currie

The Wilderness — Angela Flournoy

These Heathens — Mia McKenzie

Tom’s Crossing — Mark Z. Danielewski

Vera, or Faith — Gary Shteyngart

What a Time to Be Alive — Jade Chang

What Happened to the McCrays? — Tracey Lange

What Kind of Paradise — Janelle Brown

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Thanks, Anne! The only two I’ve read are Buckeye and The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. I’m kind of surprised that S&S is on the list; in my opinion it’s much more Indian than North American. Do you think Tom’s Crossing is a good add?

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I’ve red 10 from the Mark Twain list. Yes, I think Tom’s Crossing fits the criteria almost perfectly. It is a totally American story set in the American West. I don’t expect it to win but I do believe it deserves a place on this list. As you said, maybe more than Sonia and Sunny although I’ve not read it yet. Flashlight is another one that seems less American although parts of it are set here.

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Wow! That’s a lot! Which 10?

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I’ve read: Big Chief, Flashlight, Fox, Heartwood, Narrow the Road, People Like Us, So Far Gone, The Imagined Life, The Wilderness, Tom’s Crossing.

I dnf’d: Maggie: Or a Man and a Woman Walk into a Bar, The Doorman

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Oh, you must read Buckeye. I know you’d enjoy it.

Which of the ones that you read would you put at the top of the list?

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People Like Us and So Far Gone are from favorite authors of mine.

Pushing books as if I need more on my tbr. I’ll check into Buckeye and Palaces of the Crow.

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Hey, that’s what I’m here for! :winking_face_with_tongue:

I’m pretty sure you’ll like them both, but of the two, I think Buckeye is a must-read.

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 Yeah, I guess that’s true  😂  😂  😂  😂  😂
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I’ve read 11. I’d highly recommend Buckeye, Crooks, Heartwood, Life and Death, and Giants, People Like Us, So Far Gone, The Savage Noble Death of Babs Dionne and What Happened to the McCrays. I was not a fan of The Doorman, Dream State or Big Chief.

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I’ve read four, with several more on my TBR list.

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Which ones, @Evonne_Benedict, and which was at the top of your list?

And @labmom55 - Which one book of those you’ve read would you put at the top of your list?

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Dream State - Life, Death and Giants - Vera - The Wilderness. Top of my list - The Wilderness.

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I’m so glad to see that Amity Gaige’s Heartwood on the list and is getting some recognition. I do have Buckeye but haven’t read it yet. Let us know when the shortlist comes out. I will look into some of these. Thanks, Anne.

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Buckeye and Crooks were my two favorites.

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I don’t know if they select a short list for this one but I will watch for next announcements. I thought this would be a popular list for many in this group.

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