A Denver bibliophile and philanthropist, Taylor Kirkpatrick, started a prize for young (under 30) book collectors in Colorado, and it now has its first winner: Sam Watson. Sam collects Japanese literature in translation, and particularly literature by women. In his entry, he said he gravitated toward literature by women because of “…their unique perspectives in a male-dominated society.”
In his entry, he wrote, “I want to challenge any preconceived notions I have as I continue to broaden my viewpoint as a reader. I’m always heartened when coverage of these books in the West emphasizes the humanity and relatability of the works, rather than the differences or foreignness of their perspectives. I wonder if we’ll move past marketing buzzwords like “quaint” or “quirky” for these female authors….”
Among other things, the Kirkpatrick prize comes with $1,000, which should give a boost to any collection.