Writing for Women, Emily Hutchinson posted an August 9, 2026 aggregate story on “Pulitzer Prize Winning Novels From The 80’s, Ranked by Reviews” on Goodreads.

The list is in some ways surprising, with the biggest tip of the hat going to retired Texas Rangers Augustus McCrae and Woodrow Call, who captivated readers of Larry McMurtry’s Western novel Lonesome Dove. Coming in second was another historical novel, Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. Curiously, Norman Mailer’s The Executioner’s Song captured third place ahead of Toni Morrison’s Beloved, followed by Updike’s Rabbit Is Rich in fifth place.

Hutchinson noted, “At the time of writing, the book has an average score of 3.93 from over 18,100 ratings. More than one five-star review claimed Rabbit Is Rich had improved on Rabbit Redux, while other’s were quick to heap praise on Updike’s writing style. ‘What makes this book so good is the balance between comedy and sadness. Rabbit is older and more comfortable, but not wiser in any simple way,’ one wrote. Another noted the book contains outdated themes and language, plus graphic themes, but shared, ‘For those of you who can understand that that’s all part of the character and part of the times, you will accept this for the masterpiece it is.'”

Read More: https://www.women.com/2230362/pulitzer-prize-winning-novels-from-80s-ranked-by-reviews/