Which book did you like better–Philip Roth’s “The Plot Against America,” or Dara Horn’s “In the Image”? Jonathan Safran Foer’s “Everything Is Illuminated” or Saul Bellow’s “Ravelstein”? This showdown of sorts among contemporary–and in Bellow’s case, deceased–Jewish writers is taking place as part of the 2006 Jbooks.com People’s Choice Award, a prize for the book determined to be the best work of Jewish fiction from the last 10 years. Judges (including myself) have selected six finalists (“The Puttermesser Papers” by Cynthia Ozick and “The Wedding Jester” by Steve Stern are also on the list), and now it’s up to the people to decide who should win the $5,000 prize. The winner will be announced at a November 15 ceremony for the Koret International Jewish Book Awards in San Francisco. Last I checked “Everything Is Illuminated” and “The Plot Against America” were neck and neck, so your participation can make a difference! Cast your vote now.

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