Monday, June 15, 2009

Musing Mondays-- Are Book Awards Carrots for Readers?

Do you feel compelled to read prize-winning books? Why, or why not? Is there, perhaps, one particular award that you favour?


I have to admit that, once I escaped the educational system (with honors I might add), I've never gone out of my way to read prize-winning books. The books I read are chosen because the synopses sound like something I would enjoy, plain and simple.

I think my deeply suspicious attitude toward awards stems from two things:
  1. Watching year after year as the Academy ignored marvelous films or performances come Oscar time because someone's political beliefs were radical or because something derogatory was said about how things were done in Hollywood. I learned years ago that sometimes the very best actors didn't get recognized for their work until they had one foot in the grave and the stone mason was chipping out their epitaphs. And sometimes they were never recognized at all...except by the viewing public who loved them.
  2. Actually reading prize-winning books that made me want to skip the wall and just throw them straight out into a busy intersection. Certain committees seem to pride themselves on handing awards to books which have such obscure styles and plots that I can't find my way through them with a GPS, a team of Sherpas and six St. Bernards on stand-by. Some may say that this isn't a sign of poor writing by the authors, but of the poor intellect of the reader (me). That could well be. I'm not always the brightest bulb in the chandelier. But I'd much rather stretch my brain cells in more enjoyable ways than being terminally confused.
No, nowadays I let other folks read the award winners. Occasionally I'll finish a book with a sigh of satisfaction and notice on the back cover that it's won an award. After wondering how I managed to slip and choose a prize winner to read, my very next thought is, "Well, hey now. Looks like someone had an attack of good sense!"

Yes indeed. Just call me cynical and suspicious come Prize Time!

A big Thank You to Rebecca of Just One More Page for hosting this meme. If you'd like to join in, or if you'd just like to see more responses to this question, click on the Musing Mondays graphic at the top of this post. See you next Monday for more musing!


12 comments:

  1. I am so glad to read your opinion of award books. You wrote: Certain committees seem to pride themselves on handing awards to books which have such obscure styles and plots that I can't find my way through them with a GPS, a team of Sherpas and six St. Bernards on stand-by. Some may say that this isn't a sign of poor writing by the authors, but of the poor intellect of the reader (me). That could well be. I'm not always the brightest bulb in the chandelier. But I'd much rather stretch my brain cells in more enjoyable ways than being terminally confused.

    That is PRECISELY my opinion, although you stated it so much more eloquently than I ever could.

    Now, I won't NOT read a book just because it won an award, but I will also not make myself sludge through a prize-winning novel that I just "don't get" when there are so many other well-written stories out there.

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  2. I completely agree with you. I like the way you said it. Why waste time on a book just because someone else thinks it's great? My reading time is too valuable. I feel the same way about the books everybody is reading. Just because it's a bestseller doesn't mean it's a book I will enjoy. Good post.

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  3. Very well said! I don't pay attention to awards because sometimes it's just beyond me why certain books were chosen and others weren't.

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  4. I agree as well. Award books often seem suspiciously political, and too obscure for many readers (such as me!)

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  5. Well said. I think I'll start reading more award books the day they stop being exclusive and deign to include genre writers. In the meantime, I think I do read the occasional award book when I'm reading children's fiction or YA - my tastes tend to coincide with those committees a little bit more.

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  6. Well, I for one am here to criticize you!

    I was drinking my first cup of tea du jour while reading my handily emailed dose of Kittling. I got to sherpas and snorted hot tea, then chandelier sprayed it over the keyboard. Thank you Cathy!

    Alas, my bolshie side comes to the fore with awards, and I am more likely to regard an awarded book with deep suspicion. And yet, I take a keen interest in the Australian Children's Book of the Year Awards, always hoping "They" will choose great books. "Great" of course is decided by me!

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  7. You're funny! Hey when I is my blogging space going to be featured on Scene of the Blog?

    mine

    Oh I started a book discussion forum called Cafe Blue. Hope you can drop by for a visit. Cafe Blue

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  8. I am not greatly moved by a book winning a prize or award. Some group may think they are great, but that is not always my experience...in fact a good number that I have read make me share your desire to throw them into traffic..or a cage of lions...

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  9. You have some good points ... but I wouldn't ignore a book if it won a prize but I wouldn't choose it solely for that reason either!

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  10. I agree entirely. I used to think award winning meant 'something' and so I slogged my way through a load of earnest, worthy tomes. But when the Booker Prize committee gave another award to Peter Carey a few years ago for what I considered to be the biggest load of rubbish ever published I gave up. Awards are only opinions after all and they're generally more about the politics and other issues than about anything else. So I just read what I want to read now and awards can look after themselves.

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  11. Molly--thanks for the compliment, but I think you're much more eloquent than you give yourself credit for!

    Margot--I probably sound completely egotistical, but MY opinion counts for much more than some committee's or reviewer's. After all, I'm the one who's going to be reading it! I'm glad you feel the same way.

    Sunny--I agree. I think politics have much more to do with awards than it should.

    Rhapsody--"Obscure" and I have never gotten along well! LOL

    Belle--I almost said something about awards such as the Newbery and Caldecott. I haven't gone out of my way to look for these award winners, but I've never been disappointed when I've read one. Another good point you make is the one about genre writers. What's up with that nonsense?!?

    Susan--Oh my. Was your keyboard a fatality? I hope it survived!

    Bluestocking--Funny you should mention Scene of the Blog. If I can get some time that's not interrupted a million times by my loving husband, I'll be sending you an email about that very subject!

    Caite--Would the lions actually do anything to those books? Just curious!

    Jenners--I agree. I don't choose books according to awards, but if an award winner sounds good, I won't ignore it due solely to its winning status.

    Nise--Thanks!

    Bernadette--Sounds like you and I are in complete agreement!

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Thank you for taking the time to make a comment. I really appreciate it!