Here's this week's Musing Mondays, hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page.
Do you feel compelled to read prize-winning (Giller/Booker/Pulitzer etc) books? Why, or why not? Is there, perhaps, one particular award that you favour? (question courtesy of MizB)
No. I never feel compelled to read any of the typical prize-winners. The exceptions are the Audie awards (for audiobooks) and AudioFile magazine's Earphone awards. And I don't feel at all compelled to listen to those books, it's just that I tend to pay attention to the audiobook awards when making buying and borrowing decisions.
How about you? Are prize-winners your thing?
Actually I prefer book blogs for recommendations. Not prizes!
ReplyDeleteMondays: Musings/Mailbox/whereabouts
Yeah I'm not into prizes either. My post is up! Oh, I started a discusssion forum on my blog called Cafe Blue.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I've never read a book just because it won an award. If I happen to read one it's just coincidence.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting...Jackie from Farm Lane Books reads alot of prize winners and short listed books. I'm always intrigued that she find some of these books not good at all. In fact, the one that won the latest Orange Prize she couldn't even finish! I'm not a big prize chaser myself. I'd rather trust you all!
ReplyDeleteKudos to the winners I say.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I'm not influenced by lists of that nature. I don't feel compelled to purchase anything I'm not interested in. My buys are strictly based on stories I know I'll like, if they've won awards so be it but I won't be running to the store strictly for that reason.
I do read prize-winners but the prize is not the main factor in my choosing which book to read. I have tried that once and been burned pretty badly. The thing is that I love classics and many of the classic novels that won prizes were certainly deserving of it. However, I have noticed that contemporary prize-winners do not at all measure up to the classics and after expecting a certain level of excellency I very often would get gravely disappointed.
ReplyDeleteI'm not swayed by awards either.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know that there was an award for audio books! I will have to check those out! Here is my Musing Monday!
ReplyDeleteNo, I'm never swayed by an award. That's a great tip though about the audiobook ones - I do think a great narrator makes all the difference, and it sounds like these awards might highlight some good narrators.
ReplyDeleteI like to browse the Aubdibles too. I blame you for my audio addiction. you and twitter!
ReplyDeleteI 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. I agree that a recommendation of a blogger whom I respect is a much bigger factor.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on this one. The prize winners and I seldom agree so I stopped reading them.
ReplyDeleteI was excited to see that the second book in a series I am reading won an audio award. Maybe I'll listen instead of reading it.
ReplyDeleteWell, I like romances, so if a romance won an award (the RITA for example) I might be tempted to read it. But otherwise, no.
ReplyDeleteIt's not my thing either.. it does not mean I won't enjoy a book that won a prize but it means it's not a guarantee that I will enjoy it because of this prize :) it would have to depend on the genre the book is and if the writing style is to my taste ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to see what book wins what award and even who is nominated, but I'm not really a prize winner reader either--at least not in terms of reading the book because it won a prize. I have enjoyed some prize winning books, however. :-)
ReplyDelete