Monday, June 15, 2009

Monday Musings


MUSING MONDAYS are hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page. Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about award winning books…

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)

This is an easy one. I absolutely do NOT feel compelled to read prize-winning books. As a matter of fact, I usually avoid them at all costs. For the most part, I find the books that have won the Pulitzer to be dull, boring and/or bland. However, there have been a few notable recent examples, both of which happen to be short stories - Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiria and Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. So maybe I should rethink this. But considering there are so many awesome books to read, I doubt I would ever choose to read a book simply because it won some prize. I choose books based on the description written in the inside jacket and book recommendations from people whose opinions I trust.

How about you? Do you feel compelled to read award winning books? PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with your opinion or link to your own Monday Musing post.

16 comments:

Reviewer11 said...

Me too, I mean I don't look for books that won prizes. I usually look for books that sound interesting reads to me. What I find interesting is that I seem to enjoy books on celebrities. I have one by Miley Cyrus called "Miles to go." One of my favorite books is "1001 Arabian Nights" by C.. I can't remember her name. lol!

From a fellow SITSta. :D

Reviewer11 said...

By the way, I love your blog. I just bookmarked it. :D

Pam said...

Reviewer - Thanks for visiting from SITS and for bookmarking my blog. I'm so flattered. I've never heard of 1001 Arabian Nights by "C". I'll have to check it out.

gautami tripathy said...

I do like Booker books. And also look out for books by Nobel Prize Winners.

Mondays: Musings/Mailbox/whereabouts

Sandy said...

I definitely don't read something because it's a prize winner or because it's on Oprah's reading list, etc. Being the contrarian I can be, I always question something's value if EVERYONE thinks it's special. Doesn't necessarily make sense but it's me!

mommakin said...

I'm with the majority on this one - definitely don't seek something out just because it's award-winning.

Unknown said...

I do not seek out prize-winning books. I few of Oprah's choices have been good books, but I base my reading more on what friends have read and by visiting the library or bookstore and just doing as you mentioned, reading book jackets and first chapters. I also am highly motivated to read a book if I like the front cover, not a scientific process, but it works for me.

Alex the Girl said...

Cut or copy your answer then paste it here. There are times when I don't even understand how some of those books can be considered prizes much less anything else.

Ronnica said...

I don't. I generally don't agree with the awards committees on what makes a book good. I don't avoid them (though I'll likely only read them if I hear/read a good review of it), but I don't pursue them.

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

If it's already a favorite author of mine, or if I read a summary of the book and it sounds interesting to me, or if a friend recommends it, then I am more likely to read a certain book. I could care less if it was an award winner or not! Frankly I picked up a few of Oprah's recommendations and while some of them were good, many of them were just plain ole BOOOORING to me!

Gamma Sharon said...

I'm with you... I read what sounds interesting to me. I don't even pay much attention to if it is awarded or not!

Miss Lady Grey said...

I don't read a book just because it won an award...just like I don't watch a movie just because it was nominated (or won) an Oscar. I don't particularly like Oprah's picks. And I have been known to read a book just because the cover or title intriqued me at the time. Also, if I read a book by an author, and I love the book, I will tend to seek out other things by that author, and read them as well.

Pam said...

Alex - I hear you. I think some of the prize winner are just over my head or something.

Sharon - I'm with you on this one. Whether a book has won a prize or not does not effect my interest in reading it.

Lady Grey - I definitely find books to read because the cover/title grabbed my attention. And I always search out a favorite author's other books. But, if I read the inside jacket and it doesn't interest me I won't read it - regardless of how great the title, gorgeous the cover art, or how much I loved another of that author's books. There are just too many books out there.

CW5H2O said...

I always feel guilty or confused over the fact that most of the time, I hate or just don't get the prize-winning books. I've always thought that maybe I'm just not "cultured" enough. I'm not ashamed to admit though, that I love a good beach read, or a great mystery or sci-fi fantasy...I love it! And half the time, I think that those books are better in some ways than a lot of the prize winning ones.

Pam said...

C - I feel the same way about those books. That I'm not smart or savvy enough to "get it". But, I AM smart enough to know that I don't like them.

Terra said...

I do NOT feel compelled except...with children's books. We buy them all...

 

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