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This week's Musings Monday question: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)I have a confession to make. I am not even sure what most of the book awards' criteria are. I had to ask my husband just now what exactly the difference between the Booker and Pulitzer was. I know the Edgar Awards have something to do with crime fiction. And I keep getting the Giller Awards mixed up with the Orange Prize. While at this moment I have them clear in my head (thanks to a quick Google search), by the time this posts on my blog, I will have forgotten again.
Before I began blogging, the only time I noticed a book had received an award was if it was if it was mentioned somewhere on the book cover, whether the front, back or inside cover. I never chose to read a book just because it won an award. And I cannot say I do that even today. I do notice the nomination long and short lists these days--but only because others blog about them. I sit up a bit straighter when I hear the winners announced, sure. It's interesting to hear what book won what award, especially if I am just a little bit familiar with it. Half the time, I do not remember what book won what award a week later.
There have been occasions when I have seen the lists of nominated books and found myself making note of the titles. When it gets right down to it, the award process may be the very reason I have heard about the book in the first place. Ultimately, however, the book has to sound interesting to me if I am going to pick it up and read it. No award is going to make me read a book that I have no interest in. So, while a prize winning book may catch my attention for a quick second, it takes more than its status to win me over.
How about you? Do you read prize winning books? Do you have a favorite award?
Amazon was kind to me this week. Well, I guess "kind" isn't exactly the right word. I mean, I did give them money so they would send me books. Those are mixed in with a couple of review books I could not say no to, and my Poisoned Pen Press Book Club selection of the month.Here's a look inside my mailbox on this Mailbox Monday on this Friday (brought to you by Marcia at The Printed Page ):
Murder Is Binding by Lorna Barrett
Doubleback by Libby Fischer Hellmann
The Ghost and Mrs. McClure (Haunted Bookshop Mystery) by Alice Kimberly
The Devil's Company by David Liss
Foreign Tongue: A Novel of Life and Love in Paris by Vanina Marsot
I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
Havana Blue (Mario Conde Mystery) by Leonardo Padura
Camelback Falls by Jon Talton
What bookish delights arrived in your mailbox this week?
Anyone who knows me knows I will not be able to resist this one:
The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg LarssonRelease Date: July 28, 2009
From the Publisher:
Mikael Blomkvist, crusading journalist and publisher of the magazine "Millennium, " has decided to run a story that will expose an extensive sex trafficking operation between Eastern Europe and Sweden, implicating well-known and highly placed members of Swedish society, business, and government.What upcoming release are you looking forward to?
But he has no idea just how explosive the story will be until, on the eve of publication, the two investigating reporters are murdered. And even more shocking for Blomkvist: the fingerprints found on the murder weapon belong to Lisbeth Salander--the troubled, wise-beyond-her-years genius hacker who came to his aid in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," and who now becomes the focus and fierce heart of "The Girl Who Played with Fire."
As Blomkvist, alone in his belief in Salander's innocence, plunges into an investigation of the slayings, Salander herself is drawn into a murderous hunt in which she is the prey, and which compels her to revisit her dark past in an effort to settle with it once and for all.
*Click on the image above to get to the Friday Fill-In headquarters, hosted by Janet!*This week's questions are from Tamy at 3sidesofcrazy; thanks, Tamy!
1. All children alarm their parents, if only because they are forever expecting the child to be just like them.
2. Show me a good loser and I will show you a person who knows how to be a good sport.
3. Having the stomach flu is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs at one time.
4. Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy fixing toasters and teaching our children.
5. I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine beer and baseball.
6. It is impossible to think of any good meal, no matter how plain or elegant, without a rice or potatoes.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching another episode of Closer (season 4), tomorrow my plans include taking in a movie and enjoying lunch out and Sunday, I want to spend the day reading!
Bloody Good by Georgia Evans (discovered at Melody's Reading Corner)
What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS! (I know some participants list books they've actually bought or received for this meme. In my case, these are books that went straight on my wish list after reading the reviews. They are not in my possession. Yet.)
Scottsboro by Ellen Feldman (discovered at Bookworm's Dinner)
Tethered by Amy MacKinnon (discovered at Medieval Bookworm)
The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University by Kevin Roose (discovered at At Home with Alyce)
What books have you discovered this week that are tempting you?
I am just like you. I cannot tell the difference between different Awards. I know if soembody points it out to me or as you said it's on the book cover.
ReplyDeleteThe Girl Who Played With Fire is the second book right? You said the release date is July, but I've already seen this one in bookstores. Is it the US release date?
Violet - There's just too many awards to keep straight! :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, July is the U.S. release date for Larsson's second book. I could probably order an imported copy, but I don't really want to spend the extra money. So, I'll wait. It's not like I'm hurting for books to read. LOL
i never really do that and i don't care much about prize winning books since most of the topics that win really dont interest me that much.
ReplyDeleteGreat finds. Have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteI loved The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, so I'm eager anticipating The Girl who played with Fire.
ReplyDeleteI'm having a giveaway for Bloody Good if you're interested. You can check it out here
~ Popin
I was on a kick for several years where I HAD to read the Pulitzer Prize-winner in fiction. Once I realized that some of them actually didn't otherwise interest me, I was cured :-).
ReplyDeleteForeign Tongue landed in my TBR collection after I saw Vanina Marsot on a panel at the Festival of Books in April. Ah, the FoB - good times!
Fill-ins #5 - LOL! I think most men are BORN knowing how to do that (unless, like my husband, they don't drink beer) :-D.
Have a great weekend, Wendy - and be careful around bookstores!
Awards are meaningless to me. I read a book based on whether or not it interests me not what other people think about the book.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about Amazon! A little frisson whenever I see the box, as if I didn't just order them myself. Silly.
I was just dropping by to check out your Friday Finds, and was happy to see that you found a book at my blog. :)
ReplyDeletePoisoned Pen Press has a monthly book selection of the month? I just popped over to their website, but couldn't find out much about it except that they send you a book a month. I wish they would have included some of their past books. How do you like the titles they send?
ReplyDeleteOooh Wendy! I saw The Girl Who Played With Fire at Kinokuniya on Tuesday but didn't buy it. I was standing there contemplating whether or not to buy it... I should've...
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend!
I rarely read a book because it is nominated for an award, but sometimes I read one and then discover it has been nominated for or has won an award. Frequently, my opinion differs drastically, but it is always pleasing to discover that a book you like has won an award!
ReplyDeleteThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is still on my list!
I truly love how you combine all of these memes into one post! So much fun to read through! I'm about ready to give Amazon or B&N some money in a few minutes too. Except the books are for my hubby and son!!!
ReplyDeleteI would agree that there are so many awards out there, I can't keep track. And now that you mention it, sometimes the reason I hear about a book is because it won an award--but I don't specifically seek out award-winners. It's actually a complicated question, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteLiz - I can see that being a problem. Of course, today, there are so many different awards out there for all kinds of books. There aren't many categories or genres of books that get looked over.
ReplyDeleteJess - Thanks! I hope you had a great one too!
Popin - Thanks for the heads up about the giveaway! I sometimes hate having to wait for books. As it is, I probably won't pick up Larrson's new book when it's first released. It's on my wish list though, so I'll get to it eventually.
Florinda - There was a moment when I considered joining the Pulitzer Prize-winner challenge just to see if I could do it, but then I looked at the list of winners and knew I could never do it. Some of the books just don't sound all that good to me.
I was really reluctant to buy Foreign Tongue. It just didn't sound like something I would like from the description. I think all of the positive blogger reviews convinced me it was worth trying though. I hope I don't regret it. LOL
I hope you had a great weekend too!
Carrie (Patience) - I admit, I'm can be swayed by other people when it comes to books, especially my fellow bloggers. At least in terms of getting up the interest to read one I'm on the fence about. Awards, not so much.
I think we just like getting packages of books in the mail. :-)
Alyce - Don't tell, but I actually went out and bought a copy Friday afternoon. I discovered a gift card in my wallet that I had forgotten about, and so that with my coupon, I got a pretty good deal on it. :-)
I never pay attention to awards. Like you, if I see it on the cover of the book or on the back then I know it was nominated or won otherwise I'm just on the lookout for good books. Doesn't matter to me if they won awards. lol.
ReplyDeleteYou got some good ones in the mail. Both Amazon and Chapters received some of my money this week. I don't know why I keep buying books when I have so many. There should be some kind of program set up for people like me. lol. I bought a few of Jane Austen's that I didn't have and more...Bad Me!
Have a great week Wendy!
Terri - Poisoned Pen Press doesn't announce the monthly selection on their website, and I wish they did. They are very tight lipped about it, aren't they? I haven't been a member long and am considering canceling. Not because I don't like the books choices they send me, but because I really shouldn't be spending any more money than I have to, especially on books sight unseen. LOL I think it was more curiosity that had me give it a try than anything.
ReplyDeleteAlice - I'm so envious it's out where you are already! I still have to read the first book though, so I don't know why I'm complaining. Haha!
Jenclair - That happens to me quite often, where I learn after I've started a book that it won an award. I can't say whether I agree or disagree with the awards given--it's not something I have ever kept track of. I might have to just to see if I agree!
Staci - It makes things much simpler, doesn't it?
At least you are thinking of others when buying books and not being selfish like me. ;-)
Tracy - There are so many book awards! Ones I'm sure I've yet to hear of. It really is a complicated question--or rather, my answer is a bit more complicated. Like you, I don't seek out award winning books, but sometimes I first hear of them because they won an award.
Dar - It really doesn't matter to me what book won what award either when it comes right down to it, but I admit that I do pay attention sometimes to the awards when they are announced. I find that interesting. Whether I read the book or not is an entirely different matter. :-)
I'm in the same boat as you. I keep buying them when I have so many already to read. If you find a program for people like us, let me know!
I'm not sure what's the difference between the Booker and Pulitzer Prize either until I looked it up myself! :P Nevertheless, I'll read them if they interest me, no matter if they're prize-winning or not. ;)
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll enjoy Bloody Good if you get to it! :)
You had a great week. I'd really like to read Foreign Tongue.
ReplyDeleteMelody - Exactly! If they interest me, I'll read them. :-)
ReplyDeleteKathy - After all the great reviews I've read of it by fellow bloggers, I couldn't resist it anymore.