I've always been one of those people who like to investigate those works I haven't read and I hear some mention of in awards finalist shortlists, but it seems to me that there are some that just pose that "I haven't heard of them" as a sort of "they aren't worthy of my attention," as if ignorance is not just bliss, but a privilege.
I rarely read anything because it is on an awards list. The only book I can remember picking up because I had seen it on an awards list must be Byatt's Children's Book. And that was because I had been planning to read Byatt for a while. I feel awards take much of the fun out of the exploration.
Well, that seems to be a contrarian position!
How so?
I don't boycott books that are on award lists. I just don't pay attention to the lists.
So I pose this question in regards to the books listed in the RAFO awards: If you haven't read them/are familiar with those authors' works, are you going to try and "read and find out," or are you just going to sit on your ass and complain whenever you see an awards shortlist because it doesn't contain what you've read?
Isn't it a bit tricky to get up on that pedestal?
I wouldn't know. Would you?
I am not the one assuming that people who do not slavishly follow awards are uninterested in literary exploration.
But you said you don't read books that receive awards in a fashion that seemed to indicate that you do it despite any public recognition of the works' qualities.
No. I said I prefer to find my own way. And I explicitly said that I do not boycott books that are on awards lists, just that I do not pay much attention to the awards.
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
structured procrastinator
Do you ever really "read and find out"?
25/08/2010 10:14:37 PM
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Hey hey hey I already said I would check them out *grumbles* *NM*
25/08/2010 10:22:00 PM
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All the time. It's my job
25/08/2010 10:23:17 PM
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If you aren't paid, it's your hobby...or you just volunteer to do so
25/08/2010 10:29:59 PM
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I kind of figure there are too many classics and older good books I haven't read yet, I guess.
25/08/2010 10:47:04 PM
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I could have saved a lot of time by just agreeing with all this. *NM*
25/08/2010 11:01:03 PM
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i checked out those awards book on amazon and what seemed interesting i've added to my wishlist
27/08/2010 12:12:01 AM
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