Winning losers

First, the very cool James Dashner is donating all his royalties from copies of The 13th Reality that are sold in the first week of publication (which would be now, I think). More details at his blog.

Dean and I were talking about wanting to read some graphic novels that had been recent award winners.

"But which kind of awards are they?" I asked. "The kind that awards to really great reads, or the kind that recognizes the genre breakers and innovative styles?" I.e. the kind that might be "important" but also "boring." Personally, I think there's room for both kinds, both contributions to literature are vital to keep it alive and growing, but also keep readers reading. But as a reader, I want to read the rippin' good tale most of all.

So my question is, do you select your reading list from the winners of certain awards? Do you always trust the Newberys, the Pulitzers, the NBAs? Do you shy away from the Hugos but embrace the Nebulas, or vice versa? Are there obscure awards that you think always choose really great books? My new favorite awards are the CYBILS. What do you mean that's because they chose book of a thousand days? I scoff at your unfounded accusation! Those peeps just know good reads, that's all I'm saying.

Comments

[Mrs. Mordecai]

I don't really read books off an award list. What has happened to me recently is that I'll read a book (like E.L. Konigsburg's The View from Saturday) and then think, "Wow! That was a really amazing book. It so deserved the award on the cover."

[Anidori-Isilee]

I know I do like to read literary award winners, like the Newbery or National Book Award. But sometimes...sometimes I think that those awards don't choose the best books. Lately, I've found myself disenchanted with Newbery winners, and this year, I haven't read any of the Printz books, and I'm not sure that I intend to. I mean, I'm sure they're great books and I'd enjoy them, but lately I haven't been loving them, though I do tend to enjoy National Book Award winners. I think that there are so many different kinds of good books, and the awards don't really reflect that.

I personally really like the CYBILS, and not because of B1000 (okay...so that's part of it), but because I like the way the books are chosen. It makes me feel like the books considered are actually entertaining and have appeal to a wide audience as well being well-written.

[Miss Kitti]

I don't go by the awards so much. I'm always happy when a fav wins an award (B1000, Princess Academy) but it's not necessary.

If I like a book, I'll find everything the author has written and then follow leads from there.

In that way, Princess Academy was a total gateway dru--I mean book. I read everything else I could find of Shannon's and followed her recommend to Libba Bray and Stephenie Meyer. Good times.

[emily f]

Heya Shannon, after a year and a half of no fiction reading/writing my question is what should I read in general. I chose a book in French that people recommended called Le Petit Prince. It is simply amazing...I mean, really simple and so profound and cute.
Do you have recommendations of where to 'restart?'
besides goose girl ;)

[sakuraember]

As a librarian, award winners are always interesting. But also as a librarian, that doesn't mean that they are always good for everyone. The main thing is to find someone the person who came in the doors will enjoy. If it is an award winner, great. If not, that's okay too. Deciding such things is so subjective anyway.

[Miss Erin]

I love Cybils, but I too might be biased since I've served on a committee the past two years.

However, the Cybils are run by kidlit bloggers - and kidlit blogs are where I find out about 95% of my reading material.

[Nicole]

I don't really look at the winners of awards - the only ones I ever payed attention to were the Cybils. ^^ I prefer to ask people what I should read and vica versa.

[Burning]

I'm one of those fools who picks books out by their cover. I never pay attention to awards. Just the pictures. But that's how I find all the best books. In fact, it's how I got PA. I loved the folk art-y look to it. And EB, too, for that matter. I didn't even know it was by the same author as PA, but I liked the picture.

That's how I got the Twilight books, the Gemma Doyle trilogy, How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff, I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak, the Eva Ibbotson books, Born Confused, and so many more terrific books. Merely because I'm intrigued or attracted to the picture on the cover.

(I've also found that most books people suggest to me that are really good have lovely covers, too. Like I Capture the Castle and The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets.)

Rant over.

[Burning]

P.S.-One of my favorite activities is going into the library and reading the spines of books for intriguing titles. (How else would I have found the book Papa You're Crazy or Walk Two Moons?)

[Ellenboro]

I don't really vare much about the awards. I always start by looking at the cover and saying "This looks good--and pretty!" or "This looks reeeally boring...." Then I look on the back or inside cover for the description and decide whether I'll really read it or not. Then I look at the cover again, admire it, and, if there is one, I notice the award sticker or something of the sort and say "Oh, so it has a Newberry. That's cool."
(Newberry or anything else.)

Once I know the author, if I see if it has an award I get excited. If not it's just like "OK. That's cool. Whatever."

[Ellenboro]

Sorry for the double post but I would likr to mention that I like the Aurealis Award. It nominates some very good books in my opinion. Of course, I only think about this after I've read them and notice the books have the awards but, you know...

[Tasha]

Sometimes I use award winners as a guidline for what to read. If that makes sense. I'll usually read them just to find out what was so great about them. Most of the time though I am really dissapointed. I'm like why in the world did that book win when there were so many other good books to choose from.

But when it comes to your books, I always love them. They are just great.

[MAYday]

I rarely look for awards to find the books I want to read. Once, I tried reading the books off of the Newberry Awards list, but the first few I read weren't very intruiging, so I just went back to picking out books on my own! I also look at the cover and inside jacket and back cover (actually my pet peeve are those books that have ONLY awards written on the back or a different books summary!) I actually feel that most of the books I've fallen in love with were chosen by chance. Good thing, too!

[Q]

I'm with Erin--I read what others reccomend to me. Which explains why I'm running out of books to read--everything I want to read is either not available at my library, is already checked out, or is not out yet.

[Andrea]

I don't really care which books won an award, to me if it's a good book, it's a good book. The only award that I have looked into is the Newbery awards.

[Jane]

Awards aren't tacked onto book spines, so it's not something that I'm looking for. I generally favor the most obscure books that I can find.

I don't put any faith in the awards, because it doesn't necessarily mean anything. Some of the worst books I've ever read were plastered with rewards of some kind or another.

[Olivia T.]

I agree with you completely, Miss Shannon. The rip roarin' good tales are the absolute best! And I would never accuse you of favoring the CYBILS because they awarded Book of a Thousand Days! Of course not! Dashti and My Lord deserve everything they receive and ever so much more!

[hwalk]

I agree with most of the comments--the only award list I've looked at much as the Newbery, but sometimes they definitely miss really good books out there.

So, I mostly get books from recommendations.

[leahr]

I think that if I do get to hear of an award-winning book, it is because a bookstore will put it in a more prominent place. While I do like to search the back shelves for undiscovered treasures, if I have a limited time in the store, I will probably grab the first book I see that looks interesting and start reading it.

I like to read the NY Times book review, so I will see what has won, but I am usually not in the bookstore at the time and will probably forget to buy any I like at the time.

I have hated Newberry books, though. Awards don't necessarily mean I will like the book. Imho, getting reccomendations from my friends remains one of the best ways to be sure a book is good.

[Gretchen]

I'm rather a fan of the Printz awards. However, that's a really good point that awards don't always mean you as a reader will like it.
I think it'd be fun to be on an awards committee.

[Sylvia]

Sometimes I like to read books that have got an award, so I can compare them to my own ratings. Generally I read books that have been recommended to me by friends, family or LRRH! ;)

[Heather]

It's so funny, since I am the "first line of defense" for all my friends and family for good books, I usually can't go the whole recommendation from friends route.

I find I make of judgements off pretty covers, and that includes anything shiny aka "award winners" - but I have never bought one because of it. The sticker will get me over there, but then I am far more critical going "okay, why did you deserve this particular award." It's a fun game I play (but a sticker is by no means the only thing that attracts me. Titles play a big role too). The House of the Scorpion is one such perfect example.

[Enna Isilee]

I LOVED 13th Reality!

And I also make judgements off of covers, and where they are placed in the library. I generally only browse the "new book" section because I like to look for the newest thing, but the cover has to grab my attention.

[Natasha]

After college, recommended reading or awards lists don't sit too well with me. I just feel so limited! Since I am a fan of fantasy, it feels even more limited sometimes!

Instead, I find books from wondering around bookstores or by surfing the Internet (blogs, author websites, Amazon). I found your books at http://www.yafantasy.com (which I won Enna Burning signed by you, thank you!!!!!) when I didn't know what to pick up next. I then bought two of your other books with money from my birthday--- and I just love them!!! Now if I went by lists, who knows how long it would have taken for me to find you and I wouldn't have an awesome story to tell of how I started reading your books! :)

I have to say, I do respect the lists though. I am an aspiring writer, so I should have some respect for them. I just don't want to limit my mindset or imagination to just one thing--- and I love having an excuse to spend hours in a bookstore!

[Jen]

Awards are always a good starting-off point. Why not? ALA lists, lit blogs, writer's blogs, friends who read, the Amazon.com "other users bought" suggestions, pretty covers, the public library's web page has a ton of lists. I use the library for most of my new reading ... I can check out an almost unlimited number of books without the fear of buyer's remorse. LOVE the library.

RE: Graphic Novels
The problem with graphic novels (in my humble opinion, of course) is that it's difficult to find works that are as literary as they are visual. That being said, here are three graphic novels that I've read in the past year that are strong on both counts. A great jumping off point.

American-Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. (YA, won the Printz award in 2007)

300 by Frank Miller (whether or not you've seen or want to see the movie, this one is worth a look)

The Arrival by Shaun Tan (no words whatsoever, but one of the most powerful books I've "read" recently)

[Dr. Sallie N. Cheinsteen]

I really don't pay attention to the awards. If there is a Newberry award it recommends it a little more than others, but I really just read books that I hear about from other people. That or the ones I find in my basement, or the ones that look interesting at Barnes and Noble. The awards don't really make a difference. By the way, what's the exact definition of a graphic novel?

[Nina]

I'll usually chance upon a good book online (that's how I found Book of a Thousand Days). Awards aren't really a big thing... if the story sounds good, and the first chapter is interesting, I'm in. An award is just an added bonus.

[Christen]

Honestly, (well, you did ask), I check to see what my favorite authors recommend (*coughShannoncough*) and check those out. Sometimes I stumble on books by accident, like the Gemma Doyle series, or through a friend, like the Harry Potter series.

Basically, for me the title is important. If I can't get behind a title, or think it sounds stupid, I usually don't read it. I think the thirty-page test is a good book chooser, too. I pick a genre, find books in my section of that kind, and skim the first pages to see if it seems to be an interesting read.

The fact that a book has won an award feels like the cherry on top when I finish the book. It's sort of like a, "Oh, you think this is good? Well we did too!" :)

[Ellenboro]

Dr. Sallie N.,

This mayn't be the exact definition of a graphic novel, but since I love them so much I think I can give you a good idea of what they are.

Graphic novels are usually 200-300 pages long. Sometimes, like in the case of Artemis Fowl, they are published as picture-less novels first and then are made into graphic novels. When this is the case, usually the most memorable lines and most important parts are put in it. Other times, they're an original work that when first published have panels (like comics), speech and thought bubbles, and a clear idea of how the characters look like. They tell the story through pictures but with the thoughts of the main character and you see when somebody does something or says something. You don't have to use your imagination as much as when the books are picture-less.

But they're still sooooo fun to read.

[Ellenboro]

Sorry for the double post again. I had a quick thing to mention.

Manga does count as graphic novels because it tells the story through pictures and words.
(I'm a TAD of a Manga freak. Not so much as some of my friends but I really like it.)

[Claire]

There are many books with awards that I love (like Princess Academy)but there are a few that do not really appeal to me that have won awards. I do not really care if a book has an award or not. But what I do look for is the summary on the back of the book telling me a little about the book, if it's interesting or not and sometimes I read a little of the first chapter to see if I can get into it.
Liking, loving, or hating books are all opinions. It's decided upon us if we think it's well written really. Don't always rely on awards!

[Bohae]

I usually read books that are recommended to me. Or I just happen upon them by chance. A lot of the books I read don't have a Newbery award...but they're still some of the most amazing books I've ever read :)

[Ruby]

I agree with Natasha, awards are a good starting place. I collect Newbery award and honor books. No, I don't always agree with the committee, but their selections have also introduced me to some great writers. I will then search out other works by the authors of the books I enjoyed.
One year, not so long ago, I bought a Newbery Honor Book, because it was an Honor Book, and put it on the shelf, intending to read it over the summer. I knew nothing about the author. In the mean time, I ended up buying the same book, different cover, when I was on a trip, having forgotten that I already had the book. As it turned out, I loved the book and it was nice to have a copy to keep and one to pass on to a friend. The book was "Princess Academy"! Now I've read almost everything that Shannon Hale has written. (Did you know, "River Secrets" is hard to find in bookstores? I need to order it!)
Now, with the internet, I like to look at the recommendations of my favorite authors, too. Sometimes a title or a cover will also attract me. I must say, if I had not already been familiar with Shannon's work, I think I would have been drawn to the title "Book of a Thousand Days."

[Miss Erin]

BTW, my favorite graphic novels are 'To Dance' by Siena Cherson Siegel and 'Robot Dreams' by Sara Varon. I highly recommend both of them!

[Burning]

Some book titles that attracted me:

-The Jane Austen Book Club
-Ophelia
-Enna Burning
-The History of Love
-Sense and Sensibility
-Dizzy ( -Waters Luminous and Deep
-The Blue Girl

[Burning]

Whoops! That's...
-Dizzy
-Waters Luminous and Deep
-The Blue Girl

[Liesolotte]

I know absolutely nothing about awards. My method of deciding what to read is nonchalantly shassaying through the library and pulling down books that look interesting. Often I'll end up with a huge pile. I'll start reading the ones that look particularly intriguing, but if I'm not hooked in the first chapter, I'm likely to stop reading. This wasn't always the case, but since I've started highschool I have to read a bunch of ancient greek 'classics' which puts certain restricitons on my reading time. If I like a book, though, I will often obsessively pursue the author's other works.

[Laura Z M]

I have no apparent need to go looking for books. THEY find ME. I think my nightstand is enchanted. It has an endless supply of exceptional books stacked on top.

[Q]

I wish my nightstand was enchanted...

[Jillian]

One thing I know, the award-winning/celebrated books are the ones I consider first, because they are the first ones I see on the shelf, but fame doesn't determine my choice. The storyline does. If it sounds interesting, even if I found it pushed back behind the more-read books, I'll read it. I've read some very bizarre and unknown books before, ones that when I recommended them to my friends they looked at me stupidly and said, "I've never heard of that before," and I believed them. But anyhoo...

[Jillian]

Oh, Shannon, I just heard that you've been nominated for a WHITNEY AWARD. Congrats! although I don't know much about it, only that my dad is also nominated for Best Book in a different category. I just thought that that was exciting. He's been nominated for awards alongside you and Stephenie Meyer. Much cool.

P.S. I don't know if this is the best place to say, but it's all I could think of. My clickable name leads to a site I created for others like me, aspiring writers, particularly but not necessarily teenagers. It's still undergoing a small amount of construction, but anyone interested....
Thanks!
(aspiringwritersgp.webs.com)

[Charlotte]

This doesn't directly answer the question, but you really do have to judge books by their title and cover. You can't pick up every book in the library to read the back and decide if it looks good.

I am a little embarrassed to admit this, but when I first got Goose Girl (from my grandma) I was completely disinterested, because I thought the title sounded boring. Which leads to something else...if a book is dumped in your lap, don't judge it by the cover. Because...then you may miss a very good book, which thankfully I didn't. Aren't my sentences fabulously constructed?

I missed three blogs! Where was I?

[Calliope1of9]

I read NYT bestselling books, Newberys, Cybils, and recommendations from my friends and ones I read about on LRRH. It's a good system. :)

[Mahak]

When I was younger, I never paid attention to awards. I mostly shied away from Newbery because some of them looked boring to me. I read Robin McKinley but that's because I loved Fantasy and she wrote Spindle's End and Beauty and I didn't care if she got the Newbery. Actually, the fact she got the Newbery amazed me because I realized that books I loved could also be considered "good" books.

I can't even remember how I ended up picking up your book. I read Princess Academy before The Goose Girl, but I don't think it had to do with the Newbery. I think it's because I loved your blog and then I read you had a "lyrical" style, which made me curious about how you write, so I read the books.

Even now, I don't read books based on awards. I read some, but not all the books I love get awards. Whenever I have tried to keep up with the book awards and read what's on their list, I get bored and never finish the book, so I really shouldn't even bother.

Book of a Thousand Days is waiting on my shelf and I am dying to read it. I am a college student who is overworked and not given enough time to read and enjoy myself...but it's gonna be my big treat, soon.

[Janet Martin]

I do like to read the Award Winners, although I pay more attention to the nominee field--I expect all of the 4-6 books nominated to be at least good. I am cynical, however, because I know how the process works. Does the publisher make certain that the right books reach the nominating committee? Does a single poor review kick out a book because one reviewing reader didn't care for something in the book, ie a reviewer who only enjoys contemporary angst or only enjoys fantasy and is unwilling to judge a book on independent quality? Is a book rejected or promoted for some obscure (to the book buyer) political reason? There are lots of these and other factors going on in the big award business.

[Rachel]

Book of a Thousand Days is a rippin' good tale. My favorite of yours, so far! I absolutely love strong, plain Dashti. And the prince isn't so bad . . . .