Winners

    Thanks to all those who entered the draw for copies of Cliff McNish's very scary story The Hunting Ground. I've pulled names out of the hat in the usual fashion, and the winners are:

    Litlove

    The Victorian Librarian

    Dark Puss

    The Bibliomouse  (Sarah C.)

    Simon S.

    I already have real names and addresses for The Victorian Librarian and Dark Puss, but if everyone else would email me (the link is under 'ABOUT' in the right hand sidebar) and give me their details, I'll pass them on to Orion who will be sending out the books. One last thing, The Hunting Ground is published by Orion's young adult imprint, Indigo, and as I said in my post on it, it's not one to give to younger children.

                                              ~~~~~

    On the subject of winners, and following on from last night's brief post on the Costa Book of the Year, on this morning's edition of Breakfast on Radio 3 Petroc Trelawny asked listeners whether they take particular notice of the winners of the major book prizes, whether they make a point of buying those books straightaway, and if so, how soon they then read them.

    It's a question which had occurred to me, too, and while I would certainly like to read Andrew Miller's winning novel Pure, I'd do so on the basis of the book per se, not because it has won the prize. While of course the publicity generated by the award may be the very thing which brings the book to a reader's attention, the accolade itself is not enough for me to pick up a book which on the face of it doesn't particularly appeal. That said, subsequent favourable reviews from trusted sources may persuade me to revise my initial opinion, so I suppose it's a cumulative process, one which demonstrates the power of blogs even where books have the massive spotlight of a major literary prize shining on them.

Comments

[Dark Puss]

Thank you so much for the prize!

I pay little attention to literary prizes and absolutely don't rush out to buy (ha ha!) or borrow (rather more likely) such books.

[adele geras]

I also would never buy a book simply because it had won a prize and have positively AVOIDED some which have. NO names no pack drill. But I bought PURE some weeks ago because I thought it looked a corker and I am happy the Costa judges agreed. Also, because lots of the winners ARE lovely books, I generally get to read most of them but I'll wait till the paperback appears or order from the library. Sometimes I'm very lucky and read the winner in proof. I did this with WOLF HALL and I still have my proof to which I am devoted. I haven't replaced it with the real book.

[litlove]

This is such a lovely surprise! It's been a raggedy day and so this is a really delightful end to it! I'll drop you an email later on - thank you!!!

[Cornflower]

I'll bet you tipped Wolf Hall as the winner, even at that very early stage!

[Sharon M.]

I live in the world of POPULAR fiction, and the local book store is a nationwide chain. Can you tell I'm American? So ususally when I need some more books, I go to the web sites of the prizes, get a list and hope beyond hope that the book store will have some. Generally it's about 10%. Sad. But they're better than anything the book store is pusing so I content myself. Other than you and a few other bloggers I have no access to opinions I trust. So there you are--the prizes help me. Sharon Moreland

[The Victorian Librarian]

O my - what a lovely surprise to end a long day! Thank you!

[LizF]

I'm of the same opinion as you about prize winning books, Cornflower. I'll read it if I like the look of it, but if it isn't the sort of book that would normally appeal to me, the fact that it has won a prize isn't going to make any difference.
Like you, I do occasionally read a book that isn't on the face of it my 'type' if I have seen a favourable review by a blogger or reviewer whose taste I trust, but I have neither the time nor money to read books just because they are a prize winner.

[LizF]

I sympathise Sharon with your problem as the situation re bookshops isn't a great deal better in my part of the UK.
The town I live in has two bookshops, both chains and both stocking popular fiction - although I admit that one is slightly better than the other in the scope of books they stock.
While I am definitely not decrying popular fiction as I read a fair amount of it, the only way I know about other books is from bloggers and online sources - so you are not alone in that.

[Anji]

I concur with the other opiniions posted, I don't really follow the literary awards so I don't usually know who has been nominated, never mind who wins the prize.

[Cornflower]

Very interesting to get your perspective, Sharon - thankyou.

[oxslip]

Hmm, a bit of both for me. I find prizes a good way to guide my reading, but often I get them from the library if they sound a bit far away from the things I'd normally read. For what it's worth I tend to prefer the Costa and Orange lists over the Booker.
But I remember really liking Ingenious Pain all those years ago, Casanova and Oxygen less so, so I think I would have read this anyway.

[Dark Puss]

The book arrived safely at Dark Puss Towers yesterday. Many thanks again. P xx

[The Victorian Librarian]

Thanks! My book arrived over the weekend!