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Were you surprised by the outcome of the short story contest? Does the knowledge that a book has won a prize attract you to reading it?

Created: 04/12/14

Replies: 10

Posted Apr. 12, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Were you surprised by the outcome of the short story contest? Does the knowledge that a book has won a prize attract you to reading it?

Were you surprised by the outcome of the short story contest? What do you think of A.J.'s comments to Maya about why certain books and stories win prizes and others don't? Does the knowledge that a book has won a prize attract you to reading it?


Posted Apr. 14, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
deeh

Join Date: 03/03/12

Posts: 239

RE: Were you surprised by the outcome of the short story contest? Does the knowledge that a book has won a prize attract you to reading it?

I was somewhat surprised that the protagonist didn't win, but it did make for a better story.

I used to be attracted to books that were prize-winners, but in the last few years I have enjoyed reading books recommended by individuals who read really good books, such as Nancy Pearl. I love her reviews. Also my friends tend to influence me more than they used to and I love our group reads.


Posted Apr. 15, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joyces

Join Date: 06/16/11

Posts: 410

RE: Were you surprised by the outcome of the short story contest? Does the knowledge that a book has won a prize attract you to reading it?

Not really surprised but a little disappointed for Maya. I guess it sort of fits the rest of the book in that things aren't always fair and the best does not always win. As far as reading a book because of it winning a prize, I too have kind of quit doing that. Too often I find that it may be in all ways a great story, well written and all that but is just not enjoyable to me. Friends recommendations and published reviews are more likely to influence me.


Posted Apr. 15, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
carolyna

Join Date: 08/14/11

Posts: 25

RE: Were you surprised by the outcome of the short story contest? Does the knowledge that a book has won a prize attract you to reading it?

I wasn't surprised either. in Maya's story she writes,"my favorite kind of book is where a character has hardshps but overcomes them in the end. I know life isn't like that. Maybe that is why it is my favorite thing.'
I tend to read the begining of prize winning books, like the first 10 pages in my favorite book store..or sample
on my kindle before making a purchase. I do rely more on reading many different reviews (like Book Browse) before final purchases.


Posted Apr. 16, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
janeh

Join Date: 06/15/11

Posts: 222

RE: Were you surprised by the outcome of the short story contest? Does the knowledge that a book has won a prize attract you to reading it?

I thought it made it a better story for her to place third. Gives her something to work for …. after all, her dad wasn't the greatest of authors, so maybe she's not going to be the next Pulitzer Prize winner. Maybe she's just going to be one more person writing for writing's sake -- and that's not a bad thing. I have found that unless I find the prize winners BEFORE they get nominated, I probably should not bother reading them as they probably won't interest me. I keep up daily with everything that's on the market as I am a voracious reader. If I haven't discovered it in the year before it is discovered by prize boards, I will have most likely checked it out and made the decision it wasn't my cup of tea. The only exception to that is I often find great horror and suspense books through the award nominees. These genres don't seem to make it easy to find them before they are spotlighted by fame!


Posted Apr. 16, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
jo bethr

Join Date: 10/01/12

Posts: 6

RE: Were you surprised by the outcome of the short story contest? Does the knowledge that a book has won a prize attract you to reading it?

I was surprised about the outcome of the short story contest but it did make for a better story.


Posted Apr. 16, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
janb

Join Date: 06/27/11

Posts: 16

RE: Were you surprised by the outcome of the short story contest? Does the knowledge that a book has won a prize attract you to reading it?

No. It seemed that despite Maya"s gift for writing, and her upbringing literally within a repository of words, she was stuck in her outlook, and with what she was drawn to write so easily. This writing about herself and her mother was a psychological breakthrough, and when I read it, it seemed like it was a writer just coming to terms with a piece of her life. Big emotional hit, but not refined enough for winning yet.
I tend to look at the winners, maybe read one or two...


Posted Apr. 17, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
bettyt

Join Date: 05/12/11

Posts: 228

RE: Were you surprised by the outcome of the short story contest? Does the knowledge that a book has won a prize attract you to reading it?

I was a bit surprised that Maya did not win, but this made the story more "realistic" . No, a book winning a prize does not make it more appealing to me. Selections do often depend on the personality of the judges. It is totally subjective. It's like the Oscars. There are so many movies that win an Oscar and I watch the movie and wonderful what I missed, what was so great about it.


Posted Apr. 23, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
maggiep

Join Date: 03/28/14

Posts: 17

RE: Were you surprised by the outcome of the short story contest? Does the knowledge that a book has won a prize attract you to reading it?

I also think it makes for a much better story because Maya didn't win. Book prizes don't attract me to books. I like looking on prize lists for ideas, particularly when nominees are continued. I work in a middle school library and we have voted for the state winner for years. Some years we like the list of nominees better than other years. But it's the students that vote and their tastes are so different from ours. Just because a book was one some award doesn't mean I will like it.


Posted Apr. 28, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rosemaryk

Join Date: 08/29/11

Posts: 61

RE: Were you surprised by the outcome of the short story contest? Does the knowledge that a book has won a prize attract you to reading it?

I was pleased that Maya took third place. It made the story more believable.

As for prize-winning books, I'm almost to the point where, if a book has won some honor, I steer away from it.

For example, I've loved Hilary Mantel's work for decades, but I hated Wolf Hall. Kate Atkinson's Life After Life was named the best novel of 2013 (there are many awards of this type), but I found it frustrating.

Anyway, I loved that Maya didn't win the top prize.


Posted May. 05, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
sallyg

Join Date: 05/14/11

Posts: 21

RE: Were you surprised by the outcome of the short story contest? Does the knowledge that a book has won a prize attract you to reading it?

I was disappointed Maya did not win as I always feel bad for second and third place winners even though they do make a mark.
I find that a lot of books that win prizes are a little over my head. I love a good story and good writing that I do not have to second guess what it all means.


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