tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post3684329027882043787..comments2023-11-09T07:51:21.497-05:00Comments on The Boston Bibliophile: Literary Awards and Voting- Who Decides? Should You?Marie Cloutierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14938166831865436287noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-3998051693690543012010-02-15T22:26:50.781-05:002010-02-15T22:26:50.781-05:00I read a lot of Booker nominees:
http://freshinkb...I read a lot of Booker nominees:<br /><br />http://freshinkbooks.blogspot.com/2010/02/complete-booker-challenge-2010.html<br /><br />Frankly, I want the judges opinions, just like other years, not the public's. I know for a fact that they've read the books. I would however accept the opinion of anyone from the public who had read all the books.<br /><br />My other quarrel is with the age of the judges. Forty year olds have no real concept of the times during which these books were published, they didn't live through them. I want 80 years old for judges-they were adults with some reading behind them when theses books came out. <br />But the committee didn't ask my opinion so we get what we get. I only wish I had time to read-or even obtain, many of them.Sandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06265301061583417768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-85367705230803833042010-02-11T17:11:54.355-05:002010-02-11T17:11:54.355-05:00I have a sneaking suspicion that the people who pa...I have a sneaking suspicion that the people who pay attention to and would vote on this special "Lost Booker" are the segment of the population that would be interested in Booker nominees in general. Bookers are big in literary circles but don't quite have the voting pull that something like American Idol has.Melissa Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04761668159421575198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-54005171964138452472010-02-11T11:51:48.256-05:002010-02-11T11:51:48.256-05:00I think literary awards should be decided by "...I think literary awards should be decided by "experts". As long as the award is advertised as having been made by popular vote then it's ok with me. Though, I agree, most people will not have read ALL the books and therefore the vote will be flawed. I would take this argument one step further and say that this very problem of "uninformed" voting can be applied to our political system as well. Though, that's a discussion for another time/forum.Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04589606390781637262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-36450361252517086482010-02-09T21:28:37.109-05:002010-02-09T21:28:37.109-05:00It sounds like we're saying that if someone is...It sounds like we're saying that if someone is willing to read all the books on the list, that person should be considered as a judge. "Professional panels" are sometimes just other writers.Jeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374498643286099244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-68050859180168306602010-02-09T17:08:35.022-05:002010-02-09T17:08:35.022-05:00I agree with you Marie. I think that a lot of peop...I agree with you Marie. I think that a lot of people would only vote for the books that they have read making this in essence, a popularity contest (as the poster before me said). While I think it would be cool to have an actual say in a book being awarded the prize, I tend to think that the judges are there for a reason and would think that they are capable of doing their job. But I also agree that their choice of Amsterdam was a huge misstep, so I am not sure where I fall in this argument. I am going to be looking over the long and short list, but I don't think I'll be voting on it. Very cool post, it will be interesting to see what happens.Zibileehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05857638467064749190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-19384933447510750552010-02-09T13:53:01.590-05:002010-02-09T13:53:01.590-05:00Interesting. I think it wouldn't mean much t...Interesting. I think it wouldn't mean much to receive he award if it just becomes a popularity contest. My biggest problem is that the voter will probably not have read all the books. How then can he or she be a qualified voter? Good post :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-88080823632070197762010-02-09T12:06:06.208-05:002010-02-09T12:06:06.208-05:00Both methods have their drawbacks. If a committee ...Both methods have their drawbacks. If a committee picks it and the general public doesn't like it, is it really quality? If the general public picks it, are they really considering all the things they should be considering?<br /><br />I think the real solution is that I should pick all the winners.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08169008132642213854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-30980341962601438292010-02-09T11:59:56.321-05:002010-02-09T11:59:56.321-05:00Interesting question. I think awarding a prize ba...Interesting question. I think awarding a prize based on popular vote would be fine, but I do think you should read all of the books shortlisted before you vote. Of course, there would be no way to know if voters had done that or not.bermudaonionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10726401178972099557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-39645098409272407262010-02-09T11:15:08.416-05:002010-02-09T11:15:08.416-05:00I agree on the professional panel aspect in the aw...I agree on the professional panel aspect in the award if it's for literary excellence.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-59675897424677824402010-02-09T11:14:36.957-05:002010-02-09T11:14:36.957-05:00I think popular vote would work if more of these l...I think popular vote would work if more of these literary works were marketed...But since they are not, its hard to have popular vote decide because so few read these books.<br /><br />Great discussion.Serenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04745809545249574387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-15196024156140874572010-02-09T10:12:00.173-05:002010-02-09T10:12:00.173-05:00The problem I see with having these prizes awarded...The problem I see with having these prizes awarded by popular vote is that, like you mentioned, I'd feel OK voting even though I've only read one of the books. But that means the decision isn't based on quality at all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-17767568145807602732010-02-09T09:19:26.965-05:002010-02-09T09:19:26.965-05:00I would say it depends on the criteria for winning...I would say it depends on the criteria for winning. If it's just "is this an enjoyable book" then why shouldn't everyone vote? But if it is awarded, as I suspect it might be, for a certain type of literary accomplishment, I would think hoi polloi would not be as qualified to weigh in on that.rhapsodyinbookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07041412748239010264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-30668197957932813902010-02-09T08:47:14.499-05:002010-02-09T08:47:14.499-05:00I can't decide how I feel about this! On one ...I can't decide how I feel about this! On one hand - yeah, as Laura says, look at the bestseller lists - but on the other hand, I often hate the books that win these prizes, too. Maybe it makes sense to have a committee pick out the list, and then people vote on the books from the list. That way someone's weeding out the popular-but-not-very-good stuff (like Da Vinci Code), but I still get to vote. :PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-65783432019539340212010-02-09T08:20:14.579-05:002010-02-09T08:20:14.579-05:00Marie, generally speaking I prefer literary prizes...Marie, generally speaking I prefer literary prizes be awarded by a professional panel. I don't trust public opinion -- just look at the bestseller lists (*shudder*)<br /><br />My theory on the Lost Man Booker Prize (and the associated public voting) is that it's a way to generate interest in the main prize. If they ever turned over the annual prize decision to the public, I will have a fit!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07219439074687598827noreply@blogger.com