WHAT I'M READING:
I finished The Silence of Murder by Dandi Daley Mackall yesterday. It was fantastic! I thought the ending was extremely clever and I couldn't put it down until the mystery was solved. Next up: Shelter by Harlan Coben.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
As Theresa Milstein pointed out last week, my reading has had a theme lately. I'm reading the 2012 Edgar nominees for Best Young Adult. The nominees are:
Shelter by Harlan Coben
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
The Silence of Murder by Dandi Daley Mackall
The Girl is Murder by Kathryn Miller Haines
Kill You Last by Todd Strasser
So far I've read The Silence of Murder and Kill You Last and loved them both. The Edgar Awards will be presented on 4/26/12. I'd love to have read them all by then, but I'm just not that fast of a reader. I'll probably try to bury my head in the sand and not find out who the winner is until I've read the nominees myself.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do awards and nominations such as the Edgar Awards influence your decision to read a book? Have you read any of this year's Edgar Award nominees? What is your favorite mystery novel (YA or otherwise)?
Have a great week!
32 comments:
I do that sometimes. When the RITA winners are announced, I immediately go and read them.
I don't think I've read a Mystery YA in quite a while. So far, it's been suspense or paranormal type YA. Maybe I need a change. :)
I'm afraid I don't pay much attention to awards - although I do notice the Newberry medals on book covers. I have to make a better effort in this area! There are just so many good books to read :)
Award winners don't really influence me. Although I do like the idea of your themed reading list.
I'm not easily influenced by awards and nominations but I suppose it's because I've never thought about it. I think if I did notice it more it would definitely sway my decision in choosing the read.
I adore this childrens book titled 'The Red Heels' about a shoemaker who is fascinated by a woman he's making red heels for. He learns she's a witch and in the process falls in love. I always found it a bit of a mystery novel, but maybe it's because I was seven when I first owned it!
With love - Jen from Unedited
I confess, I never even notice if a book has won an award or not.
Suzie, I must admit that I feel deeply shaken and sad when I see that nominees for best young adult books are books with titles such as MURDER, MURDER, KILL, KILL, LAST.... what kind of world are we living in? Giving teens books about murders, killings, assassinations, death games... I feel extremely defeated as a teacher and a psychologist.
I'm embarrassed to say that I haven't even heard of most of the books on this list! Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I don't normally read books just because they've won an award - though when I hear books that I've loved have won, I get excited.
I should try this - I haven't had much luck this year in finding books I really love. Though I'm reading The Calling right now and it's fabulous!
That's a great question. To be honest, I don't think awards for a book do influence me. It's always the story that lures me in. Period.
I've not heard of the Edgar awards but yay for them!
I used to read all the ManBooker Prize nominees when younger but these days I only pick a couple! But I do tend to look up the nominees of literary awards!
Enjoy your reading! Take care
x
I didn't know know Harlan wrote YA. I saw him at the RWA nationals last year. He's hilarious.
Book awards don't influence me at all. I get excited if a book I love gets one, but it isn't the deciding factor for me if I'm going to read the book.
That's awesome that you're reading all the nominees. I haven't done anything like that; I just read whatever I happen to find. But that's really neat -- enjoy the books!
Recommendations from friends influence me more that Edgar would!
Oh, my name is here!
Unlike you, I read fast. It's making time from writing and everything else that's the problem!
I might be more likely to pick up a book if it has a prestigious award sticker, but I don't usually scan the lists.
The National Book Awards finalists get me kind of excited to read books I haven't yet read.
Sounds like you've had a great list of ones to read!
I do let awards influence my reading sometimes. And I admit to being a little disappointed sometimes too. I think you have a great list there, Susan! Kill You Last is very good, isn't it? :-)
Usually I look at the story. If it sounds good, I buy it or check it out. Heading to the library today. :-)
Sudden Moves is awesome! Written by Kelli Sue Landon.
I never really take much notice of awards. If I buy a winning book, it's coincidence not design.
I tend to steer clear of them :( Every award-winning book I've read has disappointed me. I think it might be the high expectations. So probably my own psychological problem! lol
Interesting question. I guess awards don"t influence me much.
As to mysteries, I'm an avid Agatha fan. I haven't read much YA mystery, but I'm noting the ones you've mentioned. Thanks.
I am not aware that awards influence my choice of reading that much. Dare I admit to not having even heard of the the Edgar Awards, maybe because I tend to shy away from YA as a genre.
I'm finding that any award means the book is pretty good, but I don't always let that sway me.
Heehee. I've actually never read books based on awards, but sounds like a cool challenge. And probably pretty rewarding!
I like the idea of reading award nominees. I've found so many great books via the blogosphere.
I tend not to like the books that get the awards so I have a habit of passing on them. Occasionally I'll get curious though.
Hm, I usually read books recommended by friends, but sometimes I will read a book that's been granted an award, mainly because I'm interested why it won!
I've always liked Raymond Chandler, in regards to mystery. That old noir feel gets me every time.
I pick up books based more on recommendations by fellow writers and bookworms than awards.
As for my favorite mysteries, I have so many mystery series in adult lit. I like (haven't read that genre in YA that much), I've dedicated almost a whole page to them in my blog :).
I like to read all the Newberry and Caldecott award winners, but I do it in my own time...
Right now I am busy reading mg books...like the Boxcar Children. I want to write like that...kids being kids having adventures...
I haven't read any of the Edgar Award nominees yet (so many novels, so little time), but I am pulled toward award winners and nominated books. I am always interested to see why these books have been selected for acclaim.
I tend to get my book reads from NPR reviews or friends recommendations. I like the author Barbara Kingsolver a lot. The next book on my list is Girlchild written by Tupelo Hassman.
Cheers.
Velva
I haven't read those books, but most if not all are on my wish list.
I must admit I'm attracted to medals on book covers, but I miss many of them. I get recs from blogs, Goodreads, Amazon suggestions, etc. I find most books at random.
Yes, I'm pretty influenced by the ALA awards, but haven't thought much about the Edgars. I should, since I like mysteries. My TBR pile is groaning, but I'd really like to add some of these.
I tend to read very fast too and I found out that most of the RITA nominees are books I read and reviewed!
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