Pulitzers Announced: Will Reading the Winners Make You Smarter?

Paul Levine · 04-19-2011, 01:35 AM

I just started Jennifer Egan's "A Visit from the Goon Squad", which today was named the winner of the 2011 Pulitzer for fiction.

Which got me to thinking about my TBR list. Shouldn't I be reading books that win prizes? I've only read three of the last ten Pulitzer prize winners, four if you count "...Goon Squad."

Should we rely on critics and professors and intellectuals to guide our reading? Or listen to Snooki?

Are prize committees in tune with the times? Or are they just too damn stuffy and self-imporant? (In the 1970's, the Committee found no book deserving of the fiction award three years out of ten).

What do you think? Have you tried reading Pulitzer or Nobel Prize winners...just as a self-improvement device?

Paul Levine

OtterBooks · 04-19-2011, 03:39 AM

I wouldn't look at prize winners as an automatic read, no, but it does cause me to take notice. If it doesn't look like something I'll enjoy, I pass. Nobel Prize winners are a bit different, since it's based on an author's work in general, not a particular book. It's pretty rare that someone who earns that honor isn't worth at least serious consideration.

DiapDealer · 04-19-2011, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Should we rely on critics and professors and intellectuals to guide our reading?

We should neither rely on them nor ignore them. It doesn't have to be a "feast or famine" relationship. I don't decide to read a book simply because it's a prize-winner, but I may look at prize-winning books to see if they sound interesting to me.

DixieGal · 04-19-2011, 08:19 AM

I have trouble reading the work of Nobel winners. They are always very foreign and often portray America in a bad light. Right or wrong, I do not like to read that.

But back on topic, I think that reading them will make you smarter about literature. But only experience will make you wise.

Catlady · 04-19-2011, 09:10 AM

I don't care how many prizes Goon Squad wins, I read the synopsis and it makes my head hurt. Not for me.

BoiseShan · 04-20-2011, 10:43 AM

I read the Good Squad. It was entertaining, but I can't imagine it was worthy of a Pulitzer...

Ron. · 04-20-2011, 10:45 AM

I'm reading "The Keep" right now and I like it, I will probably read Goon Squad at some point. I don't think it will make me smarter but I might claim it does...

Paul Levine · 04-22-2011, 12:01 PM

Catlady,
That's what is great about popular culture. Something for everyone.

BTW, my favorite genre (crime fiction) novel of the year is "The Lock Artist" by Steve Hamilton. (Let me add I don't know Steve, so I'm not plugging an old pal).

Paul Levine

Catlady · 04-22-2011, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Levine

Catlady,
That's what is great about popular culture. Something for everyone.

BTW, my favorite genre (crime fiction) novel of the year is "The Lock Artist" by Steve Hamilton. (Let me add I don't know Steve, so I'm not plugging an old pal).

Paul Levine

Just looked up Steve Hamilton at Fantastic Fiction--thanks, his books look right up my alley.

Let me recommend a crime fiction author in return: Megan Abbott. I just read her four noir novels, and they're marvelous.

JDK1962 · 04-22-2011, 02:16 PM

Reading the winners will make you smarter. So will reading the losers.

It's not reading that's the kiss of stupid.

04-19-2011, 01:35 AM	#1
Paul Levine Connoisseur Posts: 75 Karma: 725480 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle	Pulitzers Announced: Will Reading the Winners Make You Smarter? I just started Jennifer Egan's "A Visit from the Goon Squad", which today was named the winner of the 2011 Pulitzer for fiction. Which got me to thinking about my TBR list. Shouldn't I be reading books that win prizes? I've only read three of the last ten Pulitzer prize winners, four if you count "...Goon Squad." Should we rely on critics and professors and intellectuals to guide our reading? Or listen to Snooki? Are prize committees in tune with the times? Or are they just too damn stuffy and self-imporant? (In the 1970's, the Committee found no book deserving of the fiction award three years out of ten). What do you think? Have you tried reading Pulitzer or Nobel Prize winners...just as a self-improvement device? Paul Levine

04-19-2011, 08:19 AM	#4
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	I have trouble reading the work of Nobel winners. They are always very foreign and often portray America in a bad light. Right or wrong, I do not like to read that. But back on topic, I think that reading them will make you smarter about literature. But only experience will make you wise. Last edited by DixieGal; 04-19-2011 at 08:23 AM.

04-22-2011, 12:01 PM	#8
Paul Levine Connoisseur Posts: 75 Karma: 725480 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle	Something for Everyone Catlady, That's what is great about popular culture. Something for everyone. BTW, my favorite genre (crime fiction) novel of the year is "The Lock Artist" by Steve Hamilton. (Let me add I don't know Steve, so I'm not plugging an old pal). Paul Levine

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04-19-2011, 03:39 AM	#2
OtterBooks Wizard Posts: 1,262 Karma: 2979086 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle 4, iPad Mini/Retina	I wouldn't look at prize winners as an automatic read, no, but it does cause me to take notice. If it doesn't look like something I'll enjoy, I pass. Nobel Prize winners are a bit different, since it's based on an author's work in general, not a particular book. It's pretty rare that someone who earns that honor isn't worth at least serious consideration.

04-19-2011, 09:10 AM	#5
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,345 Karma: 52398889 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I don't care how many prizes Goon Squad wins, I read the synopsis and it makes my head hurt. Not for me.

04-20-2011, 10:43 AM	#6
BoiseShan Connoisseur Posts: 89 Karma: 14598 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kindle	I read the Good Squad. It was entertaining, but I can't imagine it was worthy of a Pulitzer...

04-20-2011, 10:45 AM	#7
Ron. Evangelist Posts: 448 Karma: 864744 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Kindle 3, LookBook, Nook Simple Touch	I'm reading "The Keep" right now and I like it, I will probably read Goon Squad at some point. I don't think it will make me smarter but I might claim it does...

04-22-2011, 02:16 PM	#10
JDK1962 Groupie Posts: 154 Karma: 2054094 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Boulder, CO Device: Kindle Voyage, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (for PDFs)	Reading the winners will make you smarter. So will reading the losers. It's not reading that's the kiss of stupid.

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