As I write this there are less than three hours to go before voting closes on the shortlist for THE Book to Talk About 2008 award.
If you'd like to vote for Speaking of Love, go here. Or click on the link on the paperback cover over there on the right.
Thank you ... and may the best book win.
Results will be announced on 6 March which is, as I'm sure you know, World Book Day.
On 4 February Richard Lea listed, on the Guardian Unlimited's Arts Blog, the ten books on the Spread the Word shortlist under the heading: 'What Goes into a "Book to Talk About"?' Then he wonders why 'the Kennedys, Enrights, Adichies et al were never in with a sniff'. He goes on, 'It looks like a clear case of "ask a funny question, get a funny answer".'
But the award is for works by 'living authors whose work has not been selected for high-profile media promotions or awards. Hidden gems deserving wider notice'. Perhaps Lea didn't know that ... but that's why there aren't any Kennedys et al on the shortlist, nor were they ever on any long-longlist. Anyway his post has provoked discussion about the award and about what a Book to Talk About is and that's a good thing. You can read the debate here ... the comment that appeals the most to me, so far, is this one, from inhouse:
That they are books to talk about is a way of saying they're great for book groups - they examine big issues. No need to intellectualise it so much! You might want to stick with the lit crit stuff, where the writing is all, but some people just want to argue about the moral issues raised by a book, because reading is a great way to get a perspective on our lives and society. It's all good, but perhaps not for everyone. It's easy to be sniffy, but why other people read is not a matter for supervision!Hurrah for inhouse. No supervision! What do you think?
Speaking of Love has been shortlisted for World Book Day's The Book to Talk About award. It's very exciting ... .
Speaking of Love has been longlisted for Spread the Word's Book to Talk About, which is wonderful news for the book, and for all the books on the list (there are 100 of them). The award will be announced in the UK's Year of Reading (2008). The short list will appear in February - voted for by book groups and individuals - and the Book to Talk About will be announced on 6 March, which is World Book Day.
If you or your book group would like to vote for Speaking of Love go HERE. (You have to log in and then register to vote.)
To find out more about Spread the Word, Books to Talk About go HERE.
To see the longlist and read what the Guardian wrote about the prize on Friday, go HERE.
