Edgar Award Nominees
A big congratulations to all the Edgar Award nominees. I feel at a loss because aside from T. Jefferson Parker's short story from The Blue Religion, I've read nothing on the entire list - which is surprising because I read some phenomenal books this past year. Well, I guess I can't offer much commentary on the nominees and their works, but congrats to them nonetheless!
8 comments:
Don't feel bad, Jen. Like you, I'm a big mystery reader. I read one nonfiction title on the list - Mr. Whicher (and didn't like it), and two of the Mary Higgins Clark nominees. That's it. Oh, well, that's how I normally am with the Edgars. But, usually I recognize a few more of the authors.
I've read two of the noms for Best Novel, and my personal opinion is that neither was good enough to make the short list. And that makes the rest of the list suspect.
I was SO glad to see your post, Jen! I've read one of the novels in the best novel category, and was disappointed in it. One of the short stores; which I did like a lot. And one of the Mary Higgins Clark nominees, which I also liked quite a lot. Like Lesa, I'm usually at least recognize more of the authors than this time. So now I'm curious - what do y'all think this means? Is there a pattern or trend I'm not getting?
Well, I've seen a pattern in recent years when most of the readers on DL say they haven't heard of the books or the authors. I think the Edgars have gone too literary, but that's a personal opinion. I heard from a mystery author today who hadn't read most of the books on the list.
I think, if I'm considered the mystery expert in the library system, I should have read or heard about most of these books. I have not. I still list all of them on my blog, but I really prefer some of the other awards, that are for books that people have heard about and read.
That's my rant, and I'll put it on Jen's blog, or mine, but not on DorothyL. As much as I enjoy it, it becomes a hot topic there where people start to sling words at each other until the moderator has to shut it down.
Lesa, you're welcome to rant over here anytime! :) This kind of thing is what gives "awards" a bad name in my eyes.
I know they are important to folks in the industry, but I surely don't base my reading list off any of them. But, they are the MWA's awards and they can conduct them how they see fit. Me, I'll continue to recognize the ones I think are "Jen-award" worthy! :)
Thanks for all the comments, too guys! I read that list today and thought, "sheesh, all the stuff I read last year and I don't recognize any of this? Am I out of the loop?"
I think the Edgars are getting very close to making themselves a joke, at least in the Best Novel category. No one will ever persuade me that either of the two nominees I've read is superior to any of these titles:
Envy the Night (Koryta)
Chasing Darkness (Crais)
Once Were Cops (Bruen)
Toros & Torsos (McDonald)
Trigger City (Chercover)
The Dawn Patrol (Winslow)
Child 44 (Smith)
The Draining Lake (Indridason)
Small Crimes (Zeltserman)
If MWA thinks there is legitimacy in their picks then they should point out the superior qualities of their choices for Best Novel. Because even with my specs on, I don't see'em.
And, I have to say, Corey, that your list includes the books that have been most discussed on the mystery boards, from what I've seen. For some reason, the Edgar Awards don't seem to reflect the reading taste of mystery readers. I understand this isn't a popularity contest, but I haven't figured out what those choices represent.
The Mary Higgins Clark Award, on the hand, does seem to reflect reading tastes.
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