Weird Withdrawal

There is a current constant effort on my part not to splurge on books until I get my book backlogs down on a considerable number. Since the year has started slow for me in the reading department due to work and life and everything else, it will be quite a challenge to get things down. My only source of hope is that it’s still the beginning of the year. There is no need to panic.

But I’m quite impressed that I haven’t bought books lately, not even one, for the past 3 weeks. It could be the strong desire to save and be true to my resolution. There are so many great titles that I have already acquired that need to be read anyways. Or is it because of E-Books?

My rekindled and renewed romance with e-books is partly to blame and be thanked for. Almost all the new titles out there are already available on E-Books sites for free! With E-Books, I don’t have to spend immediately not unless I really want my own physical copy of the book, which is supposed to be so good that I want to spend for it.  I won’t increase my already bloated book tower backlogs. I can easily feed my shopping desires with only a fast internet and an IPAD on hand. Most importantly I can get to risk a lot since I don’t need to waste resources.

I already have multiple collections on my IPAD and I’m finding the proper control not to go crazy in bookstores as before. But don’t get me wrong. Books are still the best thing. I still find myself wanting to visit the stores and inevitably purchase books I’ve really thought about. If my goal this year is curb my expenses, manage my shelf space and be more exposed to books real time, then (I never thought I would say this but) Thank God for E-Books!

Book Backlogs: The Never Ending Story

Old Post from Laptop last January,

I admit that I’m starting at a pretty slow pace in bringing my book logs down this January. I’m not entirely panicking that this is happening though since my 2014 jumpstarted in quite a positive note at work coming from a 3-week Christmas vacation. What did I expect? Work came in like a non-stopping train full of goal setting, expectations and dealing with pretty deluded people to achieve greatness this year.  Mostly the first few weeks of January were spent in resting and setting things back to a decent normalcy. That would probably be the reason why I don’t have enough leisure time to fully enjoy a high-speed reading experience not like last December. But I’m still pretty optimistic. It’s still January and I still have a full year to bring the book logs down. I'm not in a race, but one of my goals this year is to read as much, hopefully devise a worthy personal library scheme and bring the book logs down.

Reading as much is not a problem. I am addicted to books. I read almost anything. I have a good supply of unread books at home and resources on hand to get me to read. I have time (mostly) and I can easily swap my social life to a couple of hours of reading.

Devising a worthy library is still ongoing. I thought I would be able to nail this last December, but well at least I started. I purchased a newly improved log book and I’m searching for free library software I can get my hands into. If not, there’s always Microsoft Access or Excel.  This will be a long and ongoing process. I need to find shelves and space, but I’m getting there.

Bringing my book backlog down…well that is a never ending story. And probably the only never ending story that bibliophiles and bookworms can relate to.

Roughly speaking, just by looking at my tower of books, a couple of paper bags underneath my desk full of books, two bedside drawers full of books and some stash of books secretly and subtly placed in my brother’s shelves….I roughly have a 200 book backlog. Okay, maybe around 300-400 if you count the neatly placed books at my shelf that were bought 5 years ago. And I’m afraid I’m not exaggerating. My room had become a storage room with a bed. You wouldn’t even think someone (a girl) sleeps in there. My parents haven’t seen my room lately and I would know if they did because they will freak out.

Friends and family would say that I have enough books to read in a lifetime. That is very true. I won’t contest that, but to say NOT to buy books is an ongoing challenge. The truth is, bibliophiles and book lovers would always have a reason to buy good books whether they need to or not. Any normal person would see it as an addiction and irrational behavior, but we all have our own quirks. This is ours.

I buy books because I would want to read them someday and that someday may come any day so I need to have them. That’s always a mental security of mine. There’s always this nagging feeling in me that I need to have a good collection and supply of books because I’ll never know when the mood and the need will arise. I know this sounds pretty neurotic but I need endless options and extensive supply of books within my reach. If one day I wake up and decide to jump into a good fantasy novel, I have a couple of Patrick Rothfuss, Terry Pratchett and R. Heinlein to buzz me up. (Yes, I haven’t read any of their works yet, but I have some of their works already). Or if I’m feeling Sci-Fi, even if it’s rare, I do have George Orwell or Aldous Huxley. If I’m feeling historical fiction, contemporary or romance (Yes, I do have my own humble collection of Deveraux, Litton, Coulter) or probably I can always delve into classics, horrors and mainstream formula best sellers. I encouraged my brother to read so I can share with him the young adult fiction that’s become so popular and comforting. The point is, I need to have the right books within my grasp. Call it hoarding. I call it collecting.

But unfortunately I’m already lacking space and I’m struggling enough as it is in fixing my library without additional books coming in. It already comes a point that I’m too overwhelmed or I really can’t distinctly remember the books that I’ve bought. There’s a great need to organize my life and my book shelf. And one way of doing that is by putting control in my book expenditures. There should be a constant effort on my part to NOT buy so much books until I get my book backlogs to at least a manageable level (Like a hundred probably). It’s time to explore my library more than ravage bookstores. If every week I tend to buy 10 books or if by every pay day I get to splurge, probably I can only limit to at least 2 books per pay day.  Control against book splurging is an ongoing process.

So this post is a testament that I recognize the need to organize my shelf, read more (better pace) and to consciously control myself in purchasing books on an impulse. This is not to say that I won’t buy books, that’s a serious unnecessary withdrawal, but I’m just saying that I won’t need to buy 10 books per week or not every trip to the bookstore constitutes buying something. I need to practice control and backlog management. This officially starts now.

The Different Book Awards

To write a book and actually finish it is already a gargantuan feat. But for a book to win a prestigious award is something else! It will immediately push the work to a different class and send the author to the moon!

There’s no better way to gain positive noise for your work than to actually win a prestigious award given by a sophisticated and credible body of literary critics, publishers and readers. There’s no other better way to say: “This book is the best this year. We know what we’re talking about, so read it.” Profitability wise, awards are good marketing, it pushes the book at the forefronts of the bookstore displays and you can actually brag about it in the cover page: “Winner of the Booker prize and so and so” The consumer will already feel encouraged and smart about purchasing a copy. It’s also good for the author. Like winners in Oscars, it pushes the author to the A-List crowd.  Essentially, writers don’t really need awards to measure their success and value, for me any writer is already an artistic genius, but I must admit that to be recognized by the art itself must really mean a huge boost of confidence and renowned self-worth. Super big wild cherry on the cake!

I’ve randomly seen books with acclaimed notations of being shortlisted or even long listed for these awards. I’ve read tons of books that are award worthy and I just finished Ray Bradbury’s Farenheit 451, which is a National Book Prize winner. Now I’m starting with Arundhati Roy’s Man Booker Prize winner, The God of Small Things. There are so many awards and most of them are familiar, but aren’t you curious what those awards stand for? Why they won it? And what type of award giving body bestowed it? Last year, Eleanor Catton’s Luminaries gained much noise as she bested works and nabbed the Booker Prize Award at the age of 28 yrs. Old! But what is a Booker Prize award anyway?

Next time you shop for a book and you see a distinction of being  “short listed” even “long listed” or the winner of these popular literary awards, it’s always worth it to stop and look. And if you’re planning to buy the book anyways and it happens to win something, well at least you’re making a good choice right there.

Below is the list of most popular literary awards you might already be familiar with:

MAJOR AWARDS, Open to all nationalities, most popular:

1.    Nobel Prize in Literature

a.     Since 1901

b.     Award to an author annually from any country

c.      The Swedish Academy decides who will receive the prize each year sometime in October.  They decide on the most outstanding work of the author ‘as a whole’ (all samples of the author). This echoes author’s outstanding contribution to literature.

d.     The nominations are from members of the academy, members of any literary academy, professors of literature and language, former Nobel laureates and presidents of writer’s organizations. Thousands are received each year and it will be long and short listed to 5. Prize averages around 1Million USD with diploma, citation and eternal bragging rights.

e.     Winners: Alice Munro (2013), Doris Lessing (2007), Orhan Pamuk (2006), Jose Saramago (1998), Toni Morrison (1993) Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1982)

2.    Man Booker Prize International Awards

a.     Since June 2004

b.     Award given to any work published in English or generally available English translation. Award is given only every 2 years.

c.      The Award is sponsored by the MAN Group and rewards one’s authors continued “creativity, development and overall contribution to fiction in the world stage” Like Nobel, this award is given to the author’s BODY OF WORK rather than to one title.

d.     Unlike Noble, the judges of the year make up their own lists and no submissions are entertained.

e.     Winners: Alice Munro (2009), Philip Roth (2011), Chinua Achebe (2007)

3.    Franz Kafka Prize Award

a.     Since 2001

b.     Literary Award in honor of Franz Kafka, the German Language novelist.

c.      The award giving body is led by the Franz Kafka Society by having a “"humanistic character and contribution to cultural, national, language and religious tolerance, its existential, timeless character, its generally human validity and its ability to hand over a testimony about our times."

d.     Recipients receives 10,000 USD, diploma and bronze statuette

4.    America Award

a.     Since 1994

b.     Provides the modest alternative to Nobel

c.      Award giving body comprise of 6-8 American literature artists (novelists, poets, playwrights and critics).

d.     Award does not entail prize money

e.     Winners: Jose Saramago, Harold Pinter, Ko  Un

Other more popular awards

1.             Pulitzer Prize

a.     Since 1917

b.     Award for achievements in newspaper, journalism, literary and musical composition. Literature solely for American writers specializing in Fiction, Drama, history, biography specifically connected to USA.

c.      Administered by Columbia University in New York. It was established by provisions in the will of Joseph Pulitzer American, Hungarian born publisher.

d.     In 20 categories, each winner will receive 10,000 USD

2.             National Book Award

a.     Since 1936 solely an annual US Literary Award.

b.     This is to celebrate the best in American literature divided into sub categories (Fiction, non-fiction)

c.      Administered first by American Bookseller’s Association. Award is given to 1 book in 4 categories (fiction, non fiction, poetry, young people’s literature)

d.     Publishers nominate books but panelists may request particular nominations from publishers. Panel includes 5 writers who are remarkably known in their field.

e.     Finalists get 1000 USD, medal and citation. Winner gets 10,000 and a bronze sculpture

3.             National Book Critics Circle Award

a.     Since 1976

b.     Annual American Literary Awards to promote the finest books and reviews published in English.

c.      National Book Critics Circle administer these awards, which are divided into sub categories (Fiction, Non Fiction, Biography, Memoir and Criticism)

d.     Judges are volunteer Directors of the organization and elected judges by voting members (professional book review editors, book reviewers)

4.             Nebula Award for Science Fiction

a.     Since 1966

b.     Annually recognizes the best works in Fantasy and Science Fiction published in the US

c.      It is awarded by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, a non profit organization of professional science fiction and fantasy writers. This is science fiction’s most prestigious awards together with the HUGO award.

d.     This is subdivided in different categories (Script, novel, novella, short story, Novellette)

e.     Nominees and winners are chosen by the SFWA

5.             Booker Prize or Man Booker Prize for Fiction

a.     Since 1968 originally sponsored by the company Booker-McConnell. Literary prize awarded each year for a full-length novel written in English by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland and New Zealand. Beginning in 2014, they will entertain works from all over the world as long as their work is in English and published in the UK.

b.     Booker Prize Association administers the award since 2002 and the primary sponsor is the investment company called Man Group.

c.      Award is at 50,000 pounds, which makes it one of the world’s richest literary prizes.

d.     Award commences upon forming an advisory committee (writer, 2 publishers, literary agent, bookseller, librarian and chairperson of Booker Prize association). They are tasked to select judges, all of whom are leading literary critics, writers and public figures. 

So clearly there are various internationally recognized awards that celebrate greatness in the field of literature. The awards provided in the above list are just a few more popular ones. Thank God for these literary critics and sponsors who continuously recognize a reputable work, one of the oldest sources of intelligent entertainment known to mankind. Regardless of the type of literature awards, which we now have a background of, you’ll know the next time you’re thinking of buying this recognized book, there’s definitely some sort of credibility and worthiness in those pages.

But then again, it’s true that not all award-winning literature speaks to us as much as it touched these critics. Books in a way could be subjective considering the timing it was read and the personal taste of the reader. But nevertheless, even for books that I do not understand or I think that’s completely beyond my taste, I respect them all for what they are. I still silently congratulate the authors for achieving something that actually transcends time and space. They have, in my eyes, become the perfect case of immortality. With awards or not, best sellers or not, writing a book is not a walk in the park, finishing a book in itself already deserves an amount of applause and recognition. The awards are as they say just the icing to the author’s cake.