Everything Wrong with the Literary Awards Winners
Yes, the title is clickbait. But hear me out.
Not every award-winning author is worth reading! Yes, I said it.
Okay, okay - what I really want to talk about is the disillusionment that comes when you assume that if a writer wins a major prize (Pulitzer, Nobel, Booker, etc), then all of their books must be brilliant. I used to think that these people are kind of untouchable. I mean, if someone got a Nobel, surely everything they’ve written must be incredible, right? Well… not always.
I've read several award-winning authors, although not always the books they won the awards for. And honestly? Who knows, how it goes. My book club loves recommending prize-winning authors, and I’m a bit scared now, because awards don’t guarantee I’ll enjoy the book. Here’s a short list of authors and titles I’ve read, plus some honest thoughts.
1. Han Kang
🏆 International Booker Prize, Nobel prize in Literature
📘 The Vegetarian
This is the only book on this list where I found nothing for myself. I’m no stranger to Asian literature or modern Korean society, but I just didn’t feel invested. The themes were fascinating, but the way they were presented... some things were so subtle they nearly vanished, others hit like a brick to the face. I ended up more confused than moved.
Full review can be find in my blog's posts here.
2. Olga Tokarczuk
🏆 Nobel Prize in Literature, International Booker Prize
📘 Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead
This one was the opposite - everything is so clear that at times I wanted it to back off a little. That said, the storytelling was captivating, and yes, kind of insane in the best way. I didn't regret reading it, but I also didn’t feel totally satisfied in the end.
More thoughts in the full review here.
3. Edith Wharton
🏆 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
📘 Sanctuary
Oh boy. The deeper I got into this book, the more irritated and outraged I became. And if that was Wharton's intention, then she succeeded spectacularly. I hated the main character. The review is a rant, but a respectful one.
4. Donna Tartt
🏆 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
📘 The Secret History
I have no issues here. Donna Tartt is a genius. The Secret History completely blew me away. And yes, I know I started this post complaining about prize winners, but here we are. Some of them are absolutely worth the hype.
The review is soon to be found in my blog.
In conclusion: awards aren't equal guaranteed greatness. Sometimes they do reflect it, sometimes they just reflect a moment. So if you have ever struggled with an award-winner, you are not alone. I allow you to dislike a book even if the author has a shelf full of medals.