How did you find your current read?

[[deleted user]]

On March 20 over at the DSD blog, Joelle took a look at the current trend of using awards and nominations to get your book noticed.

The big question is this: Do readers buy books because of the awards the book has won?

Let's do this, then.

Please post your current read and how you ended up reading it.

For me:

EIGHT MILLION WAYS TO DIE because Chris F. Holm sent it to me and told me to read it.

How about you?

[[deleted user]]

My current read is The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley, which I bought because I adored The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. Which I bought because I saw it on the Spotted Owl Award list.

[Dan]

THE INFANT OF PRAGUE by Bill Granger

Why? Saw it at Goodwill for a buck, and I read a mess of Grainger's November Man novels maybe 20 years ago - in fact, I was pretty sure I'd read this one. But I liked Grainger, and I wanted to see how this held up for me. Also, come one, a buck?

[Don]

Joe Goldschein, marketing director at St. Martin's Press, sent me Wally Stroby's COLD SHOT TO THE HEART because he loved it, and he knows what makes me tick.

[Sabrina]

A Killer Plot by Ellery Adams because she was at a book signing with another author I went to see. And I've never read a book because of an award win... yet.

[Julie]

I have three going.

Winter's Bone because Chris LaTray said so and sent me his copy, Killing the Shadows by Val McDermid because when I had time to read Before Kids she was a favorite, and Murder with Puffins by Donna Andrews because Katrina Niidas Holm turned me onto Andrews with her first book.

Which one I pick up depends on how the day went and my frame of mind.

[John]

The Wolves of Fairmount Park, both because of this group and because I have had it on my list for months due to good reviews (don't remember from where).

The Sociopath Next Door because of another book club, and Mr. Peanut by Adam Ross because of good reviews (which again, I can't recall).

As for awards, it depends on what it is. If I've heard of it or know the criteria and/or judges, then it might help. Picked up on Bryan Gruley that way, and Brad Parks' awards didn't hurt to get him on my radar (and a lot of great word of mouth actually put his book in my hands).

[Hilary]

I'm reading The Wolves of Fairmount Park right now. Immediate prompt was the DSD book club, but I bought the book at Dennis Tafoya's reading at The Mysterious Bookshop last summer. Simple reason: his first, Dope Thief, was brilliant.

[Holly]

I'm reading A FIELD OF DARKNESS by Cornelia Read right now. Cornelia's latest, INVISIBLE BOY was recommended to me by Linda Brown, formerly of the Mystery Bookstore in LA, and I figured if I was going to get that book I might as well get this one too.

It remained on my TBR shelf for almost a year, but now I've finally gotten to it and it's very good--much more layered than a lot of crime fiction I read.

[Tania]

I just finished James Thompson's SNOW ANGELS. It had been sitting on my TBR pile for a while, but a guest blog post by the author (about his latest book) prompted me to finally get around to reading it. So glad that I did!

Awards generally don't influence my book buying, although I sometimes take a look at nominee lists to see if there are any books that escaped my radar. Recommendations from friends or authors whose work I admire are much more likely to make me buy a book than any award.

[John]

I'm currently reading Adrian McKinty's newest, "Falling Glass." I discovered Adrian's books on Declan Burke's blog, Crime Always Pays.

[Alison]

I'm reading The Secret by Julie Garwood, because I'm trying to read across the romance genre to better edit it. It was a rec from friends who read romance regularly.

I'm also reading Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield, because I read everything she writes (and because she mailed a copy to me) -- and I heard about her through an author I work with who she went to for workshopping when she was revising the first Stella.

I've considered trying to build myself reading lists based on award winners/nominees of the past ... but I never actually seem to do it. I think it maybe feels too much like an assignment then, like I'm achieving a curriculum requirement. Part of what I love about non-work reading is that I can pick up whatever strikes my mood at a given moment, there are no deadlines.

That said, I do seem to take books/authors more seriously if I've seen them on an awards list. When I'm in my "Hmm, what should I ready/buy" mode, a little Edgar or Newbery sticker does get my attention.

[Ron]

I tried to go and find the poll for selection 2, but it appears not to exist anymore. I think THE MANY DEATHS OF THE FIREFLY BROTHERS was on that list? Maybe not. If so I'm not sure why I picked it, but I'm enjoying it.

I'll be reading THE WOLVES OF FAIRMONT PARK both because I've been wanting to and it is the next selection for the DSD Book Club.

[Scott]

Cat Sitter Among the Pigeons - sent by New Mystery Reader group

So Close the Hand of Death - sent by author's publicist

To answer the question, yes, I will pay attention to award winners and might read certain books b/c of it.

[Spencer]

Anathem. Neal Stephenson. I found it because I am a faof his. My last few books have been found on twitter by meeting the authors!

[Benoit]

I'm reading Winter's Bone right now. I watched the movie about two or three months ago because I wanted to plow through the Oscar nominees for my web site and I fell in love with the story. Teardrop Dolly is one of those one-in-a-million character. You don't find guys like him often. Bought the book because I though I could learn a thing or two about bleak and hopeless atmospheres.