Book It Babe’s Project 2021

Background.

This year I did a major revamp of this blog (see post https://bookitbabe.com.) It was a much needed change for me. I’ve always been proud of what I started, but it had become a chore rather than a fun and passionate undertaking. Recently, I’ve noticed that many of the books people recommend have been because they have won or been nominated for an award. The Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the Booker Prize are extremely well known, but what about the others?

Idea

This idea is actually based on something I have thought a lot about over the past few years which is: why are ALL books on the New York Times Bestseller List? Okay yes, I’m being dramatic, and I know that it isn’t an award, but it has always seemed odd to me that some people believe that a book must be given an award or be on a best seller list to be considered worthy. I wish that wasn’t true, but I am neither a writer nor part of the publishing business: I am just a lowly connoisseur of reading.

However, if I am to appreciate writers and their writing, why not do it through book awards? They are an important part of literature and can be the pinnacle of someone’s career or life goal. Unsurprisingly, I have gone down a rabbit hole doing research. I find this topic to be fascinating and I could write SO much about it, but for the sake of my readers I will not.

Objective

I wrote a list of points to stick to.

• 12 awards: 1 book post each month – 6 will be well known and 6 will be lesser known awards
• Brief descriptions: who, what, when, prize
• Genres they cover
• Links to learn more

I’ve also wondered how many of the books that win awards (or are short or long listed) are also on the New York Times Bestselling List? That however, will have to be researched at a later date.

As always, thank you for reading!