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December 04, 2006
"How About That? Hubris Really Stinks!"
Yeah, so it came to my attention last week that a book I gave a fairly wishy-washy, for-larger-collections-type review for in SLJ made Kirkus’s best books of the year list. When I showed Olivia, she brought up the ha-ha-what-if-it-wins-the-Newbery specter, so now I’m sort of obsessing about that. I mean, on the one hand, I *really* respect Kirkus and its reviews, but, on the other, I am not swayed. I still think I’m right, which is, I guess, why I’m a reviewer. The point is to have opinions, not to go along with the crowd.
But, still, what if it wins the Newbery?
Of course it won’t win the Newbery.
But what if it does?
It couldn’t.
And so on. I guess we'll find out next month....
Posted by adrienne at December 4, 2006 02:27 PM
Comments
'Fess up Miss A., which book was it? But of course, since you are the queen, your review still rules.
Posted by: Pat at December 4, 2006 05:35 PM
Okay, so what's the book?
You know, when I worked in the MCLS Consultant's Office, Kirkus reviews were sort of pooh-poohed by the children's librarians because they weren't written by peers. I recall one person telling me she had heard that Kirkus reviewers were "influenced" by publishers. Of course, that was way back in the godless 1980s, so who knows what they do now?
Posted by: Patty at December 4, 2006 06:10 PM
Writing as much as I have about it in a public forum seems like enough skating on thin ice for one day. Mostly I feel like I should pretend nothing happened. :)
And I really do like Kirkus, but I find that I disagree with just about everyone from time-to-time.
Posted by: adrienne at December 4, 2006 06:55 PM
Happens to me all the time.
A book that I think is just *dreadful* made the nominations for Cybils in my category and I will be utterly stymied if it makes the cut.
Posted by: web at December 4, 2006 07:05 PM
I see the book in question is also nominated for the Cybils. ;)
Posted by: adrienne at December 4, 2006 08:05 PM
Whenever your own taste comes into conflict with that of others, it's helpful to remind yourself that once "The Beverly Hillbillies" was the top-rated tv sitcom.
There's simply no accounting for what people will like.
Posted by: Craig at December 4, 2006 09:41 PM
That actually helped me feel a lot better, Craig. It's a very good point.
Posted by: adrienne at December 5, 2006 07:17 PM