Most people enjoy awards—at least most of the recipients of those awards. Unless of course it’s “Worst Dressed” or the “Rotten Tomatoes” label or some other acknowledgement of how awful something is.
I continue to be surprised at the different awards, i.e. The Academy Awards, and their choices of nominations. Utterly mind boggling at times. This bewilderment occasionally extends to the various Christian Fiction awards. One prevalent difficulty in the process is the categorical assessments and divisions. Rarely enough of them—at least in the book awards.
I just saw this morning where “The Tourist” is up for a Golden Globe in the Musical or Comedy Division. Um. Wow. Did those few snickers and the concluding laugh-out-loud moment qualify this light-hearted film for a comedic classification? Did I miss the whole point? In spite of those several silly moments was I supposed to assume this fun adventure qualified as comedy? Satire, maybe. But comedy?
In the Christian Fiction Christy Awards, Suspense division, an Athol Dickson novel competes with the likes of Robert Liparulo. Uh, no. Not even close in genre or style. Why is this? Now I know the Christys must have a publisher nomination (with a fee) to be included.
It seems to me that if you’re going to have awards, you need enough classifications to truly compare like-products to each other. And before organizing awards I think it would be wise to define the categories with enough specifics and qualifiers so as not to end up with the apples to oranges comparisons. I know judges are gathered according to certain criteria, and standards for judging are established by the organizers, but in the end we still come away with opinions.
I prefer lists I think. Of favorites. In proper categories. That speaks of where the “judge” is coming from in their reading experience. And in this situation it can truly be said, “It’s an honor just to be 'nominated'—or listed.”
And you?
Father, thank you that you are no respecter of persons. That your love and favor extend to all who desire them and even to those who don’t. Let us seek your favor above all others. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.