Marquise > Status Update

I didn't even realise the noms were out until I saw something on BlueSky and went to look. As usual, I haven't read ANY of the books in the romance category (or any of the others, but I rarely read outside romance these days anyway) - and was perhaps not very surprised to see that there are no queer romances at all on the list this year.

I've never recognized any of the authors and books on these things.. I'm always wondering how? Who are these people? What is this book? So yeah.. I never vote on them.

I never cared for awards. I read things at least at five-year lag to make sure the herd has moved on, advertising millions have dried, and the work can stand on its own and endure the test of time. And "hipster" is a compliment and don't let anyone convince you otherwise.

I think this is the second or third year in a row where I haven't read any of the nominated books. So if you're a hipster, what does that make me? :D

I’ve only read three of the nominees myself. 2/3 of them I couldn’t see as deserving a vote. Last year I think I was reading more new releases. This year, I’m either a hipster like you or a “backlist girl.”

I read three books they had listed, and only one I thought was decent in the pop-corn/candy-floss manner.

Thibault wrote: "I think this is the second or third year in a row where I haven't read any of the nominated books. So if you're a hipster, what does that make me? :D"

It makes you a senior hipster! :D My bow of respect to Thibu-sensei.

Elentarri wrote: "I read three books they had listed, and only one I thought was decent in the pop-corn/candy-floss manner."

Which one/s?

JULIA wrote: "I’ve only read three of the nominees myself. 2/3 of them I couldn’t see as deserving a vote. Last year I think I was reading more new releases. This year, I’m either a hipster like you or a “backlist girl..."


Oh, I like 'backlist girl'! I'mma borrow that sometime, with your permission.

What categories did you read?

Juho wrote: "I never cared for awards. I read things at least at five-year lag to make sure the herd has moved on, advertising millions have dried, and the work can stand on its own and endure the test of time...."

You're a very methodical and very meticulous hipster, Ju! I wanna be like you when I grow up. <3

~*~Princess Nya Vasiliev~*~ wrote: "I've never recognized any of the authors and books on these things.. I'm always wondering how? Who are these people? What is this book? So yeah.. I never vote on them."

Your bafflement is my bafflement. I also wonder how these things are chosen/nominated. From comments here and there, I do have a vague but decent idea, and it's not good...

Caz wrote: "I didn't even realise the noms were out until I saw something on BlueSky and went to look. As usual, I haven't read ANY of the books in the romance category (or any of the others, but I rarely read..."

If such an established and dedicated genre reader like yourself hasn't read a single nominee in her category of expertise, that doesn't speak well of the awards. Something isn't quite right here. o.O

Marquise wrote: "It makes you a senior hipster! :D My bow of respect to Thibu-sensei."

Bow to the bookshelf and fear not the plot twist, Young Marquise-chan.

And in your case: trust in Belle-Cub as you embrace a chapter full of love en route to your happily ever after :)

Haha. I'm going to say something similar. I could only find 1-star crap books in most of the categories. It is to give rewards to the worst books ever this year, again.

XOX wrote: "Haha. I'm going to say something similar. I could only find 1-star crap books in most of the categories. It is to give rewards to the worst books ever this year, again."

Sounds like more and more of us are finding the awards non-representative? Or are we all just a buncha grouchy hipsters? :D

Thibault wrote: "And in your case: trust in Belle-Cub as you embrace a chapter full of love en route to your happily ever after :)"

Ooooh! Belle-Cub, I like that, I like that very much! <3

(Still want my B&B retelling... *sniffle*)

I have good news coming up on that front, will likely post about that here because. :D Cub said to wait a while till we have confirmation and all.

Not to worry, my Backlist Girls, I mostly read books that got published this year and still have only read 2-3 books within each Fantasy, SF and Horror categories, with maybe 1-2 more that were on my TBR - I mean it's not too bad, but still not that much for someone who read mostly 2025 releases this time around.

And apart from maybe 2 in the horror category, the ones that made it to the list were also among my least favorite of the year -_-

Nor for real, I haven't read most of them (although there are quite a few on my tbr lol)

And what is this new, invented "romantasy" category anyway? Clickbait?

Caz wrote: "I didn't even realise the noms were out until I saw something on BlueSky and went to look. As usual, I haven't read ANY of the books in the romance category (or any of the others, but I rarely read..."

Yep. No email from Goodreads to me today.

Looking now and "Kamala is a Z- Cop" as some call her, her memoir is on the top memoirs?

And, we can invent new fiction categories, but still lump together history and biography, not separate science from the rest of nonfiction, and other things? Blech.

And, per a comment by Marquise elsewhere, yes, who knows what thumbs might have been put on scales?

This, via Google AI on search:

"Goodreads chooses books for its Choice Awards
based on reader activity, using data on millions of books added, rated, and reviewed by members throughout the year, with an algorithm highlighting popular or "buzzy" titles in specific genres, and then readers vote in multiple rounds to narrow down the top contenders and pick the final winners, making it a reader-driven selection process for nominations and voting. Authors and publishers cannot directly nominate books, but strong reader engagement helps get books noticed. "

This, via a Reddit comment, short and snarky:

" Goodreads Choice awards are decided by authors tweeting to their hordes of followers who all flood the Goodreads website to vote for them.

Books often receive more Choice Awards votes than the actual Goodreads book has ratings. They are in no way reflective of the Goodreads community. Their sole purpose is for winners and nominees to put in their press releases and book cover jacket blurbs. "

In other words, almost as manipulated as New York Times bestseller lists.

This year was really bad for me too! And I usually have read pretty broadly...

I've essentially given up on voting in the GCAs because I've rarely (if ever) read more than one book in a single category in any given year. xD

I was shocked to see that I have read four titles on the list. Maybe an accident. Although a couple of them were among the better books that I have read this year (Dark Renaissance and A Drop of Corruption) and one among absolute worst (The Devils). I usually avoid prize winners (the Pulitzers and Bookers are typically the worst of the lot).

There were SO MANY TITLES on the nominations that I've either 1 or 2 starred. WHYYYYYYY.

That’s our Marquise! Beholden to no one, except her own exceptional good taste in books! 😂 📚

PS… I’ve read only one. Strangers in Time. Historical. Five stars!

Socraticgadfly wrote: "And what is this new, invented "romantasy" category anyway?"

Something even more fictional than Dukes marrying poor maidens that turn out to be superb at everything that they had to create a new category and call it Romantasy because it's too much for Romance and Fantasy separately.

I guess? 😄

Leilin wrote: "And apart from maybe 2 in the horror category, the ones that made it to the list were also among my least favorite of the year -_-"

Ow, I'm sensing a pattern. The worst books are the ones nominated, then?

✧Bella✧ wrote: "Nor for real, I haven't read most of them (although there are quite a few on my tbr lol)"

Any good amongst those you did read?

I stopped voting for the goodreads choice awards a long time ago.

Socraticgadfly wrote: "In other words, almost as manipulated as New York Times bestseller lists."

Haha, yeah. That explains a lot. The only ones that care about these awards are the authors, it looks good on their curriculum or book blurb to be able to say Winner/Nominee for no matter what award.

Karen wrote: "This year was really bad for me too! And I usually have read pretty broadly..."

Sorry to hear that! <3

Olivia wrote: "I've essentially given up on voting in the GCAs because I've rarely (if ever) read more than one book in a single category in any given year. xD"

I can't even vote for one as the only ones I did read were terrible to me. Heh, not that I lament not voting...

Fred wrote: " I usually avoid prize winners (the Pulitzers and Bookers are typically the worst of the lot)."

I don't even know who wins those and the Nobel. People come ask me like I'm some sort of book award oracle and are always surprised when I tell them I don't know (or care). 🤣

Megan » wrote: "There were SO MANY TITLES on the nominations that I've either 1 or 2 starred. WHYYYYYYY."

You've good sense!

Scott wrote: "That’s our Marquise! Unbeholden to no one, except her own exceptional good taste on books! 😂"

Except with retellings, I'm cursed on those. 🥹 Thank you, dear Scott!

I've only read one of the mystery nominees this year, and have another one (also mystery) on my TBR. Usually it's YA fantasy I've read the most of.
On the bright side, Chuck Tingle got a nomination.

Marquise wrote: "Fred wrote: " I usually avoid prize winners (the Pulitzers and Bookers are typically the worst of the lot)."

I don't even know who wins those and the Nobel. People come ask me like I'm some sort o..."

The Nobel committee seems to cast about every year for the least read author in the most obscure country.

Fred wrote: "Marquise wrote: "Fred wrote: " I usually avoid prize winners (the Pulitzers and Bookers are typically the worst of the lot)."

I don't even know who wins those and the Nobel. People come ask me lik..."

Next year, somebody will push this book called "The Art of the Deal" for the Nobel Prize in Literature.

I'll show myself out the door now. ...

Socraticgadfly wrote: "Fred wrote: "Marquise wrote: "Fred wrote: " I usually avoid prize winners (the Pulitzers and Bookers are typically the worst of the lot)."

I don't even know who wins those and the Nobel. People co..."

Did you mean The Art of the Steal

Fred wrote: "Socraticgadfly wrote: "Fred wrote: "Marquise wrote: "Fred wrote: " I usually avoid prize winners (the Pulitzers and Bookers are typically the worst of the lot)."

I don't even know who wins those a..."

I know that's what it's really called, yes, but the Nobel people are humorless literalists!

Morphing_kashi wrote: "I've only read one of the mystery nominees this year, and have another one (also mystery) on my TBR. Usually it's YA fantasy I've read the most of.
On the bright side, Chuck Tingle got a nomination."

Who's Mr Tingly and what does he write about?

Fred wrote: "The Nobel committee seems to cast about every year for the least read author in the most obscure country."

And they've become about as credible as the Nobel Peace Prize, from a quick look at the last nominees. Me, I aspire to an Ig Nobel, waaayyy more serious and credible! :D

Socraticgadfly wrote: "I know that's what it's really called, yes, but the Nobel people are humorless literalists!"

Uh, I hadn't noticed, but I realise now they've never awarded the prize to a humourist, have they? All the more reason the Ig Nobel is superior!

I am rarely familiar with any of the nominees; I don't often read new releases. They seem to always be overhyped, heavily marketed books, not necessarily good books. I've seen terrible books on there often.

I actually read one of the nonfictions this time, and it was good.

Audrey wrote: "I am rarely familiar with any of the nominees; I don't often read new releases. They seem to always be overhyped, heavily marketed books, not necessarily good books. I've seen terrible books on the..."

"King of Kings" is great. Currently reading "One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This," high touted.

Marquise wrote: "Elentarri wrote: "I read three books they had listed, and only one I thought was decent in the pop-corn/candy-floss manner."

Which one/s?"

The one I liked was Emily Wild's Compendium of Lost Faery Tales or whatever the title was. I don't think it deserves any sort of awards. It was fun and competently written and I enjoyed reading it. But nothing spectacular.

The others were Automatic Noodle, the Hemlock and Silver by T. Kingfisher, and the latest Thursday Murder Club installment by Richard Osman. I didn't vote for any of those. I wasn't even tempted to pick a book for the best cover, because all the covers look the same.

Same, I didn't find a single book that I read... There are maybe 2 or 3 that I have on my "want to read" list. Well, to be honest, I am often late with new releases, because I wait for the paperback and then a little bit more!

And then you go to various bookstores in all corners of Europe hoping you find something different. Nope, you find the same crap that Goodreads is hyping. I ended up buying candles and tea instead of books.

Audrey wrote: "I am rarely familiar with any of the nominees; I don't often read new releases. They seem to always be overhyped, heavily marketed books, not necessarily good books..."

Add to that the authors drilling their readers from other socials to come and vote here. I thought that was a joke, but I checked. o.O

Authors are the ones that care, often too much, about these awards. For all that GR get panned by other readers in other socials, it's still the biggest book platform and that means influence.

Elentarri wrote: "The others were Automatic Noodle, the Hemlock and Silver by T. Kingfisher, and the latest Thursday Murder Club installment by Richard Osman."

Please, tell me you didn't rate Hemlock & Silver highly! I can't be the only ogre who disliked it... 😂

I've been considering picking up the Emily Wilde books, but something tells me it's one of those cutesy 'fairy' books that I'm not the target audience for. Know too much about tales to enjoy that.