The Quill award finalists were announced this past week! What, you ask, are the Quills? Quills are to books, the equivalent of Oscars for movies and Tonys for theatre. There are five nominees in 18 categories such as general fiction, humor, romance, business, graphic novels, history, and poetry. This October, all winners will dine at Lincoln Center while NBC televises the event.
I’m excited to report the audio books have a “down-home” flavor. All five nominees are narrated by southern voices. So, without further ado, the nominees are… Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg, as read by the author, is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. Her sweet voice adds spark to eighty-something Mrs. Elner Shimfissle’s quirky life. One minute she is up a tree picking figs and the next off pondering the meaning of life. Library Journal says, “she still can mix humor, wisdom, and pathos in highly memorable characters that made [her] earlier books successes.”
I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence by Amy Sedaris, as read by the author, grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. Sedaris is like listening to a Southerner on speed, since she combines her hometown sound with a New Yorker’s urgency. Publisher’s Weekly says, “Sedaris sounds like she's throwing a party in the studio and listeners would be foolish not to RSVP.”
Mississippi Sissy by Kevin Sessums, as read by the author, grew up in Forest, Mississippi. Sessums knew he was different from other little boys: since he worshiped Arlene Francis and not Mickey Mantle. Publisher’s Weekly says, “Listeners accustomed to contemporary autobiographical titles should be forewarned that they are entering unapologetic gothic territory akin to that of Eudora Welty (a friend and mentor to Sessums) or even Flannery O'Connor.”
Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier is read by actor Will Patton, a Charleston, South Carolina native. Publisher’s Weekly states, “Patton transforms the text into a tale that sounds as if it were meant to be read aloud. It's a story to be told by the fire over the course of a long winter…”
And, drum roll please, my money is on the classic To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee as read by Sissy Spacek. The actual list suggests Sissy Spacek “performs the book” where as other nominees merely read theirs. So, while you mow the lawn, water the garden, or travel to Yellowstone, spend your summer listening to these nominees, and decide for yourself.
13 comments:
I am so happy to have discovered your blog! I am listening to Sissy Spacek read TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD driving through Southern California with my daughter. I'm transported. Thank you. I write children's books set in "Maggie Valley, NC." Nice to meet another Maggie.
All best
Kerry Madden
Ok, don't laugh. I saw the awesome cover of "To Kill a Mockingbird" and while I already have a copy of this book - I could not help buying this new one...and a few others like it....mainly because the bindings are so pretty and look great on my bookshelf! :)
I am a HUGE fan of audio books - usually have two going at any given time (one in my car and one on mu iPod), and these all sound great!
I've never listened to an audio book. I don't spend much time in a car and I guess I just like to hold a book in my hands. I think Sissy Spacek would do a great job reading To Kill a Mockingbird. I read that a long time ago when I was young. I should read it again.
Thanks for stopping by Kerry! Is your Maggie a nickname of Margaret or Magnolia? ;D
Me laugh? Never, Kelly! It is a beautiful cover and it feels good to hold, too. Those marketing guys are really smart. :)
Diane, I do a lot of walking and I download from iTunes. (I made the mistake of buying an iPod before learning NetLibrary only supports MP3 players. So, I'm shelling out the dough and listening to the same books over-and-over-and-over-and-over, etc.) :P
Carol, it's a totally different experience from reading, and we have often debated whether it is actual reading. Sometimes, if I'm reviewing a book, I'll listen and read at the same time. It is so hard to go back to quote passages if I don't. When a narrator skips a line or adlibs I'm usually the only person to know.
Oh drat! I am almost finished with TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and would LOVE to hear it read by Sissy Spacek! I will most definitely put this on my list for, after all, one can never read this classic too many times...er, I mean listen to it..
You should suggest these awards to the Awards Challenge folks. I've never heard of them before! And the ceremony was actually broadcast on NBC - go figure! I hope they do it again this year as I'll definitely be watching.
So true Rebecca!
No worries, Lesley, these audios are this year's nominees. It will be telivised in October, so you can still watch. :)
I can only imagine that Sissy Spacek doing TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD will be sensational. I am not a big fan of audio books, I get too distracted, but this one I could see being drawn into!
I'm not sure I consider listening to an audio book reading either. It's seems to me it's more like watching the movie! lol
I don't know anything about the audio book version, but the book version of Can't Wait to Get to Heaven kicks some serious ass. It is hard to beat a new version of To Kill a Mockingbird, though.
I'm currently listening to Can't Wait to Get To Heaven, and it is a true delight!
Thanks for the information about the Quill Awards. Our library in Redding, California is particpating in THE BIG READ, an initiative of The National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with The Institute of Museum and Library Service and Arts Midwest. We chose the book "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee for our community wide read coming up in October. We have a month of great events planned and would like to feature the Quill Awards and Sissy Spacek. Could you provide me with more programming information? Thank you. Janice Powell BIG READ SHASTA
Post a Comment