Need a good read? Peruse the Quills short list

readyBook awards are highly prestigious and generally are decided upon by critics and writers.

In October of last year, the Quills were awarded for the first time. Sponsored by “Publishers Weekly” and NBC Universal Television Stations, the awards are unique among book awards. Although the nominations are made by “book people” (booksellers and librarians,) the voting is done by the readers. Sort of a People’s Choice in literature.

Interesting, too, is the fact that the book categories expand beyond fiction and nonfiction. This is another reflection of the popular taste. Categories include audio books, children’s illustrated and chapter books, teen books, graphic novels, mysteries, poetry, romance, sci-fi, spirituality, biography, business, cooking, self-improvement, history and politics, humor, and sports, a book of the year, and a debut novel of the year.

Whew! Something for everyone.

It would be difficult and boring to list all the nominees and winners of this inaugural event but it is interesting to see who won in certain categories.

For example, “The Daily Show with John Stewart Presents America: A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction” took the audio book award and the best humor book award in fields that included “Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking,” “His Excellency: George Washington,” “The Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker,” and George Carlin’s “When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?”

The best mystery voted on by the reading public was Janet Evanovich’s eleventh entry in the Stephanie Plum series, “Eleven on Top.” The romance category was won by “44 Cranberry Point,” and the best science fiction or horror went to “The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror.”

Perennial spirituality and self-help guru Deepak Chopra took the prize in religion or spirituality with the hopeful title, “Peace is the Way: Bringing War and Violence to an End.” And the practical-sounding Rachel Ray’s “30-Minute Get Real Meals: Eat Healthy Without Going to Extremes” won out as best cookbook over the magnificently titled, “Being Dead is No Excuse: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral.”

It comes as no surprise that “Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything” took the award for business books. But, in sports, the delightful dual diaries of novelists, Stephen King and Stewart O’Nan, “Faithful: Two Diehard Boston Red Sox Fans Chronicle the Historic 2004 Season” garnered enough votes outside of Red Sox Nation to beat out the equally fascinating, “Three Nights in August: Strategy, Heartbreak, and Joy; Inside the Mind of a Manager” that chronicles one weekend series between the Cubs and the Cardinals as seen through the eyes of Tony La Russa.

Modern bard Bob Dylan won the biography prize with “Chronicles: Vol. 1” over “Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare” about the bard of all bards.

For best general fiction, the people chose Sue Monk Kidd’s “The Mermaid Chair.” Debut author of the year was Elizabeth Kostova for “The Historian,” a creepy thriller about Vlad the Impaler.

And book of the year? “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”

Reader’s advisory is one of the most difficult jobs expected of librarians. Everyone’s tastes and interests and politics vary so widely. One way to find books that are likely to please is to look at those nominated for special recognition.

For a full listing of all those short-listed (in the finals) for the Quill, or any other book award, just ask at the reference desk at your local branch library.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public Library. This week’s column is by Sara Barnicle. All titles may be reserved at www.newportbeachlibrary.org. For more information on the Central Library or any of the branches, please contact the Newport Beach Public Library at (949) 717-3800, option 2.