Finalists have been named for the Diagram Prize for the Oddest Book
Title of 2010. Horace Bent, "diarist and custodian of the prize" for the
Bookseller,
said, "Compiling a six-strong shortlist from the 66 eccentric entries
proved a colossal task. The debate within the panel of judges often
turned heated, especially when considering whether a nominee's title was
intentionally odd or accidentally odd (which we prefer). However, I
believe the final six are a formidable six and I very much look forward
to discovering which book the public will crown the 31st winner of the
Odd Title prize."
Bent added that last year's winner, Crocheting Adventures with Hyperbolic Planes,
received a considerable sales bump: "Before the prize was awarded, Dr.
Taimina's book was selling just half a dozen copies per week in the U.S.
A week after she picked up my prestigious gong, her book sold an
incredible 95 copies in just seven days at $35 a pop. You can't buy that
kind of publicity."
After a public vote at the Bookseller's website, the winner will be announced March 25. This year's Diagram Prize shortlist titles are:
The Generosity of the Dead by Graciela Nowenstein
The Italian's One-night Love Child by Cathy Williams
Managing a Dental Practice the Genghis Khan Way by Michael R Young
Myth of the Social Volcano by Martin King Whyte
What Color Is Your Dog? By Joel Silverman