Should JK Rowling Win the Nobel Prize? – Huffington Post -Jeff O’Neal

In his will that established the prizes, Alfred Nobel wanted the Literature award to go to “to the person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction.” This phrase is as ambiguous as it is telling; the “ideal direction” of literature is not stated, but the award clearly is intended for authors whose work strives toward some kind of literary ideal.

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There are other ways of thinking about what literature’s goals should be, and the one that jumps to mind for me is reading itself. Reading is an end in itself and therefore writing that inspires people to read does indeed work in “an ideal direction.” And what living author has inspired more people to read and more love of reading than J.K. Rowling?

I think yes. The Nobel Prize shouldn’t just be limited to “high art” literature. Many of the authors and poets who have won the award are generally unknown, or known but the work is difficult to read and enjoy. Rowling has changed the lives of millions, and I believe she should be recognized for it.

But, feel free to read the article and discuss your opinion!