Sending a shock through literary circles, on Monday, the National Book Foundation surprised readers, critics and publishers alike in nominating home furniture giant IKEA for its prestigious National Book Award.
The nomination recognizes IKEA’s best-selling compilation of instructional manuals, the 2011 ELGÅ Wardrobe Systems Guides.
The coveted nomination is expected to make the critically acclaimed Instruction Guide a national best seller
In a Monday news conference announcing nominees across all categories, Craig O’Brien, a spokesman for the Foundation, praised the IKEA manuals for its, “sparse, economical use of language, mainstream appeal, and advancement of the fundamental social utility of literature.”
“In their 2011 ELGÅ Wardrobe Systems Guides, IKEA takes readers on a deeply human journey,” said O’Brien. “As an audience, in traveling with our androgynous protagonist, we witness a scattered heap of plastic, screws and spare parts metamorphisize into a sleek, modern bedroom storage system. Through bearing witness to that transformation, IKEA reminds us of our utter potential as mankind, and, as individuals, we rediscover the builder’s imagination of our childhoods. Isn’t that what literature is supposed to accomplish?”
While many critics, including the New York Times’ Michiko Kakutani, celebrated the nomination as affirming the value and momentum of America’s burgeoning post-post-post-modern literary movement, others expressed dismay at what they see as a lesser artistic endeavor.
“Well, first of all, it’s pretty much just 100 pages of pictures, so I don’t get why people keep calling it a book,” explained Sadie Forse, a Slate magazine critic. “Even worse, after spending 10 hours with the thing, I still couldn’t figure out how to put the damn shelves together. Now it’s in a box in my garage. Fucking IKEA.”
The ripple effect of IKEA’s nomination is already being felt within publishing circles. In particular, on Wednesday afternoon, author Lauren Myracle, whose 2009 novel Miracle failed to be nominated for the prize, announced on Facebook that she has agreed to a publishing contract with insurance giant Blue Cross Blue Shield to pen their 2012 HMO overviews.
“Friends and fans!” wrote Myracle. “With an eye on where I see readers going in the 21st century, and with the exciting news that IKEA’s FABULOUS Wardrobe Systems Guides have been nominated for an NBA (not jealous or anything!), I’m thrilled to let you know that I will be working with Blue Cross Blue Shield to bring forward the oft-overlooked family struggle that is at the core of modern American healthcare. It’s not exactly what I dreamed of as a young MFA, but hey, at least millions of people are going to read it!”
In response to Monday’s news, IKEA has already announced a book signing tour to take place at furniture depots and Barnes & Nobles across the country. The The ELGÅ Wardrobe Systems Guides is also rumored to be in consideration for selection for Oprah’s Book Club, a move which would result in a dramatic spike in book and shelving sales nationwide.
Winners will be announced at a ceremony in New York next month.
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Growing up outside of Cleveland, Ohio, Chandler formed a youthful and lasting love for sports, politics, comedy and melted cheese (full disclosure). The Chicago Dope is where his four loves often converge. He hopes you think this site is as dope as he does. 
