Tournament of Books discussion

Longlist released Nov 18, 2017 HERE
Shortlist (and judges) announced Jan 3, 2018
Tournament starts Mar 7, 2018
Reader Judge Nominations are open - enter HERE before midnight EST Dec 4th.
Fan-created spreadsheet for tracking your reading + tons of sortable stats HERE
Zombie Poll open till Wed Jan 10 (midnight EST).

Reminder to become a Sustaining Member if you're able... you'll receive 50% off TOB merchandise which is getting updated soon with 2018 items.

FYI, that spreadsheet got all screwed up at some point. The GR ratings don't line up with the right books anymore. I didn't check every column, but there may be more out of line.

Jason wrote: "FYI, that spreadsheet got all screwed up at some point. The GR ratings don't line up with the right books anymore. I didn't check every column, but there may be more out of line."

Thanks for spotting that, Jason. I updated all of them, and added a column for Hoopla-available books.

It's been a while since anyone added data to the sheet - should I change the sharing to 'comment / view' now instead of letting others edit, do y'all think?

Melanie wrote: "should I change the sharing to 'comment / view' now instead of letting others edit, do y'all think? ."

probably wise!

I've been refreshing the ToB tag on TMN since 6am, ha, I'm so impatient for the shortlist!!

FYI, that Pachinko was on sale at Costco for a paperback copy for $9.99

The ebook version of Goodbye Vitamin is a $2.99 on Amazon - I don't know for how long......

Does anyone else feel a little crazed trying to read as many of the books as possible before March? I've only finished 2 but I feel like I have a madness in my eyes lately with my ambitious goals to get through about half of them in the next month. Every time I pick up my non-TOB books I yell to myself "What are you doing woman?!"

Bretnie wrote: "Does anyone else feel a little crazed trying to read as many of the books as possible before March? I've only finished 2 but I feel like I have a madness in my eyes lately with my ambitious goals t..."

All the time Bretnie, all the time! I feel guilty about reading non-TOB books BUT on the other hand, since the TOB books are often not to my personal taste, I HAVE TO read non-TOB books to keep my reading mojo alive.

Ruthiella wrote: "Bretnie wrote: "Does anyone else feel a little crazed trying to read as many of the books as possible before March?

All the time Bretnie, all the time! I.."

This year my mantra is 'read only the ToB books you REALLY REALLY want to read, long list or short list'. So I'll probably wind up reading half the books on the shortlist, and I've read some really great sleepers on the long list. I think I'll be working on the long list for a while!

Nadine wrote: "The ebook version of Goodbye Vitamin is a $2.99 on Amazon - I don't know for how long......"

Thank you!

I always think it's good to remember that this is not any of ours job...thus, it is perfectly acceptable to tackle exactly as much or as little of the longlist or shortlist as you see fit to do. This is our leisure activity.

And I meant to add...never let your leisure activity stress you out, that defeats the purpose!

Ha, it's not so much crazed-stressed out, more like crazed-excited. The combination of the joy of reading and the joy of ambitious goals is a dangerous combo for me. :) But it's always a good reminder not to find more joy in the achieving the goal than the joy of the process getting there.

Heather wrote: "This is our leisure activity."

Hahaaha. Good one.

So, it is a week until the Pre-ToB Play-in starts. I have read and enjoyed the following TOB books:

Manhattan Beach
The End of Eddy
So Much Blue
Exit West
The Animators
Goodbye Vitamin

I doubt I will get Sing, Unburied, Sing from the library any time soon. So that one will have to wait.

What one novel would you recommend that I tackle in the next week?

Patty wrote: "What one novel would you recommend that I tackle in the next week? ..."

I'd like to recommend White Tears.

Ace wrote: "Patty wrote: "What one novel would you recommend that I tackle in the next week? ..."

I'd like to recommend White Tears."

Thanks. I know it is available.

I'd vote for White Tears or Lincoln in the Bardo.

Patty wrote: "Ace wrote: "Patty wrote: "What one novel would you recommend that I tackle in the next week? ..."

I'd like to recommend White Tears."

Thanks. I know it is available."

I hope you can get into it, I'm not particularly musical but it didn't impact my enjoyment.

White Tears!!!

Who's managed to get through the whole list of 18?

I'm at 14 right now and cracking open White Tears - the others I haven't read are:

Lincoln in the Bardo
The Book of Joan
Stephen Florida

If I had to pick one book to win it all I'd choose Idaho right now - that said, I think of the ones I've read Sing, Unburied, Sing has the best chance (and deserves it). The Animators is my other favorite underdog title.

Kristin-Leigh wrote: "Who's managed to get through the whole list of 18?

I'm at 14 right now and cracking open White Tears - the others I haven't read are:

Lincoln in the Bardo
The Book of Joan
Stephen Florida

If I..."

I really liked The Animators, but I do think it is an underdog.

I've read 17 and am done. Sorry, but Savage Theories is unreadable. I want White Tears to win, but I think Sing, Unburied, Sing will take the rooster.

I've read all 18 which is a first for me. The library gods just lined up for me this time. I only had to purchase Savage Theories.

I also want White Tears to win and I think it has a good shot if it makes it past its first round. I like it when the prize winning favorites like Lincoln in the Bardo or Sing, Unburied, Sing go down early and shake up the tournament.

As I have stated before, I don't really care what book wins. I like interesting judgments and reading the comments pro and con.

I bet White Tears comes back as a zombie if it gets knocked out.

And if not a zombie, Kristin-Leigh, it will simply take possession of another book!

Dianah wrote: "I've read 17 and am done. Sorry, but Savage Theories is unreadable. I want White Tears to win, but I think Sing, Unburied, Sing will take the rooster."

Just finished White Tears. Blew me away. The audio is amazing just b/c of the singing, IMO, but if you go that route you have to check out the print b/c of the fabulous photos and photo captions Kunzru adds at the end of the book.

Julie wrote: "And if not a zombie, Kristin-Leigh, it will simply take possession of another book!"

😂😂😂😂 Yes!!!

I've read 14, and am quite a ways into 15 and 16 (Sing Unburied Sing and Stephen Florida). That will leave The End of Eddy and So Much Blue.

Lorraine wrote: "you have to check out the print b/c of the fabulous photos and photo captions Kunzru adds at the end of the book. "

Those weren't in my edition.

I've read 16 and will have read 17 by the time of the play-in round. Neither of my library systems has Savage Theories and nothing I've seen about it here makes me willing to purchase it in order to read it. In the unlikely event that it wins the play-in, I'll re-assess..

To my surprise, nothing was an absolute stinker as in previous years (I'm looking at YOU, Ban en Banlieue and Wittgenstein, Jr.); the book I liked the least was The Book of Joan, but it was horrible, just pretentious and uninteresting and a bit full of itself. I enjoyed things about each of the other books, and I had that lovely experience of feeling that there were two books -- Pachinko and Goodbye, Vitamin -- that I otherwise would never have read and now I'm really glad to have done so. But I still think that nothing can touch Lincoln in the Bardo for originality and bringing something new to the novel. The other two heavy-hitters -- Manhattan Beach and Sing, Unburied, Sing -- were fine, but did nothing for me.

I read all the books for the first time and had a fantastic time doing so, even with the ones I struggled with.

I think Sing, Unburied, Sing will take the Rooster, but there were several other books that are (almost) equally deserving: Lincoln in the Bardo, Exit West, White Tears, Stephen Florida (which I did not love, but think is a remarkable book) and The Idiot.

I adored The Animators, So Much Blue and Goodbye, Vitamin.

Fever Dream, The End of Eddy and Pachinko were excellent in their own way and I'm glad to have read them.

Julie wrote: "And if not a zombie, Kristin-Leigh, it will simply take possession of another book!"

Isn't that what happened last summer to Fever Dream?

The Morning News have just announced the brackets competition on Facebook with a complete *new* set of merchandise for the closest match. Good luck everyone.

Ruthiella wrote: "I've read all 18 which is a first for me. The library gods just lined up for me this time. I only had to purchase Savage Theorie.."

Sorry to hear that! Hope you enjoyed it more than I did!

I only had to purchase Book of Joan so even if I hate it I won't complain. I did buy Pachinko but the hold list was so long and Costco had it for $10.

This year and last, my local public library has had most of the books. Perhaps it's because I got one of the librarians there interested in the TOB and he's gotten a couple others interested? Of course, we're all placing competing holds!

Ruthiella wrote: I only had to purchase Savage Theories."

Drew wrote: Sorry to hear that! Hope you enjoyed it more than I did!"

LOL It was the LAST book I read too...not my favorite, but I didn't hate it. It reminded me a little of David Foster Wallace in its density and intelligence. Most of which went over my head!

I didn't mind throwing some cash in the direction of a translated work which is never going to sell the way a National Book Award or Booker winner will. And I was able to pass it on to another TOB reader when I was done so WIN:WIN. :D

Eric wrote: "Lorraine wrote: "you have to check out the print b/c of the fabulous photos and photo captions Kunzru adds at the end of the book. "

Those weren't in my edition."

It's worth checking out if you happen upon another edition at the bookstore or library. He did a pilgrimage to the parts of the book set in in the south and also talks about his process of writing the book. Nice bonus content.

So, you guys got your brackets up anywhere? I know TMN is accepting completed brackets online but I'd like to see everyone's...

How do you enter?

My predictions:

Play-in:
Stephen Florida over Savage Theories and The Idiot

Opening Round:
1. Lincoln in the Bardo over Fever Dream
2. White Tears over Stephen Florida
3. Dear Cyborgs over Manhattan Beach
4. The End of Eddy over Lucky Boy
5. Sing, Unburied, Sing over The Book of Joan
6. So Much Blue over Pachinko
7. Exit West over The Animators
8. Idaho over Goodbye, Vitamin

Quarterfinals:
1. Lincoln in the Bardo over White Tears
2. Dear Cyborgs over The End of Eddy
3. Sing, Unburied, Sing over So Much Blue
4. Idaho over Exit West

Semifinals:
1. Lincoln in the Bardo over The End of Eddy
2. Sing, Unburied, Sing over Exit West

I don't think anything in the zombie round will beat either of these.

Championship -- boy, they're both great. I'll say Sing, Unburied Sing.

Here's a link to my tweet: https://twitter.com/gummy_roth/status...

This is the way I think it'll work out. I have a separate one...my dream bracket that's mostly different.

Here is mine: https://www.goodreads.com/photo/user/...

I have Sing, Unburied Sing in the final too. But not as the champion!

mine:

https://twitter.com/dakimel/status/96...

I went a bit off book, or off what I thought it would be, and just ... we'll see. It's likely wildly wrong in so many areas. :)

Eric wrote: "How do you enter?"

you can post on the FB page or tweet at them or email them - their FB page has all the info. https://www.facebook.com/tournamentof...

I see a pattern emerging in that we seem to be picking the same winner.

...which shocks me since, although I predict a Lincoln in the Bardo/Sing, Unburied, Sing final, I think it will be Lincoln in the Bardo.

Although both Lincoln and Sing are equally worthy, I predict Sing will win, if only because we are in a period where it's recognized that white males have been recognized enough.

Eric wrote: "Although both Lincoln and Sing are equally worthy, I predict Sing will win, if only because we are in a period where it's recognized that white males have been recognized enough."

And we come back full circle to White Tears. Well played TOB :)

Here's my entry: https://images.gr-assets.com/photos/1...