Tournament of Books discussion

location to discuss Tournament of Rooster Winners book: The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson

This might be my favorite of the whole list. Pending 2020's winner. It's certainly one that has stayed with me.

Time for me to finish this book I love so much but don’t seem to be able to end!

Bretnie wrote: "This might be my favorite of the whole list. Pending 2020's winner. It's certainly one that has stayed with me."

I couldn't agree more. I think I'll reread them all if I can, but this is the one I'm most excited to go back to.

I've had this book for years but I have a knee jerk reaction that it will be grim and dry, and have been actively avoiding it. This is my kick in the pants to read it.

This is my early favorite to win the Super Rooster.

Nadine wrote: "I've had this book for years but I have a knee jerk reaction that it will be grim and dry, and have been actively avoiding it. This is my kick in the pants to read it."

It’s grim but it’s the opposite of dry!

This was the winner the first year I came across the TOB. Having already read and loved Orphan Master, I was curious to see how it would do in this tourney. When it won, I took it as a sign that this TOB was for me. Might say Orphan Master is my gateway book to the TOB. One of my all time favorites.

Beth wrote: "This was the winner the first year I came across the TOB. Having already read and loved Orphan Master, I was curious to see how it would do in this tourney. When it won, I took it as a sign that th..."

Me too! Every year after that I started reading the winners progressing towards reading the shortlist.

Nadine wrote: "I've had this book for years but I have a knee jerk reaction that it will be grim and dry, and have been actively avoiding it. This is my kick in the pants to read it."

SAME! I bought it for my husband, and it has ever since sat on one our many TBR shelves, staring out at us and inducing guilt in us both ....

My favorite book of the century so far. Also this book led me to TOB where I’ve been happily reading books off my radar ever since.

Another book I just didn't "get". I mean, I got the story line and all -- sort of -- but I just couldn't figure out what was so great about it. I was bored throughout.

This was my first read in the at the time new to me in-person book club I joined. When I arrived and everyone had 1) read the book and 2)done research surrounding it, I knew I had found my people. This isn't an easy read, but I found it deeply satisfying. I particularly liked the first part. I've gone on to read his short stories, which were also very good, and I think nominated for a National Book Award.

Ellen wrote: "Another book I just didn't "get". I mean, I got the story line and all -- sort of -- but I just couldn't figure out what was so great about it. I was bored throughout."

Ellen, I'm with you on this as well. I DNF'd it about midway through it. I think I will try again with this one though, this time on audio

Literary soul mates, Heather.

This won before the ToB hit my radar but I had read it and loved it when I started looking into the Rooster. I think this is one of the great novels of the last ten years. I'd be perfectly fine with this beating out the other books.

I read this book a really long time ago, it feels like, and I remember almost nothing about it except being blown away.

Heather wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Another book I just didn't "get". I mean, I got the story line and all -- sort of -- but I just couldn't figure out what was so great about it. I was bored throughout."

Ellen, I'm wi..."

I wasn't a fan, either. There aren't many of us!

I just finished this, and it was a lot. Some pretty cringe-worthy, depressing, and powerful parts all throughout. It was an interesting form of storytelling too, the way the author weaved the narrators and timelines.

I have one tiny silly complaint though. Part of the book takes place in Texas, but it looks like the author is from South Dakota and grew up in Arizona. He refers to Jun Do eating a breakfast burrito in Texas, which made me do a double take. Breakfast burritos are definitely a thing in California, and they might also be a thing in Arizona, but Texas is really weird about favoring breakfast tacos over burritos. They are kind of our religion and it's normal for Texans to eat them for any meal, multiple days a week (I have them for breakfast about five times a week). Ok, sorry for getting completely off track, but it was bugging me. This book was well done overall, and as a new writer I think this minor discrepancy was just a good reminder for me to look up EVERYTHING about the time/places I'm writing about to make sure there isn't something off.

Update: ok I just found this, so I guess if the part of Texas they were in was north of I-20 then maybe a burrito would make sense. LOL I apologize to those who find this extremely uninteresting.
https://www.mysanantonio.com/food/art...

Lauren wrote: "I just finished this, and it was a lot. Some pretty cringe-worthy, depressing, and powerful parts all throughout. It was an interesting form of storytelling too, the way the author weaved the narra..."

Not uninteresting to me! I've had this book on my shelf for years and can't bring myself to open it because I can't stop thinking it will be dreary. It's so rare to have a book touch on something so pointed and specific in your life that when it happens it's impossible not to react :)

Nadine wrote: "Lauren wrote: "I just finished this, and it was a lot. Some pretty cringe-worthy, depressing, and powerful parts all throughout. It was an interesting form of storytelling too, the way the author w..."

Haha, ok good! And I would say there is some dreariness, but the author does a good job of keeping things moving so you don't have to get in too deep with the tough parts. I think it's definitely worth the read.

Nadine wrote: "Lauren wrote: "I just finished this, and it was a lot. Some pretty cringe-worthy, depressing, and powerful parts all throughout. It was an interesting form of storytelling too, the way the author w..."

Nadine - it's not the most fun book, but it might be the most worthy dreary book I know. :D