Tournament of Books discussion

this thread to discuss Saudade's (by Suneeta Peres Da Costa) inclusion in the short list and argue its merits

My library doesn't have this book! Off to the bookstore...

Same here. Not even for inter library loan. I did request they purchase it though....maybe that will happen by the ToB.

The ebook is available on Hoopla for those whose libraries have access.

It is also available on Kindle. I have just finished it and loved it. So short, I would call it a novella, but beautifully written. The way that the author ties everything in with the title of the book, which is a word I had never heard of, is brilliant.

I was able to come across a copy of this title on Libby from my library. Exquisite and eloquent.
Here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

This was a quick read which I appreciate while trying to make it through all the TOB books in time. I thought the book had beautiful writing and each page paid tribute to saudade, the Portuguese feeling of melancholy and longing. The main character's story of growing up in between cultures resonated with me. Though I am worried that by the time I've read all the other books, this short read might not have the sticking power in my mind.

how to pronounce Saudade for all of us non-Portuguese speakers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAdN5...

If anyone has a copy they would like to trade, I have a copy of Oval. Message me.

Janet wrote: "If anyone has a copy they would like to trade, I have a copy of Oval. Message me."

Janet - I doubt if I will acquire a copy of Saudade but I have been looking for a copy of Oval if you don't find anyone with Saudade that can swap! You can let me know what other books you're looking for? Thanks

C wrote: "Janet wrote: "If anyone has a copy they would like to trade, I have a copy of Oval. Message me."

Janet - I doubt if I will acquire a copy of Saudade but I have been looking for a c..."

Unfortunately, Saudade is the only book on the shortlist that I need. All the others are available from my library. I might be interested in some other small press but nothing comes to mind at the moment....since I live in a major metropolitan area my library is really excellent. Or maybe a UK release that's not available yet in the U.S.?

Janet wrote: "C wrote: "Janet wrote: "If anyone has a copy they would like to trade, I have a copy of Oval. Message me."

Janet - I doubt if I will acquire a copy of Saudade but I have been looki..."

Janet - I'm sending you a message...

C wrote: "Janet wrote: "C wrote: "Janet wrote: "If anyone has a copy they would like to trade, I have a copy of Oval. Message me."

Janet - I doubt if I will acquire a copy of Saudade but I h..."

Actually, I tried and it says you aren't accepting messages, Janet! I just ordered a copy of Saudade (coming from New Zealand though!) so as soon as I get it, I will read it and then mail it out to you in exchange for Oval? Will that work?

C wrote: "C wrote: "Janet wrote: "C wrote: "Janet wrote: "If anyone has a copy they would like to trade, I have a copy of Oval. Message me."

Janet - I doubt if I will acquire a copy of Sauda..."

Wonderful! You got it!

I just finished this last night. I heard a few grumblings about it not being as good as A Girl Returned, so I set my expectations low. I agree, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised.

I think there's something to be said about novels that avoid "over-writing" (which I believe Oval and Overthrow are guilty of) and being longer than they need to be. As with AGR, this book is right to the point, but with poetic language. The author provides just enough, and tells a big story in a small way. I also feel like it was a light touch on some very deep topics, which can be refreshing.

I'm about to start The Testaments today, but I'm guessing I'll want to see this one move forward in the first round.

I finally gave up on my library and purchased it for the kindle. I love that the "customers who also bought this item" includes all TOB books. Hopefully that means it'll show up when other people look at popular books like Normal People or Testaments!

Lauren, not to hijack the thread, but overwritten is a perfect description of Overthrow, and now I’m scared to read Oval 😰

Interesting FYI: today is officially el Dia de Saudade in Brazil.

Aaron wrote: "Lauren, not to hijack the thread, but overwritten is a perfect description of Overthrow, and now I’m scared to read Oval 😰"

Yeah, I think Oval is longer than it should be, but hopefully you can power through it. Whether books are overwritten or not is one of my go-to ways of comparing ToB books I noticed. From this year's short list I would say only a few of them fall into that category. I have three left though, so I might add to that list in a few weeks.

Bob wrote: "Interesting FYI: today is officially el Dia de Saudade in Brazil."

Wow, I wonder how one celebrates that... ;)

Only 3 left?! Wow Lauren, you’re amazing. I thought I was doing well w 8 to go. I better get cracking...

(...except I just started Cloud Atlas. Lol oops.)

Aaron wrote: "Only 3 left?! Wow Lauren, you’re amazing. I thought I was doing well w 8 to go. I better get cracking...

(...except I just started Cloud Atlas. Lol oops.)"

Uh oh, Cloud Atlas isn't exactly a quick read! ;) I've done a little more than half of these on audio, which helps. And I think I had already read eight of them when the shortlist was announced. Of course the last three are all up first in the bracket though. I'm waiting on my library holds for Normal People and Fleishman is in Trouble. I have a hard copy of The Testaments at home that I should finish just in time for the discussion on the 9th... I was one book short of being a completist last year, so I'm making an extra effort this year. :)

Aaron wrote: "Lauren, not to hijack the thread, but overwritten is a perfect description of Overthrow, and now I’m scared to read Oval 😰"

Aaron, fear not! :-) I just finished Oval and found the writing pretty straightforward. The whole thing is a bit underdeveloped, so it was only a three-star read for me.

Jan wrote: "Aaron wrote: "Lauren, not to hijack the thread, but overwritten is a perfect description of Overthrow, and now I’m scared to read Oval 😰"

Aaron, fear not! :-) I just finished Oval and found the wr..."

You're right; there were parts of this novel that felt half-baked (like the main relationship in the story - it was difficult to invest in and understand their connection). I agree that it wasn't overwritten in the sense of long, confusing descriptions, but more on the end of a lot of things happening (and a relatively longer word/page count) that didn't add a lot of meaning. I think the author's views and "moral of the story" mostly came out through the dialogue, and the action moments could have been more purposeful.

I read this yesterday. I thought the writing was solid, and the author effectively communicates the theme. I do think the narrator is trying to navigate being part of the privileged group without being responsible for colonizing, while also not having any connection to where her parents come from... but all the same, I am tired of reading novels from the colonizers. This isn't exactly decolonizing our reading!

(I know the Goan community is technically the working class, but still with far more privilege than the local Angolans....)

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I read this yesterday. I thought the writing was solid, and the author effectively communicates the theme. I do think the narrator is trying to navigate being part of the privileged group without b..."

I also had some mixed feelings about the topic and the author. While her parents are from Goa, she grew up in Australia, and I wasn't sure she would be the best person to write about Angola's experience. I thought I read something earlier about her family's connection to Angola, but now I can't find it. Ultimately I think this book is still worthwhile because it touches on the complexities of colonialism and the various connections people can have with that history, as well as individual struggles with belonging.

The similar timelines of Goa and Angola fighting for independence from Portugal could have been explored deeper here, though. And the brief connections to Brazil were interesting, but those didn't seem to fit as well.

So I guess I would say that I wouldn't count this as an "own voices" book or anything, and I think it's ok for authors to write about other countries, but it still needs to be done in a thoughtful and respectful way.

I would definitely like to see more stories from (and attention given to) authors with more direct experience. Unfortunately Angola has limited authors; the main one I'm seeing is José Eduardo Agualusa who is Portuguese and Brazilian, so that's not the perspective we're looking for either. It looks like Good Morning Comrades might be the best option.

Lauren wrote: "Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I read this yesterday. I thought the writing was solid, and the author effectively communicates the theme. I do think the narrator is trying to navigate being part of t..."
On the acknowledgments page, it says her aunt was living in Angola before independence, which I'm assuming is where she got the ideas for this book.  To me, this isn't a matter of "own voices"... (though I'm following own voices vaguely at the moment, so don't take my word for it) because the book isn't really from the perspective of anyone from Angola, it's about transplanted people and colonialism. Especially from the perspective of a naive girl, and not really someone who is doing the colonizing like her father.  If anything, ownvoices sadly would make it something like, if the writer was born in Australia, even if her parents were from Goa, should she even be writing about Goa, let alone anything to do with Africa?  So in my opinion, the 'own voices' thing will be limiting everyone to writing about their own personal experiences and perspectives, not even of relatives, which will make the window on empathy much much smaller. 

C wrote: "Lauren wrote: "Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I read this yesterday. I thought the writing was solid, and the author effectively communicates the theme. I do think the narrator is trying to navigate ..."

I get what you are saying, and I think this conundrum for the author ("Where do I belong?" basically) is the entire crux of "saudade."

But it is hard not to notice that the actual Angolans are hardly in the novel.

Does anyone know if both ebooks that Amazon offers are the same? The one with the cover that the TOB is using is a bit more expensive, so I was going to opt for the cheaper one, but I don’t want to end up getting a text that’s different somehow.

Brannan wrote: "Does anyone know if both ebooks that Amazon offers are the same? The one with the cover that the TOB is using is a bit more expensive, so I was going to opt for the cheaper one, but I don’t want to..."

Hi Brannan,

I will send you my hard copy if you want it. Just send me a message here on goodreads with your address.

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "C wrote: "Lauren wrote: "Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I read this yesterday. I thought the writing was solid, and the author effectively communicates the theme. I do think the narrator is trying to..."

Yes - good points!

Bretnie wrote: "I finally gave up on my library and purchased it for the kindle. I love that the "customers who also bought this item" includes all TOB books. Hopefully that means it'll show up when other people l..."

I noticed this too! I loved it! I felt so in community with all of you! :)

Yeah, Goodreads/Amazon show nothing but shortlist for “you might also like” books- I love it! It’s even occurred on the better-known books.

I loved this book and wanted to add that I do think authors can write about anything they want to. Whether or not they pull it off is another thing, but I don't agree that any topics or perspectives are out of bounds because of their ethnicity or familial history. I agree this is definitely not decolonizing our reading, or an "own voices" book or about or giving the perspective of people from Angola, but it really resonated with me as the story of someone who feels like they don't have a place in the world. A person between cultures and countries and languages.

This is one of my favorite books I've read this year!

Cat wrote: "I loved this book and wanted to add that I do think authors can write about anything they want to. Whether or not they pull it off is another thing, but I don't agree that any topics or perspective..."

Yes, I agree that authors can write what they want as long as they cover topics outside of their experience respectfully. I thought the author did a good job here, but was just thinking about the types books that are selected for these competitions and get awards. I think the ToB is aiming to have good representation of perspectives, and while she doesn't cover an authentic Angolan perspective, she does effectively explore the issue you mentioned. I enjoyed this one too, especially how she was able to cover so much with so few words/pages. I'm glad you loved it!

Lauren, I get what you are saying and agree. I would also have an issue with someone trying to say this was representational of the Angolan experience or using it to diversify their choices for an award. It's definitely from the perspective of the colonizers, though I think it's very aware of that perspective and I still think it's a valid subject for writing, as all subjects are, in my opinion. Then it's up to the readers to decide if the author pulled it off or not.

I can also see issues with books that are written by white people who try to take the perspective of people of color, and then are read by an almost entirely white audience who applaud it for its authenticity, etc...that's problematic! I thought Where the Crawdads Sing was particularly grating with stereotypes for the characters who were of color. And yet most of the readers of that book didn't bat an eye, it seemed.

I see what you and others are saying about being careful not to characterize Saudade in an inaccurate way. I don't think this book purports to be taking the perspective of Angolan people; if anyone is saying that, I think they're drawing their own conclusions and not really understanding the author's project.

saved this book for one of my last to read... hoped my library would get it but they haven't!

does anyone have a copy that they're finished with they'd be willing to send to me in seattle? :)

I can, Elizabeth. PM me your address.