Tournament of Books discussion

thread to discuss Oval by Elvia Wilk and it's inclusion in the play-in round

I just finished this a couple of days ago and want to encourage others to ignore the cover copy/plot description. It puts a lot of emphasis on one small element of the story. I was really interested in that idea and was frustrated that it didn't even appear until halfway through the book. If I'd gone in expecting a broad satire about capitalism in general, rather than one on focus on philanthropy and generosity, I might have enjoyed it more throughout.

Teresa wrote: "I just finished this a couple of days ago and want to encourage others to ignore the cover copy/plot description. It puts a lot of emphasis on one small element of the story. I was really intereste..."

Yes, there isn't a lot of Oval in Oval. Just finished it and I think it's a novella-sized story stretched out to novel length. The stretching included interesting characters and cultural critique of privileged 20-something life in the near future, so I did finish it, but I raced through the last 30 or so pages to get it over with. I gave it 3 stars, but it's more like 2.75.

If I'm remembering right, previous ToB's have included first novels from people in the publishing world that aren't quite ready for prime time. I think this book is one of those. I'm hoping it lands in the play-in round.

I agree that the blurb about this book doesn't do this book any justice. I enjoyed the book, but at times it seemed weird just for the sake of being weird. it was like a sci-fi book that didn't explain the sci-fi elements enough.

Tristan wrote: it was like a sci-fi book that didn't explain the sci-fi elements enough."

Yes, especially towards the end (view spoiler)[with the cells Anja and Michel were growing that became a detailed, tiny replica of Anja's decomposing house. It was tossed into the story too casually - I don't need detailed hard sci fi style explanations, but it's got to have SOME heft . (hide spoiler)]. Also, this book has two of my pet peeves in fiction: first, a female character who's a scientist because it's convenient for the story, but has no scientific credibility at all; second, a female character who is portrayed as a bit of a slob who doesn't care about clothes or appearance, but the author thinks it's necessary to tell the reader that she is pretty. Her attractiveness doesn't illuminate anything about the character, so why not leave it up to the reader. Or, god forbid, make a 20-something female who is complex, interesting and ordinary looking.

Nadine wrote: "Tristan wrote: it was like a sci-fi book that didn't explain the sci-fi elements enough."

Yes, especially towards the end [spoilers removed]. Also, this book has two of my pet peeves in fiction: f..."

Good points here. I also did a big eye roll when they mentioned her trust fund. I thought literature was moving away from characters that are born into money because they're just not as interesting (ok maybe that's just my wishful thinking, haha). I see how it added something to her internal conflicts but I feel like it takes the story down a notch for me whenever that's added.

I agree with all the comments here about this not really being about Oval and it doesn't show up until the second half. I marked a few interesting passages but it was a lot of blunt social commentary about capitalism and "solutions" to societal problems. I'm fine with this (and actually want to see more of it in literature) but I appreciate a little more subtlety with these things. The digs at environmentalist hypocrisy were fairly entertaining (saying this as an environmentalist recognizing the mostly-futile results of our endless efforts ;)

My guess is that this one does not make it through the play-in round.

Lauren wrote: "My guess is that this one does not make it through the play-in round."

Of the three choices I think Golden State is the best choice. It tackled an interesting issue, while still telling a fun story. The other two were not as successful in telling interesting stories. Both the other choices were a little boring and heavy handed at times.

If it isn't Golden State, then I hope Oval gets the selection over We Cast a Shadow.

Tristan wrote: "Lauren wrote: "My guess is that this one does not make it through the play-in round."

Of the three choices I think Golden State is the best choice. It tackled an interesting issue,..."

I've only read Golden State and We Cast a Shadow, but I think Golden State surprisingly failed for me, though I thought before starting it that I'd love it. I had a couple problems with We Cast A Shadow as well, but thought that one worked better. Wish I could get my hands on 'Oval' to compare.

C wrote: "Tristan wrote: "Lauren wrote: "My guess is that this one does not make it through the play-in round."

Of the three choices I think Golden State is the best choice. It tackled an in..."

After reading all three I think I can see why the organizers made these the play-ins. They all are bluntly digging at big societal questions in ways where fantasy and reality become interchangeable. Although I think Oval and We Cast a Shadow are more blunt about the ideals/issues they are confronting (i.e. x is one of the constructs we're living in and x is very bad). Golden State makes us guess a little more (and as a reader in that thread pointed out, it's "very meta") where we can draw our own conclusions about the right and wrong of what was explored. I probably enjoyed We Cast a Shadow the most, but all three left me in a "what did I just read"? state after finishing.

I’ve just finished Oval and I was... disappointed. There were so many oblique references to contemporary culture and media (you say “feed,” but it’s clear you mean “Facebook”) it got distracting for me. There were some really interesting ideas—the artists as corporate consultants never stopped feeling gross, but I mean that as a compliment—but the ending felt unresolved and the relationship between Louis and Anja never felt interesting enough to be sad over. Really, Anja never felt interesting. Maybe that’s my big problem.

I’ve not read the other two play-ins yet, but with all the love Golden State has gotten from this group, I imagine it’ll take that round.

I'm about a third of the way through and I am struggling with this book. So far nothing is holding my interest. Not Anja and Louis. Not their relationship. I feel as if I haven't gotten to the point of the story that's supposed to be the heart of the matter. But when is that point going to come?

Michelle wrote: "I'm about a third of the way through and I am struggling with this book. So far nothing is holding my interest. Not Anja and Louis. Not their relationship. I feel as if I haven't gotten to the poin..."

I hear you. I think the "point" comes in around the middle mark and some action picks up after that, but overall I found this one a struggle to get through (same experience I'm having with Overthrow right now). Maybe skim the rest to see how it ends? Or you could probably jump to reading the last 20-30 pages to see all the ending events.

Lauren wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I'm about a third of the way through and I am struggling with this book. So far nothing is holding my interest. Not Anja and Louis. Not their relationship. I feel as if I haven't g..."

Thanks Lauren. I'm going to keep at it. If I don't make a significant dent by the end of the day I might do just that.

Nadine wrote: "Teresa wrote: "I just finished this a couple of days ago and want to encourage others to ignore the cover copy/plot description. It puts a lot of emphasis on one small element of the story. I was r..."

A lot of interesting points in this thread and I found myself relating most to Nadine's ideas. It really did feel like it could have been a novella instead. I enjoyed the main points of the story (Oval, artists as consultants, "growing" a house, cynical corporate environmentalism) but it didn't quite click for me. I still gave it 3 starts because anything I see as being under 3 stars I don't finish, which probably skews my grading a bit.

I think I would have enjoyed myself more if we could have seen the world through the eyes of one of the consulting artists. Maybe while they went on a tour advertising/showing their art and how degrading that may or may not be and near the end of the tour she discovers Oval causing a collapse of her previous, cynical lifestyle.

A few other points I agree with, I would have liked to see Oval introduced a little sooner, with a longer more in depth look at its effects.

I will say this, I enjoyed Ms Wilks' writing style overall and agree with Nadine that maybe this particular story isn't "ready for prime time", but I will be keeping my eyes open for her next novel as I feel like she has the chops to write an interesting story.

Michelle wrote: "I'm about a third of the way through and I am struggling with this book. So far nothing is holding my interest. Not Anja and Louis. Not their relationship. I feel as if I haven't gotten to the poin..."

I'm only about a third through and feeling some ambivalence; I keep marking passages that are funny critiques of today's society (the architects worrying that electricity might not be 'natural' enough in their experimental home, the artists not realizing they only did well as consultants if they 'disrupted....') etc. It is entertaining whenever I pick it up... but I that's not enough to get me to pick it up unless I'm feeling catty. :) I find the writing entirely clever and when I'm in it I keep thinking that perhaps it could win the play-in. And then I get some space and it sits on my shelf or in my passenger seat and doesn't progress...

Amy wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I'm about a third of the way through and I am struggling with this book. So far nothing is holding my interest. Not Anja and Louis. Not their relationship. I feel as if I haven't g..."

just realized those thoughts are really similar to last years The Idiot minus the added cringe factor of not wanting to revisit my 20-year old self (Anya is familiar but not TOO familiar)... plus 2x too many pages.

Amy wrote: "I find the writing entirely clever and when I'm in it I keep thinking that perhaps it could win the play-in. And then I get some space and it sits on my shelf or in my passenger seat and doesn't progress."

I liked this book over all because I found a lot of her observations about corporate culture and human behavior really sharp. But the plot really doesn't move much.

Just finished this and am, like most of us, underwhelmed. I liked Anja’s POV and observations, but neither she or any of the other characters felt real.

If anyone is still having trouble getting hold of this, DM me and I’ll be happy to pass mine along. (I got it from Powell’s.com.)

Just finished this, and I agree 100% with Amy. I enjoyed the writing and underlined quite a few witty, funny passages. That said, I wasn’t motivated to pick this one up and found myself doing things like scrolling Facebook instead...a clear signal the book wasn’t holding my interest much. For one thing, there were too many inane dialogues among the characters, especially the passages with Laura/Dam. Also, the cartilage science part of the plot seem disconnected from the rest. I never understood the point the author was trying to make with that particular plot line.