Tournament of Books discussion

Final battle for the Super Rooster: Oct 30th -
Normal People v. A Mercy

One of the judges clearly hates fun. More fun for us I guess!

She's been a judge in the past. If she didn't want to do it, why not just decline?

I guessed 13-4 after looking at the judges and figuring there were 9 sure A Mercy votes and then split the other 8. Would have worked if Crispin had gone ahead and picked NP as she did earlier.

I'm guessing the ordering of the judgments was chosen for maximum nail-biting? It felt like a precursor to the upcoming election night (week, month) in the US! I hope I'm just as happy with the final result!

I had my husband give me a split count for 17 votes and he offered up 14-3. I was so nervous at first and then thought I was a possible winner! I never get close when I try to guess the counts. I am happy with the result and still vow to attempt a reread of A Mercy and will forego a lukewarm idea to reread Normal People now. whew!

I am flabbergasted to have won the prediction contest (well, no one really "won" did they? Thanks Judge Crispin). I've been around the GR group for awhile but my first dip into the official ToB commentariat. What a thrill! :)

It seems very fitting for one of the biggest names in all of literature to take the Super Rooster. A satisfying end.

The judgments in the final made for some stellar reading.

So was there ever any official word as to the why of Natasha Vargas-Cooper's judgment? I know there was much discussion about her transphobic past--just wondering if it was official.

Bob wrote: "So was there ever any official word as to the why of Natasha Vargas-Cooper's judgment?"

I don't like to speak ill of the judges, but honestly, I found Judge Vargas-Cooper's judgement less satisfying than Judge Crispin's. We know how Judge Crispin felt about both books - she held them both in a little bit of contempt. But Judge Vargas-Cooper gave us nothing except the second-hand assurance that she had actually read them. Still, she may well have had a good reason, so I'm going to err on the side of understanding, and just be glad she was able to get us a vote.