Tournament of Books discussion

ToB organizers want to hear from us!

Once or twice a month, Andrew, Nozlee, and/or Rosecrans will check in here to answer questions and read our comments and suggestions about all things related to the Tournament of Books, Summer Reading Challenge, and pop-up events.

If you want to ask a question, but don't want to post in this thread, you may send a message to Amy or me. We will contact the ToB organizers and relay their response to you privately.

This is great, Tina. Did we ever find the NF long list? That might be one thing to request. Also clarification on whether these three books were chosen strictly by popular vote or if there were other criteria.

That NF list is gone, and we don't have a list yet of all the fiction recs from the final commentariat. Nozlee was going to do that for us, but maybe she forgot or has been too busy. I'll send her a message today, and I'll include your question about how the memoirs were chosen.

I think those three memoirs were chosen strictly by popular vote. When Rosecrans revealed the books for the NF Pop-Up, he wrote, "Thanks to everyone for their book recommendations, and based on your votes we’ll be reading Hunger by Roxane Gay, Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood, and Educated by Tara Westover."

Thanks, Tina. That's what I thought I remembered, and now that it's confirmed, the OCD part of my brain can let it go.

You can find the nonfiction long list (of sorts?) here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Why do you close the zombie voting so early? Any chance of getting the short list out sooner or the zombie poll later so that we have a chance to read more books before voting?

Brenda wrote: "Why do you close the zombie voting so early? Any chance of getting the short list out sooner or the zombie poll later so that we have a chance to read more books before voting?"

This would be fantastic...Maybe a temporary long-list around October, saying "This is what we're considering so far, but we may switch some out if we discover other notable books before the end of the year..."

Andrew wrote: "You can find the nonfiction long list (of sorts?) here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/..."

Thanks, Andrew!! In case I was ever worried about my TBR getting too short... haha!

Brenda wrote: "Why do you close the zombie voting so early?

Because of our production schedule. I imagine it must seem a little strange from outside the Tournament, but around the time the first match of the opening round goes live to the public, we're actually wrapping up the semifinals and starting the Zombie matchups.

So we need to know our Zombie tally early—though in ToB scheduling terms, it's not as early as it probably feels—so we can account for any incident, expected (e.g., travel) or unexpected (e.g., illness). One of this year's judges, in fact, gave birth the same week of the championship. She got the books, read them, and submitted her decision well ahead of the deadline!

Let it also be said that I am in awe of Nozlee's scheduling prowess and her backup plans to our backup plans. She makes this very complex thing with multiple moving parts work, year after year.

Any chance of getting the short list out sooner or the zombie poll later so that we have a chance to read more books before voting?"

I would only say: maybe. We might be able to squeeze in an extra week or two of voting time; but in six months or so, as we start planning and scheduling next year's ToB (and the chaos becomes apparent once more), it might start to look less possible. We'll definitely take it under consideration, but I can't promise it can happen.

Just want to comment that I love the ToB Field Notes notebooks this year-from the cover color and design to the gridded pages, they are fantastic. I look forward to getting these every year :)

Is there any way to get the longlists from earlier years? Were there even longlists for earlier years? I'm talking about 2013 and older.

Hi Andrew,

As you know, some of us ToB/GR old-timers sometimes get testy about which books make it to the shortlist and which don't. :) A few days ago on another thread, more than a few of us (including me) were bemoaning the fact that The Great Believers didn't make it off the longlist.

So I was wondering if you would consider something like this: Allow the GR TOB to vote on and select one of the books from the longlist for a guaranteed slot on the shortlist?

Look forward to hearing your thoughts on this. And looking forward to ToB 2019!!!

Dianah wrote: "Is there any way to get the longlists from earlier years? Were there even longlists for earlier years? I'm talking about 2013 and older."

Hi! We started publishing our long lists in 2013, and anything prior to that was primarily circulated in email, and is now long lost, I'm afraid.

Andrew wrote: "Dianah wrote: "Is there any way to get the longlists from earlier years? Were there even longlists for earlier years? I'm talking about 2013 and older."

Hi! We started publishing our long lists in..."

I figured as much. Thanks, Andrew!

Hi Andrew -

It's always such a pity that books published in Nov and Dec. miss out on ToB consideration. A way out would be to change the time frame of the tournament to cover the twelve month period from Nov to Oct instead of Jan-Oct". Its awkward, but it could bring in some good books......

Lorraine wrote: "Just want to comment that I love the ToB Field Notes notebooks this year-from the cover color and design to the gridded pages, they are fantastic. I look forward to getting these every year :)"

That's great to hear—I'll pass it along!

Lljones wrote: "Hi Andrew,

As you know, some of us ToB/GR old-timers sometimes get testy about which books make it to the shortlist and which don't. :) A few days ago on another thread, more than a few of us (inc..."

We're going to figure out some new ways to involve more reader interactivity in the near future—probably this year—especially with determining a shortlist competitor. We like how it's worked out with the Rooster Summer event, so it could have something to do with that.

Andrew wrote: "We're going to figure out some new ways to involve more reader interactivity..."

Excellent! Can't wait to hear more!

Andrew wrote: "We're going to figure out some new ways to involve more reader interactivity in the near future—probably this year—especially with determining a shortlist competitor. We like how it's worked out with the Rooster Summer event, so it could have something to do with that. "

Oooh! That is a juicy tidbit!!

Nadine wrote: "Hi Andrew -

It's always such a pity that books published in Nov and Dec. miss out on ToB consideration. A way out would be to change the time frame of the tournament to cover the twelve month per..."

That all the books featured on the shortlist must have appeared on the long list is not an absolute rule for us. And in at least one instance we have considered a book for the shortlist that was published after we released the long list, though I can't recall whether it or any other late entries ever made it onto the shortlist. Some may have, and were then traded out for other titles—there's a good deal of movement on both lists all the way up until they're released.

Andrew, thanks for all the work that goes into picking the books, we look forward to another great tournament.

Why did Tomb Song miss out on a Longlist placement when other 4 summer tournament books are listed on there? Is this just a simple oversight or is there more behind this story?

What is the earliest date that books will be distributed to the judges to commence reading for the Opening round?

Much appreciate your time.

Andrew wrote: "Nadine wrote: "Hi Andrew -

It's always such a pity that books published in Nov and Dec. miss out on ToB consideration. A way out would be to change the time frame of the tournament to cover the t..."

Good to know, thanks! Love the Tournament!

Andrew, I'm preparing to put up our library's Tournament of Books display. Do you have a date when this year's bracket will be released? We encourage our patrons to participate by filling out a bracket for a chance to win one of the books. Patrons will want to know when they can pick up their ballot.

Thank you!

Hey is there any way to go w/ a different swag provider next Tournament? I didn't get my shirt until almost a month after the tournament ended. Maybe threadless or something?

I received mine really late too and had to ping them to ask “where u at?” - noticed that my 2019 shirt is really stiff and poorer quality while the 2018 shirt I ordered at the same time is soft and well fitting. Not sure if that’s due to style but it didn’t go well with the long-time shipping.

Yeah. Additionally, maybe the option to buy can be made earlier, like when the longlist is announced?

My t-shirt was pretty late also. And dang, maybe it's just the trend of female sizing, but I ordered a large and man it's tiny!

Does the Tournament of Books have some kind of geographical limitation on what books you consider year-by-year, for example must be published in the US and/or the UK or something like that? Do you consider/judge translated books together with books originally written in English? I cannot find answers to these questions on the ToB website. Thanks .,,.

Bretnie wrote: "My t-shirt was pretty late also. And dang, maybe it's just the trend of female sizing, but I ordered a large and man it's tiny!"

Yep, I couldn't fit into my large shirt. A shame because I really like it otherwise!

Bretnie wrote: "My t-shirt was pretty late also. And dang, maybe it's just the trend of female sizing, but I ordered a large and man it's tiny!"

I've found this to be standard on t-shirts I order from groups on-line. Always go one size larger than you wear. Of course, I went two sizes larger on my ToB summer camp shirt, which was too big, but it's now my favorite pajama top.

Ace wrote: "Andrew, thanks for all the work that goes into picking the books, we look forward to another great tournament.

Why did Tomb Song miss out on a Longlist placement when other 4 summer tournament boo..."

Sorry for only seeing this now! I've turned on notifications for this discussion. My apologies, really.

I don't recall the specifics of why each of those particular summer books were or weren't included on the long list. Generally speaking, if we feel like a summer book was overwhelmingly liked or disliked by the audience, or maybe didn't get a fair shot in the summer competition, that would influence our decision whether to include it in the long list.

Karen wrote: "Andrew, I'm preparing to put up our library's Tournament of Books display. Do you have a date when this year's bracket will be released? We encourage our patrons to participate by filling out a bra..."

I am so late to this! But at least speaking for 2020, you can anticipate a similar schedule as what we had in 2019. (No schedule yet for the ToB of ToBs.)

Bob wrote: "Hey is there any way to go w/ a different swag provider next Tournament? I didn't get my shirt until almost a month after the tournament ended. Maybe threadless or something?"

We're taking the lag into consideration and planning to release merch a lot earlier than usual for the 2020 ToB. One design is nearly ready! (But still needs work.)

Amy wrote: "I received mine really late too and had to ping them to ask “where u at?” - noticed that my 2019 shirt is really stiff and poorer quality while the 2018 shirt I ordered at the same time is soft and..."

Really sorry to hear that. Was it the same style (not design, of course) both times? Same shirt brand?

Bob wrote: "Yeah. Additionally, maybe the option to buy can be made earlier, like when the longlist is announced?"

Won't be that early (because that is happening just a few days from now), but it will definitely be earlier than it's been in the past.

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Does the Tournament of Books have some kind of geographical limitation on what books you consider year-by-year, for example must be published in the US and/or the UK or something like that? Do you ..."

No rules on geography, just as long as it's long as it's something many US readers will be able to (realistically) find and read. As for translations, we absolutely consider them. So, a book first published in 2016 in another language and then translated into English and published in 2019 would be eligible for the 2020 Tournament of Books.

Heather wrote: "Bretnie wrote: "My t-shirt was pretty late also. And dang, maybe it's just the trend of female sizing, but I ordered a large and man it's tiny!"

Yep, I couldn't fit into my large shirt. A shame be..."

Oh no, sorry about that. Can you tell me which shirt this was?

Alison wrote: "Bretnie wrote: "My t-shirt was pretty late also. And dang, maybe it's just the trend of female sizing, but I ordered a large and man it's tiny!"

I've found this to be standard on t-shirts I order ..."

Oh no! Argh to this sizing. Can you tell me which shirt you ordered?

Andrew wrote: "Nadine wrote: "Hi Andrew -

It's always such a pity that books published in Nov and Dec. miss out on ToB consideration. A way out would be to change the time frame of the tournament to cover the t..."

Ah, didn't answer your question about when judges receive books: It depends! It can be as early as when the shortlist is published.

I was wondering if the 6 books not selected for Summer Camp 2019 (not voted for) were automatically dismissed from consideration for the TOB 2020 Longlist? I noted that none were selected, including that gem by Sarah Pinsker Sooner or Later Everything Falls Into the Sea.

Just a coincidence! Books considered for but that don't make it in to Camp ToB are still eligible for the long list and the shortlist.

I know you're probably not thinking about the summer "Tournament of Tournament of Books" of all of the past winners yet, but we've been excited about it ever since you mentioned it last year.

Do you have thoughts yet about if there will be a play-in round? And what that might look like?

An unsolicited suggestion would be a zombie play-in round where we could nominate books that didn't win it all. Although now that I type it out I realize that would throw off the 16 past winners since you'd need 3 play-ins and 15 regular slots. Dang.

Bretnie wrote: "I know you're probably not thinking about the summer "Tournament of Tournament of Books" of all of the past winners yet, but we've been excited about it ever since you mentioned it last year.

Do y..."

We're pretty deep into plans for the ToToB (not the name! but that's also being discussed), and so far our thoughts about the play-in landed right where yours did about the 15. But I'll still share this, just in case!

I thought it was gonna be Rooster of the Roosters, a la Booker of the Bookers they did for the Booker Prize 25th Anniversary.

Bob wrote: "I thought it was gonna be Rooster of the Roosters, a la Booker of the Bookers they did for the Booker Prize 25th Anniversary."

That is a superior name for sure! Maybe part of your prize for winning the shortlist contest should be naming the tournament!

Andrew wrote: "We're pretty deep into plans for the ToToB (not the name! but that's also being discussed), and so far our thoughts about the play-in landed right where yours did about the 15. But I'll still share this, just in case! "

Thanks!

Bob wrote: "I thought it was gonna be Rooster of the Roosters, a la Booker of the Bookers they did for the Booker Prize 25th Anniversary."

We haven't gone with anything just yet. Still in the works!

Hello ToB overlords. My reading planning is demanding me to ask you if you have any idea which months the Champion Rooster will take place? Before Camp ToB? After Camp ToB? Will the Camp ToB months shift earlier or later because of the Champion Rooster? Thanks for all the work you do.

C wrote: "Hello ToB overlords. My reading planning is demanding me to ask you if you have any idea which months the Champion Rooster will take place? Before Camp ToB? After Camp ToB? Will the Camp ToB months..."

Hi! (friendly wave to offset the overlord throne I sit upon and help you ignore the moat of fire that surrounds you) The Rooster of all Roosters will be in the fall, after (but probably not *immediately* after) Camp ToB, which will still be held over the summer.

Andrew wrote: "C wrote: "Hello ToB overlords. My reading planning is demanding me to ask you if you have any idea which months the Champion Rooster will take place? Before Camp ToB? After Camp ToB? Will the Camp ..."

haha and thank you, this info helps. Also, The Rooster of All Roosters would be a great name for it!