Tournament of Books discussion

Posted by the tourney gods ~11am PST 12/16
All This Could Be Yours by Jami Attenberg
Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffi Akner
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo
Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli
Mary Toft; or, the Rabbit Queen by Dexter Palmer
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Optic Nerve by Maria Gainza
Overthrow by Caleb Crain
Saudade by Suneeta Peres da Costa
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
Trust Exercise by Susan Choi
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nahesi Coates
Your House Will Pay by Stephen Cha

and the play-in 'Future is Here Too Soon' round:
Golden State by Ben H. Winters
Oval by Elvia Wilk
We Cast a Shadow by Maurice Carlos Ruffin

I've been hunting around, but can't find the answer -- didn't someone have a projected date for the shortlist, and wasn't it sometime around...now?

Ellen wrote: "I've been hunting around, but can't find the answer -- didn't someone have a projected date for the shortlist, and wasn't it sometime around...now?"

Last year it was announced on the 13th...If they announce early again (which I hope so much they do!) then it'll be around a week from now.

https://themorningnews.org/p/the-tour...

Everyone, apply!!

Love,
The ToB Reader Judge 2018

Lauren wrote: "https://themorningnews.org/p/the-tour...

Everyone, apply!!..."

I wish I could do it again, it was so fun! And really made me dig into (an amazing) book deeper than I ever would have without having to write about it. Yes, apply!

Wait -- we weren't judges, we were commentators in the summer ToB, right, Elizabeth? Does that mean we can't apply? Not that I'd get picked, but...really?

P.S. I could have sworn someone had an actual date that they'd seen for the shortlist, but I'm ok with the 13th.

Ellen wrote: "Wait -- we weren't judges, we were commentators in the summer ToB, right, Elizabeth? Does that mean we can't apply? Not that I'd get picked, but...really?

P.S. I could have sworn someone had an a..."

I was wrong! I just wrote to Andrew to ask whether it was possible, and he wrote back immediately to say we're still eligible. Chances may be slim but definitely apply, I'm going to!

I private messaged the Tournament of Books page on FB asking for when we can expect the shortlist...and they replied "early next week"

Heather wrote: "I private messaged the Tournament of Books page on FB asking for when we can expect the shortlist...and they replied "early next week""

I was just wondering this very thing. More brain time for reading instead of wondering about the shortlist. Thanks Heather!

Yes, eager to see it, too!

Awesome, thanks, Heather!

I just made my guess as a total guess. Just went through quickly and picked. I'm never anywhere close when I pore over it, so I'm curious to see if I have better luck just winging it!

Ack! That's a long time to be holding my breath!

Whoops! My comment was for the shortlist contest thread. :/

I can't wait! That's all I came here to comment! ;)

time to get your shortlist predictions in! -
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I'll freeze the prediction sheet tonight (Sat, 12/14) at 11pm EST

My refresh button just asked me to settle down.

Jason wrote: "My refresh button just asked me to settle down."

Haha! Do you have a predicted URL so I can do the same? :D

Is the short list out yet? Is anyone willing to run by Andrew's or Rosecrans's house with a cup of espresso and a heartfelt plea?

Alison I feel your desperation 😂

Michelle wrote: "Alison I feel your desperation 😂"

Basically, I'm looking for an excuse to return The Night Swimmers unfinished, despite being two-thirds of the way through.

I need to prioritize my TBR pile. I'm swimming in books. Feel discombobulated.

I just finished my book last night and can’t start another until the shortlist comes out. Help!

Finished Fleishman Is in Trouble yesterday but have
Pigs
What Is Missing
The Most Fun We Ever Had
The Remainder
Saudade
The Parisian
Rules for Visiting
Your House Will Pay from library. I need direction.

They're on Pacific time, aren't they? Curse them.

I live in the Pacific time zone, but I've been checking since 5:30 am!

I adore us all, kindred spirits. Anyone else would be laughing at me.

Jennifer wrote: "I live in the Pacific time zone, but I've been checking since 5:30 am!"

Me too! Argh!

Michelle wrote: "Finished Fleishman Is in Trouble yesterday but have
Pigs
What Is Missing
The Most Fun We Ever Had
The Remainder
[boo..."

From this list I have only read Rules for Visiting, but it was a nice and easy (and quick) read if you need to break up reading more dense and difficult topics. I'm hoping The Remainder, Saudade, and Your House Will Pay make the shortlist so I can prioritize those. They all sound great!

Elizabeth wrote: "I adore us all, kindred spirits. Anyone else would be laughing at me."

Yep, I was just thinking that this is the only place I could grumble about my impatience for this list. ;)

I feel like most official ToB things were posted around 10am my time (Central, or 8am Pacific) so I was definitely expecting the email over an hour ago. I'm sure it will come soon! Maybe they made a last minute switch?

Every time someone posts here my heart slips a beat & I refresh furiously. :D

Ehrrin wrote: "Every time someone posts here my heart slips a beat & I refresh furiously. :D"

Me, too. Sorry everyone who just felt their heart leap a little.

Elizabeth wrote: "I adore us all, kindred spirits. Anyone else would be laughing at me."

Aw. Any update day about the ToB is better than Christmas. :D

Also finished Fleischman yesterday and hoping for guidance from the Tournament gods.

Just got an update from the people in charge, they said they've gotten it down to about 45 books from the original 62 and they'll definitely have it done by 3pm, maybe 4.

(kidding)

OMG Kyle😝

Michelle wrote: "OMG Kyle😝"

Thank you for saying what I felt reading that.

Although I do like the image of Andrew, Rosecrans, etc... sorting 62 physical books around, debating the merits of each. I'm imagining arms being waved, coffee being spilled.

Wait, did they say Monday specifically or just early this week?

Monday. Specifically.

In my neck of the woods it's already 5am Tuesday so the struggle is worse.

https://themorningnews.org/article/th...

We are all feeling your pain Ace. I'm too excited to leave my computer lest I miss out on the big announcement.

There are no words for how glad I am to have found this particular community of fellow readers. Waiting is easier with company, although I still feel like a 5 year old on Christmas morning.

There we go!

Waaaah, where is A Girl Returned?! Otherwise, this looks like a pretty terrific list. The play-in round (seems like the theme is alternative futures?) looks very interesting.

Ah interesting. A lot of books that ended up on the shortlist hadn't really registered with me as being on the list. (Does that happen to anyone else?)

I've already read 6 and have copies of four more (now that I downloaded the Attenberg!)

Funny to have a different Golden State on the list.....

I'm a bit disappointed there's no Disappearing Earth or Nickel Boys, but I have plenty ahead to read so I can't complain. Plus, talking about snubs is almost as fun as talking about the ones that made it in.

Yes, I vote we figure out how to sneak in A Girl Returned!

Overall I’m reasonably satisfied. About 1/3 of the books I really wanted to be in the tournament made the list, and while I’m not thrilled about four of them, I think it’s a good selection overall. I have a feeling my zombie vote will be one of these that I haven’t read yet, so those are going to the top of my TBR right now!

I’m also glad Same Same and Trump Sky Alpha aren’t on here. I started those this past weekend and wasn’t into it. Now I can guiltlessly abandon those.

Kyle wrote: "I'm a bit disappointed there's no Disappearing Earth or Nickel Boys, but I have plenty ahead to read so I can't complain. Plus, talking about snubs is almost as fun as talking about the ones that m..."

Disappearing Earth would have been a good one to discuss. I personally enjoyed it, but it has a pet-peeve of mine--the publisher's blurb does not match the book. It's billed as a novel, but is really a collection of linked short stories just to name one example.

Bob wrote: "Should we all conspire and zombie A Girl Returned?"

can we write-in A Girl Returned?? I would totally be down for that!