Tournament of Books discussion

Space to discuss the Quarterfinals round 2, Mar 22:
Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance vs. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

https://www.tournamentofbooks.com/202...

Let there be much gnashing of teeth.

About the result, I think the judgment is very, very well done.

Kip wrote: "https://www.tournamentofbooks.com/202...

Let there be much gnashing of teeth."

Completely understand the reasoning. And it's back as a Zombie (was that ever in doubt?) so people shouldn't completely destroy their teeth. I'm guessing Babel and Tomorrow will stay till the end, unless somehow Sea of Tranquility gets killed.

Somehow I'm not surprised that the books that have broad appeal, huge sales, and high GR ratings are the ones being eliminated for smaller fare.

No teeth gnashing, it was the Marx chapter alone that lifted this book for me from “good-but-flawed” to “flawed but great” and it’s very easy to imagine other more demanding readers thinking it wasn’t enough to overcome the less than perfect parts. But honestly it was hard to relate to a judge that found TTT dauntingly long. It’s the definition of a breezy book.

Lark wrote: "... But honestly it was hard to relate to a judge that found TTT dauntingly long. It’s the definition of a breezy book."

Indeed! His book could be fully enjoyed in about 2 hours though so by those standards just about any book could be judged long.

As you noted, it is long but not at all daunting.

And fully agree on the Marx chapter, it is what truly elevated this book to the highest of highs.

Also actually the other great-to-me part was the title and how at some point the author relates the Shakespeare soliloquy to the way you die many times in video games but never really die. I thought it was great. It’s a perfect title in that everyone knows the quote even if they know nothing about Shakespeare and have never seen a play. It’s part of popular culture now. Vs Faulkner naming his novel “The Sound and the Fury” quoting from the same play, and meaning in every hubristic way possible to signal: “yes, I’m comparing myself with Shakespeare, to hell with anyone who thinks my novel isn't as important.”

So I thought the judge’s criticism of the title was off and it may have colored the whole read.

[gnash, gnash, gnash]

Yeah, I'm gnashing, because not only was Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance one of my least favorite books this year, but now my favorite and zombie pick, Mercury Pictures Presents, goes down too. Insert sad/grumpy face here.

Jan wrote: "...but now my favorite and zombie pick, Mercury Pictures Presents, goes down too...."

I also really liked Mercury Pictures Presents. Very sad it is out of the running.

Don't worry, we'll give it a prize in this group in 2025 or so.

Kyle wrote: "Don't worry, we'll give it a prize in this group in 2025 or so."

Haha! Comment of the day!