Tournament of Books discussion

Space to discuss the 2024 TOB contender Brainwyrms by Alison Rumfitt.

I'm about 3/4 of the way through this and I've kinda had it up to here w/ the scatological references.

FYI, Rumfitt created a Spotify mood playlist if you wanna get into the right mindspace for the book: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Qw...

Thank you for reaffirming my conviction to not go anywhere near this book.

Not planning to read it but thanks for that playlist Bob, I'm really digging that Jackie Extreme cover of Bizarre Love Triangle, got a kind of witch-house vibe to it.

Here's a link to an interview with Alison Rumfitt:

https://i-d.vice.com/en/article/m7bpb...

Best quote from the interview:

After the first book’s content warning was appreciated by readers, she felt she had to include one at the beginning of Brainwyrms too, adding that “it's partly a self-protection thing”. But the author’s note is her turn to play with us. “I don't have much of an ideological feeling about whether books should have a content warning,” she says, laughing. “I’m just being a piece of shit, I like to have fun.”

https://tenor.com/view/good-for-her-a...

Picked this up from the library, haven't started it yet, but a front-cover blurb from Gretchen Felker-Martin feels like a very clear indicator whether you'll like it or not.

I finished this one, but it was a tough one to read. I appreciated the trigger warnings at the beginning.

DNF about halfway through. Wrote a whole blurb but GR crashed and deleted. Suffice it to say it is a provocative book with graphic sex/ psychological disorders/ you name it. Not right for me at the moment.

I am very surprised that I’m actually enjoying this book! I’m only halfway through, so maybe things go downhill, but I’m finding these characters compelling and unusual, in a good way. I also like the structure where the chapters alternate between a stream of consciousness narrative (Vanya) and a more conventional narrative (Frankie). I haven’t figured out how the parasites come into play yet, but I feel like that’s coming. I’ll take this novel over Manhunt or that impenetrable (to me) book about the volcano in Central Park. Let’s see if this positivity holds up in the second half…

I read the whole thing. I am really sure I did not understand this book. I have about 1 million questions, but I don’t even know where to begin asking them.

I finished this one too! The second half is more confusing than the first, I thought. I don’t actively dislike this book, and I enjoyed some scenes, but it’s not one of my favorites either.

I ... just found it tiresome. And filled with THE most unsexy sex ever in the history of sex in books. Am I too old? Too cis? I wasn't particularly grossed out -- well, maybe in one instance I was -- but it just seemed like kink for shock value, and ... I wasn't shocked. I just kept rolling my eyes.

OTOH, I now have only one book to go -- Bee Sting -- and the timing couldn't be more perfect; it came in at 2 different libraries at once, right now. So if I figure a week to read it, I will be 18/18 by a week from now!

Bob wrote: "I'm about 3/4 of the way through this and I've kinda had it up to here w/ the scatological references.

FYI, Rumfitt created a Spotify mood playlist if you wanna get into the right mindspace for th..."



I am never reading this book but I am DEFINITELY transferring that playlist to my itunes account because it looks great!

My daughter and I have been listening to the playlist, and it's VERY intriguing. There are a few awkward segues, but for the most part, we are both into it. I'm curious to read the book now! (Ebook only, so I don't' have to deal with that cover.) Too bad it's got a 6 week wait, and I'm at the limit for holds.

Ellen wrote: "I ... just found it tiresome. And filled with THE most unsexy sex ever in the history of sex in books. Am I too old? Too cis? I wasn't particularly grossed out -- well, maybe in one instance I was ..."

I too am finding it tiresome going for shock value over any real substance.
I found the (maybe not so ) subtle calling out of JK Rowling as a mega TERF slightly amusing but also kind of out of place in the whole book. I'm maybe 3/4 done but I'm thinking of jumping ship because I see enough parasites in real life and really don't need them sprinkled into sex. I mean, if that's your kink, have at it.

I was another one who surprised myself by liking this book. But maybe not because Tender is the Flesh is one of my fave TOB books and this one seemed similarly disturbing. I was very grossed out by it and I also didn’t understand a lot of it and I was also annoyed by all the POV changes and weird storytelling techniques. But I kept listening to it because I was captivated and I wanted to find out what happened. I finished it within 24 hours and a big factor for me is how much a book can keep my attention or stand out. This one definitely did both and because of that I enjoyed it.