Tournament of Books discussion

Play-in round: The Auburn Conference v. The Bee Sting v. The Librarianist

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

Loved how the judgement was written, didn't like the outcome.

Same, Audra. The Bee Sting was one of my favorites in a year in which I only have strong enthusiasm for five of the shortlist books to begin with. I did enjoy The Librarianist, and certainly liked it better than most of what we read this year, but it won’t be memorable to me years from now the way that TBS will.

I do find that having a favorite get knocked out on Opening Day usually permits me to detach from outcomes the rest of the way. So - there’s that.

Great start for me, because The Librarianist is the only book I've read this year. Like Risa, I didn't find much of interest in the list. I did think about reading The Bee Sting, but decided I have read Skippy Dies first (I know, I know!).

Amongst my favorite judgments ever. Laughed throughout. Loved the unseriousness of the numbers. Loved "but Bob is the cherished weenie of my soul!" Great start, best book won.

I wanted to hug that judgment it was so dang good. "Is it drugs" will be a question I ask myself about every book I read from here on out.

I'm glad the snooze-fest that is The Auburn Conference didn't win, that's for sure.

Peggy wrote: "I wanted to hug that judgment it was so dang good. "Is it drugs" will be a question I ask myself about every book I read from here on out.

I'm glad the snooze-fest that is The Auburn Conference d..."

I really want to use that criteria for every book I read now! Unfortunately, the book I'm pushing through is not drugs, and not gay (at least not yet), and doesn't have much of a plot. But the characters are interesting, it's cerebral and vibrating very strangely, so I'm carrying on. Score=300 points + Aboriginal donkey trains

I really liked The Knockout Queen, but have any of you read Rufi Thorpe's other books? Margo's Got Money Troubles, coming out this summer, looks fun.

This is my first time following the ToB and I am in love with this judge and their scoring criteria. I have to score grant proposals and am so tempted to apply these to the next round of proposals I score . . .

I haven't read any of these three books but based on the scores & comments, have now put The Librarianist on my TBR list. And will keep following ToB hoping the rest of the judges are this funny! This strikes me as a hard act to follow.

Rose wrote: "This is my first time following the ToB ..."

Welcome to the ToB, Rose, and welcome also to our little group of folks who just can't get enough of it.

This judge really did hit it out of the ballpark in terms of the spirit of the tournament. A great way to begin a fun experience.

Elizabeth wrote: "I really liked The Knockout Queen, but have any of you read Rufi Thorpe's other books? Margo's Got Money Troubles, coming out this summer, looks fun."

I haven't read anything by her, but I was offered an ARC of her new book and now I'm very glad I accepted. I'm really looking forward to reading it, however, I now have The Librarianist looking at me and I have Tana French's new book in my hands, so...

Elizabeth, I've read all 3 of her novels and think Dear Fang, With Love is excellent as well. I'm very much looking forward to her new book.

Heather wrote: "Elizabeth, I've read all 3 of her novels and think Dear Fang, With Love is excellent as well. I'm very much looking forward to her new book."

Thanks Heather, just added it to my TBR!

That was a fantastic judgment, possibly the best I've ever read!! I've never read Rufi Thorpe but now I really want to. I already had Margo's Got Money Troubles on my TBR, and now I know for sure I'm going to read it as soon as I get my grubby mitts on it, and then I'm going to devour her backlist.

Also, I had picked The Librarianist to move forward, so yay for doing well out of the gate! (It won't last. I will soon sink to the bottom of the pack.)

I have The Librarianist but haven't read it, and now maybe I will? Who knows. I'm a little bummed about The Bee Sting though. It feels like a potential zombie, but I've been wrong about those the past couple of years.

I feel like I'd always been using gay, drugs, and vibrations as judgment criteria, and now I'm glad I've got the vocabulary to attach to the feelings.

Seconding the recommendation of The Knockout Queen above. I think about it often.

The Bee Sting is my zombie. I have it winning. It really was my fave, I think about it a lot.

Elizabeth, I read her debut, The Girls from Corona Del Mar, and felt it was just OK. I liked The Knockout Queen more. I love her write up of the judgment, although not the verdict.