Tournament of Books discussion

Space to discuss the 2025 TOB contender Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte.

I hope more people will read this! I thought there were a few scenes/characters that went over the top, but overall it was so clever, laugh out loud funny as well as often melancholy, well written and a great study of character.

Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm, Elizabeth. I’m planning to read this, for sure. If the stars align, I might also get to Tulathimutte’s novel, Private Citizens, which has been sitting on my TBR shelves since it was published (and maybe ToB longlisted? Does anyone remember?) in 2016.

Loved this. Made me laugh and cringe at times. Very unique way of telling different stories about rejection. Most of the characters are awful.

A book I would not have read without the TOB.

I thought this book was incredible dissection of the online life of a generation. It made me squirm and laugh and exclaim audibly "Nooo!" when she (view spoiler)[decides to get a bird. (hide spoiler)] Every time I said "this book is incredible," my wife would say, "should I read it?"and all I could say is 'No.' Outside the ToB readers, I can't think of anyone to recommend it to.

Yeah, I have mixed feelings about this one - I really liked the first couple of stories, and the take on rejection was certainly unique! But I liked it less as it progressed and got more over the top. I also had a hard time thinking of anyone I might recommend it to.

This book was so fun and clever and raunchy! I kept sharing bits and pieces of it with my wife. “That book sounds fucking nuts.” I’ve noticed a lot of punning in this year’s shortlist and I feel like Rejection had a fair few I just can recall them. Just came across one in Wedding People, calling egg retrieval “eggstraction.” And in Margo, Margo refers to one of the girl’s boyfriend as “Snoop Dork.”

Very well written and glad I read the first few stories, but very much doubt I’ll make it through (crushing my completionist hopes). Not because it isn’t successful but because it is. This triggered my anxiety hard just because the spiraling was so familiar, even if my triggers have little to do with rejection. Just a little word of warning for others with anxiety or OCD, though I did see that a therapist did recommended it as part of exposure therapy, which might work just because it keeps hitting so hard on the spiraling.

Aaron wrote: " but very much doubt I’ll make it through (crushing my completionist hopes). Not because it isn’t successful but because it is. This triggere..."

The author posted online that he thinks therapists recommending it "is a very bad idea." I do recommend you skip to the last rejection if you don't want to read the depressing, obsessive ones in the middle. It's worth it.

I haven't read this one but I do enjoy Tulathimutte's writing. Is his piece from n+1 included as the first entry in the novel?

https://www.nplusonemag.com/issue-35/...

I see he's spoken about this book in several places:
- https://www.vogue.com/article/tony-tu...
- https://www.interviewmagazine.com/lit...
- https://rosselliotbarkan.com/p/a-conv...
- https://electricliterature.com/tony-t...

Jason wrote: "Aaron wrote: " but very much doubt I’ll make it through (crushing my completionist hopes). Not because it isn’t successful but because it is. This triggere..."

The author posted online that he thi..."

Yes, this is the first story in the novel.

I'm excited to discuss this one in the tournament. I also read parts of it aloud to my husband, and yet I don't know who I'd recommend it to. I think the end of the third story left my mouth agape for minutes upon completing. Whew.

Jessica wrote: "the end of the third story left my mouth agape for minutes upon completing...."

I skimmed the "script." I don't think I missed anything

I loved this one! It probably says something about me and my friends group that I've already recommended it to several pals :)

Elizabeth wrote: "I hope more people will read this! I thought there were a few scenes/characters that went over the top, but overall it was so clever, laugh out loud funny as well as often melancholy, well written ..."

I was nervous about reading this one, but loved it. Especially the second half. Terrific.

Putting =Private Citizens= on the TBR stack.

Cringe inducing in the best way possible. It's like I read this peeking through hands covering my eyes at certain points. Uncomfortably amazing.

Jason wrote: "Every time I said "this book is incredible," my wife would say, "should I read it?"and all I could say is 'No.' Outside the ToB readers, I can't think of anyone to recommend it to...."

That is absolutely true! I'm not suggesting this one to my book club.

I was truly hesitant to read this one, but I think it's probably my favorite of the whole bunch.

Finished it yesterday. I thought it was ok. Some of it I found a bit predictable (feminist dude I'm looking at you). I liked the Bee storyline. I think I will keep thinking about it overall who has life expereince before and after the internet infested all of our brains.

I just finished the end of the third one (well the second part of the third one) and said out loud “nooooooo!” (the autocorrect email address). I’m dying!

Bretnie wrote: "I just finished the end of the third one (well the second part of the third one) and said out loud “nooooooo!” (the autocorrect email address). I’m dying!"

Yes, Tulathimutte really stuck the landing on that story. I wonder if anyone has read that story and not audibly gasped at the ending.

I was laughing so hard at the whole proposal (including the references to Final Fantasy 7 and 10, and the 'puff of white smoke like they announced a new pope') that the ending of the story was the perfect capper.

I’m 70 pages from the end of this. There have been hilarious moments that’s for sure. And yes, I’ve cringed too. The reference to Big Bang Theory was funny. Just read that one. Ok so now I’m gonna sound like a total snob. I’ve been reading this and Swanns Way all weekend. Alternating. Don’t do that. Talk about cognitive dissonance. These two things exist in the same universe!! Actually that’s quite a beautiful thing.

Aaron wrote: "Very well written and glad I read the first few stories, but very much doubt I’ll make it through (crushing my completionist hopes). Not because it isn’t successful but because it is. This triggere..."

Aaron, ah ha! I think you’ve figured out why reading this was so stressful for me. As an anxiety sufferer myself, this book really wasn’t fun to listen to (I have the audiobook). I couldn’t help but find myself empathizing with these horrible characters and their even worse choices. The spiraling really got to me and made me physically uncomfortable while reading. I made it through to the end but just barely.

Gwendolyn wrote: "Aaron wrote: "Aaron, ah ha! I think you’ve figured out why reading this was so stressful for me. As an anxiety sufferer myself, this book really wasn’t fun to listen to (I have the audiobook)...."

This is the way I felt about Martyr. Realized early on I just couldn't go there with him.....