TOB 2020 Longlist

[Janet]

I'm reading GWO now....I know it's supposed to be "free verse" but I think that's a leap....to me it's a series of linked stories without punctuation which with my OCD is making me a little crazy.

[Michelle]

Just finished Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory and Nothing to See Here. Both were much more than I was expecting but Nothing to See Here really touched me. I gave it 5 stars. Also picked up A Girl Returned and Last of Her Name from library holds.

[Kyle]

I'm struggling to get started in Fleishman is in Trouble, mostly because I'm not super hyped to read another "white dude has a midlife crisis" book. That said, the inclusion of a female narrator (introduced around page 30) bodes slightly better for the rest of the book.

I also started Inland, which had a very gripping first chapter. I'd dedicate more of my time to it, but Fleishman is due back at the library first and I'm a little neurotic about library due dates.

[Michelle]

Just finished A Girl Returned and Wow!. For anyone who hasn't read it yet I urge you to get your hands on a copy.

[Amanda]

Kyle wrote: "I'm struggling to get started in Fleishman is in Trouble, mostly because I'm not super hyped to read another "white dude has a midlife crisis" book. That said, the inclusion of a female narrator (i..."

I also struggled with the first part of Fleishman for the exact same reason, but if you continue with it the tone does change. Personally, I felt that the second half of the book makes up for the first, but I know how subjective this really is.

[Bob]

Michelle wrote: "Just finished Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory and Nothing to See Here. Both were much more than I was expecting but Nothing to See Here really to..."

I loved both of those books. SWWLYIAYDG was a big surprise for me--I love Bojack but I was still tentative about it. NTSH was a delight but I expected it bc I've loved everything by Kevin Wilson I've read/heard so far.

[Alison]

I'm reading The Night Swimmers and, frankly, getting very little out of it. At least it's short. The practice of describing a picture in a novel, and then providing the reader a copy of the picture is one that needs to end.

I am enjoying The Most Fun We Ever Had, although I'm not sure at this point (about halfway through) whether it's substantial enough to warrant inclusion.

[Jason]

Half-way thru simultaneously listening to Girl, Woman, Other and reading On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous. So far, I believe they both deserve all the praise and buzz they've gotten.

Ducks, Newburyport for me is this year's 'if it doesn't make the shortlist it may never get off my TBR' book. I really want to read it, but I need the ToB push to get me there. I love the heft of the book, but maybe kindle would have been a better idea. It's so daunting sitting there daring me to crack it open.

[Elizabeth]

Jason wrote: "Half-way thru simultaneously listening to Girl, Woman, Other and reading On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous. So far, I believe they both deserve all the praise and buzz they've gotten.

Ducks, Newbur..."

I've been reading Ducks on Hoopla (piecemeal, as I can't stay focused on it for more than an hour or two at a time) and what's discouraging to me is that I'll read for an hour and only have moved up a percent! It's enjoyable, engaging, well-written and I admire the audacity of it greatly...so I'll keep ploughing through, but I think actually being able to turn pages and see the growing thickness of read pages might be more encouraging.

[Ruthiella]

Jason wrote: "Ducks, Newburyport for me is this year's 'if it doesn't make the shortlist it may never get off my TBR' book. I really want to read it, but I need the ToB push to get me there. I love the heft of the book, but maybe kindle would have been a better idea. It's so daunting sitting there daring me to crack it open.."

I would be surprised if Ducks makes the shortlist, if only because it is a lot to ask a judge to read (and if advanced, multiple judges). I'm reading it now and like Elizabeth, I am enjoying it but it cannot be read quickly, IMO. There is a story in it, but the reader has to work for it.

[Lauren]

Making my way through more longlist titles... I finished Death Is Hard Work this week, which was short and sad, but also thoughtful. This was a brief snapshot of the terrors people are experiencing in places like Syria, and I could have read a lot more about this family, but I was happy enough with this glimpse into that world. 4 stars

I listened to Black Light which was a mixed bag for me. I appreciated the Texas references and found some stories moving, but some of them didn't quite connect for me. 3 stars

I finished Very Nice early this morning and this is one of those stories that I kind of loved hating... As a new writer I enjoyed the comments about writing/writers' lives sprinkled throughout, but I'll admit that I was not rooting for any of these characters. I found none of them likable, some less so than others. The story kept me engaged, but it was just dripping with privilege. I don't think this will make the shortlist, but I'm not disappointed that I spent the time to get through it. 3 stars

I'm currently reading the print version of A Girl Returned, and just started The Water Dancer and Optic Nerve on audio.

[Peggy]

I'm currently listening to Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory and am all in on this one. I was chortling--CHORTLING. And, let me tell you, this can be awkward on public transit, but I didn't care. The sacrificing goats story was *chef's kiss.*

I highly recommend listening to this one.

[Nadine in California]

Lauren wrote: "Making my way through more longlist titles... I finished Death Is Hard Work this week, which was short and sad, but also thoughtful. This was a brief snapshot of the terrors people are experiencing..."

I love Marcy Dermansky's books and it's the combo of dislikeability and privilege in her characters and her comic spin on them that makes her books so entertaining to me. I don't like 'rich peoples' problems' books when they are serious dramas, but I do enjoy ones that involve some kind of ironic or satiric skewering :)

[Michelle]

Lauren how are you liking A Girl Returned so far? I picked it up last night and just couldn't bring myself to sleep until I finished it. I have it ranked as my top favorite

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Alison wrote: "I'm reading The Night Swimmers and, frankly, getting very little out of it. At least it's short. The practice of describing a picture in a novel, and then providing the reader a cop..."

Say a little more about what you mean, if you don't mind. I listened to the audio so I don't know if you mean proverbial/metaphorical picture or if there is somehow a picture in the text? I just felt like my time was wasted overall.

I finished Olive, Again last night and might like it more than the first Olive book. How often do we get to return to characters with such a strong voice, and see them age and learn new things? Totally worth the read, in my opinion, although a richer experience if you read the first.

[Amanda]

I utterly loved Olive, Again, it's easily my favorite book of the year. That said, I don't know if I want it to make the shortlist, unless it wins the Rooster.

[Nadine in California]

Amanda wrote: "I utterly loved Olive, Again, it's easily my favorite book of the year. That said, I don't know if I want it to make the shortlist, unless it wins the Rooster."

I think there must be something wrong with me - I found Olive Kitteridge incredibly depressing. Olive made me so sad because she simply didn't understand how she provoked pain in the people she loved. She was like a brick wall. On the other hand, I gave it 5 stars because I could see it was so perfectly done. Watching the series on TV helped me - Frances MacDormand was brilliant. I wasn't going to subject myself to the same sadness with the sequel, but now I'm wavering....

[Ruthiella]

Nadine wrote: "I think there must be something wrong with me - I found Olive Kitteridge incredibly depressing. Olive made me so sad because she simply didn't understand how she provoked pain in the people she loved. She was like a brick wall."

We suffer then from the same ailment Nadine. I also found the book very sad.

[Bob]

Just started Trust Exercise yesterday, and this is the second book in row with high school-aged children having explicit sex. Is this more common than I thought (I mean the writing about it)? Was it dumb luck that threw these two books together? Is it weird? Am I weirded out by it? Am I an old curmudgeon now? Both were written by women, does that make a difference? Would it be weirder if they were written by men? I don't know how to feel. I think I don't feel anything about it. I like that Netflix show Sex Education and that's all about high schoolers and sex. How should I feel?

[Elizabeth]

Bob wrote: "Just started Trust Exercise yesterday, and this is the second book in row with high school-aged children having explicit sex. Is this more common than I thought (I mean the writing ..."

I hated the sex scenes, it just didn't seem necessary and it made me cringe and want to throw the book across the room. WHY include it? (I think it might be worse written by a man, but still feels completely inappropriate even with a female author.)

[Alison]

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Alison wrote: "I'm reading The Night Swimmers and, frankly, getting very little out of it. At least it's short. The practice of describing a picture in a novel, and then providing t..."

In the paper version, the end papers are covered with the paintings he describes that are on the cabin wall, a map of the area and photos he describes in the novel. The scenes where he describes his current life with his family are all descriptions of photos -- it makes those scenes feel like writing prompts added in and I question why the photos are included. Was it because the author didn't think he described them well, or was it to show off his insight? In any case, it does not help this novel at all.

[Janet]

Just finished A Woman Is No Man....ugh!

[Kyle]

Haven't read Trust Exercise, but it's not uncommon that teens want to and do have sex, regardless of how gross it makes us adults feel, heh.

[Tim]

Bob wrote: "Just started Trust Exercise yesterday, and ..."

If it hadn't been in the ToB summer camp, I would have quit reading this book pretty early. But, without giving anything away, if you get past the halfway point, you will understand the first half differently. So let yourself get exactly 10 pages past the midpoint before you DNF.

[Nadine in California]

I'm feeling very neutral about the long list. After spending the last couple of years letting it direct my reading choices and discovering that the list is really a statement of taste rather than an evaluation of worth, I just read the ones I already want to read, and use the remainder throughout the rest of the year as a suggestion list. That's why I don't mind if the list is long. I do try to read the whole short list, unless I'm feeling a hard no to a title.

[Amy]

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

[Amy]

Elizabeth wrote: "Jason wrote: "Ducks, Newburyport for me is this year's 'if it doesn't make the shortlist it may never get off my TBR' book. I really want to read it, but I need the ToB push to get me there. I love the heft of the book..."

I'm reading The Old Drift, I decided that 'this is the TOME for the shortlist this year' - but I recall Ducks' byline sounding promising too (and I love the cover).... anyone take a shot at them both and have an opinion on which will be the doorstopper this year?

[Carmel]

Nadine wrote: "I'm feeling very neutral about the long list. After spending the last couple of years letting it direct my reading choices and discovering that the list is really a statement of taste rather than a..."

I am feeling the same way, Nadine. I have valued this list, for the exposure to new, and possibly different, reads....but my experience in reading those from last year showed me new isn't always what I value reading. I've become more selective. And...I'm still catching up with last year's titles! :-D I'll never catch up.

[Jan]

Amy wrote: "I'm reading The Old Drift, I decided that 'this is the TOME for the shortlist this year' - but I recall Ducks' byline sounding promising too (and I love the cover).... anyone take a shot at them both and have an opinion on which will be the doorstopper this year?..."

Don't forget The Parisian, which is both long (550 pages) AND slow ! I haven't seen much talk about it here, but it's been on a bunch of Best of lists and is written by a young British-Palestinian woman.

[Jan]

Nadine wrote: " I just read the ones I already want to read, and use the remainder throughout the rest of the year as a suggestion list. That's why I don't mind if the list is long. I do try to read the whole short list, unless I'm feeling a hard no to a title...."

Pretty much me as well. I add things to my TBR based on what sounds interesting to me plus how enthusiastic people here are. :-)

[Jan]

Kyle wrote: "Haven't read Trust Exercise, but it's not uncommon that teens want to and do have sex, regardless of how gross it makes us adults feel, heh."

And then there's The Most Fun We Ever Had, which makes a point of showing how romantic the couple feel and act throughout their long marriage, and since they have four kids it gave me a bit of a "get a room, Mom & Dad" feeling, even though I'm definitely old enough to be in the Mom & Dad age range.

Speaking of sex scenes, was anyone but me annoyed by the sexting/hookup parts in the first half (predominantly) of Fleishman? I of course don't want to think of myself as a prude, but those bits made me wonder if maybe I am. :-) Is this really a standard part of dating now?

[Lauren]

Nadine wrote: "Lauren wrote: "Making my way through more longlist titles... I finished Death Is Hard Work this week, which was short and sad, but also thoughtful. This was a brief snapshot of the terrors people a..."

Ok good. I was pretty sure the author intended for me to dislike these characters, but thank you for confirming that. ;) I might look into some of her other novels...

[Lauren]

Janet wrote: "Just finished A Woman Is No Man....ugh!"

Ugh meaning you disliked the book, or just found the subject matter really difficult to get through (like I did)?

[Lauren]

Amy wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Jason wrote: "Ducks, Newburyport for me is this year's 'if it doesn't make the shortlist it may never get off my TBR' book. I really want to read it, but I need the ToB push to ge..."

I haven't read Ducks (and don't plan to unless it makes the shortlist), but I found The Old Drift to be incredibly ambitious and pretty well done considering the undertaking it was for the author. There's a lot of history and so many characters packed in there (which wasn't ideal for audio but I would consider reading it again in print), and I think it would make for some interesting discussion in the tournament.

[Lauren]

Elizabeth wrote: "Bob wrote: "Just started Trust Exercise yesterday, and this is the second book in row with high school-aged children having explicit sex. Is this more common than I thought (I mean ..."

Yes, I was listening to the audiobook and the voice in those sex scenes made it even worse. Yuck - wish I could delete that memory from my brain. :/

[Carmel]

I never considered myself a "prude" either, but the way sex/romance is inserted into so many things these days, I've just grown so weary of it as a plot element--books, TV, movies...just tiresome. I fast-forward through it all. It not only adds nothing to my enjoyment, at times it detracts from it.

[Janet]

Lauren wrote: "Janet wrote: "Just finished A Woman Is No Man....ugh!"

Ugh meaning you disliked the book, or just found the subject matter really difficult to get through (like I did)?"

I mean it was a difficult book for me to review....I found it very readable and engaging but the subject matter irked me.....my review is here....https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jenny]

Tim wrote: "Bob wrote: "Just started Trust Exercise yesterday, and ..."

If it hadn't been in the ToB summer camp, I would have quit reading this book pretty early. But, without giving anything..."

I was also about to make this point!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Alison wrote: "Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Alison wrote: "I'm reading The Night Swimmers and, frankly, getting very little out of it. At least it's short. The practice of describing a picture in ..."

Oh interesting! Something I completely missed out on in the audio experience. But it wouldn't have added anything....

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Ruthiella wrote: "Nadine wrote: "I think there must be something wrong with me - I found Olive Kitteridge incredibly depressing. Olive made me so sad because she simply didn't understand how she provoked pain in the..."

Nadine and Ruthiella - oh I agree that Olive causes pain that maybe she doesn't see, or maybe sometimes she values the fact that she thinks she's right over someone else's pain. I would say that in Olive, Again, she actually is confronted by some of this in a way I found quite satisfying. And she is able to connect with others - sometimes her direct approach allows people's issues to be addressed head-on rather than letting them feel alone. There is this one story where she sits down with a former student at a diner without asking and it is very moving. And another moment where just her noticing someone leaving a room makes a difference. I do think it is to the tribute of the author that she can make us feel this way; I agree it isn't necessarily a feel-good read. But I felt good just connecting with her distinct voice, if that makes sense. The only other author that is so effective in character writing so far has been Gabe Habash with Stephen Florida (a book which I only read because it was on the ToB longlist, by the way, but never made it into the shortlist although it was in the play-in round.)

[Lauren]

Janet wrote: "Lauren wrote: "Janet wrote: "Just finished A Woman Is No Man....ugh!"

Ugh meaning you disliked the book, or just found the subject matter really difficult to get through (like I di..."

I definitely understand your frustration with this issue. I was very conflicted the whole time thinking about how to balance the seriousness of this situation for those who experience these things, but also recognizing the potential for these stories to create more Islamophobia (and judgement of Middle Eastern and South Asian cultures). I also read The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali and Girls Burn Brighter around the same time as AWINM so I was just swimming in these conflicting emotions. :/

[Lauren]

Michelle wrote: "Lauren how are you liking A Girl Returned so far? I picked it up last night and just couldn't bring myself to sleep until I finished it. I have it ranked as my top favorite"

I finished it last night, and yes - it was wonderful! It felt very unique... just a quiet and simple story that really pulled me in. It was one of my few five-star reads so far from the longlist, and I might even rank it first...

Here's my ranked list so far:
*****
A Girl Returned
Red at the Bone
Sabrina & Corina
****
Lost Children Archive
The Old Drift
We Cast a Shadow
Death is Hard Work
Rules for Visiting
Golden State
LOT
A Woman is No Man
Say Say Say
***
Patsy
Very Nice
Bangkok Wakes to Rain
Optic Nerve
Black Leopard, Red Wolf
Black Light
Trust Exercise
**
The Night Swimmers

[jess]

Stephen Florida was robbed!

[Marionette]

I just finished Pigs. What the heck did I just read??!!

[Michelle]

So glad you liked it too! I have it ranked 1st as well.

[Janet]

I definitely understand your frustration with this issue. I was very conflicted the whole time thinking about how to balance the seriousness of this situation for those who experience these things, but also recognizing the potential for these stories to create more Islamophobia (and judgement of Middle Eastern and South Asian cultures). I also read The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali and Girls Burn Brighter around the same time as AWINM so I was just swimming in these conflicting emotions."

I think what bothered me the most was the inference that ALL Arab women are in this situation and that it is perpetuated by the women themselves.

A book I read some time ago gives a more nuanced portrait of Islam if you're interested.....My Accidental Jihad.

Probably the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

[Lauren]

Thanks for the recommendation; my library had an audio copy of My Accidental Jihad available, so I’ll be listening to that soon. :)

[Elizabeth]

Marionette wrote: "I just finished Pigs. What the heck did I just read??!!"

Haha, I know, right??

[Bob]

jess wrote: "Stephen Florida was robbed!"

Pour one out for Stephen Florida and Throwback Special

[Amanda]

The ebook of All This Could Be Yours is on sale today for $2.99.