2020 TOB Shortlist

[Jan]

Nicholas wrote: "I can't believe Night Boat to Tangier didn't make the cut. That gets my early vote for Ghost Rooster."

Loved that book, and the audio version was sublime.

[Jan]

Lauren wrote: "Or maybe Mary Toft, which only has 29 reviews? Honestly the description doesn't appeal to me but it sounds like people are loving it, so I got the audio version on libro.fm. Hoping I'll be pleasantly surprised by this one!..."

I'm in the same boat re Mary Toft; or, The Rabbit Queen. Version Control was only a 3.5 star read for me,and I'm a pretty easy grader. :-) Plus, having given birth, the idea of birthing bunnies kind of creeps me out. Mary will be near the bottom of the ToB books I want to read, but the enthusiasm here is persuading me to try it. I'm heading to Powell's today (yay, Portland!) and hope to pick up a copy.

[Peebee]

Five read, seven checked out (most of which I planned to read anyway), three on hold (Gainza, Crain and Cha), and then Saudade, which nobody has.) I may not read all three play-ins, but Golden State was available at the library yesterday so I thought I’d at least check it out.

My favorite of the five I’ve read so far was Nothing to See Here (over Attenberg, Akner, Choi, and Coates). I have to read 5 more books by year’s end to meet my Reading Challenge, so might as well focus my efforts on Shortlist picks before the Zombie vote, right? Just started Normal People and will read OEWBGorgeous next.

[Dianah (onourpath)]

Jan wrote: "Lauren wrote: "Or maybe Mary Toft, which only has 29 reviews? Honestly the description doesn't appeal to me but it sounds like people are loving it, so I got the audio version on libro.fm. Hoping I..."

Jan, dammit -- I'm off today! I wish I wasn't missing you, but you can read my shelf talker when you get there 😉

[Jan]

Dianah wrote: "Jan wrote: "Lauren wrote: "Or maybe Mary Toft, which only has 29 reviews? Honestly the description doesn't appeal to me but it sounds like people are loving it, so I got the audio version on libro...."

Dianah, no worries. I was at the Cedar Hills store! I only get to Big Powells (as it is known in my household) a few times a year, but next time I do, I'll plan ahead -- would love to meet you IRL!!!! PS: Hope you had a nice day off!

[Aaron]

Been lurking in this group a while, but I just picked up Caleb Crain’s Overthrow and had to pipe up. I snagged it yesterday while Xmas shopping simply because the synopsis made it sound very zombie-worthy for me, and holy crap I’m loving it! I read the first couple of sections before work and now all I want is to get back home to it. Give this one a shot plzplzplz.

Y’all are fabulous! Love to all fellow Roosterheads ❤️

[Shari]

Just finished Saudade, and while I can appreciate that some people would really enjoy it, I’m sooooo frustrated that it made the shortlist and A Girl Returned did not. As girl-in-another-country-coming-of-age stories go, I found A Girl Returned to be vastly superior, both in terms of the quality of writing and the accessibility of the story. Very frustrated on this front!

[Lauren]

Aaron wrote: "Been lurking in this group a while, but I just picked up Caleb Crain’s Overthrow and had to pipe up. I snagged it yesterday while Xmas shopping simply because the synopsis made it sound very zombie..."

I'm glad to hear it! I have this waiting on my kindle that I'll get to as soon as I finish Girl, Woman, Other (which I'm loving).

[Lauren]

Shari wrote: "Just finished Saudade, and while I can appreciate that some people would really enjoy it, I’m sooooo frustrated that it made the shortlist and A Girl Returned did not. As girl-in-another-country-co..."

That's too bad. I'll adjust my expectations for this one now. A Girl Returned was so good. :(

[Patty]

Shari wrote: "Just finished Saudade, and while I can appreciate that some people would really enjoy it, I’m sooooo frustrated that it made the shortlist and A Girl Returned did not. As girl-in-another-country-co..."

I have read both and agree with you. I would have picked A Girl Returned.

[Peggy]

Aaron wrote: "Been lurking in this group a while, but I just picked up Caleb Crain’s Overthrow and had to pipe up. I snagged it yesterday while Xmas shopping simply because the synopsis made it sound very zombie..."

Greetings Aaron! You just put Overthrow on my radar.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

The hold list at my library for Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson is something like 35 people, so I decided to use my Audible credit for this title.

I've read previous Wilson titles and I think this experience is similar - I enjoy the read, but they never stick with me. I'm halfway through so I suppose that could change this time..

[Nicholas]

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Nicholas wrote: "I can't believe Night Boat to Tangier didn't make the cut. That gets my early vote for Ghost Rooster."

It's on the NYT top ten for the year. I didn't notice it on the longlist.

I..."

Oh good to hear it made the Times list at least^

I read the first chapter of the Olive sequel in a bookshop and I'm keen to finish it when I get a chance!

[Nicholas]

Shari wrote: "Nicholas wrote: "I can't believe Night Boat to Tangier didn't make the cut. That gets my early vote for Ghost Rooster."

What's a Ghost Rooster?"

It's in fact nothing, just the specter of which book I would have chosen of the ones I read to win the Rooster, for example last year it was Milkman. Seems a lot of readers and judges often mention another book they preferred over the ones that are actually in the final. That to me is your ghost rooster :)

[Nicholas]

Jan wrote: "Nicholas wrote: "I can't believe Night Boat to Tangier didn't make the cut. That gets my early vote for Ghost Rooster."

Loved that book, and the audio version was sublime."

Ah I could see that novel being very key in audio

[Bretnie]

I'm close to finishing Golden State and have loved it! What a wild ride! It might get my zombie vote, but I still have time to squeeze in another book...

[Elizabeth]

Bretnie wrote: "I'm close to finishing Golden State and have loved it! What a wild ride! It might get my zombie vote, but I still have time to squeeze in another book..."

I might be tempted, because I had more fun with it than anything I've read so far this year. But I don't think it has a chance to win the Rooster...And for me, the ending had too many problems.

I'm leaning now toward the Dexter Palmer, which I'm about 75% through. SO good, even though I don't usually like historicals. I just love Palmer. (Ellen, I feel like you might like this one.)

[Neale]

Elizabeth wrote: "Bretnie wrote: "I'm close to finishing Golden State and have loved it! What a wild ride! It might get my zombie vote, but I still have time to squeeze in another book..."

I might be tempted, becau..."

Elizabeth, I just finished the Dexter Palmer. Wonderful isn't it. Beautifully written and so many wonderful characters. :-)

I don't know if you are interested but I found a great interview with him and posted it on my blog - https://www.collinsbookblog.com/post/...

[Aaron]

I have been listening to Golden State while walking my new puppy and it’s REALLY compelling. The reader is great. Any recommendation on audio for the shortlists? (Have already read Fleishman and LCA.)

[Elizabeth]

Collin wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Bretnie wrote: "I'm close to finishing Golden State and have loved it! What a wild ride! It might get my zombie vote, but I still have time to squeeze in another book..."

I might..."

Thank you for this! I really think he's one of the country's most brilliant authors.

And I love your blog! Going to read some of your quotes and words of the day. :-)

[Julie]

It got my Zombie Vote!!

[Shari]

Aaron wrote: "I have been listening to Golden State while walking my new puppy and it’s REALLY compelling. The reader is great. Any recommendation on audio for the shortlists? (Have already read Fleishman and LCA.)"

Aaron, I really liked We Cast a Shadow on audio.

[Elizabeth]

Aaron wrote: "I have been listening to Golden State while walking my new puppy and it’s REALLY compelling. The reader is great. Any recommendation on audio for the shortlists? (Have already read Fleishman and LCA.)"


I’ve said this before, but The Water Dancer is just magical on audio.

[Drew]

If someone else already posted this and I missed it, I apologize. I just have to have a list of the books by page number (by heft?).

Saudade 128
Optic Nerve 208
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous 246
Trust Exercise 257
Nothing to See Here 272
Normal People 273
All This Could Be Yours 304
Your House Will Pay 304
Golden State 319
Oval 320
Mary Toft 336
We Cast a Shadow 336
Fleishman is in Trouble 384
Lost Children Archive 385
The Water Dancer 403
Overthrow 416
The Testaments 422
Girl, Woman, Other 453

[Lauren]

Elizabeth wrote: "Aaron wrote: "I have been listening to Golden State while walking my new puppy and it’s REALLY compelling. The reader is great. Any recommendation on audio for the shortlists? (Have already read Fl..."

It was, although we may have oversold it with the singing. I think there were only two parts in the beginning where he sang; I was hoping for a lot more later.

As far as my experience with other shortlist books on audio:
- Lost Children Archive: great on audio
- Mary Toft: decent on audio
- Nothing to See Here: works on audio, although the accent is a bit off for me
- On Earth...: I enjoyed this on audio, but slowed it down to 1x speed (where I typically listen at 1.25x) to capture everything. Beautiful.
- Optic Nerve: I didn't find a specific issue with the audio version, but it might be easier to follow in other formats
- Trust Exercise: I don't recommend the audio version of this mainly because of the "icky" parts, haha
- Golden State: works well on audio
- We Cast a Shadow: works well on audio

[Peebee]

Thanks for doing “page number (by heft)!”

I have two books to go to meet my Reading Challenge for the year, and I wanted them to be TOB contenders to make my Zombie vote more informed.

I just got Optic Nerve from my library hold list, so I’m jumping right on it. Was going to consider Girl, Woman, Other or The Testaments, but will probably not have time....

[Ellen]

Drew, thanks so much for the page count! It tells me that I have already read 4/5 of the longest books, which makes me very, very happy -- only one relative doorstop for me, Overthrow, and I already have it at home.

[Lauren]

I’m really loving Girl, Woman, Other and think it will end up being my zombie vote. I’m desperately trying to finish it by the 30th though to make sure the ending isn’t terrible. So far this one is something I’ll definitely want to read again so I can connect all of the stories more easily. I also kind of want to create a family/friends tree for it. The stories are beautiful on their own but I’m loving all of the connections as well.

[Janet]

Lauren wrote: "I also kind of want to create a family/friends tree for it. The stories are beautiful on their own but I’m loving all of the connections as well."

I did that....made a tree for the relationships and it was really helpful.

[Aaron]

Thank you for the list, Lauren! I would also add that Attenberg’s All This Could Be Yours is good as far as audio goes. Not that I would recommend the book... but it’s easily digestible via audio for those of us doing the full list.

[Lauren]

Good to know, @Aaron! My audio version of Attenberg’s book is almost available from the library.

I made a last-minute decision to try to squeeze in one more book before the zombie vote. I had forgotten that Your House Will Pay sounded really interesting. It looks like very few ToBers have read that one but it has good reviews. I’m hoping to finish that one and Girl, Woman, Other by tomorrow night to give my zombie vote to one of them. I’m only about 15% into the audio version of Cha’s book but it’s definitely working so far...

[Lauren]

@Janet - Nice! Would you be able to share a photo of the tree? :)

[Ed]

Lauren wrote: "@Janet - Nice! Would you be able to share a photo of the tree? :)"

If interested in a map of the characters from Girl, Woman, Other - Bernardine Evaristo posted one from "data journalist" Mona Chalabi on her Twitter (@BernardineEvari) posted on 12/21. Haven't read the book (yet), so I screen-capped it for future reference! :-)

[Elizabeth]

Ed wrote: "Lauren wrote: "@Janet - Nice! Would you be able to share a photo of the tree? :)"

If interested in a map of the characters from Girl, Woman, Other - Bernardine Evaristo posted one from "data journ..."

Here's the link! (And wow, um, that's incredibly complex...) https://twitter.com/BernardineEvari/s...

Thanks for that, Ed.

[Janet]

Sorry just now seeing this & I think I’ll demure as hers is so much better than mine...lol.

[Bob]

Hey, guys, I made a Scribd TOB shortlist list for any of you scribd subscribers, available here: https://www.scribd.com/lists/23279823...

For for those without an account but curious, here's an invite:
https://www.scribd.com/g/4o5zu9)

Most of them are available as audiobooks--only a couple as eBooks, but they're all on the same list.

[Bretnie]

Don't forget tonight's the last night to vote in the zombie poll!

https://themorningnews.org/article/th...

My email says midnight eastern!

[Lauren]

Elizabeth wrote: "Ed wrote: "Lauren wrote: "@Janet - Nice! Would you be able to share a photo of the tree? :)"

If interested in a map of the characters from Girl, Woman, Other - Bernardine Evaristo posted one from ..."

Thanks for sharing the link - this is a great family/friends tree! But it does include a spoiler, so I recommend everyone waits until they're finished to look at it. ;)

[C]

Am I cray cray or does it seem, based on this 2019 list that the former president Obama COULD POSSIBLY FOLLOW THE TOB?!?!?! He read at least three of the summer books, a couple backlist winners like The Orphan Master's Son. He WOULD be awesome enough to follow the ToB.
https://twitter.com/BarackObama/statu...

***or I'm just seeing everything ToB because I'm ToB crazy. :D

[Bretnie]

C wrote: "Am I cray cray or does it seem, based on this 2019 list that the former president Obama COULD POSSIBLY FOLLOW THE TOB?!?!?! He read at least three of the summer books, a couple backlist winners lik..."

I nominate him to be a judge for the big "Tournament of Tournament of Books" :)

Edited: Although I'd be so conflicted if he "picked the wrong book."

[C]

Bretnie wrote: "C wrote: "Am I cray cray or does it seem, based on this 2019 list that the former president Obama COULD POSSIBLY FOLLOW THE TOB?!?!?! He read at least three of the summer books, a couple backlist w..."

YESSSSS

[C]

I ended up with two ADVANCE READER COPIES of Overthrow if anyone is interested in them? I can mail one out to you if anyone in the US wants them.. to read, keep, pass on or whatever you want to do with it. I'm looking for most of the short list if anyone wants to swap. Or a swap isn't necessary!

[Care]

C wrote: "I ended up with two ADVANCE READER COPIES of Overthrow if anyone is interested in them? I can mail one out to you if anyone in the US wants them.. to read, keep, pass on or whatever you want to do ..."

YES! I have a hardback of The Accidental if you haven't read it...

[C]

Care wrote: "C wrote: "I ended up with two ADVANCE READER COPIES of Overthrow if anyone is interested in them? I can mail one out to you if anyone in the US wants them.. to read, keep, pass on or whatever you w..."

Care claimed the first copy of Overthrow. I still have another ARC available!

[Michelle]

C I would be so grateful for a copy of Overthrow😊 Are there any ARCs that you particularly want? I just finished The God Game by Danny Tobey.

[Lauren]

C wrote: "Am I cray cray or does it seem, based on this 2019 list that the former president Obama COULD POSSIBLY FOLLOW THE TOB?!?!?! He read at least three of the summer books, a couple backlist winners lik..."

Ooo that is exciting, and based on his list, I would say it's possible he's following the tournament! Likely under a pseudonym... I'll be eyeing each comment carefully in March to see of something sounds like him, haha.

Although I admit that I also see everything as ToB. When I'm in book stores and see three shortlist books near each other I get excited, but then realize that they are just new and popular books, so of course they would be displayed. But I am working on getting more exposure for the tournament and bringing in more readers. I wrote an article about the Summer Camp for the Paperbacks Unlimited book store newsletter in California, and I might submit another article about the 2020 tournament soon.

[C]

Lauren wrote: "C wrote: "Am I cray cray or does it seem, based on this 2019 list that the former president Obama COULD POSSIBLY FOLLOW THE TOB?!?!?! He read at least three of the summer books, a couple backlist w..."

Yep, I have ToB goggles, definitely. Thanks for your work getting some exposure for the ToB. :D

[Mina]

Lurker of many years poking my head out to thank you all for the amazing leg work this thread provides. Page Count/Audio recommendations. Just added Lost Children Archive and Golden State to my Audio Collection.

[Caroline]

Oof, I don't know about this year. So far I count one flat-out masterpiece, two books I absolutely hated, two I didn't finish the first time I tried them (one I probably hated but didn't get far enough, another I was impressed with but not compelled by) and then I just finished one that was . . . fine?

(Should I give hints and let people guess? don't cheat and look at my reviews :D :D)

This isn't really inspiring me to keep going. I'm about to try one I have high hopes for, if that doesn't connect I'm gonna need some other way to figure out what I might actually like. Any strategies for years when most of the books aren't grabbing you?

[Nadine in California]

I've stopped being a ToB short list completist and now I only read the ones that sound compelling. Not a fool proof strategy - my first attempt at a book on the list I hadn't read yet was Oval, which was decent but undercooked.