Tournament of Books discussion
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2016 Books
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2016 - Possible Contenders
Tina wrote: "I have the opposite issue, Topher. I have so many ARCs and new releases to read for work (I'm a librarian) that I don't have much time to read the older books on my TBR."Yes! This is my problem as well. As a librarian, I feel like I need to be reading the newest books. When people suggest older titles to me, I usually think to myself, "sure, maybe when I retire I can read that one." I usually do allow myself one or two older, sometimes classic, titles a year, but most of my time is spent on new releases.
This year has been an off year for me with adult fiction titles. I just haven't found much that I've fallen in love with. I am a high school librarian, and I think it is a particularly strong year for teen fiction, but for me, adult fiction has been off the mark. I usually read about 30 teen titles and 30 adult titles per year. I have high hopes for some of the adult titles that I have on hold, so I hope that I run across a few gems by the end of the year.
I am throwing this out for consideration: The Country of Ice Cream Star, by Sandra Newman. I believe it was published in the US in Feb 2015, though I had it here in Canada in 2014. I read this as it was in contention for the Women's Prize for Fiction (UK) and it so felt like a ToB book to me. Has anyone else read this one? (And if I am wrong about it's eligibility please do let me know. Sorry if I messed that up!)
Just finished a Marvel and a Wonder and enjoyed it immensely. For a relatively small novel, it had a great mix of character building and a well-paced plot. I tore through it in a couple of nights. Definitely a solid 4 star bordering on a 5 for me.
Tiffany wrote: "Just finished a Marvel and a Wonder and enjoyed it immensely. For a relatively small novel, it had a great mix of character building and a well-paced plot. I tore through it in a co..."
I thought the grandfather/grandson relationship was very well-written, but the violence and ugliness in the second half felt gratuitous to me and dropped my rating to 2-stars.
I thought the grandfather/grandson relationship was very well-written, but the violence and ugliness in the second half felt gratuitous to me and dropped my rating to 2-stars.
Tina wrote: "Tiffany wrote: "Just finished a Marvel and a Wonder and enjoyed it immensely. For a relatively small novel, it had a great mix of character building and a well-paced plot. I tore th..."I guess I didn't find it overly violent or ugly, but then again, I like darker stories. Compared to many previous ToB entries,e.g. An Untamed State, Hill William, The Devil All the Time etc, I felt it was pretty PG-13, on par with your average mystery book. To every book its reader, though, and I appreciate your opinion on it.
I like dark books too, and I'm not usually put off by violence. But, in this instance, it took me out of the emotional story that I was enjoying so much and threw me into a Cormac McCarthyesque adventure. However, I know that my take on Marvel and a Wonder is not the usual reaction. Most GR reviewers seemed to like it much more than I did. That's not a new situation for me! : )
Tiffany wrote: "Tina wrote: "Tiffany wrote: "Just finished a Marvel and a Wonder and enjoyed it immensely. For a relatively small novel, it had a great mix of character building and a well-paced pl..."I added it based on your comments. Thanks!
For what it's worth, here's Amazon's Best Books of the Year (just listing the fiction that made the Top 20):#1: Fates and Furies
#4: An Ember in the Ashes
#5: The Nightingale
#8: Purity
#10: The Girl on the Train
#14: Seveneves
#15: Mrs. Engels: A Novel
#16: The Sympathizer
#18: The Story of the Lost Child
#19: Bull Mountain
Link to all of them: http://www.amazon.com/b/?ie=UTF8&...
I was just looking at that too, Ed. :)
Oh, but maybe different things we are looking at:http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=amb_link_...
the top 20 'literature and fiction' titles are:
1. Fates and Furies
2. The Nightingale
3. City on Fire
4. Purity
5. A Little Life
6. Circling the Sun
7. The Story of the Lost Child
8. Thirteen Ways of Looking
9. A Spool of Blue Thread
10. Did You Ever Have a Family
11. Kitchens of the Great Midwest
12. Mrs. Engels: A Novel
13. The Sympathizer
14. Orhan's Inheritance
15. BULL MOUNTAIN
16. Infinite Home
17. Saint Mazie
18. Days of Awe
19. Dietland
20. Hausfrau
I was looking at the overall/all-genre Top 100 book list (which thus included YA, Mystery/Thriller, and SciFi picks). Tho interesting that sub-grouping for Lit & Fiction has a way different ranking order ... and that Top 5 "City on Fire" and "A Little Life" were outside the Overall Top 20. But that's the fun of lists!
Ed wrote: "I was looking at the overall/all-genre Top 100 book list (which thus included YA, Mystery/Thriller, and SciFi picks). Tho interesting that sub-grouping for Lit & Fiction has a way different ranking..."Ed, what an interesting list. I'm often confounded by how books are categorized and genre-fied, and how these decisions are made, a good example being the way books are being classified right now in the Goodreads Choice Awards.
I've noticed that if someone writes a futuristic novel but doesn't want to be shelved in the sci fi section then they sometimes add the words "A Novel" to their titles, as in "Not On Fire, But Burning: A Novel". "A Novel" adds gravitas perhaps.
I just have to add The Mare by Mary Gaitskill which I'm reading now. Not that I totally love it--there are some aspects that are a little disturbing frankly--but it feels like a great tournament book nonetheless.
Poingu wrote: "I just have to add The Mare by Mary Gaitskill which I'm reading now. Not that I totally love it--there are some aspects that are a little disturbing frankly--but it feels like a gre..."I wanted to read that one. Although, what is the cut-off date for the official TOB? This one was published November.
AmberBug wrote: "Poingu wrote: "I just have to add The Mare by Mary Gaitskill which I'm reading now. Not that I totally love it--there are some aspects that are a little disturbing frankly--but it f..."Sometimes I think TOB keeps the cut-off date deliberately mysterious because I can never quite find their policy when I search for it on the site. I think they try to stick to the calendar year and to be reading up to the longlist release, which would make November books work, but not December books.
Poingu wrote: "AmberBug wrote: "Poingu wrote: "I just have to add The Mare by Mary Gaitskill which I'm reading now. Not that I totally love it--there are some aspects that are a little disturbing ..."Pretty funny but I think you might be right. I also feel so bad for the books published in the beginning of the year, lacking the hype to push them into the shortlist.
AmberBug wrote: "I also feel so bad for the books published in the beginning of the year, lacking the hype to push them into the shortlist. "Do you something in particular in mind?
This year I read a lot of books quickly as they came out January-March and I didn't seem to like any of them as much back then when I read them as I do now, upon reflection. They've grown better in my memory. I may have just been made cranky by too much reading.
Poingu wrote: "AmberBug wrote: "I also feel so bad for the books published in the beginning of the year, lacking the hype to push them into the shortlist. "Do you something in particular in mind?
This year I r..."
This year hasn't been great for me either. I guess it's been the case for certain years, maybe not this one. The best one I've read from early on was probably A Little Life and Aquarium but I don't think they fit in that category. Yes, cranky... It happens. I always feel bad for the poor books that get in front of me when I'm feeling blah.
AmberBug wrote: " Aquarium ."Me too, Aquarium. After the pretty pictures of fish it went somewhere else pretty quickly, didn't it?
I agree this year has been disappointing. Another group I belong to asked what our best reads of the year were and I had a really hard time coming up with anything. I ended up with a light piece of fluff that simply made me laugh....oh well.
Poingu wrote: "AmberBug wrote: " Aquarium ."Me too, Aquarium. After the pretty pictures of fish it went somewhere else pretty quickly, didn't it?"
Oh yes, yes it did.
Also, Janet... I have at least two good 5 star reads this year but I feel last year impressed me more. I can'T remember past that without looking though.
I thought I'd had a great reading year, but of my 13 5-star reads, I think only 5 or so were published in 2015. I'm intrigued about Aquarium now. I was curious when it first came out, but then lost interest as more reviews came in. I think I'll take another look. AmberBug wrote: "Poingu wrote: "AmberBug wrote: " Aquarium ."
Me too, Aquarium. After the pretty pictures of fish it went somewhere else pretty quickly, didn't it?"
Oh yes, yes it did.
Also, Janet... I have at ..."
Sue wrote: "I thought I'd had a great reading year, but of my 13 5-star reads, I think only 5 or so were published in 2015. I'm intrigued about Aquarium now. I was curious when it first came out, but then lost..."Sue, it's a harsh story. Some readers including reviewers really don't like this level of hardness, but I happen to love a certain ruthlessness in what I read, and if you do as well, then you're likely to think it's worth your time.
Okay, now you've really got me. I think I want to read this one without knowing any more. I will report back!poingu wrote: "Sue wrote: "I thought I'd had a great reading year, but of my 13 5-star reads, I think only 5 or so were published in 2015. I'm intrigued about Aquarium now. I was curious when it first came out, b..."
Sue wrote: "I thought I'd had a great reading year, but of my 13 5-star reads, I think only 5 or so were published in 2015..."I would say that thirteen 5-star reads in a calendar year is a *Very Good* year, indeed, regardless of publication year!
Some books are best consumed flash-boiled. Others need time to simmer, stew, age. I add books to my to-read list almost daily. I read them when the time is right. And as if by magic, the right book comes along at the right time, 99% of the time!
Sue wrote: "I thought I'd had a great reading year, but of my 13 5-star reads, I think only 5 or so were published in 2015. I'm intrigued about Aquarium now. I was curious when it first came out, but then lost..."Sue - do you mind me asking what your five star reads published in 2015 are?
Just recently I've read a lot of newly published books from Sept-November and it makes me hate the Zombie Round even more because not only does it favor the hot/popular books that everyone has heard of but possibly not even read, but also favors books from earlier in the year.Two books published earlier in the year that I think are magnificent but probably too harsh to ever get the zombie vote are The Sympathizer and After Birth.
Two that I totally fell in love with from this late-in-the-year publishing period are The Mare and Beauty Is a Wound.
I guess I'm getting antsy for the longlist--anyone else?Just now I'm wondering whether the books a lot of us have loved here on Goodreads and have talked about a lot are actually on the radar out there in the real world of Tournament of Books land.
For instance it seems like most of my GR friends here in this group have read Delicious Foods and it's way up on the Listopia list, at #4. Also Fifteen Dogs and Sweetland are very high. I've read all and they are all great reads but I'll be curious to see if any of the three make the TOB longlist.
The NBA winner is Adam Johnson for Fortune Smiles. That's unexpected! I thought it was just okay, but I'm not usually a fan of short stories.
Tina wrote: "The NBA winner is Adam Johnson for Fortune Smiles. That's unexpected! I thought it was just okay, but I'm not usually a fan of short stories."very interesting. I wonder if TOB will forgo including Fortune Smiles since Johnson already won for The Orphan Master's Son.
I thought the stories were complicated, that's the first word that comes to mind anyway. They had a lot going on in them that was interesting but they felt more like wooden puzzles than stories.
poingu wrote: "Tina wrote: "The NBA winner is Adam Johnson for Fortune Smiles. That's unexpected! I thought it was just okay, but I'm not usually a fan of short stories."very interesting. I wond..."
Maybe they could pick the YA winner, Challenger Deep, instead. Has anyone read it?
Sherri wrote:"Maybe they could pick the YA winner, Challenger Deep, instead. Has anyone read it?"
I read it and liked it. I had not considered it a TOB contender, but maybe. It is not a spoiler to tell you it is about a teenage boy who is struggling to tell reality from delusion as he develops schizophrenia. Shusterman's inspiration was his son's struggle with mental illness. Heavy and emotional stuff, and well-written.
I read it and liked it. I had not considered it a TOB contender, but maybe. It is not a spoiler to tell you it is about a teenage boy who is struggling to tell reality from delusion as he develops schizophrenia. Shusterman's inspiration was his son's struggle with mental illness. Heavy and emotional stuff, and well-written.
I think Challenger Deep has a shot at the ToB. I would at least expect it on the long list. My personal YA choices for the list would be Bone Gap, Drowning Is Inevitable, Our Endless Numbered Days, and The Walls Around Us
Funny story of Girl on a Train being confused with The Girl on the Train and becoming a best seller as a result. http://www.mhpbooks.com/readers-who-t...
Jason wrote: "Funny story of Girl on a Train being confused with The Girl on the Train and becoming a best seller as a result. http://www.mhpbooks.com/readers-who-t......"
Yes, it is but I am glad the another book got a chance to be read. As has been mentioned before there are so many books out there to read and lots of times an excellent book gets lost in the shuffle and/or there is a book buzzing on everyone's lips that helps elevate its ratings.
Personally I did not like The Girl on the Train. :)
There is also another book with a similar title(The Girl from the Train) that is getting good buzz now and at first I thought why are they still talking about The Girl on the Train.
Have any of you read The Diver's Clothes Lie Empty by Vendela Vida? I just finished it, really liked it, and am perplexed at its failure to pick up much buzz despite some favorable reviews. It is similar in theme to All the Birds Singing and Nobody Is Ever Missing, so if you liked either of those books and their way of settling you inside the mind of a post-some-sort-of-unspecified-trauma young woman, you might want to check it out. Vida's writing, her use of second person, and the setting in Casablanca make me think it could be fun for the TOB.
Jan wrote: "Have any of you read The Diver's Clothes Lie Empty by Vendela Vida? I just finished it, really liked it, and am perplexed at its failure to pick up much buzz despite some favorable reviews. It is s..."i am a huge fan of Vendela Vida, jan! so glad her newest book worked so well for you. i have not had a chance to read it yet, but hope to do so fairly soon.
Jan wrote: "Have any of you read The Diver's Clothes Lie Empty by Vendela Vida? I just finished it, really liked it, and am perplexed at its failure to pick up much buzz despite some favorable reviews. It is s..."
I just started it today, and so far, so good.
I just started it today, and so far, so good.
Tina wrote: "Jan wrote: "Have any of you read The Diver's Clothes Lie Empty by Vendela Vida? I just finished it, really liked it, and am perplexed at its failure to pick up much buzz despite some favorable revi..."Jennifer, glad to hear you are a fan. This was the first book of hers to get on my radar, and I'm glad to have discovered her. Tina, will be eager to hear your thoughts!!
Tina wrote: "Jan wrote: "Have any of you read The Diver's Clothes Lie Empty by Vendela Vida? I just finished it, really liked it"I only made it about 50 pages into this...really liked the story and the premise and really wanted to stick with it, but I found the 2nd-person voice unsettling. I intend to go back and try again.
Jason wrote: "This would be a TOB curveball: The Pickle Index: A Novel http://www.wired.com/2015/11/the-pick..."
Sign me up, I love innovate narrative ideas!
Jason wrote: "This would be a TOB curveball: The Pickle Index: A Novel http://www.wired.com/2015/11/the-pick..."
Hey! I was just about to post my own curveball:
The Sage of Waterloo: A Tale
poingu wrote: "I was just about to post my own curveball: The Sage of Waterloo: A Tale"
I'm not so sure about a rabbit protagonist, but it looks interesting. Thanks for mentioning it. Another one for the TBR!
I'm not so sure about a rabbit protagonist, but it looks interesting. Thanks for mentioning it. Another one for the TBR!
Someone please remind me of when we usually get the long list. Thank you.
Rachelle wrote: "Someone please remind me of when we usually get the long list. Thank you."
Mid-December for longlist, mid-January for final sixteen.
Mid-December for longlist, mid-January for final sixteen.
Rachelle wrote: "Someone please remind me of when we usually get the long list. Thank you."i think it's usually first week of january for final 16 - though the dates have kind of fluctuated over the past few years (i had these noted from our alt- planning).
11 january 2012 - announced final 16 books
20 december 2013 - announced 15/16 books & play-in books
07 january 2014 - announced final 15/16 & play-in books (longlist 12th december 2013)
06 january 2015 - announced final 16 (longlist - 19 december 2014)
Year-end lists begin. Here's a list chosen by authors who will likely end up on other year end lists: http://publishersweekly.com/pw/by-top...
I was thrilled to see Preparation for the Next Life on the 2015 NYT Notable Books list:http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/12/06/...
I'm slightly more hopeful of seeing this in TOB 2016 now. Also How to Be Both!
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Tournament of Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Signs Preceding the End of the World (other topics)Aurora (other topics)
Get in Trouble (other topics)
The Sympathizer (other topics)
Radiance (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Eka Kurniawan (other topics)Vendela Vida (other topics)
Sandra Newman (other topics)
André Alexis (other topics)
André Alexis (other topics)
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I read Saint Mazie and truly enjoyed it. I went into it familiar with Joseph Mitchell's New Yorker piece and in fact re-read it before beginning Saint Mazie. I thought Attenburg did a fine job turning that short character sketch into a full-fledged heroine. Well-written, evocative, tender* - a fine book.
Everyone's rating system is subjective** - I gave this one 4 stars. Also gave 4 stars to 36 other books since Jan 2015. This book is a perfect example of the point I was trying to make earlier -- is there just too much to read out there? Would Saint Mazie have found more readers in a less-prolific publishing year?
I would be stunned if Saint Mazie makes the TOB list - not enough pop, sizzle, dazzle. Still, a fine book.
* poingu used the word "tender" in reference to Station Eleven recently. I thought it was just the right adjective, aptly applied, so I stole it.
** My rating system:
5 stars = Books I can't stop thinking about; books I don't want to end; books I want to read again for the first time.
4 stars = Books that hold me enthralled from start to finish.
3 stars = Books I read on airplanes, at dentist appts, when I have the flu.
2-1 stars = everything else.