2015 ToB Competition Discussion Showing 51-100 of 1,076

[Ryan]

It was earlier in the year when I read Redeployment, but I would say that it reminded me slightly of Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. There is humor, but it can be very dark also; apparently, that's a recurring theme this year.

[Ryan]

It was earlier in the year when I read Redeployment, but I would say that it reminded me slightly of Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. There is humor, but it can be very dark also; apparently, that's a recurring theme this year.

[Jason]

April wrote: "Has anyone read Silence Once Begun? I don't think I've heard much about it."

I read Silence Once Begun right when the long list came out. It's an original book that's framed as a non-fiction retelling through interviews and several unreliable narrators giving testimony. It's compelling and a very quick read, but I don't think it's set up to win in the TOB. It's off putting enough for someone to pick against it. It's more thought experiment/social commentary than entertaining or moving.

[Janet]

I've read 4
All the Light We Cannot See
An Untamed State
Station Eleven
Everything I Never Told You

I'm currently reading Redeployment

I have
The Bone Clocks
The Paying Guests

Guess I'd better start with those. I took a quick look at my library's website and most of the books are readily available except Dept of Speculation had 12 holds and A Brief History of Seven Killings had 5. If anyone sees any Kindle deals on these please post,

[Susan]

Ed wrote: "How did everyone do? VERY pleasantly surprised to be starting off with 6! My big stand-out was no 'Narrow Road' -- first time without the Booker winner? See, knew they would mess with 'sure thing..."

Thanks, Ed, for your numbers analysis. It always appeals to my inner geek. And I do use the page length information to help organize my choices. Happy reading!

[Kelly]

C wrote: "Aw, I was worried ARCs are different than the published books. Do you know how it was different?"

I heard that the published version left out a few minor characters. I thought the ARC could have used a little editing, so maybe it would have been a tighter read if I had waited for the finished copy.

[C]

Kelly wrote: "C wrote: "Aw, I was worried ARCs are different than the published books. Do you know how it was different?"

I heard that the published version left out a few minor characters. I thought the ARC ..."

Hmm.. probably some of the characters from the other Mitchell books. There were a LOT.

[Topher]

Ohenrypacey wrote: "Anyone who is shocked that narrow road is not on the list didn't take the time to read this year's intro. ToB doesn't exist to find or re-annoint the best book, it exists as a poke at awards, and a..."
Er, Okay? I think people can be "shocked" that a book wasn't included, AND have read the intro.

Hell, if you scroll down a little, you'd see that they included Doerr's book because it was "the [...]story of the year" and that list would seem off without it. Surely, if the only job was to poke at awards and as a distraction, they could have left that (and any other book) off the list. Why bend their rules, if the goal is ONLY to be a distraction? Clearly, the "competition" is more than that.

People are expressing surprise because they may have loved a particular book and wanted to see it discussed here and by the judges. Happens every year (still don't get why 10th of December wasn't around last year!)

[Ellen]

I read the ARC of Bone Clocks and am a little bummed that I may have missed something by doing it that way. I will say, I didn't love it, possibly because nothing will ever live up to Cloud Atlas in my mind and my expectations were too high.

I've read *cough*two*cough*, All the Light We Cannot See (which I didn't love, actually) and Bone Clocks, and have 2 in my library pile (All the Birds, Singing, and The Paying Guests; the other 6 in my pile were from the longlist so boo on me). Another 5 were already on my TBR list. There are three I didn't really want to read, but now I will. I read them all last year, and the total page count this year is way lower, so I shouldn't have any problem! And, of course, as always, there are at least 4 that I'd never heard of before the longlist was published and know absolutely nothing about.

How sad is it that this is one of the greatest days of my year, the day the shortlist for the ToB is published?

Edited to add: I think the list may actually be just that little bit more mainstream than usual; all 16 of the books are available at one or the other of my local library systems. I shouldn't have to get any through ILL.

[Mina]

Ed wrote: "Here's the list again sorted by current (Jan 6) Goodreads' average ratings:

4.29 - Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay
4.23 - All the Light We Cannot See
4.17 - An Untamed State
4.09 - Redeployment..."

Thanks for ranking the books by rating Ed. I know I won't get through them all so this helps a great deal.

[Jason]

I love the TOB and have been following it from the beginning. I do think that the irreverent attitude toward book awards was a great set up in the early years, but now it's become it's a real award whether they like it or not. And I have to believe that they are perfectly pleased that the list of winners is a damn good list of books that holds up over time. I don't think they distance themselves from it or wish the winners were more eclectic or irreverent. If they truly thought this was all ridiculous exercise they wouldn't have been so visibly irked when the judge refused to read the books and flipped a coin for a winner. We can all decry book awards or the Oscars, or any number of self-congratulatory awards, but we still hang on the edge our seats to find out the winner.

This is my favorite time of year for books. I read more books in this four month span than any other time of the year. And I have no regrets that four of the best books I've read in the past 11 years were longlisted but didn't make the TOB. (Tenth of December still haunts me.)

[Katie]

I'm at four (well 3 and 70% of Bone Clocks that I'm in the midst of) and so busy I'm really going to need to prioritize the rest of the list to get through them. I've read all but 1 or 2 the last two years but I'm really not sure I'll keep pace this year.

[Juniper]

i have only read 2 of the 16: All the Birds, Singing, and Dept. of Speculation. i was fairly 'meh' about both books. it will be interesting to see the debates for them. though, given the way wyld's book made the cut, i will admit i had a moment of 'really? of all the books for 2014... this one?' (but that could be my All My Puny Sorrows angst speaking. haha!!)

of the remaining titles, i do own 11 of them. there's something i can't quite put my finger on with this year's list -- while i love the ToB every year, i am not feeling terribly excited over this list. i am excited over the list of judges and i know i will be totally keen for the match-ups and discussions... so i just need to shake off this whatever it is.

i liked the introduction/explanations offered for the shortlisted books. it's a list. people will love it, hate it, be somewhere in the middle. one of the things i enjoy each year is just how unpredictable the whole thing is. so i feel this year is not really an exception.

hey - did anyone really LOVE 'the bone clocks'? it's the one book on the list i am having the most trouble getting psyched up for - and it's been sitting here, sadly tolerating my lack of interest, ever since its release.

the there thing i am having trouble with is ferrante's book. i am totally, totally keen to read it, but i want to read it in order, and understand this is the best approach, since it (the trilogy as published in NA) was conceived as one book. so i am worried it won't do well being the 3rd book.

[Katie]

The Ferrante book I'm either going to try to get all three read or simply accept I have to wait and read them in order. I just can't pick up the third in a trilogy it will drive me mad. I really do want to read it though so we'll see!

I'm reading The Bone Clocks right now and I am really enjoying it! I have not read The Cloud Atlas or his other work so I have no basis for comparison in that regard but I read half the book over the weekend despite three needy kids whining at me. I find it easy to get sucked right in to! I started it in print and I had too many library books I was juggling. I read about 50 pages and had to return it for the next on the wait list. I was eager to get back to to it so I got a digital copy quickly to return to it. Hopefully the last 20-30% of the book doesn't disappoint me!

[Juniper]

Katie wrote: "The Ferrante book I'm either going to try to get all three read or simply accept I have to wait and read them in order. I just can't pick up the third in a trilogy it will drive me mad. I really ..."

this is where i am at with it too! :)

i have read Cloud Atlas and thought it was fine. but i wasn't in the camp loving and raving about it. man, i sound like such a hardass on books. i swear i'm not. haha!!

i think that, in 2014, i had such a string of disappointing or only okay reads that my reading mood has been a bit low. i am reading Doctor Zhivago right now, so i am really hoping to bust out of the meh-ness.

[C]

Jennifer - I think for the ToB list this year, there are so many books that sounded so good to me that weren't even included on the long list. I think I have a problem with the short list because there are so many books I want to get to, and many of these books aren't those really good sounding books. I'd rather have a short list of books I REALLY wanted to get to sooner. So little time and all that. And I'm wondering if some of the books ended up not actually eligible because they were after 11/1/14.

I don't think Mitchell is capable of ever writing a bad book, but he set the bar pretty high with Cloud Atlas. I would have rather seen Thousand Autumns in the ToB that year. As John Warner says on his Biblioracle page, Bone Clocks does start to get a little like Dungeons and Dragons. Really, I think the book is full of novellas because Mitchell had so many ideas, and some of those novellas should have been expanded on. But I'm talking too much about this pre-ToB!

[Sherri]

Jennifer, for the most part I really liked The Bone Clocks, but like Katie, I haven't read Mitchell's other work. Each of the novellas inside the story are excellent as stand-alone stories. The rest of it was kind of weak and I was definitely ready for it to end, but it made me want to read his other work and re-read the Talented Mr. Ripley :).

I think you should read Station Eleven next. It's one of those books that one you start it you don't want to put it down.

[Joy]

Jan wrote: "Joy wrote: "Months ago I had a copy of REDEPLOYMENT. I let it sit in my locker for weeks. Finally, I decided, "Ain't gonna study war no more," and gave it away. Am I willing to take my head out of ..."

Thank you for your encouragement. I may read it. Life is grim and for years war books have been sliding down to the bottom of my list. First I gave up books about people dying of cancer and now war, particularly this war. Perhaps the TOB judges' opinions will influence my decision.

[Jan]

Joy wrote: "is grim and for years war books have been sliding down to the bottom of my list. First I gave up books about people dying of cancer and now war, particularly this war ..."

I totally sympathize, Joy. I think we all have vulnerable times when we need to filter our novel reading, news consumption, etc, to have any hope of maintaining our equanimity.

[Janet]

Unfortunately, literature is usually not about upbeat topics. Maybe that's what's making me glum these days.

[Juniper]

thanks, sheri & C!! i appreciate reading your thoughts about the tournament and mitchell's book. :)

[Juniper]

Janet wrote: "Unfortunately, literature is usually not about upbeat topics. Maybe that's what's making me glum these days."

a while ago, and in one of my other groups, we talked about this idea, and the heavy themes in literature. then we tried coming up with some more upbeat fiction titles (that were still literary). it was an interesting exercise.

[Allyson]

I just finished Bellweather Rhapsody - I was midread when short list came out. Better than I expected but I can see why I didn't make the cut. I never would have considered it before seeing it on long list - that's what I love about the tournament. So now it's short list reading only. Off to start Brave Man Seven Storeys Tall. My favorites remain Untamed State and Station Eleven.... But that's not saying much as this is only my forth book from the short list!

[Jason]

Convinced my book club to choose The Bone Clocks for this month. So started it this morning.

Finished Station Eleven. Enjoyed it, didn't blow my mind. Not what I expected in all the best ways. I'm not much of a dystopian future fan, but this twists what I perceive to be the cliches of the genre in nice ways. Doesn't feel like it's got the unique voice that most TOB winners have though.

[Jack]

I have to confess how excited I get for the tournament every year and this is only my third. I'm lucky to get through half the list and it keeps me reading and excited about reading.

[Drew]

A flurry of activity on the list followed by silence as we all settle down to read ...

[Sherri]

Drew wrote: "A flurry of activity on the list followed by silence as we all settle down to read ..."

What's everyone reading this weekend? I'm working on A Brave Man Seven Storeys Tall and listening to Wolf Hall (finally getting to it).

[Drew]

Sherri wrote: "Drew wrote: "A flurry of activity on the list followed by silence as we all settle down to read ..."

What's everyone reading this weekend? I'm working on A Brave Man Seven Storeys Tall and listeni..."

I'm finishing All the Birds, Singing then will start A Brief History of Seven Killings.

Sherri, I loved Wolf Hall but still haven't gotten around to Bring Up the Bodies. I hope to read it before seeing the BBC production (which is months or possibly years away for me, so I will probably manage).

[Ryan]

Working on The Paying Guests.
ToB makes me pick up books I'd otherwise ignore.

[Beth]

Just picked up Silence Once Begun from library. Also bought ebook of Brave Man Seven Storeys Tall.

[Gayla]

I'm finishing up a couple of library books (The Betrayers: A Novel and All the Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid) and then I'm going to start Silence Once Begun.

[Juniper]

i am reading Everything I Never Told You, just started last night. so far - liking it a lot.

[Anna]

I started Silence Once Begun last night. It seems like it will be a quick read. I don't think it's a Rooster winner but I like it so far.

[Janet]

I am going back and forth between Redeployment, The Bone Clocks and Kindness, Clarity, and Insight

[Anne]

Sherri wrote: "Drew wrote: "A flurry of activity on the list followed by silence as we all settle down to read ..."

What's everyone reading this weekend? I'm working on A Brave Man Seven Storeys Tall and listeni..."

I'm about 150 pgs into A Brief History of Seven Killings. It is so not my usual kind of book (whatever that is) so it's a bit slow.

I also just read Elena Finkle's Magic Barrel from the long list. I'm afraid I don't get the attraction of graphic novels. While I enjoyed the story I just kept thinking I'd rather be reading a book.

[Ellen]

About 150 pp. into The Paying Guests. I like it, but I'm a big fan of Sarah Waters and she seems a little more heavy-handed than she usually is with her usual thematic material; I'm feeling a bit beaten about the head with it. I'm wondering is she's over-responding to her usual audience who objected to the absence of this in her last -- and wonderful -- novel, The Little Stranger (I'm trying not to spoil for people who've never read Sarah Waters).

[Susan]

I just picked up Annihilation from the library, so I'll be starting that today or tomorrow.

[Jen]

Ellen wrote: "About 150 pp. into The Paying Guests. I like it, but I'm a big fan of Sarah Waters and she seems a little more heavy-handed than she usually is with her usual thematic material; I'm feeling a bit ..."

Interesting observations Ellen. I've only read The Little Stranger prior to The paying Guests, so I guess her regular themes are new to me, and I'm finding it an excellent read so far (more than halfway). Funnily, I didn't enjoy The Little Stranger as much as this one. I guess that means I should read her earlier books!

[Zachary]

Just finished Adam before moving on to A Brave Man Seven Storeys Tall.

I'm *really* looking forward to the discussion on Adam. Its treatment of sexuality and gender is like no other book I've seen in the Tournament.

[Anne]

Brave Man Seven Storeys Tall ebook is available today from Harper Collins for $1.99. Use this link to find it: http://tinyurl.com/ka6wwnb

[Christina]

Working on A Brief History of Seven Killings and it's so dense that I'm creeping along so slowly.

Finished:
- An Untamed State (brutal and I spent so much time flinching so I guess it was very affecting)
- Everything I Never Told You (good but not enthusiastic reaction)
- Dept. of Speculation (thought it was very well written but months later very little of it has stuck with me)
- All the Light We Cannot See (Doerr is so talented that I will definitely read more by him but I feel strangely unenthusiastic about this one)

On hold at the library and waiting for me to go out in the cold and get them: Silence Once Begun, the first in Ferrante's trilogy (I just can't read the last one first! I can't!), Annihilation, Wittgenstein Jr, All the Birds Singing
Waiting list: Adam, Redeployment

Loved Station Eleven and I'm not a huge fan of post-apocalyptic stories or her earlier novel Last Night in Montreal. It would have taken me months if not years to get to this one if it hadn't been so highly recommended by fellow Rooster enthusiasts.

Filed under disappointing when compared to the author's earlier works that I enjoyed so my reaction is probably very unfair: The Paying Guests, The Bone Clocks. It's not fair that I want to keep reading Affinity, Fingersmith, Cloud Atlas, and Black Swan Green, right?

[Sarah]

Wittgenstein Jr by Lars Iyer will be my #Sundayquickreads tomorrow since a) it's from the library so has to be read first and b) seems like a really quick read. I'd love to knock all the 100-300 page books out quickly in January before starting with the bigger, meatier ones in February.

[Susan]

I started An Untamed State yesterday. It's a page turner and I expect to be finished by the end of the weekend. I've seen the comments by others regarding the brutal content, but am still shocked by it. Lots of cringing in this read, but oh so powerful. The library just notified me that A Brief History of Seven Killingsis ready to pickup. Can I handle these books back-to-back?

[Drew]

Christina wrote: "Working on A Brief History of Seven Killings and it's so dense that I'm creeping along so slowly.

Finished:
- An Untamed State (brutal and I spent so much time flinching so I guess it was very af..."

I'm with you, Christina. I will probably read the first Ferrante book rather than jump in at the end of the trilogy. In my most wildly optimistic moments, I picture myself reading all three of them before the tournament but given that I've only read five of the 16, I suspect that's completely unrealistic.

[Katie]

Finished The Bone Clocks today and will start A Brave Man Seven Storeys Tall tomorrow -- that 1.99 price :) Also the first Ferrante book My Brilliant Friend is 1.99 from Amazon (if that hasn't been mentioned). I just got on all the digital wait lists I could and will see what I can get from the library too. I'm just trying to ensure I don't get a bunch all at once I have terrible luck with holds managing to all come in together!

[Deborah]

Sarah wrote: "Wittgenstein Jr by Lars Iyer will be my #Sundayquickreads tomorrow since a) it's from the library so has to be read first and b) seems like a really quick read. I'd love to knock all the 100-300 pa..."

Sarah, I'll be looking for your reaction to Wittgenstein Jr. I had no idea after I finished it as to what I had just read, so maybe you can help make some sense of it fir me.

[Christina]

I read the first thirty pages of Wittgenstein Jr last night and I don't know. I did something I never do - I read the last thirty and I'm not sure I care about the intervening 140 pages.
If it weren't in the tournament, it would already be in the return to the library pile.

[jess]

I finished Untamed State today - WOW. What a book. Gay ripped my guts out. I need to get my hands on Bad Feminist stat.

I started Wittgenstein Jr. 10% in and no idea what is going on. Just another TOB adventure, I guess. I also started Adam, 65 pages in. I have been pretty absorbed by the tob books this week.

[Anne]

I'm feeling very much the same way, Christina, about A Brief History of Seven Killings. I get it but I don't care about it. I'm way past the 50 page rule and I'm feeling very much like I just want to go read some books that I enjoy. I'm only holding on because I'm so close to reading all the books on the short list this year.

[Susan]

jess wrote: "I finished Untamed State today - WOW. What a book. Gay ripped my guts out. I need to get my hands on Bad Feminist stat.

I started Wittgenstein Jr. 10% in and no idea what is going on. Just anothe..."

Jess, I just finished Untamed State today also. I need one of her valium to get my heart to stop racing. Will start "A Brief History" later today. It sounds like a slow read according to what others are saying...