2015 ToB Competition Discussion Showing 251-300 of 1,076

[Sam]

I loved Dept. of Speculation. Those aphorisms and seemingly random musings, in just a pinch of pages, shouldn't have worked for me either. Somehow, though, they built on each other to evoke such a riot of feelings that I was left kind of stunned afterwards, trying to figure out how Offill did it. I've reread it about 4 or 5 times now and it still remains the favorite out of the 6 on the list I've read so far.

Just finished All the Birds, Singing and was decidedly "meh" about it. It was atmospheric, sure, but also a bit boring.

[Kerry]

I find myself in Poingu's and Rosie's camp on Department of Speculation. I absolutely agree that it was enjoyable and nicely written (if a little too reliant on quotes and "Tumblr-ese), but pretty light fare. I would be thrilled if I wrote it, but it doesn't feel at all like a contender for the Rooster. I hope it does better than Station Eleven, though.

I prefer Annihilation and Redeployment, with the latter still being a clear favorite for me. I am so impressed with Redeployment, I don't see any threats to it (in terms of my preference) on the horizon.

[Katie]

Plan to spend the end of January, all of February, and much of March trying to get through the short list of contenders! 2 down, 14 to go! Luckily I own 2, and have 4 checked out from the library... so a decent start! Currently reading, "All the Birds, Singing" by Evie Wyld.

[Lark]

Sam wrote: "I loved Dept. of Speculation. Those aphorisms and seemingly random musings, in just a pinch of pages, shouldn't have worked for me either. Somehow, though, they built on each other to evoke such a ..."

That is all completely true about this book! The prose really sings.

My ears are out of tune with it, though. One thing that has changed in my reading judgments: I've become hyper-aware of how gender and race and sexuality are treated by authors in the books I read. It has ruined many a book for me, including the last two TOB picks I've read, but also many of my former favorites, when I go to read them again.

I'm not saying it's a better way to read. I wish I could tune it out sometimes and just enjoy a well written book.

[Brooks]

Ed wrote: "The two longest books that I immediately recalled were Luminaries (~850 pages) and 1Q84 (~925 pages)... but then I remembered Bolano's 2666 (way back in 2009) that clocked in at over 1k. So the fu..."

Joanthan Strange & Mr. Norrell clocks in at 1,006 pages (ToB 2005), 2666 is 1,126 (ToB 2009), and Against the Day at 1,085 (ToB 2007). There are probably more, but that's all I've got off the top of my head.

[Juniper]

thanks, brooks!!

[Anne]

Thanks y'all, I feel so much better after reading the comments about Dept of Speculation. It wasn't a favorite for me.

[Janet]

Dept. of Speculationin audio is only 3 CD's.

[Jack]

You're in luck Marsha. I loved everything I never told you. I just finished it and am about 100 pages into Brave Man and your synopsis is how I've felt about the first 100 pages.

[Jack]

You're in luck Marsha. I loved everything I never told you. I just finished it and am about 100 pages into Brave Man and your synopsis is how I've felt about the first 100 pages.

[Sherri]

Marsha wrote: "I've read 5 and am getting fatigued at reading mostly average books. I loved Redeployment, couldn't put it down. I enjoyed Dept of Speculation, and I liked All The Birds, Singing. All of these a..."

In my very humble opinion, the two most universally enjoyable books on the list are All the Light We Cannot See and Station Eleven. These are the only two of the 9 I've read so far that I would recommend to everyone I know. Good luck!

[Drew]

I am so excited, I have now read seven of the list. Almost halfway!

[Stacey]

Marsha wrote: "I've read 5 and am getting fatigued at reading mostly average books. I loved Redeployment, couldn't put it down. I enjoyed Dept of Speculation, and I liked All The Birds, Singing. All of these a..."

So glad to see I am not alone in my dislike for this book (Adam). Reading All the Light We Cannot See now.

[Juniper]

@ drew -- i am on read #7 right now too! i began Station Eleven last night. so far, it's enjoyable.

@ marsha -- i am feeeling a bit of the same way about things, fatigued. the list of 16 books wasn't' hugely appealing to me and i think that, when read back-to-back in preparation, it's a lot of dark, heavy reading. as well, of the books i have read, nothing has been a super-standout. All the Light We Cannot See was quite strong for me, and i do agree it's one that is most recommendable. i have been picking and choosing the books that have most interested me, which has taken me to 7 books. and i am on the fence about whether i will read the remaining 9 contenders? i know that, whether i read or don't read them, i will be very entertained by the judges debates. and part of me actually hopes that the debates will hep me get more interested in some of the titles i am feeling meh about.

[Juniper]

i finished Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay last night and i loved it so much. but i am completely torn about how it works as a standalone volume? part of the immense pleasure for me has been the building of the story and characters throughout the series. and i feel like the past books are really needed for a full understanding of the motivations and actions of the characters in book three. i would be thrilled of TWLaTWS took the rooster in the ToB, but i am trying to imagine how that would work? oh, and in case you didn't know (i didn't), book three is not the end. there's a cliffhanger - as was the case in the first and second books too. and then the fourth volume comes out in september, 2015. that things are unfinished for me right now (as a reader) is not good. in my review, i jokingly noted i may be in need of a support group to get me through the next 8 months. :)

[Susan]

Like Marsha, I was feeling fatigued by ToB reading last night and thinking I need a "palate cleanser" once I finish The Paying Guests. That will put me at 8 books read (or 9 if you count that I gave up on A Brief History about 270 pages in). I still love only two of the books on the long list - An Untamed State and Station Eleven - and I read those long before the list was announced. The only read since announcement of the long list that has surprised me or exceeded expectations is Annihilation. So far, the list seems rather blah to me.

[Jen]

Jennifer wrote: "i finished Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay last night and i loved it so much. but i am completely torn about how it works as a standalone volume? part of the immense pleasure fo..."

Jennifer, your comments / review have made me want to pick up this series immediately! But I don't want to read the third before the others, and I just don't see that happening before the tournament so I'm going to sit tight and see how it performs in the early rounds.

[Juniper]

hi jen!! :) fwiw, i found the books read very quickly and i was hard pressed to set them down, once i got going. but i know: so many books... so little time.

[Jen]

I've read seven books and like others, I'm just not feeling a pull to get through the rest of the list. I'd like have read half before it starts, so might get to Annihilation if my library hold comes through. My favourites so far are Redeployment, An Untamed State, All the Light We Cannot See and The Paying Guests. None were 5 star reads for me but the first two were very close.

[Jen]

Oh I forgot Station Eleven which I also enjoyed very much. I expect it to do well in the tournament, as it is likely to come back as a zombie even if it's knocked out early.

[Jen]

Jennifer wrote: "hi jen!! :) fwiw, i found the books read very quickly and i was hard pressed to set them down, once i got going. but i know: so many books... so little time."

Hello! hmmm... maybe I'll start the first and see where I am after that. My problem is the 'other' (non TOB) books I'm reading. Too many, as you say!

[Ellen]

Reached the half-way point yesterday by reading Silence Once Begun on my "snow day". One of the real boons of this year's ToB is how many of the books are really one-day or two-day reads, so can be whipped through pretty quickly. I liked Silence Once Begun, by the way, Marsha, if you haven't read it yet -- and I'm another one who couldn't see why on earth Adam was included in the ToB. I didn't hate it -- like Wittgenstein Jr., how could I hate something so puerile and mediocre? -- but when I compare it to some of the books on the longlist that didn't get included...well, harumph.

Because I had it at home, I started A Brief History of Seven Killings, but realizing that if I could manage to read it at all, I'd be likely to be bogged down, I put it on the bottom of the pile. I suspect I'll keep doing that until I run out of renewals for it. Meanwhile, I started Everything I Never Told You, which was on my list regardless of inclusion, so I'm looking forward to it, and On Deck is A Brave Man Seven Storeys High. I've left the Ferrante book for the end so that if I have time I can read all three. But I can't imagine that I can't read 8 -- or 10, if I include the first two Ferrantes -- books that almost all have less than 300 pp. in more than a month! Famous last words, I know...

[Juniper]

Jen wrote: "Oh I forgot Station Eleven which I also enjoyed very much. I expect it to do well in the tournament, as it is likely to come back as a zombie even if it's knocked out early."

started this one last night! :)

[Ellen]

I voted for it for the Zombie Round even though I hadn't read it yet, because it's on my personal list anyway and it's been highly recommended to me.

[Ed]

Chiming in, currently on my 9th book and right now the plan is to get to 12 (plus perhaps a re-read of Dept. of Speculation -- which I liked, but read awhile back and would be quick re-read). I am impressed with those of you who power thru the entire list, just too much volume of pages pressure + books that I just do not think I would enjoy (and life's too short for that!). For those books, that's where I wait for the competition and for the ToB judges to convince me otherwise! Tho with Those Who Leave.. holding off to start the series until after getting thru all the ToB books I want to get to.

My top books/favorites remain Station Eleven and All The Light with a big 'ole handful of "likes, not loves." Know it's always the case, but really feels like this year that no book is safe or that anything would necessarily be a huge upset (Ok, maybe Wittgenstein over anything!). I see the love/passion here for many books, but chuckle to myself after reading those posts that if I was a ToB judge there are a handful of books that I would pick/prefer over that Book X. (Or vice versa, that I would put a book that someone disliked easily through...)

And remember folks, ToB lays no claim to being the "best" books of the year -- imagine trying to create a consensus among all of us, ha! I always find ToB to be an interesting mix of genres, writing styles, formats, subject matter, etc. To quote, "The ToB shortlist exists specifically for you to enjoy, explore, berate or dismiss." I think they've accomplished their goal!

[Juniper]

Ed wrote: "And remember folks, ToB lays no claim to being the "best" books of the year -- imagine trying to create a consensus among all of us, ha! I always find ToB to be an interesting mix of genres, writing styles, formats, subject matter, etc. To quote, "The ToB shortlist exists specifically for you to enjoy, explore, berate or dismiss." I think they've accomplished their goal! "

totally understood. i never approach the ToB with 'the best' in mind. but i do approach it looking at which books will make for great debates, and which books are most effective in what there are doing. for me, this year most of the books have not been that effective. (if that makes sense to anyone outside of my own brain? haha!!)

[Janet]

I'm listening to the audio of Dept. of Speculation, narrated by the author which is sometimes not a good thing but in this case, she's doing a respectable job. I cannot say that I "like" it. The subject matter is a little too bleak for that but I am finding it very smart and funny in spots.

[Drew]

Drew wrote: "I am so excited, I have now read seven of the list. Almost halfway!"

Actually probably more than halfway because I always start with the longest books.

[Ellen]

Yes, good point, Drew. I've read 3 out of 4 of the really long books. But like I said, I predict A Brief History of Seven Killings (the last of the very long books) will be my sticking point. Unless someone here can convince me that it's totally worth it?

[Drew]

Ellen wrote: "Yes, good point, Drew. I've read 3 out of 4 of the really long books. But like I said, I predict A Brief History of Seven Killings (the last of the very long books) will be my sticking point. Un..."

Ellen, I'm glad I read it all the way to the end but I'm glad I finished it last night. I won't try to convince you, though - it's long, violent, and hard to get into. However, once I got into the plot and was more familiar with the dialect, it moved right along. My $.02 worth.

On to Station 11, a book I've been wanting to read since it came out. I'm taking Fri. off to work on my TOB reading although if I keep thinking of errands I need to do, little reading will get done!

[[deleted user]]

I am stuck in the middle of the Bone Clocks right now. I really like it, but it has slowed my momentum way down. I think after this I will move on to Wittgenstein Jr to get it out of the way.

Does anyone have any books they absolutely would not recommend--I still have nine to go and if I can scratch one off the list I might feel less overwhelmed!

[Ellen]

Drew, me, too on Station Eleven. It's been on my personal list since I saw the first reviews, and people have been recommending it to me for some months.

Heather, people's tastes vary so much that I just couldn't. What I could do -- and others might join me here -- is recommend the ones I think are really worth it. I would say Silence Once Begun, An Untamed State, and The Paying Guests, although it's not Sarah Waters' best.

[Beth]

I've read 12 from the shortlist so far. Of the ones I've read, I would be surprised to see Adam, The Paying Guests or Silence Once Begun advance far. Not saying I liked or did not, but based on my hunch of discussion potential from those books. On the flip side, I expect A Brief History of Seven Killings, An Untamed State and Station Eleven to do well. Approximately 5 weeks to check my prediction skills. ps. All the Light we cannot See is on the tbr stack

[Sherri]

I just finished An Untamed State, and while there are plenty of nitpicky things that bugged about it, it eventually blew me away. My mom's coming into town and I think this is the perfect time to take a reading break and clear my head. I'll hit it hard again next week.

[Deborah]

I'm not sure if this has already been posted, but for those reading Ferrante's trilogy, My Brilliant Friend is the current selection for the Slate Audio Book Club (the discussion is audio, not necessarily the book format), and the February selection is another ToB shortlist contender, Redeployment.

http://www.slate.com/articles/podcast...

[Ali]

Hi everyone! Think this is my first post about this year's tournament, but I've definitely been benefiting from the conversation so far.

Gah, like others, I've had a string of pretty average reads. Hoping for a stunner soon (here's lookin at you, Brave Man!). Of the shortlist, I've read six: Station Eleven, Brief History, Untamed State, All the Light, Dept of Speculation, and Everything I Never Told You. Station Eleven was the most recent, and I was really disappointed. It reminded me a lot of At Night We Walk In Circles, albeit with a more interesting structure.

I'm hoping to listen to at least two of the remaining books on audio. Redeployment will probably be one, since folks recommended it. Has anyone listened to the Bone Clocks or Paying Guests?

I feel obligated to add that despite this lackluster post, I do love the TOB and am excited as ever for March!! :)

[Robin]

Ali - I'm listening to The Paying Guests now and enjoying it. The narration is good and I definitely like it better than some others I haven't quite loved...Annihilation, Redeployment, All The Birds, Singing come to mind....still have about 5 hours to go!

[Margot]

Ali -- I also listened to The Paying Guests. I didn't like the book much and I suspect listening to it on audio made me dislike it more than if I read the book. The narration is fine, but the story was so slow and some of the writing irritated me.

I also listened to All the Birds, Singing -- which I liked a lot more.

[Juniper]

Margot wrote: "Ali -- I also listened to The Paying Guests. I didn't like the book much and I suspect listening to it on audio made me dislike it more than if I read the book. The narration is fine, but the sto..."

so funny!! i have heard the opposite. i read the paper book and wasn't a fan. before robin's comment, i had heard of several other people who also listened to it as an audio book and thought the narrator really added to the story and made it better. :)

[Ali]

Thanks so much for the input! I'll probably read the beginning of The Paying Guests, in that case, before deciding whether to get it on Audible. Luckily my library has no shortage of hard copies.

Good tip on All The Birds, Singing, too. Not sure why that one didn't cross my mind for audio!

[Janet]

Finished Dept. of Speculation...OK especially after struggling with more complex reads but certainly not the book of the year...what to read next?

[Jan]

Jennifer wrote: "Margot wrote: "Ali -- I also listened to The Paying Guests. I didn't like the book much and I suspect listening to it on audio made me dislike it more than if I read the book. The narration is fi..."

Jennifer, I'll be interested in what you think. I loved the audio version, but as we've commented on here before, one thing the ToB reinforces is how idiosyncratic our reading (and listening) preferences are. Paying Guests is narrated by Juliet Stevenson, the British actress, and won an Earphones Award from AudioFile, the magazine that reviews audiobooks. Not that I'm defensive about my tastes or anything! :-)

[Anne]

I grabbed a copy of Redeployment off the shelf when I visited the library yesterday. I'll fit short stories in as I have snippets of time.

[Juniper]

Jan wrote: "Jennifer, I'll be interested in what you think."

oh, i have actually already read 'the paying guests', jan. i didn't like it. i don't listen to audio books. all of my past attempts (and i've tried a lot as my husband likes audio books in the car) ended with me falling asleep, lulled by being read to. i have no plans to also listen to 'the paying guests'. reading it once was more than enough! :)

[Janet]

Anne wrote: "I grabbed a copy of Redeployment off the shelf when I visited the library yesterday. I'll fit short stories in as I have snippets of time."

If you find you're having trouble with it, skip to Money as a Weapons System. It has fewer acronyms and I found it to be hilarious.

[Jan]

Jennifer wrote: "oh, i have actually already read 'the paying guests', jan. i didn't like it. i don't listen to audio books. all of my past attempts (an..."

The perils of chiming in on discussions before that second cup of coffee. My bad! :-)

[Anne]

Janet wrote: "Anne wrote: "I grabbed a copy of Redeployment off the shelf when I visited the library yesterday. I'll fit short stories in as I have snippets of time."

If you find you're having trouble with it, ..."

I'm not worried about the acronyms since I have a career Veteran in the house. He is able to translate and explain pretty much anything in detail far greater than I need;-)

[Karen]

I'm half-way through book #7 Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay (9 if you include the first 2 in the Neopolitan trilogy). Read: Station Eleven, All the Light You Cannot See, Dept. of Speculation, Everything I Never Told You, Adam, Annihilation.

[Trish]

Jumping in; I've been following but this is my first post. Maybe because (ducking now) I hated(!) An Untamed State, and loved Seven Killings. Opposite of most of you! I think I started Untamed State too close to having read A House in the Sky - non-fiction about a woman kidnapped and held for 460 days in Somalia. For some reason, the fictionalized version annoyed/frustrated me in comparison to the non-fiction. Felt gratuitous, if that makes any sense at all. On the other hand, I loved everything about Seven Killings; the structure, the dialect, the intensity, the education on Jamaican history. I'm reading Station Eleven now, and it has taken me about 100 pages to adjust to the more sedate pace. But I'm enjoying it now. I've also finished the Bone Clocks, which I found disappointing, and All the Light, which I liked but am not sure should win TOB, even though it's a book I can recommend to everyone and know they'll enjoy it. Back to reading; only 11 and a half to go!

[Joy]

Trish wrote: "Jumping in; I've been following but this is my first post. Maybe because (ducking now) I hated(!) An Untamed State, and loved Seven Killings. Opposite of most of you! I think I started Untamed S..."
Just so you don't feel too alone, I also disliked UNTAMED STATE and enjoyed what I could read so far of SEVEN KILLINGS. With UNTAMED, it was not the violence but the voice of the narrator.