Tournament of Books discussion
2022 ToB General
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2022 ToB Contenders
I second Matrix. I was blown away by it. It is one of my favorites from this year. I do not know how Lauren Groff was able to conjure up a medieval convent with fully formed characters in a decades spanning story in less than 300 pages.
Amanda wrote: "I second Matrix. I was blown away by it. It is one of my favorites from this year. I do not know how Lauren Groff was able to conjure up a medieval convent with fully formed characters in a decades..."Another enthusiastic upvote for Matrix. It is a fully female-centered story, and the lifelong relationship between Marie and the equally tough-minded Elinor of Aquitaine is so deeply interesting and satisfying. I loved it.
Kyle wrote: "I've been making my way through the major releases of September/October so far, and the only one that's really knocked me down so far is Lauren Groff's Matrix. Which surprised me, a..."Kyle, I'll be eager to hear your thoughts on the Franzen. I've downloaded it to listen to "sometime," but I finished The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois and will be reading Cloud Cuckoo Land and The Lincoln Highway with my IRL book group, and I'm gonna need to recover from them before I can muster enthusiasm for another behemoth, esp with all the baggage Franzen brings with him.
Lincoln Highway was a lot of fun, actually. just felt it ended a little weak.
Maybe others do this, Matrix for me was a classic example of a book I gave 4 stars to, then a week later I realized i thought about it so frequently that it nestled into every fold in my brain and I boosted it to 5 stars.
Kip wrote: "Maybe others do this, Matrix for me was a classic example of a book I gave 4 stars to, then a week later I realized i thought about it so frequently that it nestled into every fold in my brain and ..."Definitely understand. There have been a few times where I've adjusted a rating (both up and down) after some time passes and the book continues to haunt me (either positively or negatively).
I just finished Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson and loved it, the way I love Sally Rooney, so I think it would be a great tournament book... it’s a relationship novel, not a romance, and also discusses blackness and art in London. But I think the style would be super divisive in the tournament way.
Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I just finished Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson and loved it, the way I love Sally Rooney, so I think it would be a great tournament book... it’s a relationship ..."I just got this from the library yesterday! It looks like a beautiful book, and I've heard such good things about it.
Kip wrote: "Maybe others do this, Matrix for me was a classic example of a book I gave 4 stars to, then a week later I realized i thought about it so frequently that it nestled into every fold in my brain and ..."I reviewed Bewilderment today, and wrote that I’m guessing my rating will change in time the other way, 5 to 4. Sometimes I’ll be in love with a book while I’m reading, but then at a distance the flaws are what stick with me.
Elizabeth wrote: "Sometimes I’ll be in love with a book while I’m reading, but then at a distance the flaws are what stick with me. ..."Happens to me a lot, too. Not all books, it turns out, bear up under close scrutiny, however much fun they are when you are reading them.
Tim wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Sometimes I’ll be in love with a book while I’m reading, but then at a distance the flaws are what stick with me. ..."Happens to me a lot, too. Not all books, it turns out, bear..."
I felt that about Ready Player One. I enjoyed the heck out of it while reading it. Then I'd explain it to someone and realized it's just 80s references strung together in a semi coherent story.
Tristan wrote: "Tim wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Sometimes I’ll be in love with a book while I’m reading, but then at a distance the flaws are what stick with me. ..."Happens to me a lot, too. Not all books, it tur..."
Sometimes references are good enough for me - I loved Ready Player One.
I just watched Damon Galgut win the Booker. Do we also wait on the National Book Award winners or can we start checking for the longlist for ToB now?Boing boing boing
Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I just watched Damon Galgut win the Booker. Do we also wait on the National Book Award winners or can we start checking for the longlist for ToB now?Boing boing boing"
Haha - yeah, last year it was soon after the National Book Award which would be on Nov 17.
Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I just watched Damon Galgut win the Booker. Do we also wait on the National Book Award winners or can we start checking for the longlist for ToB now?Boing boing boing"
I don't think it's ever come before mid-November...Almost there!
I started listening to The Promise when it made the Booker long list, but I got confused with the shifting perspectives and realized I'd need to actually read the print. (Assuming it'll make the tourney, so I'll push it closer to the date so it's fresh.) Much as I admired Bewilderment, I'm finding myself glad Galgut won...
Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I just watched Damon Galgut win the Booker. Do we also wait on the National Book Award winners or can we start checking for the longlist for ToB now?Boing boing boing"
I a tad disappointed that Tricia Lockwood's weird little book did not end up winning the Booker. That one grew on me after reading it over the summer.
Elizabeth wrote: "Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I just watched Damon Galgut win the Booker. Do we also wait on the National Book Award winners or can we start checking for the longlist for ToB now?Boing boing boing..."
I liked the Galgut better than other books of his that I had read, but I must admit it feels very (uncomfortably) Traditional Booker to award a white-centric story about black oppression and society! But Galgut wants the reader to be uncomfortable so maybe that's something? Ugh.
Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "EBut Galgut wants the reader to be uncomfortable so maybe that's something?"Yes, I definitely know what you mean, but I think they've made some effort to expand from white-cis in the past few years. I do think the way it's written, how it forces you to look more closely at yourself, is pretty unique, and maybe this'll help push that conversation.
Elizabeth wrote: "Yes, I definitely know what you mean, but I think they've made some effort to expand from white-cis in the past few years. I do think the way it's written, how it forces you to look more closely at yourself, is pretty unique, and maybe this'll help push that conversation. "I agree, I think author intent here matters as well. It will be a great discussion book!
NPR just compared bats becoming eligible for New Zealand Bird of the Year to Americans becoming eligible for the Booker, and I giggled.
Maggie wrote: "NPR just compared bats becoming eligible for New Zealand Bird of the Year to Americans becoming eligible for the Booker, and I giggled."Maybe just the egg-laying bats should be eligible.
The Promise was my favorite of the Booker shortlist and I'm glad it won. I thought the writing was witty, and I loved the way he played out the story of these racist, oblivious whites and sort of enlisted the reader as a co-conspirator in his storytelling. I agree, it will be a great discussion book for the ToB.
lark wrote: "Maggie wrote: "NPR just compared bats becoming eligible for New Zealand Bird of the Year to Americans becoming eligible for the Booker, and I giggled."Maybe just the egg-laying bats should be eli..."
Snort! But seriously, I am doubly glad that the winner is not an American.
I liked The Promise a lot, but I preferred The Great Circle and A Passage North from the shortlist.
Ok people I'll take another chance on Lauren Groff but I'm warning you if I'm disappointed... :DI really liked The Great Circle.
Also school is kicking my ass this semester and my reading is paying the price.
**Announcement**We have our CHOUETTE discussion (with the author!) set for Saturday, December 11th at 3pm PT/6pm ET.
Link to Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/4P1oF70BR
Link to register for Zoom directly: shorturl.at/gkB04
Hope to see everyone there!
C wrote: "Zoom link isn't working?"Goodreads was cutting it off... looks like the short link is working!
Lauren wrote: "C wrote: "Zoom link isn't working?"Goodreads was cutting it off... looks like the short link is working!"
Got it - thank you!
I'm registered and looking forward!!!
Thanks, Lauren! I love being mentioned in the 2022 contenders thread--for another week or so, at least, that remote possibility remains.Anyway I'm very excited about this zoom call because it will be such a treat to talk with people I know so well as readers, especially because so much of what we've read together influenced the way I wrote Chouette.
I've mentioned elsewhere that I'm autistic, and most of the upcoming events surrounding the book's publication are filling me with dread, but this one, well, thanks for the chance to hang out with friends.
lark wrote: "Thanks, Lauren! I love being mentioned in the 2022 contenders thread--for another week or so, at least, that remote possibility remains.Anyway I'm very excited about this zoom call because it wil..."
I was happy to see Chouette made the November preview list on The Millions, if you didn't catch it!
https://themillions.com/2021/11/novem...
I ordered the e-book, so it should appear on the 16th! (Nice to not have to worry about distribution issues.) I can't wait to start reading, meet with you all and discuss what looks like such a wonderfully unique book. Thanks so much for doing this with us, Claire, and to you Lauren for setting all this up. Fingers and toes crossed for the longlist!
Yes, yes, yes for its making the long list. Very much looking forward to the zoom meeting with all of you. Just feeling ridiculously happy for you, Lark, and grateful for the lovely treat you are giving us in this crazy year. Take care!
Audra wrote: "Ok people I'll take another chance on Lauren Groff but I'm warning you if I'm disappointed... :D"LOL. I have also not liked any Groff novel yet. But all the enthusiasm for Matrix is rubbing off on me too!
Ruthiella wrote: "Audra wrote: "Ok people I'll take another chance on Lauren Groff but I'm warning you if I'm disappointed... :D"LOL. I have also not liked any Groff novel yet. But all the enthusiasm for Matrix is..."
I have liked one of the three I've read and I've now started the Matrix and it's read by someone with an English accent and seems to be... what is this... historical fiction? Gah.
I always feel as if Groff's writing is something that she herself doesn't viscerally connect with, so I'm also left a little distant and cool about her stories. She moves her characters around in ways that are maybe-clever but never move me. I've never forgiven her for the scene in F&F where whats-his-weird-name wanders into a dark room and bumps into a guy who hanged himself. Or at least I remember that happening. Maybe I made that up.
lark wrote: "I always feel as if Groff's writing is something that she herself doesn't viscerally connect with, so I'm also left a little distant and cool about her stories. She moves her characters around in w..."Reading this just makes me want to reread the very excellent Margaret the First, a very underhyped novel about a historical figure that I thought was great.
I recently finished two door-stoppers that are both ToB worthy, in my opinion. The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois and... Franzen's Crossroads. I know, I know, but it's honestly pretty extraordinary (although both books would have benefited from more paring down).
Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Reading this just makes me want to reread the very excellent Margaret the First, a very underhyped novel about a historical figure that I thought was great..."Me too, I loved Margaret the First! I've only read 2 Groff books, Matrix and Arcadia, and I've purposely avoided Fates and Furies, turned off by all the hype. I can understand the distancing feel of her writing, but Matrix's Marie de France is such a warm-blooded character (as are all the nuns) that that little bit of distancing keeps it from being melodramatic.
Yeah I need to read Matrix. Thanks, Nadine.
Heather wrote: "I recently finished two door-stoppers that are both ToB worthy, in my opinion. The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois and... Franzen's Crossroads. I know, I know, but it's honestly pretty extraordinary (a..."Yes - Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois was great!
The thing that I loved about both Matrix and Arcadia (though my memory of it is a bit fuzzy) is the description of intentional community. I love a good utopia. I like believing that people can come together and take care of one another without greed and grasping. Of course they were also well written. As was F and F but that was not for me.
The longlist is coming out this Friday, November 12 - so sayeth the TMN gods!
Gasp! No, really? Before the NBA are even announced? Oh, I could not possibly be more excited.
Phyllis wrote: "The longlist is coming out this Friday, November 12 - so sayeth the TMN gods!"YAY! Thursday is my birthday and I am totally considering this a birthday present!
Bryn wrote: "The thing that I loved about both Matrix and Arcadia (though my memory of it is a bit fuzzy) is the description of intentional community. I love a good utopia. I like believing that people can come..."And I love thinking of the abbey in the Matrix as a utopia! I think that would blow the fictional Marie de France's mind in a good way!
Phyllis wrote: "The longlist is coming out this Friday, November 12 - so sayeth the TMN gods!"This is by far my most eagerly anticipated list of the year!
Nadine wrote: "Phyllis wrote: "The longlist is coming out this Friday, November 12 - so sayeth the TMN gods!"This is by far my most eagerly anticipated list of the year!"
Yes - so excited!
Tournament of Books
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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I'm excited to hear you liked it! I loved F&F (and Florida, but felt just so-so about 2 of her other books.) I feel pretty unenthusiastic about the storyline, but I trust Groff to make me care.
I finished the Doerr last week...it gave me what I expected, I guess. Definitely entertaining.