2022 ToB Contenders

[C]

Phyllis wrote: "The longlist is coming out this Friday, November 12 - so sayeth the TMN gods!"

Phyllis!! REALLY? Thanks for letting us know! Ah, I thought it would be at least a few days after that! I'm ripping out my hair. SO EXCITED.

[Kyle]

NICE

time to get hyped

[Heather]

Yay to the longlist coming out and Yay to getting my copy of Chouette delivered yesterday! ITS ALL HAPPENING!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Phyllis wrote: "The longlist is coming out this Friday, November 12 - so sayeth the TMN gods!"

WOOT WOOT

[Peggy]

Hyped for the longlist but nervous...are they releasing early because it's a mile long and they are trying to give us more time?!?

[C]

Peggy wrote: "Hyped for the longlist but nervous...are they releasing early because it's a mile long and they are trying to give us more time?!?"

Well, it was an awesome year for books.

[Alison]

C wrote: "Well, it was an awesome year for books."

It really was and I, for one, say the longer the list the better.

[Tim]

Alison wrote: "I, for one, say the longer the list the better."

I understand the sentiment, but the tournament is going to be the same length no matter how long the longlist. A shorter longlist means better odds of using these 6 weeks or so to make some headway on the tournament books, and fewer books that I rush through in February and fail to give their due just so that I can gripe about the decisions in March.

I'd much rather gripe about the decisions when I've had the time to really meet a book on its own terms.

[C]

Tim wrote: "Alison wrote: "I, for one, say the longer the list the better."

I understand the sentiment, but the tournament is going to be the same length no matter how long the longlist. A shorter longlist me..."

Tim - I get that, but if the ToB is good about getting the shortlist out there about a month after the longlist (which they have been doing for a couple years), so there is that chunk of time to read the shortlist, then personally I like the longlist as long as it wants to be. :D

[Bob]

Tim wrote: "Alison wrote: "I, for one, say the longer the list the better."

I understand the sentiment, but the tournament is going to be the same length no matter how long the longlist. A shorter longlist me..."

For me, November is the time to start reading the shortest books on the list, and start listening to the longest...can't wait for the rush of it!

[Nadine in California]

Now I'm stuck with an earworm from the Annie musical:

Tomorrow!
Tomorrow!
I love ya
Tomorrow!
You're always a day away

And now, so are you.....

Exactly the opposite of the goal of meditation - I'll have to meditate more today. And kvell tomorrow :)

[Peggy]

A super-long longlist often paralyzes me in terms of where to begin, so I'll let all of you guide me on that if it turns out to be just absurd in length. Tbh, I'm still catching up on longlists from years past so my lot is to always play catch up, I fear.

It has been a truly exceptional year in books for sure.

[Maggie]

Peggy wrote: "A super-long longlist often paralyzes me in terms of where to begin, so I'll let all of you guide me on that if it turns out to be just absurd in length. "

My strategy for past years has been to take the longlist and split it up into three categories: (1) Books I definitely want to read regardless of what happens, (2) Books that I am unsure about and waiting on from all of you folks, (3) Books that really don't appeal to me and that I plan to read only if they make the tournament. Books move between these categories based on the discussions, but I start with these three big baskets.

Then I request all the "Books I definitely want to read regardless of what happens" from the library, and spend the time between the longlist and the shortlist reading them as they arrive.

I have not been great at picking the shortlist books, but I have found some real gems with this strategy. This year will be really interesting for me because I have been reading a lot for work and not so much new fiction, so I expect that I will have read very little from the longlist, and like Peggy, might need a lot of help from you guys to decide how to fill my time before the shortlist.

[Elizabeth]

Maggie wrote: "Peggy wrote: "A super-long longlist often paralyzes me in terms of where to begin, so I'll let all of you guide me on that if it turns out to be just absurd in length. "

My strategy for past years..."

You're so organized! I do TBR all the titles I know i'll want to try regardless, and usually weed out half that way.

This is reminding me, there must be TOB-followers in my area, because over the past couple of years even some of the obscure, and months old books will have holds on them if I wait a day or two. I need to be on my game tomorrow!

[Lark]

Elizabeth wrote: "This is reminding me, there must be TOB-followers in my area, because over the past couple of years even some of the obscure, and months old books will have holds on them if I wait a day or two. I need to be on my game tomorrow! .."

I love this! Too bad you can't somehow get to know one another.

[Elizabeth]

lark wrote: "I love this! Too bad you can't somehow get to know one another..."

Yes! I've thought that so many times. I imagine us both/all moving simultaneously between the list and the catalog, and I feel both tickled and competitive at the same time. ;)

[Kip]

Maggie wrote: "Peggy wrote: "My strategy for past years has been to take the longlist and split it up into three categories: (1) Books I definitely want to read regardless of what happens, (2) Books that I am unsure about and waiting on from all of you folks, (3) Books that really don't appeal to me and that I plan to read only if they make the tournament."

This is generally my three categories as well. Then it's all in a spreadsheet to check library catalog for physical books and then overdrive and hoopla for ebooks and audiobooks. Once this is all sorted its holds galore and the mad dash is on.

[Maggie]

Elizabeth wrote: "lark wrote: "I love this! Too bad you can't somehow get to know one another...""

Literally every time I wear a ToB shirt out in public there is a part of me that hopes to meet one of you in person.

[Lark]

Maggie wrote: "Literally every time I wear a ToB shirt out in public there is a part of me that hopes to meet one of you in person. ..."

But why aren't they HERE?

Poor little lost lambs.

[Ellen]

Wait, Elizabeth -- don't we live near each other? Or is that the other Elizabeth?

I just slipped in here to wish Maggie a Happy Birthday. Happy Birthday, Maggie, and thanks for the ToF!!!!!!

[Elizabeth]

Ellen wrote: "Wait, Elizabeth -- don't we live near each other? Or is that the other Elizabeth?

I just slipped in here to wish Maggie a Happy Birthday. Happy Birthday, Maggie, and thanks for the ToF!!!!!!"

We do! Waaaaiiiit a minute, are you the one stealing my books?

Just kidding! I think we're with different library systems. (I'm part of Mercer County Library.)

Happy birthday, Maggie!!

[Nadine in California]

Kip wrote: "This is generally my three categories as well. Then it's all in a spreadsheet to check library catalog for physical books and then overdrive and hoopla for ebooks and audiobooks. Once this is all sorted its holds galore and the mad dash is on...."

Color-coding my ToB longlist spreadsheet is such fun busywork every year :)

[Jan]

I use the long list to prioritize what to read from the books and audiobooks I’ve already acquired, although this year, those are competing with boots from some of the group reads and buddy reads here and in NLF, and stuff for my IRL book group. Hoping for lots of overlap.

Then I use it to pick out titles that I’d love to read whether or not they make the short list. I love finding great stuff that hasn’t been on my radar. The tournament itself is less of a focus for me than in years past.

[Maggie]

Thanks for the birthday wishes folks! Today was great, but I am super SUPER excited about tomorrow.

[Tim]

Peggy wrote: "A super-long longlist often paralyzes me in terms of where to begin, so I'll let all of you guide me on that if it turns out to be just absurd in length. Tbh, I'm still catching up on longlists fro..."

Here's my guidance: any longlist book that I choose to read won't be on the shortlist, so avoid those.

[Ellen]

Elizabeth wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Wait, Elizabeth -- don't we live near each other? Or is that the other Elizabeth?

I just slipped in here to wish Maggie a Happy Birthday. Happy Birthday, Maggie, and thanks for the T..."

Yup -- despite the fact that I actually live in Mercer County, I am not eligible for membership in the Mercer County library system. Go figure. However, even though I no longer work in Somerset County, I have weaseled my way into a free card there, so I get to belong to 2 library systems still, Princeton and Somerset Cty. Between the two of them, everything ends up pretty much covered.

[Ellen]

I have long since stopped trying to guess what to read from the longlist. I prioritize books that were already on my TBR list that also show up on the longlist, and that usually is enough to get me to the posting of the shortlist. I do mark ones that look particularly interesting, and hope they'll make it to the actual ToB.

[Jan]

But @Tim, look on the bright side, you’ll probably double your total reading, what with the ones you read that don’t make the short list plus the actual short list. Great reading strategy. Snort!

[Bob]

Here’s the list!

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

[Maggie]

Bob wrote: "Here’s the list!

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

YAAAAAAY! Since I didn't read too many books this year the only one that I was intensely rooting for (Matrix, which seemed like a sure thing for the longlist at least) is here, and there are a ton that I am curious about.

Library holds maxed out! Let the reading begin!

[Kyle]

FEWER books?!?!

Alright, I'll allow it.

[Theresa]

Am I the only one who finds it odd Amor Towles has never even made it onto a LONGLIST?

[Kyle]

Matrix is on there, so I'm happy.

Right now, I'm sitting at 6 read (well, Franzen is about 1/3 done at this point). Most of them were from that big run on library books I did in mid-Sept to October, and of the bunch, Matrix was the runaway best. Doerr, Whitehead, Rooney, and Ishiguro were fine but not great.

[Ellen]

Anyone have it instantly in list form?

[Maggie]

Any special gems on here that people recommend I move to the “must read” category.

[Bob]

Ellen wrote: "Anyone have it instantly in list form?"

Almost there with my spreadsheet, Ellen, working on page counts right now! I don't know if I'm gonna make a goodreads list tho...maybe?

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Elizabeth wrote: "This is reminding me, there must be TOB-followers in my area, because over the past couple of years even some of the obscure, and months old books will have holds on them if I wait a day or two. I need to be on my game tomorrow!
"

I know who at least one of my people is, and she is also super active in the commentary. Maybe this year of people being vaccinated we can have a ToB coffee chat or something. :)

[Elizabeth]

Theresa wrote: "Am I the only one who finds it odd Amor Towles has never even made it onto a LONGLIST?"

Yes, I was looking for the push to read Lincoln Highway. Also most of the Booker shortlist books aren't there...There seem to be fewer award long and short list finalists in general. I'm a little sad the list is shorter in a year there were so many incredible books.

I was also looking for the excuse to sink into The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois. Very surprised it's not there. I also wanted a push to read Zorrie.

Lots here I haven't heard of, though. I've read 16 (which is pretty typical for me) and DNF an additional 6. Several more obscure titles here my library doesn't have, which is unusual! (And my library's Suggest for Purchase link isn't working today. Boo. It's like they know.)

Re: swag, I love the 2021 Rooster perched on books design! I'm trying to decide between a hoodie and blanket (or find a way to justify both.)

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Wow I'm feeling pretty good as I've already read 16 of these and bailed on 2 more. And I have a few on my eARC list.

Still no Carolina de Robertis though.

[Bob]

Maggie wrote: "Any special gems on here that people recommend I move to the “must read” category."

Maggie, a couple of my favorites are in there When We Cease to Understand the World, and Bewilderment,

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Theresa wrote: "Am I the only one who finds it odd Amor Towles has never even made it onto a LONGLIST?"

Nah, I see Amor Towles as popular fiction, not literary fiction. :D

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Bob wrote: "Maggie wrote: "Any special gems on here that people recommend I move to the “must read” category."

Maggie, a couple of my favorites are in there [book:When We Cease to Understand the World|5397221..."

I'd co-sign both of these. I just finished the Labatut earlier this week and it's one I'll want to own and reread. Where you end up from where you start is really astounding.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Also for those wanting a list there's a spreadsheet linked to at the top of the website:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

[EmilyP]

Maxwell's Demon was one of the most interesting books I read this year. I would love to see it discussed in the ToB.

[Elizabeth]

This has to be my favorite blurb of all time. (It's an OuLiPo book...a movement I don't think I'll ever understand.)

"Here we follow the mania that descends upon a family when the father finds himself in possession of a concrete mixer. As he seeks to modernize every aspect of their lives, disaster strikes when the younger sister is subsumed by concrete."

[Elizabeth]

Emily wrote: "Maxwell's Demon was one of the most interesting books I read this year. I would love to see it discussed in the ToB."

I was fascinated, wondering How the heck are all these threads going to pull together? Until the end when it turned out none of them did.

Another shout out for the Labatut, I hope it makes the shortlist.

[Lark]

I've never had such strong positive/negative reactions to the books on the long list as this year!

BOOKS I LOVED
THE MAN WHO LIVED UNDERGROUND
All’s Well
Civilizations
Nightbitch
Second Place
The Trees
When We Cease to Understand the World

BOOKS I SERIOUSLY DISLIKED
The Other Black Girl
Outlawed
Untraceable (“Unreadable”)
We Run the Tides
The Woman in the Purple Skirt

WHAT WERE THEY THINKING to leave these books off the list!
The Orphanage by Serhiy Zhadan
The Liar’s Dictionary by Eley Williams
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami
Brood by Jackie Polzin
The Scapegoat by Sara Davis
Open Water by Azumah Caleb Nelson
Palmares by Gayl Jones
My Monticello by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson
Harrow by Joy Williams
Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung
A Touch of Jen by Beth Morgan
Assembly by Natasha Brown

(tiny violin note: I’m feeling a little sad, but it was always a long shot, especially given that my book isn’t even published yet…maybe next year!)

[Tim]

Okay, for all you prognosticators - I went through the list, and found I've read just two of them, but there are 21 that are "must reads" already in my TBR (a good longlist this year!), and 29 of them that seem they might be interesting. That leaves the "meh" and the "nope" categories which together total a bracket perfect 16. Coincidence?

[Bob]

lark wrote: WHAT WERE THEY THINKING to leave these books off the list!..."

Co-signing the The Liar's Dictionary and Heaven

Here's my spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

[Maggie]

Bob wrote: Maggie, a couple of my favorites are in there [book:When We Cease to Understand the World|5397221..."

When We Cease to Understand the World won it's way onto my must read list because I am neuroscientist and just generally a big science nerd, and there are neurons on the cover...

Glad to hear that judging this one by its cover may get me an interesting read :-D