2023 Shortlist

[Phyllis]

I only use GR to track / talk about books. Since I am not a bookseller, not an author, not a reviewer, not a librarian — just a plain ol’ reader & lover of books — I have no need or desire for the kagillion social media outlets about books.

[Lauren]

Zachary wrote: "I just finished My Volcano, and I kind of dug it for what the author intended: “doomscrolling in novel form,” but “with more heart than the algorithm.” They meant it to be a difficult read with bea..."

That's a fair assessment, and I don't want to discourage anyone from reading it. It's still possible I'll love the ending and it will have been worth it, but I've become a slow print reader so it feels like it's taking forever for the pieces to click into place.

[Lauren]

Nadine in California wrote: "For the first few pages, I wasn't sure about My Volcano - surreal satire can get old fast for me, but I'm glad I kept going. It's not that I like surreal satire any better than I did before, but th..."

While it's not a quick read for me, I agree that it doesn't cross the line into "cute." ;) I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[Lauren]

Kyle wrote: "where yall at with the #tob23 tag on Instagram? it's just me out there"

I'll post another update soon and will use the tag!

[Lauren]

Risa wrote: "Audra wrote: "Yes, Gretchen Felker-Martin is Trans.
We had Tommy Orange with There There for Indigenous writers as well."

There There is in my personal pantheon of all-time favorites. I hope Tomm..."

Yay - cheers to There There and Tommy Orange! When I took a workshop with him in October 2021, he was working on revisions to the sequel, so I keep looking for the good news in my Publishers Marketplace emails that it sold, and we can expect it in the near future. Nothing yet, but I'll keep my ear to the ground about it. Or I might send him an email to check in if I'm feeling brave later. ;)

[Nadine in NY]

Lauren wrote: "I keep dropping hints about the lack of Indigenous rep in the tournament ..."


Which book/s would you have liked to see on the list this year? I really enjoyed Night of the Living Rez: Stories and I think it would have been a good addition. I loved Shutter, too, but I'm not sure if it was "meaty" enough to satisfy the tournamenters. I haven't read White Horse yet but it looks like it could have been a contender.


Any 2023 pubs pop up yet for next year's ToB from Indigenous authors?

[Lauren]

Nadine in NY wrote: "Lauren wrote: "I keep dropping hints about the lack of Indigenous rep in the tournament ..."


Which book/s would you have liked to see on the list this year? I really enjoyed Night of the Li..."</i>

Great questions! I was hoping for Night of the Living Rez since I have a copy of it and look forward to reading it. Same with [book:A Calm & Normal Heart: Stories. I know story collections won't make the short list, but long list inclusion is still great.

As far as novels I read and wanted to see on the lists, that would include Calling for a Blanket Dance, Woman of Light (this novel had flaws but I'm still a fan of the author), and The Last Karankawas kind of counts (indigeneity identity can be fairly complicated, and my work group discussed this with the author. She's wonderful.).

For 2023 books, I haven't dug into this list yet, but I saved it to look into soon. (not sure if the link will post)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CllloxBrPAN/

[Ellen]

I am batting zero with this year's ToB so far. Admittedly, I'm way behind, but now I'm gun-shy and am loathe to continue the list. Just finished Mercury Pictures Presents, and I'm apparently the one person the book wasn't intended for. I found it a total slog and had to force my way through. I'm going to quickly read a non-ToB book from my pile that had to go back to the library, just to cleanse my palate, and then I'm going to gird up my proverbial loins and get back to the list -- but I'm nervous about it now. Sheesh.

[Phyllis]

Ellen wrote: "I am batting zero with this year's ToB so far. Admittedly, I'm way behind, but now I'm gun-shy and am loathe to continue the list. ..."
Ellen, what do you have left to read from the shortlist? Don't be sceeeeered!

[Ellen]

I've only read 5 so far (I told you I was way behind), so I have most of them left. It's easier to tell the ones I've read -- Babel, Book of Goose, Manhunt, Sea of Tranquility, Mercury. I have Tomorrow x 3, An Island, The Passenger and Seven Moons on deck.

[Nadine in NY]

Ellen wrote: "I've only read 5 so far (I told you I was way behind), so I have most of them left. It's easier to tell the ones I've read -- Babel, Book of Goose, Manhunt, Sea of Tranquility, Mercury. I have Tomo..."



I really liked Sea of Tranquility and really didn't like An Island, so if the Law of Opposites is in effect, and you didn't like Sea of Tranquility, you can expect to enjoy An Island!!

[Ellen]

Hmmm. Well, I can't say I actively disliked Sea of Tranquility as much as it didn't do much for me. Of the books I've read so far, I liked it the best -- but that's damning it with very faint praise. But your post at least offers a ray of hope for me!!

[Kip]

I felt the same way last year Ellen. (Not about every book, The Trees and When We Cease to Understand the World, they’re perfect). Just felt like every book was a miss. But this year I think is one of the strongest ToB in years. For many of us in this group, 18 books is still a rather small sample size for ok ur reading year, plenty of room for hits and misses to pile up and it can definitely be discouraging.

At the same time, many of my favorite ToB books were the ones I least expected to enjoy but I got an access to a copy when in need; so yeah, keep going!

[Kyle]

I mean, so far this year the only tob books I have really loved were the ones I'd already planned to read anyway. maybe Maali Almeida is an exception. but I haven't found any unexpected gems just yet

[Meera]

I think I’m giving up on Manhunt. This is the first one the list I’m doing that to. I probably should give it more if a chance since I’ve barely read much of it and I own it but I don’t believe in forcing myself to read stuff I can’t get into. I am not a fan of graphic horror. I saw in the the discussion thread without reading the comments that no one who has read it has given it more than a 2. Maybe I’ll go back to it after I’ve read more in the list but I’m done for now.

[Risa]

Kip wrote: "I felt the same way last year Ellen. (Not about every book, The Trees and When We Cease to Understand the World, they’re perfect). Just felt like every book was a miss. But this year I think is one..."

^^^ Co-Sign -- about last year, and this year. Last year, I think it was only The Trees and When We Cease that wowed me. This year, there were a few unexpected gems, including one I went into actually dreading (The Passenger) and one I went into with minimal expectation (Dinosaurs).

I have four yet to go -- Seven Moons, Babel, MPP, and Tomorrow x 3, all of which I am hoping will wow me. If none of these wows, there are still four from among those I've read that I'd be happy to see take this year's Rooster (the two mentioned above, plus Book of Goose and Sea of Tranquility).

Any year in which even 25% of the bracket wows me is a good year for me.

[Phyllis]

Risa wrote: "...Any year in which even 25% of the bracket wows me is a good year for me."
Each year when I look at the shortlist, there are always those I've read & enjoyed, those I already had in my TBR list because I expected to like them, those I've never heard of, and those I just don't want to read. Then I try to read them all.

The ToB has changed my notions of what wows me. There are those I am wow-ed by because I personally truly love them (like Risa, I hope for maybe 25% in this category). There are those that I think are not what I consider to be a "good book" -- usually in the sense that I think the writing fails, or the structure is bad, or the plot doesn't hold together (this year, there were only 2 of those for me out of the entire 18).

But then there is the big middle. And this is where I think the ToB, and all of you amazing folks, have really caused me to think differently. I've started to think more about how much a book seems to succeed at what it set out to do (without regard to whether it is a genre I like, or a form/structure I enjoy, or written in the type of prose and with characters I prefer). If it seems to me that a book fully succeeds at its own purposes, then I can at least appreciate the ways in which it may be a "really good book" for a reader other than me. I felt like a lot of books fell into this category in this year's shortlist. And I feel my brain & soul have expanded for having read them, even if they weren't my personal "wow."

[Bryn]

The TOB has exposed me to so many authors I may not otherwise have found and I’m so grateful for that. This year, so far my favorites are The Book of Goose, by an author who has been around for awhile but I’ve never heard of her, The Rabbit Hutch, a debut, and Dinosaurs, by Millet who I never really loved but this book is stunning!! To me anyway. We all have such different tastes and I am grateful for that also; to learn about different perspectives on the same work.

Ach! I’m only half through the list. It’s my plan to be a completist for the 3rd year in a row!

[Audra]

I have def. found books I love and never would have found with TOB. And books and writes I can certainly do with out :D

[Audra]

I'm listing to An Island right now and I'm about to finish The Passenger. I can't really say why, but I love The Passenger.

[Risa]

I did, too, Audra. CM is a great prose stylist and the characters were interesting to me. My most pleasant surprise of the tournament this year.

[Bryn]

I just read the first 100 pages of Babel and I am sucked in. Very entertaining.

[Carmel]

Phyllis wrote: "Risa wrote: "...Any year in which even 25% of the bracket wows me is a good year for me."
Each year when I look at the shortlist, there are always those I've read & enjoyed, those I already had in ..."

This is really well said, and I can give an author credit for doing what I think they set out to do, even when I didn't particularly love the ride I took with the book. Thanks for articulating that!

[Peggy]

Yes, your idea of the "big middle" and the impact of the commentariat really resonates, Phyllis. Thank you!

This year has not excited me like years past for reasons I can't entirely pin down (maybe the lack of some faves like the Kingsolver even making the longlist) so I'm just going to read what I can and live vicariously through all of your comments for those I can't get to. I've never been a completist, so I'm okay with this.

Starting The Rabbit Hutch now and never, ever going near Manhunt.

[Audra]

This year doesn't really excite me either, though more than last year did.
There were some really good long list books that didn't make it, so I guess there's that.

[Paula]

Risa wrote: "I did, too, Audra. CM is a great prose stylist and the characters were interesting to me. My most pleasant surprise of the tournament this year."

I hope it stays that way for you. It didn’t - at all- for me.

[Tim]

As of today, I've finished exactly half of the shortlist, and I've liked eight of them pretty well. I've DNF'd five of them, which is unfortunate - I think it is my largest DNF pile since I committed to the tournament. There's two I won't start (one for apathy, one for antipathy), and so that leaves just two to go, with at least three long flights between now and the start of the tournament.

Still I'm feeling a little burnt out on tournament books, so I think I'm going to dip into the TBR pile before I get back to those last lingering two.

However those two turn out, though, it's going to be close to 50% hits for me, and that's pretty typical of most of the tournament years since I got the courage to follow along.

(Strangely, and I think this was the same last year, I found the Western Division stronger than the Eastern Division....)

[Risa]

I’m taking a break, too, because I’ve got an infinity-high TBR pile and because I’ve now got the three longest shortlist books still remaining from among those I’m intending to read. I need to clear my head mentally before I dive into those.

And, as my husband just reminded me, “It’s not supposed to feel like homework!” :-)

[Phyllis]

Tim wrote: "...(Strangely, and I think this was the same last year, I found the Western Division stronger than the Eastern Division....)"
Me too, for both years. Odd, huh? I've always wondered how they do the match-ups (beyond seeding) -- whether it is random selection or intentional pairings. I've had a passing thought that they may place what they expect to be more popular books into the western division first four rounds, creating greater suspense/discussion about which will return as zombies.

[Phyllis]

Risa wrote: "I’m taking a break, too, ... as my husband just reminded me, “It’s not supposed to feel like homework!”"

Definitely should not be homework! I love the ToB, but it has been pure joy these past 10 days to turn to my TBR mountain and choose exactly what I want to read purely because I want to read it. While I'm packing to move, I packed myself a "reading while moving" bag intended to last me through the end of April. Nothing in there chosen by anyone other than me - yippee!

[Kyle]

If anyone needs some time to catch up on the list, you could always catch covid. Tested positive on Saturday, feel like garbage, but I've finished 2 tob books and will probably get another done by tomorrow.

[Phyllis]

Kyle wrote: "If anyone needs some time to catch up on the list, you could always catch covid. Tested positive on Saturday, feel like garbage, but I've finished 2 tob books and will probably get another done by ..."
Aw, Kyle, so sorry to hear that. I hope you have a swift recovery and that your family stays well.

[C]

Kyle wrote: "If anyone needs some time to catch up on the list, you could always catch covid. Tested positive on Saturday, feel like garbage, but I've finished 2 tob books and will probably get another done by ..."

I hope you feel better quickly, Kyle!

I finished 'Seven Moons' yesterday and it's my favorite of the (cough) four ToB books I have read so far. Refreshing both in setting and that it's not told in a typical murder mystery way (I don't go for those.) However, is it an all time ToB favorite? No. But maybe my bar is too high now. I think whatever the commentariat says about it will make me love it even more though.

[Elizabeth]

Just want to give a shoutout to Zachary and Lauren on how much I'm loving seeing your excellent bookish posts in my Inbox! Really engaging reads, highly recommended to anyone who hasn't signed up yet.

[Nadine in NY]

Elizabeth wrote: "Just want to give a shoutout to Zachary and Lauren on how much I'm loving seeing your excellent bookish posts in my Inbox! Really engaging reads, highly recommended to anyone who hasn't signed up yet."




I am glad you mentioned this, because it turns out my gmail was filtering both newsletters into my "Promotions" folder, so I never saw them! I think that should be fixed now...

Lauren, when is the January newsletter, so I can confirm I fixed my filter?

[Audra]

Kyle wrote: "If anyone needs some time to catch up on the list, you could always catch covid. Tested positive on Saturday, feel like garbage, but I've finished 2 tob books and will probably get another done by ..."

Unemployment will do that to you as well! I've got 5 to go. I just finished The Passenger. I have Babble on my nightstand staring at me, but I think I need a minute.

[Elizabeth]

Peggy wrote: "This year has not excited me like years past for reasons I can't entirely pin down (maybe the lack of some faves like the Kingsolver even making the longlist) so I'm just going to read what I can and live vicariously through all of your comments for those I can't get to. I've never been a completist, so I'm okay with this."

This is me exactly, Peggy. There were so many longlist books I would have gotten so excited to see competing (and even more that didn't even make the longlist.) But on the shortlist this year, although I've enjoyed a couple, there really haven't been any. (Still waiting on Maali, which I have high hopes for, but other than that this year has been pretty much of a shrug.)

Still enjoying following along with you incredibly astute readers, but I don't have that excitement for March that I had in previous years. And my TBR for books I know I'll love is already so long that after Maali, and trying An Island (which I have from Libby) and My Volcano (which intrigues me, although I have it on hoopla and hate reading books from my computer screen so likely won't get far), I think I'll have to stop.

[Risa]

Kyle wrote: "If anyone needs some time to catch up on the list, you could always catch covid. Tested positive on Saturday, feel like garbage, but I've finished 2 tob books and will probably get another done by ..."

Phyllis wrote: "Risa wrote: "I’m taking a break, too, ... as my husband just reminded me, “It’s not supposed to feel like homework!”"

Wishing you a speedy recovery, Kyle! Much though I'd like to have more time for reading, I don't want to gain it that way! (I am in the midst of a very hectic travel schedule and being the only masked person on most of the planes I've been on has been a very strange experience. Everyone is acting as if Covid is over, when, as you know, it very much is NOT.)

Definitely should not be homework! I love the ToB, but it has been pure joy th..."

[Elizabeth]

Risa wrote: "(I am in the midst of a very hectic travel schedule and being the only masked person on most of the planes I've been on has been a very strange experience. Everyone is acting as if Covid is over, when, as you know, it very much is NOT.)"

If you look at the highest risk for Covid and flu death, I fall into 4 of the high risk categories (the highest risk aside from being under 65, no lung issues and not obese), and I always feel a vague PTSD at seeing pictures of people out and about in crowds indoors unmasked. Even looking at old pics/videos of myself unmasked in groups I have a mini panic attack! My daughter, sweet girl, is also one of very few who still wears a mask in school, to protect me. Even for those who aren't high risk, it's such a horrible sickness to get, worse than flu for many. Wearing a mask isn't fun, but gosh it seems worth the trade, even to help prevent colds.

[Kyle]

What's really great fun is that I'm pretty much the only person at my place of work (a public high school) who still masks regularly, and I caught it while few to none of them have. Just really improves my opinion overall of the human race and the people I work with.

My comment was mostly meant as tongue-in-cheek, and I do apologize to those who definitely have something to worry about from this disease. I'm mostly lucky in that it felt like a bad flu for about 24 hours, and now I'm mostly on the mend.

[Elizabeth]

Kyle wrote: "What's really great fun is that I'm pretty much the only person at my place of work (a public high school) who still masks regularly, and I caught it while few to none of them have. Just really imp..."

I didn’t take it in a negative way at all, Kyle, no worries. So glad you’re starting to feel better. From limited anecdotal evidence (7 people in the fall/winter) those who were masked may have an easier time of it, maybe because viral load is lower. Best wishes for continued quick healing.

[Ellen]

Kyle, I hope you're feeling better soon, and I certainly didn't take your remark as treating the situation lightly! I've had it 2x, neither terribly serious (despite some of those high risk factors); one was physically worse than the other and one psychically WAY worse. No matter what, it's an interruption to one's life, and like you, it's good to find the silver lining -- more time to read! always a silver lining.

Elizabeth, how are you doing generally?

C, I saw that you "liked" my status update, which made me giggle. The eagle should be on its way to you by the end of the week.

[C]

Ellen wrote: "Kyle, I hope you're feeling better soon, and I certainly didn't take your remark as treating the situation lightly! I've had it 2x, neither terribly serious (despite some of those high risk factors..."

haha, Ellen - well I "liked" that the book made it to you. Have had some PO mysteries lately. :D I hope you're enjoying the book!

[Janet]

I think the drop off in my interest in the TOB coincides with the move to Discord. I still want to read "all the books" but I have absolutely zero desire to learn another platform in order to discuss them. And speaking of Covid, I had it over Christmas and didn't get to attend my family celebration. I had a mild case (thankfully) but was prescribed Paxlovid as a precaution due to my age. I'm still having a problem with one ear which I'm convinced is Covid related and I'm seeing the ENT tomorrow. This year I'm isolating for a full 2 weeks before any important get togethers or trips. It concerns me that we seem destined to get variations of this virus over and over again and who knows what damage it is doing to our bodies internally.

[Zachary]

Elizabeth wrote: "Just want to give a shoutout to Zachary and Lauren on how much I'm loving seeing your excellent bookish posts in my Inbox! Really engaging reads, highly recommended to anyone who hasn't signed up yet."

Oh my goodness, thanks so much Elizabeth. It's been a really fun project to force myself to write a little by knowing that there's folks out there who enjoy my recommendations. :)

And here's to switching course when it starts to feel like homework!

[Kyle]

Almost a third of the way through Dinosaurs, and I did not expect it to be so... nice. it's a very pleasant read! Which is a little shocking coming from the author of A Children's Bible. I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.

[Phyllis]

Kyle, I think Millet wore cozy socks (rather than shoes) while writing Dinosaurs.

[Kyle]

I'll also admit to being a bit more positive on "An Island" than I think a lot of the folks here/on Discord are. I think it was a pretty tight little story, and I'm hoping it wins the play-in round.

[Kyle]

I've got Dinosaurs, Manhunt, Passenger, and Mouth to Mouth to go at the moment, and Nightcrawling should be coming in from the library soon. I think this is the first year I'll (knock on wood) be a TOB completionist...

[Elizabeth]

Ellen wrote: "Elizabeth, how are you doing generally?"

Thanks for asking, Ellen. I'm doing okay. I haven't given details not because it's any kind of secret, just because I don't want to derail threads. It just leaks out because it's all become the dominating force in my life. BUT! I got some good news tonight, so I'll at least share that.

A couple of months ago, I found out I had breast cancer. It's the least of my issues, actually, but it was just one huge curveball to come up out of nowhere and smack me in the head, the last thing I expected. But I had a lumpectomy/lymphectomy Friday, and the pathology report came back tonight showing it hadn't spread to my lymph nodes, and hadn't grown much, so all I'll need for it now is a couple of weeks of radiation. Such a huge relief, and my mind is feeling a little less like a big red confused scribble.

Book-related, to celebrate, and keep me fighting on, today I just spent $55 at my local indie, including a copy of Maali Almeida. The only thing better than a new book in the mail is a new celebratory book.