Tournament of Books discussion
2023 TOB General
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2023 Shortlist
Elizabeth wrote: "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 th..."
That is great news, Elizabeth. One big weight lifted.
Elizabeth, we are all here loving you from our own little book-reading worlds! Your life is not a derailment from anything. If you’ll message me with your mailing address and a “gosh I wish I had it” book request, I’d love to contribute to your reading pleasure/access while you forge through. I can’t buy new books for myself right this minute, so it gives me great joy to buy one for someone else.
Phyllis wrote: "Elizabeth, we are all here loving you from our own little book-reading worlds! Your life is not a derailment from anything. If you’ll message me with your mailing address and a “gosh I wish I had i..."That's so very kind of you, Phyllis. ❤️ This has been a whirlwind year, but the blessing behind it is that I’ve encountered so much kindness along the way, from family and friends to medical professionals. It’s helped me remember, after years of too much media made me doubt, the general goodness of people.
Elizabeth, I'm so glad you're feeling relieved, and I wish you a healthy recovery full of reading and relaxation. And for those who still need to pick it up, Babel is 4.99 on Amazon Kindle Deals today.
Elizabeth wrote: "This has been a whirlwind year, but the blessing behind it is that I’ve encountered so much kindness along the way, from family and friends to medical professionals."So happy to hear you have such a good prognosis. It seems like so often a cancer diagnosis doesn't meet us in a calm season of life. While reading is my favorite pastime, my day job is in the oncology field so my thoughts are with you.
Thank you for sharing this positive update, Elizabeth! I so value the insights that you share with this group, and I am sending love and support from across the miles.
Kyle - So sorry you got covid! I'm glad you're feeling better and that you could still read through it at least. Elizabeth - Thanks so much for the shoutout and support of the newsletters! It seems old-school, but my partner and other marketing industry people are saying email is still the best and most secure way to build a platform for writers (social media accounts can get hacked, or the platforms fade out, etc.) so I was convinced to try it. It's been a fun way to uplift all the cool stuff I'm seeing from other writers. :)
I'm sorry to hear what you've been going through, but cheers to the good news! You deserve all the new books you can handle to celebrate. Sending hugs for the road ahead. And I'm still masking anytime I'm around others indoors. :)
Nadine - Thanks for signing up! I'll send you a direct message to see what happened to your subscription. The January newsletter went out on the first, but when people sign up later in the month, it still sends it at that time.
Audra - So sorry you're in that situation (unless that's what you wanted).
Janet - While I have a Discord tab I can go to where ToBers are talking about the books, I'm just staying here in our Goodreads space for now since I'm overwhelmed by and not a fan of Discord. I really hope we'll have Disqus again in March.
Thanks! My last job was a toxic waste dump so leaving let me finish grad school and plot out what I want to do. I'm lucky to be in the position to do this. Thanks for the head up Zach, I hate buying Kindle but I think it's going to take me forever to read that book so I might jump on that.
This is such an interesting list. It includes books that to me are deeply bleak and disturbing in ways I personally found overwrought and almost like cheating, maybe because I think writing shocking things is about the easiest kind of way to write a book that garnishes attention. It also includes some of the quietest and sweetest and most conflict-avoiding books I read last year. Hmm.
Elizabeth, I'm glad to hear your surgery results appear so positive. If it's any comfort, my sister, at age 44 had the same thing occur, and she is now past the surgery and radiation by about 15 years and doing fine. I hope the same for you.Sorry for those catching the dreaded bug. I'm still masking any time I'm around crowds, but I'm often in the minority. It's good for avoiding all the viruses, to a point.
I mostly lurk here, trying to get information about the books I might enjoy, but when this "Discord" thing happened, I'm with others who say they don't want to learn a new platform in order to be more interactive in discussing any of the books. I've also discovered that those books that make the list are a really mixed bag, so I'm less likely to just read them without hearing from some of you about what you thought! I guess I'm not very committed to being a completist. :-) But I do appreciate hearing what you all say to help me decide if it might be one I'd enjoy!
Stay healthy, y'all!
I assume everyone else is having the same "no new notifications" issue on Goodreads that I'm having? It's driving me up the wall! Sorry to hear so many people's health issues lately - be well!
Bretnie wrote: "I assume everyone else is having the same "no new notifications" issue on Goodreads that I'm having? It's driving me up the wall!...I'm not having that problem today, but I've encountered it a lot since the start of the year. I seem to have it happen more when using my cellphone than when using my desktop.
My health issues are nothing compared to Elizabeth's but I did go to the ENT today and he wants me to have a CT scan of the ear that I've already had 3 surgeries on. When my Covid started I thought I had an ear infection and all of my other symptoms went away pretty quickly....except this niggling ear. I have a theory that Covid attacks whichever part of your body is most susceptible. My friend who had it at the same time as I did had mostly digestive issues...which she struggles with in the best of times.Elizabeth, good luck to you. I have a niece who is a 2 time breast cancer survivor and she's about the healthiest person I know. You will come back from this. Some years ago I thought I had breast cancer but it turned out to be a phyllodes tumor. It had grown large and fast and so I ended up having a partial mastectomy. I had a great plastic surgeon and she took great care of me. Now I'm back to just yearly testing to make sure no recurrence.
Janet wrote: "My health issues are nothing compared to Elizabeth's but I did go to the ENT today and he wants me to have a CT scan of the ear that I've already had 3 surgeries on. When my Covid started I thought..."That’s great to hear, and thank you Janet! I hope you can get your ear issues figured out and addressed quickly.
I want all fellow TOB-ers to be healthy and happy. Glad you're on the mend, Kyle.
Soooo very thrilled you got a good pathology report, Elizabeth.
Here's to your ear issue being easily treatable, Janet.
I am struggling with The Rabbit Hutch. But onward!
me too, I struggled with Rabbit Hutch. I could tell it was really good but it's bleak and I just wasn't in the mood for it.
The Book of Goose Kindle edition is on sale for 3.99 today.
Drew wrote: "The Book of Goose Kindle edition is on sale for 3.99 today."Thanks, Drew! I bit.
I was planning to fit this in as an audio read but honestly someone should tell narrators that a faux French accent or a faux any accent is not the way to go. Unlistenable. If publishers want to have the narrator be distinguished by a non-native accent then please please get the real deal.
Just three more to go. Aiming to do Mouth to Mouth next, then Nightcrawling when it comes in from the library, then Passenger to close things out (as I have Stella Maris to follow it up)
Lark wrote: "I was planning to fit this in as an audio read but honestly someone should tell narrators that a faux French accent or a faux any accent is not the way to go. Unlistenable. If publishers want to ha..."Oh no, I have that audiobook coming up soon, so I'll be ready to ditch it for the print version if the fake accent is too distracting. Thanks for the heads up!
Janet wrote: "My health issues are nothing compared to Elizabeth's but I did go to the ENT today and he wants me to have a CT scan of the ear that I've already had 3 surgeries on. When my Covid started I thought..."Sorry you've also had health challenges. I hope the ENT situation is resolved soon!
I have read 9..gave up on Violin Conspiracy and my libraries don't have a couple. Tomorrow x3 is my favorite so far. I haven't bothered with Discord and appreciate all of you on this thread.
Can't bring myself to start Babel and don't want to read reviews. Anyone love it?
Well wishes to everyone in 2023!
Kyle wrote: "Just three more to go. Aiming to do Mouth to Mouth next, then Nightcrawling when it comes in from the library, then Passenger to close things out (as I have Stella Maris to follow it up)"Nice! I'm in the middle of Violin and Goose now. Then 2am, Volcano, and Babel.
Fun fact: Robert Palmer is mentioned in both 'Seven Moons of Maali' and 'Dinosaurs'. I had to google him both times.
Babel was actually the first of the whole set I read (as a fan of her previous work) and it's still up there as one of my favorites.meanwhile I just found out Dinosaurs is up against T&T&T in the first round and I'm inconsolable
C wrote: "Fun fact: Robert Palmer is mentioned in both 'Seven Moons of Maali' and 'Dinosaurs'. I had to google him both times."As in the muscian?
C wrote: "Fun fact: Robert Palmer is mentioned in both 'Seven Moons of Maali' and 'Dinosaurs'. I had to google him both times."LOL like Simply Irresistible Robert Palmer?? all you have to do is say "Robert Palmer" and I get that song stuck in my head.
It’s “I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On” for me. 😁
This Robert Palmer thred has been very amusing, btw.
Lee wrote: "It’s “I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On” for me. 😁"Sneakin' Sally through the alley......
I don't understand you people. Robert Palmer's masterpiece is his trilogy.
I'm listening to the Book of Goose and am enjoying it. But then again I had no idea the French accent was fake. I am American and have only been to France once and don't really know French at all despite taking it in high school. I think the story is pretty interesting and so is the way the narrator reads it.
Anita wrote: "I'm listening to the Book of Goose and am enjoying it. But then again I had no idea the French accent was fake. ..."Sometimes I am more autistic than at other times. My autism affects my 'reading ear.' I like Caroline Hewitt as a narrator when she reads in her natural and fantastically American accent.
Lark Benobi - That's interesting, thank you. As I kept listening, the accent did annoy me but I also liked the way she narrated so I will have to give a different book of hers a listen
TRUTH! Tim wrote: "I don't understand you people. Robert Palmer's masterpiece is his trilogy."
Just finished The Passenger. Not for me. Sigh. Continuing on with my general disappointment in this year's list....Next up (after a breather) is Rabbit Hutch.
I was feeling pretty dispirited after Island, Violin, and Nightcrawling - I just did not like any of them. I'd read the first few pages of T3 and Volcano but was not inspired to continue with either book. I was about to give up on reading for ToB this year, and then ... my hold on Olga Dies Dreaming came in before I could cancel it. So I gave it a listen. OMG FINALLY a book I am REALLY enjoying that I NEVER would have read on my own without the ToB push. This book is nothing like what I expected.
OK, good. Because so far, except for Tx3, which I liked -- didn't love -- the rest have been total slogs for me. Well, maybe not An Island -- depressing, yes, but it had merit. Hopefully, I'll find some more that inspire me.
Island is my choice for the play-in round.
Nadine in NY wrote: "I was feeling pretty dispirited after Island, Violin, and Nightcrawling - I just did not like any of them. I'd read the first few pages of T3 and Volcano but was not inspired to continue with eithe..."After (I think) 3 DNF's, Olga was *such* a treat!!! Just finished it this week.
Kyle wrote: "Island is my choice for the play-in round."Me too, Kyle, though I wouldn't be upset at any of the play-in books making it in.
Random Quirky Friday Thing: I've now read 11 of the 19 books, but realized today that of the 9 match-ups in the first round (including play-in), there's only one match-up where I've read both books. 8 books left, all in different match-ups.
Kyle and Phyllis, same here. 2 A.M. would be at the bottom of my play-in group, but even it had its strengths.
2023 mercy is in, and I'm loving the "cover story" designs! Have a sweatshirt in my cart. :)
I'm glad I'm not the only one finding the shortlist to be a bit of a slog. The Rabbit Hutch was meh, in the midst of The Violin Conspiracy now and it's fine but hasn't really grabbed me. I guess I should start Olga next as many of you seem to like it!
Elizabeth wrote: "2023 mercy is in, and I'm loving the "cover story" designs! Have a sweatshirt in my cart. :)"I told myself I didn't need a shirt this year, but I really like this year's designs!
Tournament of Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West (other topics)No Country for Old Men (other topics)
All the Pretty Horses (other topics)
Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies (other topics)
The Bees (other topics)
More...
And I also have a copy of Seven Moons, and look forward to it.