2024 ToF - general discussion

[EmilyP]

It's been great to see all of the votes come in today. And now, here's something else for you to do--sign up to be a judge! If you're interested, please fill out this quick form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...
Thank you!

[Kari]

Perhaps a dumb question but the dot poll . . . do I need to hit a final "submit" button? I don't see a way to finalize it.

[Gwendolyn]

Janet wrote: "I hope it wasn’t me Risa who discouraged you. It certainly was not my intent. My first couple of years of retirement I did read more….a lot more. But then I found that I disliked a lot of what I wa..."

Thanks for the recommendation for Why We Read. Just put it on hold at my library.

[Gwendolyn]

I don’t think it will win, but I did want to lobby for Devil Makes Three by Ben Fountain. It is an incredible (and incredibly complex) book about Haiti. I fell into that book completely and didn’t resurface for a couple weeks. During that time, everything was about “when can I have time to read that book again.” Everything else (kids, husband, work, friends, other commitments, etc) became secondary. Such an immersive story!

[Chrissy]

Kari wrote: "Perhaps a dumb question but the dot poll . . . do I need to hit a final "submit" button? I don't see a way to finalize it."

You don't - if you revisit the page later, it will have saved your votes (via cookies) and you can change them if you want, up until the end of the voting period.

[Chrissy]

I’ve gotten 2 messages about problems accessing the offsite poll. I’m not sure why only some people haven’t been able to use the link. It may be worth trying from a computer instead of phone? I’ll keep looking into it though.

[Kim]

I found that I couldn’t access the dot poll using my phone, but had no problems voting when using my laptop, if that helps anyone.

[Kari]

Chrissy wrote: "Kari wrote: "Perhaps a dumb question but the dot poll . . . do I need to hit a final "submit" button? I don't see a way to finalize it."

You don't - if you revisit the page later, it will have sav..."

Thank you! I've never used that style of poll before! Nice to encounter something new like that.

[Kari]

And I agree - I could not access it on my phone.

[Chrissy]

If anyone goes to vote and it tells you we’ve reached the limit of voters (40), just let me know and I’ll upgrade. I wasn’t sure what to expect, numbers-wise.

[Lauren]

I also can’t vote from my phone for the main poll, but I was excited to see The Bandit Queens as an option in the other one! I meant to read that many times last year but somehow didn’t get around to it. Sounds fantastic.

[Kari]

I just got Bandit Queens from the library! I'm excited to read it.

[Jan]

I was able to access the dot poll on my iPad, in case that’s a useful alternative for anyone.

[Jan]

Gwendolyn, thanks for sharing your enthusiasm re the Ben Fountain book. I have that title in my audiobook queue and need a nudge to get it to the top!

[Kyle]

Voted on both polls! Excited for the results.

[Kyle]

ACK i just realized that when I voted for "The End of Drum-Time" I could have voted for "The Golem of Brooklyn" which I read this week during jury duty selections and absolutely adored.

Ah well.

[Chrissy]

You can change your vote up until the polls close!

[D Jones]

Thanks to all who organized this! In my opinion, the actual TOB shortlist is becoming less and less interesting. There were less than five in this year's bracket that I was interested in reading. The TOF, on the other hand, where we the people get to choose, has never been a disappointment to me. So, huzzah to the continuation of the TOF and long live the TOF!!

[Risa]

D Jones wrote: "Thanks to all who organized this! In my opinion, the actual TOB shortlist is becoming less and less interesting. There were less than five in this year's bracket that I was interested in reading. T..."

All. of. THIS.

[C]

Here is a list of books I wish I had read in time to vote for them. I can't decide!

Blue Skies - T. C. Boyle
Ripe - Sarah Rose Etter
Straw Dogs of the Universe - Ye Chun
Flux - Jinwoo Chong
Titanium Noir - Nick Harkaway
August Blue - Deborah Levy
And then She Fell - Alicia Elliott
A Grandmother Begins the Story - Michelle Porter
The Great Transition - Nick Fuller Googins
We Are A Haunting - Tyriek White
Cross-Stitch - Jazmina Barrera
What Napoleon Could Not Do- DK Nnuro
How to Love Your Daughter - Hila Blum
While We Were Dreaming - Clemens Meyer
Bridge - Lauren Beukes
The New Naturals - Gabriel Bump
Reproduction - Louisa Hall
At the Edge of the Woods - Kathryn Bromwich
Prophet by Helen Macdonald and Sin Blaché
Half-Life of a Stolen Sister - Rachel Cantor

This is the Very Short List. wah.

[C]

I would vote for House of Cotton but I think I'm the rare person who loves that one.

[Risa]

C wrote: "I would vote for House of Cotton but I think I'm the rare person who loves that one."

Vote your heart, C! What makes this ToF so great is having readers whom we all admire recommending books they loved. I'm not a "ghost/supernatural" fiction lover, but ... if folks here told me they loved it, I'd give it a try.

[C]

Risa wrote: "C wrote: "I would vote for House of Cotton but I think I'm the rare person who loves that one."

Vote your heart, C! What makes this ToF so great is having readers whom we all admire recommending b..."

Thanks, Risa :D

[EmilyP]

Thanks to everyone who has volunteered to be a judge. We are still looking for more judges. If you're able to help, sign up at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...

[Caroline]

ok I found this and used all my votes on Wellness! I'll sign up to judge in hopes some of these will speak to me in a way the short list didn't.

[Chrissy]

Just 2 days left to vote in our two polls! There will likely be at least one run-off poll after that, for just a few days so that we can get the brackets decided next week.

Thanks to all that have signed up to judge! I think we still need a couple more volunteers - this tournament can’t work without your help. All that’s asked is that you read both books you are assigned, pick one, and write a short explanation as to why… anything beyond that is gravy!

[Elizabeth]

Chrissy wrote: "Thanks to all that have signed up to judge! I think we still need a couple more volunteers - this tournament can’t work without your help. All that’s asked is that you read both books you are assigned, pick one, and write a short explanation as to why… anything beyond that is gravy! "

Hey Chrissy, I just friended you so that I can send you a message about judging.

[Kyle]

Oh why not. I put myself in as a judge.

[Care]

Kyle wrote: "Oh why not. I put myself in as a judge."

Me, too. I'll volunteer.

[Chrissy]

Care, did you fill out the form (link above)? We need some info from each judge to get started!

[Care]

Chrissy wrote: "Care, did you fill out the form (link above)? We need some info from each judge to get started!"

Done.

[Chrissy]

Good morning! The first round of voting is complete. The votes for books that weren’t on the shortlist ended in a landslide victory for North Woods, and every other book was WAY behind it. Therefore, we will give the number 1 seed to North Woods and use a run-off dot poll to choose the remaining 3 books from the ones that got 2-4 votes in the first poll. Since we are picking for 3 spots, you get 3 dots or votes to divide up however you want. Since all books on the list were nominated as a favorite by someone, you should feel free to vote for the book(s) you most want to read and/or discuss.

This poll will close Sunday evening at 7 pm (PST).

The other poll had a top 4, but we’re going to wait and announce the full bracket all at once. Look for that announcement either Sunday night or Monday morning!

New poll link:
https://pollunit.com/polls/84dn6sxia_...

[Lauren]

Awesome! I’m going all in for Bandit Queens on the poll, and will pick up a copy of North Woods soon.

[Caroline]

I haven't heard of any of these, anyone want to lobby?

[Elizabeth]

Caroline wrote: "I haven't heard of any of these, anyone want to lobby?"

I’ll lobby for Still Born, which I thought was masterful. (Nominated for the International Booker.)

[Phyllis]

Seconding Elizabeth’s vote for Still Born.

[Phyllis]

I also really liked The End of Drum-Time and Baumgartner.

[Kyle]

End of Drum-Time is pretty great!

[C]

ehh... I guess I should have thrown a second vote to 'The Terraformers' rather than voting 'And Then She Fell'. Since Meave had mentioned that one, I thought it would have more heft here. I won't vote this time, since I haven't read any of these.

[Elizabeth]

C wrote: "ehh... I guess I should have thrown a second vote to 'The Terraformers' rather than voting 'And Then She Fell'. Since Meave had mentioned that one, I thought it would have more heft here. I won't v..."

People should read And Then She Fell anyway, I thought it was so interesting and layered.

[Chrissy]

I'm really interested in reading Baumgartner, mostly because 4 3 2 1 is an all-time favorite of mine. I think I'll split my votes this time instead of going all in.

[Chrissy]

Before folks disappear in the wake of the final round of ToB, don't forget to vote in our run-off poll for the last 3 books of the bracket! We will announce the bracket, judges, and timing next week, including timing for zombie voting.

https://pollunit.com/en/polls/84dn6sx...

[Heather]

Chrissy wrote: "I'm really interested in reading Baumgartner, mostly because 4 3 2 1 is an all-time favorite of mine. I think I'll split my votes this time instead of going all in."

I went all in on Baumgartner, because 4 3 2 1 is also on my all-time favorites list.

[Kim]

I loved Baumgartner and hope it makes the cut because I want to read the discussion and hear everyone’s thoughts. I have never read 4 3 2 1, but so many seem to love it and I think I may read it next.

[C]

The price of the ebook for North Woods is $1.99 today.

[Kyle]

I mentioned this contest in the Discord, btw - hope no one minds.