Happy New Year all! It is going to be a while before I get around
to reading my first book qualifying for the 2017 Back to the Classics Challenge
because I am trying to read as many books from the 2017 Tournament of Books
shortlist as possible .
I have been following the TOB since
2013. I found out about it when the blogger Citizen Reader mentioned
Wil Wheaton’s judgment in favor of The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt. I admit, I was mostly intrigued at the time by the name of Wil Wheaton.
While I loathe Wesley Crusher, I am a big Star Trek fan (but I don’t know if I
am a trekker or a trekkie, the distinction is lost on me, so maybe neither) and
I bear the actor no ill-will for the terrible Gary-Stu he played as a child in
the 1990s.
But I digress. For those of you unfamiliar with the TOB, it is set up like NBA play off
brackets and takes place in March just like the play offs. The entire thing happens online. The judges (usually writers
themselves) read the two books from their assigned bracket and determine which one will move
forward. Color commentary is then provided by the TOB organizers, although there are
also occasionally guest commentators. Then
there are the comments from the peanut gallery, ie the bookternet. And that’s where it can get
bloody! But usually in a good way. I don’t comment. I can use the excuse that since
I am on the west coast, once I am off work and ready to rumble, everyone else
is in bed. But really it is because I don't feel sharp enough to keep up with the
crowd - and they are razor sharp. Next to the fabulous commentary, I love the access to the transparency
of the judgments. Unlike other “legit” book prizes (the Pulitzer, the Booker,
the Nobel, etc.) I get to read exactly why the judge chose one book over
another, which is always interesting.
So below is a list of the shortlist with notations on which ones I have already read and which ones I can readily get from the library. Will a little luck I will be able to have at least 10 of the books under my belt come March so I can follow along better.
Have any of you read any of these or are they on your radar? Do any of you follow the TOB?
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No
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TOB 2017 SHORTLIST
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AVAILABLE?
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1
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All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane
Anders
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READ
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2
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The Throwback Special by Chris Bachelder *
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LIBRARY
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3
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The Mothers by Brit Bennett
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LIBRARY
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4
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Moonglow by Michael Chabon
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READING CURRENTLY
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5
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Sudden Death by Álvaro Enrigue *
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READ
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6
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We Love You, Charlie Freeman by Kaitlyn
Greenidge
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7
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Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
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LIBRARY
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8
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The Nix by Nathan Hill
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LIBRARY
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9
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The Vegetarian by Han Kang
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READ
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10
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High Dive by Jonathan Lee
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LIBRARY
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11
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Sweet Lamb of Heaven by Lydia Millet
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LIBRARY
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12
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The Sport of Kings by C. E. Morgan*
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13
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Version Control by Dexter Palmer
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LIBRARY
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14
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Grief Is the Thing With Feathers by Max Porter
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15
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Mister Monkey by Francine Prose
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16
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My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
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READ
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17
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Black Wave by Michelle Tea
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18
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The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
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READ
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*play in round
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