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Alison wrote: "I would regard them as books the Tournament considers note-worthy, but I think you can safely cross them off the list of contenders. ."

There hasn't been a short story collection in the tournament since 2015. Are any of this year's going to break that streak?

Also two ToB winners on the list, so probably not going to make the tourney.

If I could downvote The Census on the goodreads list, I would - but any vote of mine would give it additional points.

Joe wrote: "Jason - from a printing perspective, a 304pg book can be divided into 19 x 16pg signatures (or 9 x 32pg signatures + one 16pg signature, depending on the physical dimensions of the book and the pri..."

Awesome explanation, Joe. I had no idea. (and I work for a publishing company... not in that dept, obviously)

Rachel wrote: "ŷ������ list is up:/list/show/1...

Please vote so I can read collective favorites!"

This is such a great resource! I can see at a glance what I've read on the list, for one thing. Thanks.

Lark wrote: "This is such a great resource. I can see at a glance what I've read on the list, for one thing. Thanks."

I second that. Thank you, Rachel.

There seem to be four kinds of TOB fans:

1. Those who wait to see who wins and read the winner (or who may read the 4 semi-finalists, or put them on their TBR lists)

2. Those who read the short list when it comes out so they can play along with the tournament

3. Those who try to read as many of the long list books as they can before the short list is announced

4. Those who try to read every new cool book ahead of the game, so they've already read most of the long list when it comes out!

which are you this year? have you changed what kind of TOB participant you are from one year to the next? (and who has been doing this since 2005? Anyone?)

Rachel wrote: "ŷ������ list is up:/list/show/1...

Please vote so I can read collective favorites!"

Mind if I link it to my other group?

I've worked for print shops for the last 18 years (aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!), much of it in estimating, so the first thing I look for when doing a book (of any sort) is the number of 16's I have - because based on our equipment they are the most convenient divisible folding sig.

Back to the ToB: I'm also glad to see The Red Clocks on the long list - maybe it'll make the tournament!

Lark wrote: "This is such a great resource!"

Yes. Please vote so I can create a reading path through this 76 book forest.

/list/show/1...

Super heartbroken that Smoke City didn't make the list. 😭😭😭 But thrilled for Red Clocks and Washington Black -- two of my favorite reads this year. Check out that cover of Alice Isn't Dead!!! 😍

Bob wrote: "Rachel wrote: "ŷ������ list is up:/list/show/1...

Please vote so I can read collective favorites!"

Mind if I link it to my other..."

Link away!

Lark: Most years I'm #3 (and fail miserably, maybe read 15 from the long list with only 1 on the short list), but this year I am firmly a #2. I just don't have the reading time since I'm working on a feminist SF project for my blog that has seriously changed my reading list for the last month (and probably all of November as well).

Amy wrote: "like Lark, I'm happy to see Red Clocks on the list. It may not be the perfect novel, but its stuck with me after reading.

Me three. If (view spoiler)[it had ended the way I was sure it would from the second chapter I would've been highly disappointed. I was so relieved to see that it didn't. (hide spoiler)] It could make for a really interesting discussion, and it really was an enjoyable read for me, all the way through.

Lark wrote: "which are you this year? have you changed what kind of TOB participant you are from one year to the next? (and who has been doing this since 2005? Anyone?)"

I've been watching the ToB from the beginning. I've always been between 3 and 4. I try to pick current year books that I think will at least make the long list. (all my 2018 books made the list) But, that usually doesn't add up to too many actual books (5 this year), so then I hit the long list like a bum on a ham sandwich. Only to lose steam as the actual ToB arrives and end up spent before March.

The library building may be closed but I can still download ebooks!

Lark wrote: "There seem to be four kinds of TOB fans:

1. Those who wait to see who wins and read the winner (or who may read the 4 semi-finalists, or put them on their TBR lists)

2. Those who read the short l..."

I am one or more of those types depending on the year and how my life is going. I have been following since the beginning.

Lark wrote: "There seem to be four kinds of TOB fans:

1. Those who wait to see who wins and read the winner (or who may read the 4 semi-finalists, or put them on their TBR lists)

2. Those who read the short l..."

I'm usually a 2...This year a 4, for all the good that did me. I read quite a few books I probably wouldn't have if I hadn't thought they'd make the long list. (Now I'm wasting time here when I should be either reading or writing, because I feel overwhelmed.)

Lark wrote: "There seem to be four kinds of TOB fans:

1. Those who wait to see who wins and read the winner (or who may read the 4 semi-finalists, or put them on their TBR lists)

2. Those who read the short l..."

This is so accurate!

I've definitely moved up a notch every year towards more and more obsessive. I'd also say that I have read so many books this year that I've loved, so no regrets!

I'm telling myself that I won't read books on the longlist just because they are on the list, but because they were on my own list already, but let's face it, the stack of unread books from 10 years ago are just not going to get read any time soon.

Lark, I think there are many other variations of ToB fans. The first year, 2005, I was a 1. The next three years, before ToB published a longlist, I was a 2. From 2006-2016, I read every shortlist book. I didn't allow myself to abandon one, no matter how much I disliked it. That was very dumb of me, and not a rule I would usually follow, nor one I would recommend. Now, I read only the books that appeal to me from the longlist, and I read most of the shortlist.

Today I Learned that Stray City and Smoke City are NOT the same book, and I really want to read both!

Very excited about this longlist (although now I'm even more impatient for Milkman's U.S. release, thanks a lot TOB). I'm looking forward to stumbling upon an unexpected favorite book among these.

Also, Ace, you nailed the url for this year's longlist. :)

This seems a good day to remind everyone that you can post questions and comments for Andrew, Rosecrans, et al, through our Ask the ToB Organizers thread.

Tina wrote: "This seems a good day to remind everyone that you can post questions and comments for Andrew, Rosecrans, et al, through our Ask the ToB Organizers thread."

That link is this thread.

Oops. I made a mistake in the link--forgot the =. I fixed it.

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Book I've already read:

Alice Isn't Dead by Joseph Fink
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Circe by Madeline Miller
Fire Sermon by Jamie Quatro
Florida by Lauren Groff
The Friend by Sigrid Nunez..."

wow Jenny! kudos!

Janet wrote: "76 books...what are they thinking...now to guess what will make the shortlist!"

Andrew to Rosecrans (or maybe vice versa): "With so many to choose from, they'll never guess the shortlist." [insert diabolical laugh here]

Looks like a really good list this year. I’ve read 17, DNF’d 3 and have a bunch of others just waiting for me to get to. To answer Lark’s question about what kind of TOBer am I. I have followed the tournament since the beginning some years much more closely than others. I used to always read the shortlist and try to read as many as possible from the longlist but a few years ago I pretty much stopped reading books that don’t interest me no matter how many award lists they end up on. So now I would say that I try to read as many from the longlist that interest me or that I already owned copies of and the shortlist I will probably attempt them all but I’m not against DNFs if I’m not liking it.

If anyone has recommendations for ones that work particularly well on audiobook please share.

I have to admit to relief (and some surprise!) at not seeing The Largesse of the Sea Maiden on the longlist. I attempted it on audio but Could. Not. Do. It. Figured I would try in print since it’s received so much love. Now I can put it off indefinitely!

Bretnie wrote: "..."Disappointed that Freshwater, Smoke City, and The Aviator didn't make it (even with 76 on the list!).?

My 3 favorites of the year! Your taste is exquisite, Bretnie :)

Amanda - There There, Census, and The Friend all worked well for me on audio. I heard a lot of love for Circe in audio as well. Of course three of those are summer TOB books with likely only one making it to the shortlist :)

Amanda wrote: "If anyone has recommendations for ones that work particularly well on audiobook please share."

My partner finished Killing Commendatore in about a week via audio and raved about it. Considering its length, that's my only hope.

Tina wrote: "From 2006-2016, I read every shortlist book. I didn't allow myself to abandon one, no matter how much I disliked it. That was very dumb of me, and not a rule I would usually follow, nor one I would recommend. Now, I read only the books that appeal to me from the longlist, and I read most of the shortlis ..."

Just a few minutes ago I started and within 10 pages decided not to finish my first TOB book of the season...Yay me.

I probably abandon books well before I should. But at this point, I'm starting to realize the tiny percentage of books I'll actually end up being able to read before I die, so I read for enjoyment--and/or because I think something will inform my life or my own writing--more than literary merit, which means a LOT of books not finished. I do have this irrationally frenetic fear of missing something amazing, though.

I was a #1--a very casual TOB participant until 2015 (when we had the first alt-TOB in the group), and then I morphed to a rabid #4 for a couple of years and tore through every newly published novel at a ridiculous pace that left me crazed and slightly dehydrated, and then this year I crashed, where I've been reading very slowly, not just reading fewer books but also taking more time on each page. I've only read 5 on the long list, a personal worst!

Amanda wrote: "Looks like a really good list this year. I’ve read 17, DNF’d 3 and have a bunch of others just waiting for me to get to. To answer Lark’s question about what kind of TOBer am I. I have followed the..."

I am similar to you, Amanda. I often say I won't try to read them all but then I see how close I am and I start changing my tune to think maybe I'll at least TRY them all, without feeling bad if I DNF one or more.

I enjoyed the audio of The House of Broken Angels and The Italian Teacher.

I exchanged messages with Andrew Womack of the ToB. He pointed out that he added page numbers to the spreadsheet this year because people in this group wanted them. I told him we noticed, and we appreciate it. He is eager to read our comments and answer our questions in the Ask the Organizers thread.

I'm a #4 but I've only been doing the TOB for maybe 4 years. I don't consciously read with an eye toward the TOB, I just like to read new releases. Every year I tell myself I'm going to make inroads on my aging TBR but then I don't because I'm always distracted by the bright new shiny objects! This is the first year I've already read so many of the longlist (20) but then my reading seems to fall apart this time of year with holidays and other commitments so if I can fit in a few more before the shortlist is announced I'll feel like did what I could.

Last year I was a #2 and read the shortlist for the first time ahead of the tournament (previously had been a #1). Now I'm leaning towards #3 having read 10 of these books. (Still, so little compared to the 76!)

Thanks for all the great resources on this thread, excited to read more.

Very glad to see Severance by Ling Ma on the longlist and hope it makes the shortlist!

I’m intrigued by Sugar Land. It has 13 ratings on all of ŷ������ yet it’s on the list! I just started it.

Powell’s just posted 30% off their “Picks of the Season��
Includes:
Killing Commendatore
Red Clocks
Transcription
Unsheltered
The Witch Elm

Amanda wrote: "I’m intrigued by Sugar Land. It has 13 ratings on all of ŷ������ yet it’s on the list! I just started it."

Right? I'm wondering whether that was the book that serendipitously ended up in a bag after a flight.

Let us know how you like it? (I see it's on Hoopla, but since my library only allows 5 a month and I've already used 2, I'm hesitant to waste one if I won't actually read it...)

Thank you for the GR list!!

I'm not the reader judge this year so I can actually play along and not watch creepily from the sidelines.

I've read a dozen or so. My favorites so far:
My Year of Rest and Relaxation
Florida
Laura & Emma

My Sister, the Serial Killer looks crazy, in a good way. I am now #88 on the Seattle Public Library holds list. They have 218 copies on order!

I download the long list in excel and color code it. This year's results are: green = definitely want to read (17), yellow = maybe (20), red = no (22), and blue= already read (17). It's a bit of rush decision on the first day, but at least I have some kind of roadmap.

Thanks so much to those who worked today to create the GR list and spreadsheet, just settling in now to read through and arrange many library holds! The list looks really strong on first glance and I'm looking forward to the tournament.

Lark, I've been following for 5-6 years or so, usually as a #1 or #2 but more recently moving to a #3. I don't read new fiction as voraciously as some here but I've read 10 from the long list which feels like a lot for me.

I have some other reading on the go but hope to fit in 5 or more from the longlist before the January announcement. I'll let the group collective wisdom determine which ones!

Tina wrote: "My Sister, the Serial Killer looks crazy, in a good way. I am now #88 on the Seattle Public Library holds list. They have 218 copies on order!"

Tina, I'm now #89 :)

Nadine, I love your system!

That’s a great system Nadine! I may borrow that idea 🙂

Lauren wrote: "I'm not the reader judge this year so I can actually play along and not watch creepily from the sidelines."

Yay! Welcome to the party!

Amanda wrote: "If anyone has recommendations for ones that work particularly well on audiobook please share."

The House of Broken Angels and Circe I would say are best in audio.

Nadine wrote: "No Freshwater? I demand a recount! (And I've read 17 of these, so far.)"

I agree. :)