This is my first foray into the rabble and ruckus that is Tournament of Books. I’ve heard it’s loads of fun, so I’m going to do my best to read all of the books on the short list. I’m going into each book with an open mind, and I’m not going to be afraid of setting books aside if I’m just not feeling it. I’m also trying to (finally) finish up my thesis paper this month, too, so I am going to have a busy February. Here’s where I am so far

• The New World by Chris Adrian and Eli Horowitz – awaiting hold from library
• The Sellout by Paul Beatty – currently reading
• Bats of the Republic by Zachary Thomas Dodson
• The Turner House by Angela Flournoy- saved in my TOB16 library list
• Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff – read, review pending (because I’m slow…)
• Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf- checked out from library
• Ban en Banlieue by Bhanu Kapil
• The Story of My Teeth by Valeria Luiselli
• The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra – listened
• The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen- checked out from library
• The Whites by Richard Price- checked out from library
• Oreo by Fran Ross
• The Book of Aron by Jim Shepard– read
• The Invaders by Karolina Waclawiak- currently reading
• A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara- awaiting hold from library

Play-In Round

• Avenue of Mysteries by John Irving- saved in my TOB16 library list
• A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler- checked out from library

I’m trying to do as much of this as I can by utilizing the library. I’m also using this time to demo some different audio and e-book subscription services (basically, do it for free 🙂 ). I plan to at least provide mini-reviews of each book, so make sure to check back as we get closer to the tournament start date!

Alright, readers, who’s with me? Are you ready for TOB 16?!