Litsy

pick

Colour me shocked but I loved this! (Shocked because my reaction to seeing it on the #TOB short list was ugh. This guy??) Instead I listened to it nonstop while puzzling away. A failed academic myself, maybe I can't help but love a tale of woebegone literary scholars slogging away in 2125. Not for everyone, but if you liked Byatt's Possession, you might like this too.

merelybookish @BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes @BkClubCare @Bookwormjillk @Chelsea.Poole @ImperfectCJ @Hooked_on_books @squirrelbrain @Deblovestoread 1d

squirrelbrain I really liked this one too. Your puzzle looks fab! 1d

BarbaraBB Wow, thanks! That‘s a huge encouragement! 24h

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Suet624 You‘re making me want to do a puzzle now 24h

IriDas You had me at “woebegone literary scholars.” 😂 😢 😮‍💨 23h

Chelsea.Poole Great review! Sadly, I was underwhelmed but I had high expectations. 22h

merelybookish @squirrelbrain Glad to hear I'm not alone, although I'm still not sure it fits the TOB. 22h

merelybookish @BarbaraBB I think it's worth giving a go although a lot of people find it slow at the beginning which I can understand. 22h

merelybookish @Suet624 Haha yes! An annual Xmas tradition for me to spend a few days on a puzzle. This was the right mix of easy bits and challenging sections. 22h

merelybookish @IriDas I was shocked to think they'd still exist in 2125 but their lot (and the humanities in general) have not improved. Haha 22h

merelybookish @Chelsea.Poole I get it! I went in with low expectations and was delighted. Meanwhile I went into Endling with high expectations and was disappointed. 22h

Hooked_on_books That‘s great that this worked for you! I loved Atonement many moons ago (before there was a movie), so I know he can really work for me, but I couldn‘t get into this one at all and bailed. 21h

BarbaraBB I‘ll definitely read it. I enjoyed many of his books but haven‘t felt like reading him for a long time. 21h

sarahbarnes Ooh, great review! I‘m waiting on this one from the library and now I‘m more excited to read it! 17h

60 likes3 stack adds14 comments

BkClubCare

Blob: A Love Story | Maggie Su

Available via Libby so I grabbed it the day the #ToB shortlist was announced. FINALLY in a mood to get started.

42 likes

rebcamuse

The Book of George: A Novel | Kate Greathead

so-so

Who is George? Well, while we are treated to almost four decades of his existence, I'm not sure I felt any more confident in answering that question at the end than I did at the beginning. George is, it seems, fairly unremarkable, and I think (THINK) that's the point? This does lead to some humor, and the frustrating inconsistency of George's attitudes is also a plus. I think we are supposed to see him as flawed -- and he is-- but who isn't?

rebcamuse He's self-centered and winds up in precarious situations of his own making (I couldn't help but think of another George...Costanza!), yet also seems to be able to interact socially and land a spot in a Super Bowl commercial. 1w

rebcamuse So, he's complex, in that ordinary human kind of way. His on-and-off again relationship with Jenny, who is also flawed, provided the most interest, but there were several spots where this threatened to be a do-not-finish for me. I'm glad I persisted, however, because I actually liked the (non-)ending because it was perfect for the book (something I appreciate even when I don't love the book that much). 1w

rebcamuse Ultimately I think it probably did not resonate as much with my Gen-Xness as it might with younger folk. #TOB25 #TOB2025 1w

BarbaraBB Thoughtful review 👌🏽 1w

rebcamuse Thank you @BarbaraBB ! 1w

22 likes5 comments

merelybookish

The Four Spent the Day Together | Chris Kraus

pick

I think this book is trying to do something interesting even if I'm not entirely sure I understand it. I think it is saying something about poverty & the "American dream" and places & people that get lost & crushed by industry & capital. It is billed as re-imagining the true crime genre. Which sure? It's divided into 3 parts. 1. The story of the Greene family's unsuccessful move from NYC to CT to improve their lives. 2. Catt Greene's adult life ?

merelybookish Her career as a writer, her troubled relationship with her husband Paul who struggles with alcoholism, their decision to buy a lake house in North MN. Part 3 is Catt's attempt to write about a senseless murder by 3 teens in the northern MN community. The parts are very district. Story is obviously autobiographical. Catt Greene is a barely veiled version of Chris Kraus and juxtaposes her own troubled youth with those of the youth in MN. 2w

merelybookish Anyway would love to hear what other #TOB folks think of it! It's a pick because I was intrigued even if I feel somewhat dissatisfied. @sarahbarnes @squirrelbrain @Hooked_on_books @BarbaraBB @Chelsea.Poole @Deblovestoread @BkClubCare 2w

squirrelbrain I bought this a few weeks ago as I thought it sounded really intriguing - I‘ll hopefully get to it soon (as if - have you seen my ToB pile?!) so we can chat about it. 2w

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BarbaraBB Sounds very interesting. It wasn‘t on my radar until now, I‘ll see if I can get a copy! 2w

Hooked_on_books Huh, this sounds right up my alley. I haven‘t been able to get it from the library, so I need to add it to my next book haul. 2w

sarahbarnes This is one that I wanted to read, too. It‘s coming my way from the library. Your review makes me very curious. 2w

merelybookish @BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes @Hooked_on_books @squirrelbrain Excellent! I look forward to your thoughts! 😀 I feel like it's one I will ponder for a while. 2w

48 likes7 comments

ChaoticMissAdventures

Killer Potential | Hannah Deitch

pick

It might be low expectations from bad reviews, but I enjoyed this! I thought the writing was solid, and the story original. Though I understand the "twist" from the beginning, I don't think that was the point of the story, the point is what would you convince yourself to do, and what lies could you make up to yourself (and others) about what you see around you. The characters were interesting.

#ToB #Longlist

squirrelbrain I‘m just about to start this one. 2w

34 likes1 comment

ChaoticMissAdventures

The South | Tash Aw

Weekend plans

Also finishing listening to #ToB Killer Potential

Ruthiella 😻😻😻 2w

dabbe 🖤🐾💛 2w

40 likes2 comments

squirrelbrain

Too Soon | Betty Shamieh

pick

#ToB #shortlist

Arabella, a New York theatre director from a Palestinian family, is old at 35 to not be married (!). She has growing feelings for her Israeli friend so, when she gets the opportunity to direct a show in the West Bank, she agrees to meet Aziz, arranged for her by her grandmother.

This had a very similar underlying plotline to Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad, but in the style of Xóchitl González books - I loved it!

Hooked_on_books, Deblovestoread, merelybookish, Bookwormjillk, Chelsea.Poole, BarbaraBB, sarahbarnes, ChaoticMissAdventures, Lesliereadsalot

Chelsea.Poole Glad to see the love for this one! I‘m looking forward now 😊 3w

BarbaraBB I forgot all about Enter Ghost but am very much looking forward to this one 3w

Hooked_on_books I was thinking of Enter Ghost when reading this post and then, there it was! But then mixed with Xochitl Gonzalez? That sounds great! 3w

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Lesliereadsalot Sounds great! 3w

ChaoticMissAdventures I am on a wait list at the library for this. It says 2 weeks, it sounds good! 3w

sarahbarnes I am interested in this one. Sounds good! 3w

65 likes3 stack adds6 comments

BkClubCare

The Dream Hotel | Laila Lalami

#WinterCampLitsy ❄️🏕️📚 My nominees are... 🥁

I believe The Dream Hotel might have been on my noms for summer camp? ☺️ And yes, you'll notice that I try very hard to nominate/vote women authors. I know Mobius won't likely be on the winning slate but I haven't read enough! #ToB

tpixie The Correspondent was one of my 2 favorite books of 2025! Also

My Friends

BkClubCare @tpixie - not the Hisham Matar? 😉 3w

BkClubCare My swap for Mobius might be

So Far Gone

(edited) 3w

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BarbaraBB Great choices. I loved The Correspondent so much. (edited) 3w

Caroline2 Great choices! 😃 👏 3w

tpixie @BkClubCare 😝 no not that author‘s 😝 Although, that may be good, also! (edited) 3w

tpixie @BarbaraBB me too! 3w

47 likes7 comments

Chelsea.Poole

Seduction Theory | Emily Adrian

so-so

#ToB long list title that I wouldn‘t have picked up otherwise. Affairs in academia have been done to death and this just continues the same story we‘ve seen a million times. I guess every up and coming author thinks they can do it better. Simone (beautiful, smart) and her husband each have affairs. But Simone‘s is with the narrator of this book, defending her thesis. It was fine but I don‘t think I‘ll remember it. But I love that cover!

Chelsea.Poole #tob26 long list 3w

willaful *yawn*

How do these keep getting published and praised?! 3w

63 likes1 stack add2 comments

fredthemoose

Wake Up, Rooster!: An Animal Friends Reader | Liza Charlesworth

It‘s here! The #ToB shortlist! But, ugh, it‘s a bunch of the books I looked at and thought, “maybe this one won‘t make it… 🤞” Oh well, here we go! #ToB26

https://www.tournamentofbooks.com/the-2026-shortlist

Ruthiella Let‘s hope you are happily surprised if you read those you were less enthused about. 🤞 3w

BarbaraBB That‘s what I always hope for too @Ruthiella 😊although I am pretty happy either way this year‘s shortlist! And there‘s #WintercampLitsy of course, where we Littens will vote for three more reads to read in January and February. We are known for our excellent taste lol 😂 3w

fredthemoose @Ruthiella Thank you—I‘m sure I will be! I looked closer and there are several I‘m looking forward to. But I may just let myself skip We Love You, Bunny and assume it‘s not for me… 3w

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fredthemoose @BarbaraBB I‘m definitely looking forward to #WintercampLitsy! I‘m sure there will be several I like and wouldn‘t have come across otherwise. There‘s so much to read in the next 3 months! 3w

BarbaraBB So much to read indeed 😊 3w

Chelsea.Poole I don‘t want to read Bunny either 😝 3w

fredthemoose @Chelsea.Poole Thank you for understanding! I read Rouge and was not a fan. Bunny is definitely going in the lower priority tier… 3w

42 likes7 comments

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