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#tob25
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BarbaraBB
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The good news is there will be a summer edition of the ToB, the setback is that the longlist is the same as that for #ToB25 minus the ones that were shortlisted. This means I‘ve already read most of the books that were appealing to me. However, there will be good discussions and voting is possible now and here: https://www.tournamentofbooks.com/welcome-to-the-summer-bracket?ref=themorningne...

Starting June 27!

ImperfectCJ I was going to post this here, too! Voting was less exciting for the reasons you mention, but I just chose the ones that I most wanted to see the discussions for. If they pick titles I've already read, I figure that's just more attention I can give #camplitsy25! 3d
BarbaraBB @ImperfectCJ I thought so too. I voted for the favorites I already read and the ones I still want to read and it is kind of reassuring I can leisurely enjoy Camp 🤣 3d
sarahbarnes Interesting! I agree with you though - maybe good not to have another book list this summer! 😂 3d
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Bookwormjillk It‘s an interesting idea. I voted for a few that are still on my TBR and a few that I thought should have been on the shortlist. 3d
Suet624 Thanks for posting. 3d
Hooked_on_books What I like about this approach is that too often the camp winner turns around and becomes the TOB winner and it just feels like a retread. This ensures they‘ll feel different and be distinct entities. I kinda like it. 3d
BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books That is true indeed but among the books longlisted now are many I feel I read soooo long ago, they kind of lost their moment to me 3d
49 likes7 comments
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Gissy
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Mehso-so

February 2025 Book #8 (last book read this month)

😬Another unpopular opinion🤷🏽‍♀️What is the purpose of this book? Margo tried to manage her dysfunctional parents by establishing emotional barriers. I still think she underestimate what happened with this professor. She tried to stand alone for herself and son by creating an “ethical kick-ass pimps of all time..” where “sex work can be a legitimate profession…then why not being a pimp?”⬇️

Gissy (Cont.) “an ethical pimp?🤔I thought there are other appropriate ways for persons who are sex workers and not depend on a “pimp”. Maybe I didn‘t understand Margo wonderful, unique work industry😏2⭐️ 2w
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 2w
BarbaraBB How cool you are reading the #LitsyToB25 books! I liked this one but not as much as many other participants so I get your so-so! 2w
TheAromaofBooks Another one off the list!! 2w
43 likes5 comments
review
Gissy
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Mehso-so

February 2025 Book #7

Sorry, unpopular opinion here. I think this book was overhyped for me. That situation at the hotel was so unrealistic to me. Then, we have a character not only with suicidal ideation but also a plan to do it and it was ignored? I have read books with morbid humor like Hagman by Maya Binyam but from the beginning you see the absurd tone. I didn‘t see that in this novel. It was tragic so sad her situation but ignored⬇️

Gissy (Cont.) There were some funny scenes but in general, it didn‘t work for me. At the end we see a growth in some characters which gives hope to the characters.

Maybe the book was so well commented with great reviews and a rating of more that 4 stars in GR that I expected a stronger story🤷🏽‍♀️ 3⭐️
2w
Prairiegirl_reading I finished this recently and was also underwhelmed. 2w
DieAReader #Next 👋🏻👋🏻 2w
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 2w
46 likes5 comments
review
Gissy
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Mehso-so

February 2025 Book #4

Maybe I expected more from this book since it was recommended by YouTubers with I follow their recommendations, but not always we have the same taste in books, and this is an example. Loved and intrigued by the premise. But I felt disconnected with characters. I thought Irena was arrogant and thinks everyone needed to please her. Some of the translators invited to this event in Ireba‘s house had infatuated feelings 🙄⬇️

Gissy (Cont.) with the author. The ending? Which I was supposed to understand this collective vs individual feelings between author/translator narrator/author whatever…I never felt moved for anything discussed. Maybe I didn‘t get along with Irene‘s personality and these translators dependent personalities 🤷🏽‍♀️3⭐️ 2w
TheAromaofBooks At least it's off the shelf!! 2w
Ruthiella I‘m so curious about this one too! So many strong opinions. 2w
Gissy @Ruthiella Try it, mine is an unpopular opinion. One of the YouTubers that I follow she strongly recommended it (Britta Bohler). I will keep my copy in case I try to re-read it🤷🏽‍♀️ 2w
40 likes5 comments
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GatheringBooks
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#Bibliophile Day 17: This #LongTitle is still waiting for me to get back to it. Been distracted by #ToB25, my EmiratesLitFoundation Book Club Titles that led me to Sabaa Tahir‘s Ember in the Ashes quartet - where I am now in Book 3. Then we move into #CampLitsy25. Backman, I don‘t know when I can return to you, honestly, but will get there soon.

Eggs Perfect 👌🏼🫶🏻👍🏼 3w
40 likes1 comment
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BarbaraBB
The In-Between | Christos Tsiolkas
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#WeeklyForecast 16/25

I don‘t want to get too crazy yet about all CampLitsy nominations that are calling my name, and stick to my plan! I‘ll read the tagged one, by a favorite author, gifted to me by the wonderful @CarolynM . Where the Forest Meets the River is my #Roll100 book and Small Rain is the last one I wanted to read from the #ToB25 longlist.

But first I have to finish Moon Road that‘s not in the photo but that I am reading now.

CBee Another The Road to Dalton lover! I need to get to the second one. I likely wouldn‘t have read it were it not on my #ALSpine list 😊 2mo
Lesliereadsalot Really liked Where the Forest Meets the River. Same group from the first book and still so endearing. 2mo
BarbaraBB @CBee @Lesliereadsalot I liked the first one a lot! This one, that I just started, promises to be just as good. And as you say so Leslie I am sure it‘ll be! 2mo
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squirrelbrain I adored Small Rain. I also have Moon Road on my physical TBR shelf, so I‘ll be interested to see your review of that. 2mo
CBee @BarbaraBB very glad to see that you‘re liking it so far 😊 2mo
CarolynM Hope you enjoy the Tsiolkas 😘 (edited) 2mo
sarahbarnes I haven‘t read this author! Adding to my list. 2mo
70 likes1 stack add7 comments
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BarbaraBB
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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#ToB25 and #LitsyToB25 have taken very different roads this year (which makes it so fun!) but in the end we all agree (at least a majority does 😉) on James as the winner of both tournaments. Percival Everett finally takes away the 🐓!

Thank you all for participating in this year‘s LitsyToB and I hope to see you next year. But before that, it won‘t be long until we‘ll be back with #CampLitsy25! Meg, Helen and I hope you‘ll join us there!

See All 30 Comments
AmyG Thank you so very much. Camp Litsy will be here before we know it! 2mo
ChaoticMissAdventures Yay!! Thank you! This was fun to see, I know people wanted to root for underdogs but I really feel like this book deserves all of the flowers. And we all got to read some other interesting books along the way! 2mo
Suet624 Thank you so much for doing this. I really appreciate it. 2mo
Megabooks I know ladies!!! We‘ve got to start our longlist planning emails! It‘s about time to get submissions!! @squirrelbrain 2mo
sarahbarnes Crazy! I‘m glad Everett finally won the Rooster, although I would‘ve rather it was for Telephone. Oh well! Thank you for organizing our tournament again this year! ♥️ 2mo
GatheringBooks Looking forward to joining #CampLitsy2025! 2mo
fredthemoose Great tournament! Got me to read several books that would not have been on my radar otherwise. Thanks @BarbaraBB for organizing! 2mo
BkClubCare @sarahbarnes - For me, it is The Trees. Looking forward to reading Glyph soon. 2mo
BkClubCare Yes! Happy Spring Reading 🌷 everyone as we look for jewels 💎 to discuss at Camp 🏕️ BIG THANKS 👏 to everyone organizing and participating. 💖 (edited) 2mo
Deblovestoread Thanks @BarbaraBB Fun as always! Looking forward to camp 🏕️ 2mo
Jas16 Totally agree @ChaoticMissAdventures! And thank you so much Barbara for all the work you put into this. I look forward to our tournament every year. 2mo
Lesliereadsalot Chiming in with my thanks Barbara! Added lots of new books TBR! I did love James, so happy it won out. 2mo
Bookwormjillk Thanks very much! Can‘t wait for Camp Litsy and hope that next year‘s books will be a little less awesome than James so that the winners won‘t be quite so obvious. 2mo
Hooked_on_books It‘s a wonderful, worthy book and deserves accolades, but I would also like to see the love spread around a little bit. Thanks for hosting once again and all that goes along with it! 2mo
Kristy_K @BarbaraBB Thank you for organizing! I‘m glad to see James won. 2mo
squirrelbrain Yes, I was only thinking about that the other day! @Megabooks ☺️ 2mo
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @Megabooks Looking forward to doing this again with you two ❤️ 2mo
Megabooks @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB already thinking about the 4 I want to nominate!! 2mo
kwmg40 I'm happy with the result and had a great time following both #ToB25 and #LitsyToB25. Thank you so much for hosting! 2mo
cariashley Woop woop, what a great year all around! I‘m happy and unsurprised with the outcome as James was probably favorite read of 2024. I still think he should have won TOB for The Trees. Thank you so much for organizing again, it‘s been so fun! 2mo
sarahbarnes @BkClubCare that‘s another great one! He really is just a phenomenal writer. 2mo
Butterfinger My first year that I read so many from the list. I enjoyed it immensely. Thank you. 2mo
BarbaraBB @fredthemoose @lesliereadalot @GatheringBooks @Butterfinger Thank you so much for joining. I am glad you enjoyed it. I‘ll tag you for #CampLitsy25 this Summer, which is the best! 2mo
BarbaraBB @Megabooks @squirrelbrain I need to dive into the booklist but I can‘t wait to do so. We‘ll email soon - I always forget when we start posting and in what order things go! Xxx 2mo
Gissy I really want to read it but I will read Huckleberry Finn first 🤷🏽‍♀️ 2mo
Megabooks Usually we start talking now and post around late April so people have time to vote and then buy winning books before June. @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain I‘ll try to pop an email today or tomorrow. 2mo
squirrelbrain Look forward to hearing from you! @Megabooks 2mo
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cariashley
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Pickpick

Finished this the other day and am now a #tob25 completionist (better late than never)! I really liked it, though it took me forever to read; in fairness, that wasn‘t really the book‘s fault as I have a lot going on right now (7 months pregnant). It felt like a cross between Stephen King and Neil Gaiman in a good way. Darkly entertaining and I liked the ending, after not being sure how it would be wrapped up.

BarbaraBB You‘re pregnant! That‘s wonderful! Congratulations, on completing the shortlist too of course 😘 2mo
squirrelbrain Congratulations on both! 🤪🎉 2mo
cariashley @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain thank you!! Both feel like major accomplishments 😊 2mo
BkClubCare Woot! 🙌 Completist!! 🌟 oh, and AW! Congrats on all your announcements (edited) 2mo
cariashley @BkClubCare thank you!! 🥰 2mo
57 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
Bookwormjillk
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Pickpick

Finally got around to this one for #TOB25

I assumed this would be total fluff (not that there‘s anything wrong with that) but it was pretty deep albeit in a fluffy way. I liked what it had to say about taking care of yourself, finding the true you as you get older, loneliness, and grief. I loved how the author handled the pandemic. It made me laugh too.

Not my favorite short list title, but I can see why so many people love it.

BarbaraBB Glad you know now what all the buzz is about! 2mo
kspenmoll In my TBR -one day…. 2mo
84 likes1 stack add2 comments