There isn’t a single book award that comes close to being as fun as the race for the Rooster in the Tournament of Champions. Sponsored by The Morning News, I do back flips every time they issue an 
announcement about the tournament and this week offered the most important-the short list. Here are the 16 books that will enter the book arena:
- The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, by Aimee Bender
- Nox, by Anne Carson
- Bad Marie, by Marcy Dermansky
- Room, by Emma Donoghue
- A Visit From the Goon Squad, by Jennifer Egan
- Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen
- Lord of Misrule, by Jaimy Gordon
- Bloodroot, by Amy Greene
- Next, by James Hynes
- The Finkler Question, by Howard Jacobson
- Skippy Dies, by Paul Murray
- Model Home, by Eric Puchner
- So Much for That, by Lionel Shriver
- Super Sad True Love Story, by Gary Shteyngart
- Kapitoil, by Teddy Wayne
- Savages, by Don Winslow
I’ve only read two, I own four, but most exciting for me, six of them I don’t know well. That’s one of things I enjoy about the tournament, the opportunity to fall in love with a new book. Sometimes, it’s the insight to skip reading a book which can be just as valuable. For the newbies to the Tournament of Books, you’re in for a treat. Check out a description of the “process” and how the books are picked-the key words are ‘somewhat arbitrary.’ Make sure you vote for your favorite book for the Zombie Round, when two previous eliminated books are given a second chance to compete. I voted for Room. The competition starts on March 7th, but the brackets will be released earlier. Never fear, I’ll be highlighting it.
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