So, this happened while I was preparing for Christmas, dealing with Christmas and then lying on the sofa recovering from Christmas: The short list for the 2015 Tournament of Books was announced.
Don’t know about the Tournament of Books?
Sixteen books are selected and seeded in an NCAA-tournament style bracket. A judge reads two books — essentially pitting them in a head to head competition — and advances one to the next round. The field is whittled down until a champion is named.
I don’t always agree with the results, but the short list is a great place to find new authors or books you might otherwise overlook. A few years ago, I discovered Tom Piazza’s City of Refuge through the Tournament of Books, and I’ve since recommended it about a zillion times.
I was pleased to discover I’m a step ahead this year: I’d already bought The Paying Guests, by Sarah Waters.