Announcing the 2023 Tournament of Books
Here are the books, judges, and Zombie poll for the 2023 Tournament of Books, presented by Field Notes.
Announcements
A collection of 85 issues
The 2023 Tournament of Books Long List
Looking ahead to the 2023 Tournament of Books, presented by Field Notes, with 68 works of fiction we admired this year.
Announcing the 2022 Tournament of Books
Here are the shortlist, judges, and Zombie poll for the 2022 Tournament of Books, presented by Field Notes.
The 2022 Tournament of Books Long List
Anticipating the 2022 Tournament of Books, presented by Field Notes, here are the 68 most Rooster-worthy books of 2021.
Announcing Camp ToB 2021
If you also sometimes think of books as vaccines, you're in the right place. Vote now for the books you want to see at Camp ToB '21!
Announcing the 2021 Tournament of Books
The shortlist, judges, and Zombie poll for the 2021 Tournament of Books, presented by Field Notes.
The 2021 Tournament of Books Long List
In preparation for the 2021 Tournament of Books, presented by Field Notes, here are 77 of the most Rooster-worthy books of 2020.
Announcing the Super Rooster
Coming this October to a lockdown near you, all the winners from the Tournament of Books compete for a prize 16 years in the making: the Super Rooster, presented by Bookshop.
Announcing Camp ToB 2020
Here's one summer camp that definitely won't be canceled. Vote now for the books you want to see at Camp ToB 2020.
Announcing the 2020 Tournament of Books
Our shortlist, judges, and Zombie poll for the 2020 Tournament of Books, presented by Field Notes.
The 2020 Tournament of Books Long List
The most excellent, Rooster-worthy books of 2019. Look for our shortlist of competitors next month for the 2020 Tournament of Books, presented by Field Notes.
Announcing Camp ToB 2019
Three months of conversation, two novels a month, and one final champion that advances to the 2020 Tournament of Books. Vote for the novels you want us to read and discuss this summer.
Announcing the 2019 Tournament of Books
Here it is: the shortlist, judges, commentators, and Zombie poll for the 2019 edition of the Tournament of Books, presented by Field Notes.
The 2019 Tournament of Books Long List
Here are our favorite, Rooster-approved novels from 2018. In the coming weeks, we'll cull this list down to our final set of competitors for the 2019 Tournament of Books, presented by Field Notes.
Please help support The Morning News and the Tournament of Books.
Hi, this is Andrew and Rosecrans from The Morning News. We’re trying to get better about doing this, but we just wanted to take a moment to thank our Sustaining Members for their generosity in making the TMN Headlines and the Tournament of Books possible. And if you’re
Welcome to the Rooster Nonfiction Pop-up
Real facts, real events, real people—oh my! It's time for our first ever Tournament of Books nonfiction event.
Announcing the 2018 Tournament of Books
A new year, a new Rooster. Introducing the shortlist, judges, commentators, and Zombie poll for the 14th edition of The Tournament of Books, presented by Field Notes.
If you appreciate TMN, help us by becoming a Sustaining Member today.
This is Andrew and Rosecrans. We've been publishing TMN since 1999 and the Tournament of Books since 2005, and we need your help (here's why). Please join our community of Sustaining Members. There are multiple support tiers available, and you'll also receive a 50%
The 2018 Tournament of Books Long List
Here they are: our favorite, Rooster-worthy novels from 2017. A few weeks from now we'll narrow these down to our final list for the 2018 Tournament of Books presented by Field Notes.
A note to our RSS users
We're very excited to announce that you're going to see some changes in this feed over the next few days. Most significantly, posts will increase dramatically—to around 15 or 20 a day, as opposed to one or so a week. This is because we'
Welcome to the Rooster Summer Reading Challenge
Grab a beach towel, favorite cold beverage, and, most importantly, your books. Our Summer Reading Challenge begins now.
Announcing the 2017 Tournament of Books
It’s been a long, turbulent sleep, but now the Rooster wakes. Introducing the shortlist, judges, commentators, and Zombie poll for the 13th edition of The Morning News Tournament of Books.
The 2017 Tournament of Books Long List
This year we read a lot of new fiction. We liked a lot of what we read, and here are our combined favorites. In March we'll narrow them to a final set of 16 novels to compete in the 2017 Tournament of Books presented by Field Notes.
Bracketology for the 2016 Tournament of Books
Announcing the brackets for the 2016 edition of The Morning News Tournament of Books, presented by Field Notes.
Announcing the 2016 Tournament of Books
The Rooster is hungry. Very hungry. Introducing the judges, shortlist, and Zombie poll for the 2016 edition of The Morning News Tournament of Books.
The 2016 Tournament of Books Long List
The long list for the 2016 Tournament of Books, with 86 titles culled from the year's finest fiction.
Announcing the 2015 Tournament of Books
The Rooster begins to stir from his hibernation, and he is hungry. Introducing the judges, shortlist, and Zombie poll for the 2015 edition of the Tournament of Books.
Editors’ Favorites From 2014
The staff choose their most-liked pieces published in 2014: a painting expedition through the Underground Railroad, a personal memory of Vivian Maier, and a restaurant review that isn’t a restaurant review.
Be Our Next Editorial Fellow
The Morning News is seeking Fall/Winter editorial fellows. As a fellow you’ll work closely with the founding editors to learn the ins and outs of an online magazine. You will also contribute to the magazine’s daily maintenance, find new writers, and have the opportunity to pick up
Announcing The Morning News Tournament of Books X
The rooster is back, and the rooster is famished. Introducing the finalists and judges for The Morning News 10th Annual Tournament of Books, presented by Field Notes.
Editors' Favorites From 2013
The staff choose their most-liked pieces published in 2013: a trip to Patsy Cline's divided hometown, the complete biography of North West, a cold case of hit-and-run, and no shortage of great quotes about dead bodies.
A Tour of Our New Homepage
If like most of our readers, you read The Morning News by heading straight to our homepage, then you’ve probably noticed a few changes around here over the past couple of weeks. And if like many of our readers, you read TMN on your mobile device, then the site
The Morning News Seeks an Intern
* Geographic location is unimportant; however, a reliable internet connection is essential to the job. * The daily work for this position is unpaid, but you will be compensated for any articles or other content you write. * Many interns are selected to join our editorial staff at the end of their internships.
The Most Tweetable Sentences of 2012
We asked Paul to choose his favorite articles published on TMN in 2012. We had a pretty good year, we like to think: Many stories we loved, many reprints and nods elsewhere, citations in “Best American Essays,” finalist at the Online Journalism Awards… But now you can tell we’ve
Like It's 1999
On Tuesday, Rosecrans and Paul Ford will read at New York City’s KGB Bar at 7 p.m.. Rosecrans and Paul have an unlikely friendship, but we’re pretty sure this will be an event that TMN fans will not want to miss. Plus, there’s a party afterward.
Blank for President
Sure, Obama will be running for re-election very soon, and sure, plenty of people will be backing him, but plenty of OTHER people will be running, too. So now seems like a good time to brainstorm our best candidates. Therefore, this month's Crowdsource is: Blank for President--who do
Liner Notes 2010
For this month's Crowdsource, we want to know: Who you would recognize in your 2010 liner notes? To all the people in your lives (maybe you know them, maybe you don't) who deserve shout-outs, a la the album's notes, the book's acknowledgments,
Crowdsource
Next month, we are starting a new TMN feature called Crowdsource, and for its first installment, we want your rage. Here Is the Product I Hate and Why We want to know what you feel indeniably, unequivocally hateful about. Think of all the crap polluting the world. What current consumer
Tweeting From the Beyond
Twitter gives us a lifeline to friends far away and close, to celebrities we don't know but who we admire--to everyone, really. Well, almost everyone. This month's Of Recent Note is: Dead People You Wish Twittered Tell us who you'd follow, the reasons behind
Sponsored Contest: C by Tom McCarthy
FRIDAY'S CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR PLAYING! SPONSORED CONTEST: TOM MCCARTHY’S C In 2008, Tom McCarthy’s little-known novel Remainder battled to the final match of our Tournament of Books and became a house favorite. Since then, it’s been hailed by no less than
Hot Jam of Forever
There will always be those songs that remind you of summer, that get into your brain and stick there – with your approval or without it – for years. Occasionally for lifetimes. Or perhaps it's a new entry, a summer jam just arrived this season in the unmistakable guise of
What I Learned From My Summer Job
Even the worst summer job can teach you something. For instance, always carry an epi-pen. Vaseline is not a substitute for sunblock. On garbage day, take the bus. Summer jobs: Sometimes, there's no knowing how bad it is until it's behind you and you can look
Fantasy Road Trips
If gas was free, vacation days were unlimited, and your schedule was as open as the road ahead, where would you go? This month's Of Recent Note is: Fantasy Road Trips Tell us the trip of your dreams: Where would you go? (Alaska? Atlantis?) How would you get
Alternate LOST Endings
It's the water cooler show of the decade, and now that it's over, the world is left with questions--the foremost being, "That's what they came up with?" Whether or not you watched the show, you know about it. You know there'
Travel Tips You Learned the Hard Way
The good part about all the horror stories brought back from traveling is that there's usually a lesson to be learned. (Don't overpack your luggage with the creaky zipper. Do assume that Vaseline will be considered a potentially dangerous liquid.) This month's Of Recent
What is your favorite patio beverage?
With the recent springlike weather, we are spending as much time as possible on terraces, and we can only hope your weekends also involve porches, decks, patios, and the lovely, cold beverages to go along with them. Spring has sprung (with any luck), and this month's Of Recent
Who is your favorite American President?
Hooray for Presidents! We like our American Presidents, even if we're expats, or not pats at all. Although Lincoln and Washington suffer for having their birthdays too close together--lumping them together for a joint February party would not fly in elementary school. So in the spirit of giving
Winter 2010 Internship
TMN needs a winter intern for an unpaid internship. You'll work your butt off from home and we'll occasionally shower you with beer. Figure 10 hours a week of research, editing, email, and various editorial things. The ideal candidate reads widely, knows how to edit, knows
What Are Your Cures for the Common Cold?
'Tis the season of the long hard slog from New Year's to March, the snow and the rain, the wintry contagions. Thank goodness for the occasional three-day weekend and flu shots. If you're lucky, you'll even escape the inconveniently timed common cold. To
What Are Your Past Year's Solutions?
The end of the year is nigh and perhaps too the world. Forget new year's resolutions; we want to pause, take stock, and celebrate this past year's solutions. December's Of Recent Note celebrates the good things of your 2009. What minor achievement, what big
What Are Your Nontraditional Traditions?
We want to hear about the unique, unusual, creative, strange, interesting ways you and your family, friends, and household pets celebrate the holidays. Is there an accidental custom your family has turned into a time-honored tradition? A special meal? A sibling-only field trip to the roller derby? Tell us all
What Was Your First Horror Movie?
Let's celebrate the age-old art of scaring yourself silly. This month, we're wondering: What was your first scary cinema experience like--in theaters or at home, eagerly anticipated or forced into viewing by your much heartier friends/evil older siblings? For this month's Of Recent
What Is Your Most Beloved Children's Book?
With the imminent release of the movie version of Where the Wild Things Are, we're caught up in a wave of nostalgia, and our thoughts turn to the bookshelves of our youth. For this month's Of Recent Note we want you to tell us: What is
What Is Your Superpower?
Maybe it's fitting all the luggage into the trunk of the car, or picking the right time in the movie to go to the bathroom, or knowing when fruit is ripe, or getting a great deal on car insurance. For this month's Of Recent Note we
Where Were You on August 14, 2003?
Six years ago this Friday, a major power grid failed and a stripe of Northeastern North America was plunged into darkness. For a special anniversary Of Recent Note we want you to tell us: What are your memories of the 2003 blackout? Email your story to bridget@themorningnews.org by
What Is Your Favorite Conspiracy Theory?
From our president's citizenship to the moon landing to rent control, conspiracy theories are eating up headlines. For this month's Of Recent Note we want you to tell us: What is your favorite conspiracy theory? Maybe your uncle told you about it, maybe it was Fox
What Are Your Favorite Worst Movies?
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Road House is no Citizen Kane (though some may argue it's a poor man's Casablanca), but we both know which one you're going to stop to watch when you're channel-surfing past TNT. (Swayze, of course.
How Are You Coping With the Recession?
This month's Of Recent Note topic is: Recession Confessions Are you stealing paper as well as pens from the office? Furnishing your apartment with castoffs? Attending parties you wouldn't normally attend just for the free food? Have you become a coupon clipper? Maybe you're
What have you been paranoid about lately?
This month's Of Recent Note topic is: What have you been paranoid about lately? There's always job loss and pandemics to worry about, and zoo carousels that go much faster than a zoo carousel ought to go, and two-year-old nieces who can run up and down
Tell Us Your Favorite Print Periodicals
This month's Of Recent Note topic is: Your Favorite Print Periodicals The ones you love--whether thriving, surviving, or recently defunct. Tell us about your morning coffee with the New York Sun, your favorite section of the Seattle P-I, the vice-like grip you have on the last Washington Post
TMN Is Looking for a Summer Intern
TMN is looking for an intern for Summer 2009. The internship is unpaid and done where you like. You’re required to supply your own computer, web connection, and green visor. Most likely your work will include helping out with the headlines and a few editorial projects, but it also
Tell Us Your Favorite Thing About the Recession
This month's Of Recent Note topic is: Your Favorite Thing About the Recession Maybe it's that you're suddenly thankful for your thankless job. Maybe it's that Restaurant Week turned into Restaurant Month and then Restaurant Forever. Maybe it's your shiny
Your Would-Be Acquaintances
This month's Of Recent Note topic is: People I Wish I Knew. They're your would-be acquaintances, your potential best friends, your maybe-someday muses. They're the person you don't know that you'd like to go out to dinner with. They'
TMN Annual Now for Sale in New York
Attention New Yorkers: Our limited-edition TMN Annual 2008 is now for sale at one of our favorite bookstores, the Strand in Manhattan (828 Broadway, between 12th and 13th Streets). Will our shrink-wrapped volume suffer the same lustful attacks as the erotica collections just five feet away? Only you can decide.
The 2009 Zombie Poll is now open
Update: The Zombie Poll is now closed. Thank you to everyone who voted! The 2009 Tournament of Books Zombie Poll is now open, so please click here and vote for your favorite book. Please note that you can only vote once. Also, you don’t need to give us your
Broken Resolutions
It's that time of year again. The time of year when you get to feel like a failure because you did not stick to your pre-appointed resolution. Perhaps because you drunkenly blurted it out at 12:03 a.m., right before lighting another cigarette. Perhaps because it'
Of Recent Note: 2008
Here it is, the final Of Recent Note of 2008: What's the best thing you discovered this year? It could be the Fleet Foxes album, it could be tweed moccasins, it could be "change." It could be something that makes you think about what 2008 has
Guilty Favorites
Tell us about your favorite, semi-secret, slightly (or mostly) guilty genre of books and a couple of recent favorites in said genre. You know: crime, romance, sci-fi, founding father biographies, New York Review of Books titles, vampire lore, cats who solve mysteries, etc. If you hoard philosophy textbooks in a
TMN Talks with Jad Abumrad
To inaugurate a new feature on TMN we’re calling TMN Talks, this Friday we’ll be joined by the great Jad Abumrad, co-host of one of our favorite radio shows, Radio Lab. Jad and the whole Radio Lab staff are kicking off their fifth season this week. The first
Fall Food
It's fall, which means many things. You know: New England scenery, school buses, the crippling inability to get out of a warm bed on a cool morning. One more wonderful thing about fall is the food. Give us a pumpkin anything, an apple whatever, a baked good or
Behind the Times
It’s time for our latest Of Recent Note. This month’s theme is: Stuff You Should've Gotten Into Before Now You ignored the critical acclaim and the praise heaped upon it by your friends, and stayed in the dark on that TV show/album/book/etc. But
The Hot _______ of the Summer
August’s Of Recent Note is upon us. This month, we are handing over an inordinate level of control. The theme is: “The Hot _______ of the Summer” Meaning: First you fill in the blank, and then write about the thing that you think deserves the most buzz of the season.
Re-Digested
Three times a week since 2006, we’ve been publishing our Digest features with the goal of bringing TMN readers the latest in our favorite books (Mondays), mp3s (Wednesdays), and videos (Fridays). This morning we’re dismantling that calendar with our revamped Digest, a blog (because every magazine should have
Weekend Edition
We’re trying something new today. Friday’s afternoon headlines will be called the “Weekend Edition” from now on, packed full of our favorite long stories from the week (what’s called “Print for the Commute” on other days) for your leisurely Saturday morning reading, and various diversions, videos and
Summer Staycations
This month’s Of Recent Note is already here, and we’d love for you to take part. This month’s assignment is: “Summer Staycations” You missed the boat to the Bahamas, declined the road trip to the Grand Canyon, and that means you're right at home—right
Summer Vacation
Deep in the dog days, we are going on vacation this week to conserve energy and work on some exciting new projects for TMN. We will resume publishing next Monday, July 21. Please excuse the interruption in your regular entertainment diet. We wish you all sunny days, good tennis, and
Ways We're Saving Money
Hail! Another Of Recent Note is upon us, and we’re inviting you to take part. This month’s assignment is: “Ways We’re Saving Money” The economy is doomed, the price of everything is going up: So how are you preparing? Maybe you’re brownbagging your lunches, cutting back
Introducing Our Summer 2008 Interns
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our Summer 2008 interns, who by right of even being interns in the first place are more of overachievers than we ever were. Do the old eat the young? The young eat the old? It's one or the other, and we forget. Good
Where was your last great vacation?
The latest Of Recent Note is just around the corner, and like last time, we’re inviting you to participate. Here’s this month’s assignment: “Vacation Destinations” The summer travel season is coming, and those of us without vacation plans need some quick advice on where to go between
Serial Commas 'R' Us
Wondering about serial commas? Unsure about spelling foreign words? Curious about when God gets an uppercase? The TMN House Style Guide has been updated for all the latest concerns, so whether you're writing a finals exam, editing your new scrappy literary magazine, or just curious about why we
New Sites Added to the Deck
Several new web sites have joined The Deck, TMN's advertising network. We will let Mr. Zeldman explain our enthusiasm. Thinking of advertising with TMN and our cohorts? Here is why you should: Here are all our current advertisers; support them and you support TMN. For potential advertisers, limited
Shouting-out Jennifer Daniel
Not only does she have the internet's best web address, Jennifer Daniel recently had the grace to join TMN as a contributing artist, and we are thankful. You may have seen her work for Todd's Levin's series "Consoles I have Known", or
What are we denying ourselves?
Next week we’ll be publishing our monthly installment of Of Recent Note; and just like last month, we’re inviting you to participate. Here’s this month’s assignment: “Things We’re Denying Ourselves” What have you been holding back on, holding out on, holding yourself up to? Ideals
Intern sought for Summer 2008
We are now accepting applications for our Summer 2008 intern position. Applicants should email us a short description of why they want to intern at TMN, their complete contact information, and a résumé that’s pasted in the body of the email (don’t worry about fancy formatting). Detailed descriptions
What's the last great thing you downloaded?
We're trying a new thing here. We'd like you to tell us your most recent, favorite download--a song, a movie, a piece of software, anything at all that you downloaded from the internet to your computer or whatever you compute on. Please send us your 75-100-word