I let you know when it started, and I’m here to let you know that it ended. The Tournament of Books over at The Morning News has selected its winner, and for the second time in its five years, they picked a novel I loved–one of the only books I’ve re-read in recent years (well…re-read for pleasure) and that has only increased in my estimation as more time has passed.

But as the tournament itself and the comments on it have shown–what’s great about a contest like this isn’t the naming of an ultimate winner, it’s getting passionate readers engaged about the books they love. There was a fascinating dialogue throughout both for and against books I loved and hated. And what’s more fun than that?

–Jim