Tournament of Books: Matchup Five

Standard disclaimers apply in this, the fifth matchup in the Morning News Tournament of Books. My picks are not to be used for wagering purposes.

The Matchup:
Nox, by Ann Carson v. Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon

The Judge: Andrew Womack

Challenger One: Nox
Nox is not really a novel in the traditional sense; it's more of a collage of poems and mementos in a long, fold-out accordion style binder. Carson put this poem/elegy together after the death of her brother, so her accumulation of objects and memories builds to a strong emotional impact. Will that be enough for it to get past the first round?

Challnger Two: Lord of Misrule
This horse racing story was a long shot to win the National Book Award, but nevertheless came away with the roses. It's about a lower-tier racetrack in the near South in the early '70's, a time now ensconced in a patina of the otherworldly primitivism. The world of horse racing, with its hard-luck occupants and seedy reputation provides great material, and most likely this book is written well enough to make it a strong competitor in a strong field.

Judge: Andrew Womack is a founding editor of The Morning News, sponsor of the tournament.

Summary: This oddball matchup of long-shots looks like an easy win for the traditional Lord of Misrule, though one can't account for Womack's tastes. If he's responsible for Nox's inclusion, there's a good chance it can sneak by Lord of Misrule, but most likely Nox is here as a gesture to all the under-published works of genius that can't compete with the deep-pockets of Big Publishing.

My ill-informed pick: The Lord of Misrule