March Madness Challenge Update

Despite the fact that my bracket is essentially a sinking ship with no chance of being saved, I figured I’d post an update for those of you still in the running. After one week of the tournament we’ve had two rounds of play and the next round starts tomorrow. Here is what has happened so far and a list of the participants who are currently at the top.

Second Round:
EAST
Born a Crime vs. My Best Friend’s Wedding
The Fireman vs. The Atomic Weight of Love
News of the World vs. The Return
Lab Girl vs. The Regional Office is under attack
Difficult Women vs. We Love you Charlie Freeman
Dark Matter vs. Good Night, Beautiful Women
All the Ugly and Wonderful Things vs. The Last One
Pachinko vs. Weapons of Math Destruction
WEST:
Hidden Figures vs. The Red Queen
Underground Airlines vs. The Girls
Another Brooklyn vs. The Sun is Also A Star
The Fishermen vs. The Undoing Project
Small Backs of Children vs. Here Comes the Sun
Lilac Girls vs. Sweetbitter
Grief is the Thing with Feathers vs. My Name is Leon
Between the World and Me vs. First Love
MIDWEST
Gentleman in Moscow vs. Infomocracy
Sleeping Giants vs. The Glorious Heresies
The Essex Serpent vs. Stamped from the Beginning
To the Bright Edges of the World vs. Sudden Death
Small Great Things vs. Imagine me Gone
Moonglow vs. Mister Monkey
Behold the Dreamers vs. Shrill
Do Not Say we Have Nothing vs. Maestra
SOUTH
Homegoing vs. Monstress
Nora Webster vs. March
The Refugees vs. Black Wave
The Mothers vs. Take it as a complement
Stranger in the Woods vs. In the Country We Love
The Hate U Give vs. Nimona
Evicted vs. Bookshop on the Corner
Swing Time vs. Central Station

Okay, so after the first round I wasn’t in too bad shape but the next round killed any chance I have of winning.  Here are the teams that moved on and are still in the running as of today.

EAST
Born a Crime vs. The Fireman
News of the World vs. Lab Girl
We Love you Charlie Freeman vs. Dark Matter
All the Ugly Beautiful Things vs. Pachinko
WEST:
Hidden Figures Vs. Underground Railroad
Another Brooklyn vs. The Fishermen 
Here Comes the Sun vs. Lilac Girls
Grief is the Thing with Feathers vs. Between the World and Me
MIDWEST
Gentleman in Moscow vs. The Glorious Heresies
The Essex Serpent vs. To the Bright Edges of the World
 Imagine me Gone vs. Moonglow
Behold the Dreamers vs. Do Not Say we Have Nothing
SOUTH
Homegoing vs. Nora Webster
Black Wave vs. The Mothers
Stranger in the Woods vs. The Hate U Give
Bookshop on the Corner vs. Swing Time

I picked Nova to win it all and also had Duke in my final four, both of which were eliminated in the third round. I’ve been loving some of the books on the bracket so I will still go ahead with reading plans. Here are our top 5 on the leader board for now (this will most likely change significantly after this next round) – not including reading points.
1. Dan P
2. Katie
3. Diane S.
4. A.J.
5. Julie R

Dan and A.J. both had Villanova (Born a Crime) as their winners so it’s unlikely they will win the predictions high score.

So the question is… How are you doing in your bracket? Remember that you get points for reading so you can pass those on the leaderboard by reading more books.