Basketball has nothing on the literary crowd.  Online magazine the Morning News sponsored by Portland’s own Powell’s Books is holding its fifth annual Tournament of Books.  Sixteen of last year’s top novels are pitted against each other in a head to head competition.  LA Times’ Jacket Copy blog explains:

In each daily round, two books are read by a single critic who has to declare one a winner, and so on until one book climbs the brackets and is dubbed champion.

Who will win?  It’s down to three books with a Zombie Pick yet to be thrown in.  You still have time to place a wager for your favorite at www.coudal.com. Each $20 bet goes to the charity First Book.

Update: 2009 Tournament of Books winner is Toni Morrison’s A Mercy.