Emily’s
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(group member since Jan 04, 2017)
Emily’s
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from the Around the Year in 52 Books group.
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You can do it as many times as you want! Glad you’re having fun!
Yes, the Read-a-Thon winner will be picked tomorrow, and we will (hopefully) have their chosen prompt with the Poll 15 results!
Thanks, NancyJ. I had missed that.
THOUGHTS & IDEAS FROM THE SUGGESTIONS THREAD1. A book that breaks the fourth wall
This could be interpreted as a book that addresses the reader directly via second-person narration, or a book that is written in epistolary form via letters, a diary, or similar.
I've started a Listopia full of examples, & meant to fill it out more before suggestions started, but Emily opened early & I have an appointment to get to! I will add more later! There are way more examples beyond this, but I kept this list focused on more contemporary titles specifically for adult readers. If you want to get into some more classic titles & don't mind reading books for a more YA audience, there are even more options (The Hobbit, A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Princess Bride, Catcher in the Rye, etc).
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
2. A book with an indefinite article in the title
This year's challenge had a prompt for ""The ...."" titles, so how about some love for the indefinite article in 2025?
Here are some listopias for books that start with the indefinite article ""A"", but you could also have a title with it in the middle (like ""Anatomy of a Murder"" or ""The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet"").
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
3. A book set underground, under sea or in an underworld
Underground: Could be nature, caving, and other exploration, books set on underground transport systems, resistance groups, underground railroad
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
Undersea: Climate emergency, wrecks, fantasy worlds, submarines.
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Underworld: Myth and legend, fairy worlds, or completely different, the criminal underworld, or the underworld of poverty
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
https://crimereads.com/new-york-under...
https://explorethearchive.com/organiz...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
4. A book with a main character who is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal
This prompt is inspired by the movie The Breakfast Club (1985), which turns 40 in 2025! Here are some ideas:
Brain: a character who is smart, nerdy, or a high-achiever
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
Athlete: a character who practices a sport, a jock
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
Basket Case: a character who has a hard time functioning in society, maybe they're a nervous wreck, or overwhelmed or struggling with their mental health. Can also be a socially withdrawn or alienated character
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...
Princess: can be a literal princess in a fantasy or memoir or a character who is popular, spoiled, or from a privileged background
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
Criminal: a rebellious character or one who engages in criminal activity
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...
5. A book that features a moral dilemma
Moral Dilemmas: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Trolleyology: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Fiction and nonfiction dealing with trolley problems (broadly understood as moral dilemmas in which the only way to prevent some horrible event involves causing another).
6. A prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list
This is my favorite prompt to fill each year since we always have some great prompt suggestions that don't make it onto the final list.
This year's, so far: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
7. A book related to theft or stealing
Bank heists, fraud, identity theft, impersonation, kidnapping, kleptomania, stolen heart, cultural appropriation
Heists and robberies :
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...
Stolen Identity :
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Counterfeiting and Fraud
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
Kidnapping:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
Kleptomania:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
Stolen heart/memories:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...
8. A book about libraries or library workers
https://www.nypl.org/blog/2024/04/08/...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...
10. A book with food as a major theme or plot device
Fiction or nonfiction!
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
12. A book that had a 10th anniversary edition published
I went to Amazon and search in Books, Kindle Store, and Audibles and Originals for "tenth anniversary edition" and "10th anniversary edition". The links are below.
You could KISS it with any anniversary edition rather than a 10th anniversary edition..
Books:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=%2210th+an...
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=%22tenth+a...
Kindle Store:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=%2210th+an...
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=%22tenth+a...
Audibles & Originals:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=%2210th+an...
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=%22tenth+a...
13. A book related to wheels
(in the title, content, cover or author's name). E.g. (and not limited to): cars, toys, wheelchair, wheel of Fortune, bicycle, golf carts, etc.!
15. A book whose cover, title, or author’s name relates to SANDWICHES
Bread: Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Sourdough Creek by Caroline Fyffe
Meat: The Death of Francis Bacon by Max Porter, Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
Cheese: Big Swiss by Jen Beagin, Cheddar Off Dead by Korina Moss
Vegetables: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Café by Fannie Flagg
Condiments: Peanut Butter Fudge & Murder by Lori Woods, Knife Edge by Simon Mayo, A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley
Sandwiches: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton, Pastrami Murder by Patti Benning, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne (submarine), The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, A Beautiful Cage by Alyson Reuben
Robin, my day took an unexpected turn and I had to open it a bit earlier than planned, sorry about that!
CLOSED
It's now time to get ready to vote for our next set of prompts! The thread will be open for at least 24 hours before the poll gets posted. This is a good opportunity to ask any question you may have regarding the prompts, do some research, or ask for recommendations.Voting will open in the morning of Tuesday, September 24 and results will be posted in the morning of Saturday, September 28 (CST time).
How it works:
- When the voting opens, follow the link to the mini-poll that will be added at the end of this post
- You have a total of 8 votes this poll to spread across your favorite and least favorite prompts (you can also use less than 8 votes)
- You can find examples of acceptable voting practices on the Introduction thread.
- The prompts with the more favorable votes (comparing top votes to bottom votes, and looking at the overall number of votes it received) will be added to the final list
We are asking people to include their Goodreads profile address when they vote. To find this, just go to your own profile and then copy the URL/web address. If for some reason you can't link to your Goodreads profile, please post your full Goodreads name with enough identifiable information that we'll be able to access your profile.
Poll Prompts:
1. A book that breaks the fourth wall
2. A book with an indefinite article in the title
3. A book set underground, under sea or in an underworld
4. A book with a main character who is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal
5. A book that features a moral dilemma
6. A prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list
7. A book related to theft or stealing
8. A book about libraries or library workers
9. A collection of short stories or novellas, essays, poetry, or a mix of various brief writings
10. A book with food as a major theme or plot device
11. A biography or memoir
12. A book that had a 10th anniversary edition published
13. A book related to wheels
14. A book involving science
15. A book whose cover, title, or author’s name relates to SANDWICHES
Feel free to discuss the prompts below, but please remember to be respectful to the other group members.
VOTE HERE: https://forms.gle/pDa3r42W3RQhb2iq6
ONE SPOT LEFT
I'll second that, Tina
5 spots remaining
Martha, food was already seconded. Feel free to suggest or second something else!
10 spots left
They typically don't use that strategy for the whole book... it's more like an occasional aside or comment made. That's what makes it more difficult to research
Not quite... in this case, it would be when the characters in the book speak directly to the reader. So when Jane Eyre says "Reader, I married him." that would be breaking the fourth wall.If I'm imagining it correctly anyway.
Margo's Got Money Troubles breaks the fourth wall a bit! I added it to the list.I opened suggestions a bit early!
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Also, a reminder that our close calls poll will be taking the place of Poll 16. You can strategize how you'd like - maybe bringing your favorite close calls to this poll so they have a better chance, or maybe throwing out new prompts so they can maybe make the close calls poll as well (assuming they don't get in)!
It's time for our next round of suggestions!Just a reminder that you can find a full list of prompts already on the 2025 list in the third post on this thread.
How Suggestions Work:
- The topics for the 2025 reading challenge list will be determined by a series of mini-polls, the number of which depends on the number of prompts winning in each mini-polls
- Suggestions for each poll will be opened until 15 suggestions are received and “seconded”.
- The voting thread will open the day after suggestions go live. You can find the schedule here.
Rules:
- Each member can only suggest OR second one prompt
- Suggestions close after 15 total seconded prompts
When suggesting and seconding, feel free to provide examples and descriptions that may help other members understand the prompt better. These descriptions and examples will be copied over to the voting thread for further discussion.
As always, please express any and all feedback (respectfully, of course), either here or in The Wild Discussion.
Moving on to Voting:
1. A book that breaks the fourth wall
2. A book with an indefinite article in the title
3. A book set underground, under sea or in an underworld
4. A book with a main character who is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal
5. A book that features a moral dilemma
6. A prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list
7. A book related to theft or stealing
8. A book about libraries or library workers
9. A collection of short stories or novellas, essays, poetry, or a mix of various brief writings
10. A book with food as a major theme or plot device
11. A biography or memoir
12. A book that had a 10th anniversary edition published
13. A book related to wheels
14. A book involving science
15. A book whose cover, title, or author’s name relates to SANDWICHES
To Be Seconded:
- A book with a plot similar to a TV show or movie
- A book set during a revolution
- A book by or about a comedian
Bec, the mods were talking about how decisive our group has been this year with the bottom votes. There seems to be a consensus every poll - the bottoms have been getting big numbers lol. I'm not sure if it's the quality of prompt or the mix of voters or what, but the bottom votes have been very clear this year.
