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[2017] Voting for 5th Mini-Poll [Closed]
The question about resubmission polls was a tough call for me. I see the advantages of all the options.
For those that aren't sure about what exactly a microhistory is (I had to look it up):https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
I've read a few of these and they're really good! I'm hoping this category wins. :)
This was a harder poll for me! I tried to vote on tasks that would fulfill topics that we don't really have a lot/any options in (genre, title/cover, etc.).
Difficult poll for me too, I'd no problem choosing my top and bottom 3, but the 4th for each one wasn't as obvious. I don't think most of my top 4 will win, but we'll see. Good list anyway :)I'm curious to see how the very specific suggestions regarding genres or themes will do because I suppose they are "out of comfort zone" for many members. I'm not sure I will be happy if some of them win but at least it's not a "political memoir/cook book".
I'll see how the list go but if I wasn't interested in doing the "reject challenge" this year, it'll be different next year. There are many categories I'd like to try that are on the rejected list (available there if you missed the topic).
Mod
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
I've read a few of ..."
I've been dying to read Salt: A World History And Isaac's Storm, Heart of the Sea, and Ghost Map are two of my favorite books (DO NOT read Ghost Map during flu season or you will be at the ER at 3 am "I think I have cholera"). Oh and Childrens Blizzard and Perfect Storm! Clearly this is my genre!
I've just added 54 books to my to read list.
Tough choices this time!I had less problems picking my bottom 4, not because I thought they were bad suggestions, but because they either seemed a little similar to previous topics or challenges or because I just couldn't really relate to them. I would have a difficult time finding somebody over 60 who could pick a book for me. If my grandparents were still alive or doing well, I would love to have it as a topic, but sadly that's not the case.
I found it difficult choosing my top 4, but I went for some of the topics I think will be the most challenging, because that's what I'm looking for. I know already that not all 4 will make the list, but I'm hoping for at least 1 or 2 of them.
I will definitely be making a rejects-list next year.
I didn't know what to vote for in the poll about re-submitting topics. I don't see why we can't just re-submit a topic at any time, and at the same time have new suggestions?
I think this batch shows that there's still a lot of fun and challenging topics to be suggested and that people can be really creative, so I'm not a big fan of using two polls to only resubmissions. I didn't vote though, since I didn't think any of the possible answers really matches my opinion, so I'll just go with whatever the group decides.
It was easy to vote for my bottom 4, but difficult to choose the top 4 because I found so many suggestions interesting! That's why I voted for 2 re-submission polls so they have a chance to come out again ;)People seem to be shy about re-submitting, so these polls would encourage them.
I don't think I'm going to have time to do all the rejects next year, but I'm definitely doing the rejects I voted for!
Sorry my suggestion caused such a problem. It just didn't occur to me that it might be thought of as a list but in hindsight it does seem to sit on the fence a bit. I went to bed and woke up this morning to find I'd created a whole debate! It was like I'd thrown the first piece of food in a food fight and then run off! Wasn't my intention at all. I meant it as a publishing/genre prompt and wouldn't have minded if it had been edited a bit to make it clearer and seem less list like.Besides my confusing suggestion this was a great list of topics. I had a hard time picking my bottom four because there weren't four that I really didn't like.
I voted for just one full re-submit poll. Not that I don't love a lot of the suggestions that we've had, because I do and would love to see some of them again but I think people can always re-submit topics in the other polls if they want to so I don't think there needs to be two whole polls for re-submissions. However, if that's what people in the group decide on I'm happy with it.
I'd love to read a microhistory! See this link for more ideas: https://www.goodreads.com/genres/micr... (there it says: "Microhistory is the intensive historical investigation of a well defined smaller unit of research (most often a single event, community of a village, family or person).")
Also I hope that the "author of color"-category will win (a little partial - I re-submitted Kathryn's suggestion :) ). I think most of the books on the group shelf, and on my shelf as well, are by caucasian/European authors. Here's a short article on someone who only read authors of color for a whole year, who talks about why diversity is so important, and also provides some book ideas e.g. YA/sci-fi, which I know are popular genres in this group:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentis...
Elín Birna wrote: "I'd love to read a microhistory! See this link for more ideas: https://www.goodreads.com/genres/micr... (there it says: "Microhistory is the intensive historical investigation of a well defin..."
I voted for the author of colour category! I love that suggestion. Diversity is so important and I feel like the authors of colour are never really promoted as much or talked about as much.
I also voted for it (well, twice, as it was also in my top 4 previously). I'm trying to balance authors' gender because at some point I read mostly men (without knowing) and since last year I'm also trying to explore different cultures and it's easier when it's someone who actually knows what (s)he's talking about. I'm very familiar with Japanese culture and a little with Korean and Chinese, but Indian, African or Native American are blurry so I'll probably explore in this direction during the next years.Francesca > No worries, we all have different schedules (and times) so it's normal you can't stay on a topic all day :)
Mod
In regards to microhistories, do read the comments, in particular message 36, on the list that has been linked to in OP. It defines a bit broader the concept, which should allow everyone to find something of interest.
I voted for 2 resubmission polls, just because as someone said above, we all seem to be a bit hesitant to resubmit in the current polls. I get the sense that people think that if the topic didn't make it before, it won't make it when there are new options either. I think having 1 or 2 polls devoted to resubmissions can help give these topics a chance, and might give us an idea of which kinds of prompts people liked that may have been in the middle previously. I had an easier time picking my bottom 4 than my top 4 this time. There were a couple of prompts that really jumped out at me as something I wouldn't want, either because they'd be difficult for me to fulfill (a book recommended by my grandmother) or because they've been done several times before (a book originally in another language).
For my top 4, I had less that jumped out at me immediately. Most of the topics were things that I could live with, but not necessarily something that I wanted. Although all the talk about diversity in the discussion here gave me an idea for a suggestion for a future poll.
I was very pleased to see a POC author suggested. We need more of them among the top, not just Toni Morrison or Maya Angelou kind of ladies, but droves of Asian, Middle-Eastern etc. authors represented as well. Western publishing houses can suck so bad in how they choose and promote their people.
Just as a thought: could we do a mini-poll for a two-book challenge? I think some of the suggestions that were rejected (as well as some of the themes I am currently thinking of) would work much better as part of a two-book challenge...
Easy to pick top 4, but hard to narrow down my bottom 4. A lot of them I just didn't want to do. Like pick a book by its cover, I hardly ever do that anymore.Now, I have picked a book by its title occasionally...
btw... I didn't really understand that last question on the survey. Could someone clarify what 6 and 13 mean?
Also, just to be nitpicky: my "long title" suggestion was for 6+ words, not 5... (I had edited my comment after submitting it once.) Not that it really matters if it isn't chosen, but you know.. :)
'6 and 13' means that you want two polls which bring back previous suggestions. The 6th poll is next, so it would be all the suggestions that we've seen. Then the 13th would presumably catch any good but missed opportunities in the later polls.
aaaahhh.... The light dawns! Thank you, J!
I suggested "a book recommended by your grandmother/grandfather" but I see people got confused about this one. I thought it would be nice to listen to old people and ask them for a suggestion, and I feel sorry because some of us don't have grandparents by our side. :/I got surprised by the topics on this poll. I realy liked the suggestions and people were very creative on this one. I can't wait to see the list of 2017.
I think I'm in the minority, but I voted for no resubmission polls. I like to see the new ideas that everyone comes up with, and we can always resubmit in normal polls.
Jody wrote: "I think I'm in the minority, but I voted for no resubmission polls. I like to see the new ideas that everyone comes up with, and we can always resubmit in normal polls."I'm with you. I think we should take a look at the creative suggestions that can show up in the new polls.
Mod
I liked the idea in theory but I couldn't really think of anyone I could ask. My grandma is still around and we're actually close but she reads Christian romance and I just really don't think I could do it.
Babitix wrote: "I suggested "a book recommended by your grandmother/grandfather" but I see people got confused about this one. I thought it would be nice to listen to old people and ask them for a suggestion, and ..."Even though I voted against this one, I really loved the idea. I think from a practical standpoint, it would be difficult for some people. My only remaining grandparent has Alzheimer's, and probably wouldn't be able to recommend a book, and I don't have much contact with older relatives. My mom is 60, but she's already recommended me books on previous challenges, so it seemed a bit similar to me.
Another note on the resubmission polls -- I'm wondering if people are thinking that it's not worth resubmitting, since so many of us seem to be planning on doing some variant of the rejects challenge anyway?
Jody wrote: "I think I'm in the minority, but I voted for no resubmission polls. I like to see the new ideas that everyone comes up with, and we can always resubmit in normal polls."I didn't vote on that at all. I really have no opinion. It works one way or the other for me.
Happy Bastille Day!
Laura and Rachel, I see your point. One of my grandmothers is analphabet so I have no idea what she would suggest to me. Maybe a book she would like to be able to read. But I really understand that is a difficult topic for a lot of people.
Babitix wrote: "Laura and Rachel, I see your point. One of my grandmothers is analphabet so I have no idea what she would suggest to me. Maybe a book she would like to be able to read. But I really understand that...""analphabet"?
Laura & Rachel - I didn't vote for that as all my grandparents are dead and I wasn't sure what I'd pick except my paternal grandparents seem to have had every Louis L'Amour and Zane Grey ever written.
Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "Babitix wrote: "Laura and Rachel, I see your point. One of my grandmothers is analphabet so I have no idea what she would suggest to me. Maybe a book she would like to be able to read. But I really..."LOL!!! Me and my mistakes. This word is a false cognate in my language.
Analfabeta in Portuguese is Illiterate in English.
OH MY GOD! What a weird word to say
Babitix - wonderful! I've learned something new! Now I can insult someone in another language!
Jody wrote: "I think I'm in the minority, but I voted for no resubmission polls. I like to see the new ideas that everyone comes up with, and we can always resubmit in normal polls."I didn't vote at all, but I agree with you.
Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "Babitix - wonderful! I've learned something new! Now I can insult someone in another language!"I'm sure you will find a lot of trouble by calling someone analfabeto (analfabeta for women). Good luck and have fun! haha
In Danish we say analfabet, so I understood what you meant, Babitix :-D
A little off-topic for this particular poll, but thanks to a previous suggestion I now have a mild fixation with finding book titles without an "e" in them. There's more than I thought!
Babitix wrote: "I suggested "a book recommended by your grandmother/grandfather" but I see people got confused about this one. I thought it would be nice to listen to old people and ask them for a suggestion, and ..."My last grandparent died in 1980 but I remember her reading large historical fiction books by James A. Michener--Centennial is one. So if the topic gets picked I may re-read that!
Kathy wrote: "Babitix wrote: "I suggested "a book recommended by your grandmother/grandfather" but I see people got confused about this one. I thought it would be nice to listen to old people and ask them for a ..."That's great, Kathy! You can't ask him for a suggestion but you remember a book that he read (a long time ago as I can "see") :P
Oh it is analfabet here too. Have no idea of where those odd English people got their illiterate from ;) Analfabet mkes much more sense, lol.
Babitix wrote: "Jody wrote: "I think I'm in the minority, but I voted for no resubmission polls. I like to see the new ideas that everyone comes up with, and we can always resubmit in normal polls."I'm with you...."
Heh, I'm just getting started...
Aglaea wrote: "Oh it is analfabet here too. Have no idea of where those odd English people got their illiterate from ;) Analfabet mkes much more sense, lol."That makes me feel better. But we have to agree that any word that contains "anal" is a made-joke for English Speakers :P
We have both analfabet (analphabète) and illiterate (illettré) in French. The 1st was never taught how to read/write, the 2nd never succeeded to learn well to write/read.I'm not fond of recommendations made by family because I don't have the same tastes as them and I don't like feeling punished while reading. Also few of the oldest adults in my family read something else than history or non fiction and argh.
I'd like to see some suggestions resubmitted but I'm fine with it happening in normal polls (but not more than 1-2 times). I just think they'll have more chances with dedicated polls as people have enough imagination to submit new things all the time :)
Zaz wrote: "We have both analfabet (analphabète) and illiterate (illettré) in French. The 1st was never taught how to read/write, the 2nd never succeeded to learn well to write/read.I'm not fond of recommend..."
It's the same in Spanish! "Analfabeto" thar cannot read, "iliterato" that could be translated as ignorant, but we also have "iletrado" that is just a synonym of analfabet .... it's nice to see how we can also learn languages here :D
I don't see why people here think someone over 60 is going to read differently from the books you read. In some cases maybe, but on the whole I think books are read by people of all ages. Granted someone under 10 will be reading a whole different set of books to you , but once someone can read efficiently, all books are going to be a possible read.
Jill wrote: "I don't see why people here think someone over 60 is going to read differently from the books you read. In some cases maybe, but on the whole I think books are read by people of all ages. Granted s..."I think there was also a bit of an assumption with that topic that none of the members of this group ARE over 60. I think they might be insulted if we go ask them for "grandparent" recommendations! lol
Amy wrote: "Jill wrote: "I don't see why people here think someone over 60 is going to read differently from the books you read. In some cases maybe, but on the whole I think books are read by people of all ag..."I actually thought the same thing, but about a family member. Aside from my mom, who has given me multiple recommendations in the past, I have a few relatives who are over 60. We're not very close though, so I'd feel a bit weird asking them especially since I post about my book choices/the prompts on Facebook. I don't think they'd take too kindly to me asking them just because of their age.
I don't think age really matters. My dad used to play World of Warcraft on line and probably had more in common with teenagers than most people his age. It just depends. My mom read HP Lovecraft when she was in school. She read A Clockwork Orange because she found it in her mom's sewing basket and was curious.
Age may have some affect but I'm not sure it's as big as we think. It's more about how we're raised. I was raised in a family (and I think my parents were too) that respected the decisions of the children in what to read and allowed them to make their own assumptions instead of spreading the biases of the previous generation.
Oh,dear, did I say too much?
I don't agree that there isn't a difference between what younger people read and what older people read. If you tend to read mostly YA and fantasy, I think in many cases you'll find that the grandparent reads different genres. I'm not saying that's the case all the time, but maybe it's 50/50.But just because you don't read the same genres as older relatives, I don't see why they can't recommend you a book. After all it's a challenge, and what's more challenging than reading a genre you don't normally read? It only broadens your horizon when it comes to reading, and you might discover a hidden treasure :)
I don't think the age totally matter, but having social interactions about books usually broaden what you read so someone in a bookclub or on GR (or others) will read different genres because a book seems interesting or is popular among friends, while a lonely reader will read only favorite authors and genres.It's very weird because in this discussion people over 60 seem very old but it's my parents' age and they're absolutely not old :)
My mom is also over 60, and she's not old in my eyes :-)But come to think of it, if the topic is chosen then I'm in a bookclub at work, and I know that some of the ladies is over 60, so I could always ask them for a recommandation. I think it's a great topic, but I understand why some find it too challenging or difficult to find a person to ask.
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Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
A Brief History of Time (other topics)I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban (other topics)
Branded by the Pink Triangle (other topics)
Flesh & Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy (other topics)
Centennial (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
James A. Michener (other topics)Louis L'Amour (other topics)
Zane Grey (other topics)
The 2017 Reading Challenge will continue the concept of this year's challenge, with 52 weekly topics. Users then choose a book fitting each topic in order to complete the challenge.
The Process:
The topics for the 2017 RC list will be determined through around 13 mini-polls. Suggestions for each poll will be open until 20 suggestions are received and then opened up for voting for one week. Each user will vote for their top 4 and bottom 4 topics in each mini-poll, resulting in 4 challenge entries from each (13 polls x 4 topics/poll=52 weekly topics). This timeframe allows for a completed list in October-November.
The Rules:
- Voting ends July 20
- One vote per poll per user
Note: some members have expressed an interest in having a future poll devoted only to resubmitting previous themes that lost. This was due to a concern that some good themes did not have a fair chance due to the themes they happened to be up against. Currently, polls can be resubmitted along with the new themes. This poll contains a question on your preference: poll 6, poll 13, both, or neither.
Reminder of Current Challenge Themes:
A book by an author you haven't read before
A book in the middle of your TBR list
A book from someone else's bookshelf
A book with a strong female character
A book from the Goodreads "Top 100 YA Books"
A category from another challenge
A book that you've owned for a while but haven't gotten around to reading
A book with an animal on the cover or in the title
A book about a famous historical figure
A book based on a myth
A book from the Goodreads Choice Awards 2016
A novel inspired by a work of classic literature
A book with an unreliable narrator
A best book of the 21st century (so far)
A book set in a fictional location
A book from the BBC The Big Read list
Helpful Links:
Penguin Modern Classics: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
Females Disguised as Males: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
Books by people of color: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Microhistories: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Survey Link