[2020] Suggestions for the 9th Mini Poll

[Katie]

It's time for another round, everyone!

But first, a little reminder of how things are done around here:

How it works:
- The topics for the 2020 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 15-20 suggestions are received and “seconded” (this number can change, which will be announced in each suggestion topic)
- We'll wait for one day between the end of the suggestions and the start of the poll to allow for research and discussions
- The poll will be opened for voting for one week
- Each user has 8 votes to spread between their favorite (top) and least favorite (bottom) prompts
- The prompts with the more "positive" votes (top - bottom) will be added to the final list (between 2 and 5 depending on how the votes are spread)

Rules:
- Each member can only suggest OR second one prompt
- Suggestions close after 20 total seconded prompts
- If the categories are not balanced enough at some point, the mods will add rules to encourage variety
- We'll be organizing a multi-week only poll at some point (where you'll have the opportunity to vote against the inclusion of any multi-week prompts if it's not your jam), so please don't suggest any for the time being, as they will not be accepted
- For now, we won't limit polls to new suggestion only, but that can be considered in the future
- For now, members who have suggested or seconded a prompt don't need to wait for 24 hours before doing so again in the next poll. That may change in the future if members express a need for this rule to be reinstated

As always, please express any and all feedback (respectfully, of course), either here or in The Wild Discussion

Poll Entries:
A book written by an author who passed away in the last five years
A book that is a retelling of another work (classic lit, ancient lit, mythology, fairy tales, etc.)
A short story collection or book of essays
A book by a Canadian author
A book with man, woman, boy or girl in the title
A book about an event or era in history taken from the Billy Joel song "We didn't Start the Fire"
Within one of your favorite genres, read a book that is somehow different from what you usually read
A book about or inspired by The Beatles
A book set in a nation or empire that no longer exists (e.g. West/East Germany, Prussia)
A book with glasses or sunglasses on the cover
A book that takes place somewhere you would like to live
A new-to-you book found on a ‘top shelf’ for one of your favorite books
Xenofiction - a book with an animal/non-human POV character
A book by an author on the Abe List (list of 100 women authors)
A book related to Earth Day
A book with more than one author
A mashup genre book
A book published in 2020
A book by an Australian author
A book about friendship

Available to be Seconded:
A book with a mostly green cover
A book that takes place somewhere you would like to live

[Jill]

The passing of Toni Morrison yesterday has made me so sad. In honor of her and all the other authors who have passed away recently my suggestion is:
A book written by an author who passed away in the last five years.
(Toni Morrison, Anita Shreve, Ursula K. Le Guin, Philip Roth, Tom Wolfe, Harper Lee, Umberto Eco, Pat Conroy are some authors we have lost recently.)

[dalex]

A book that is a retelling of another work (classic lit, ancient lit, mythology, fairy tales, etc.)

8 Retellings Of Classic Books Out In 2018 That Are Just Too Good To Miss
16 Retellings of Your Favorite Classic Novels
11 Modern Retellings of Classic Novels
16 New and Upcoming Retellings of Classic Plays, Novels, and Tales
Six Diverse Jane Austen Retellings
Seven Favorite Jane Austen Retellings
100 Must-Read Fairytale Retellings for Adults and YA Readers
25 New Fairy Tale Retellings For Adults
10 Books Inspired By Norse Mythology That Make For Perfect Winter Reading
20 Great Retellings of Greek Mythology
9 Modern Greek Mythology Retellings That Will Change The Way You Think About The Classic Tales
Listopia - Classical Fiction

[Jackie]

A short story collection or book of essays.

[Steve]

A book set in a nation or empire that no longer exists (e.g. West/East Germany, Prussia)

[Rosemary]

Jill wrote: "The passing of Toni Morrison yesterday has made me so sad. In honor of her and all the other authors who have passed away recently my suggestion is:
A book written by an author who passed away in the last five years."

I second this one

[Bryony]

dalex wrote: "A book that is a retelling of another work (classic lit, ancient lit, mythology, fairy tales, etc.)"

Great idea dalex, I’ll second this. I hadn’t really taken an interest in this genre in the past but I’ve read several excellent retellings recently, including Circe, The Penelopiad, and Hag-Seed.

Also, thanks for all the lists of suggestions!

[Chinook]

Read a book by a Canadian author.

Here are some lists that could help pick a book:

Canada Reads: https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/...

100 novels that make you proud to be Canadian: https://www.cbc.ca/books/100-novels-t...

100 true stories that make you proud to be Canadian: https://www.cbc.ca/books/100-true-sto...

100 YA books that make you proud to be Canadian: https://www.cbc.ca/books/100-young-ad...

Other lists: https://www.cbc.ca/books/readinglists

[Johanne]

I second short story/ essay collection.

[Joan]

How about a book with man, woman, boy or girl in the title?

So you could do for example:

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
The Woman in White
Lilac Girls
Invisible Man

This way with having one of those four words in the title it opens up the possibilities more.

[Jillian]

Since we don’t have any cover prompts yet and themes seem fun for 2020.

A book with glasses or sunglasses on the cover.
(I think we could make wearing or not wearing them a KIS or BIO option).

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

[Lizzy]

I'll second Chinook's book by a Canadian author

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

A new-to-you book found on a ‘top shelf’ for one of your favorite books

Top shelves - Book’s GR page > ‘See top shelves’ on the right [under GENRE]

[Jill]

I'll second Joan's man, woman, boy or girl in the title

[Ann]

A non-fiction book about an event or era in history taken from the Billy Joel song "We didn't Start the Fire". http://www.metrolyrics.com/we-didnt-s...

[Martha]

I will second a nonfiction book about an event or era in history taken from "We Didn't Start the Fire."

[redatt]

Xenofiction - a book with an animal/non-human POV character.

[Traci]

Within one of your favorite genres, read a book that is somehow different from what you usually read.

This could be a different time period, race, culture, religion, sexual identity, perspective, etc. It could also be something like short stories instead of novel or a different subtype of the genre than your usual.

One of my favorite genres is historical fiction and I gravitate towards WWII. Though I do read others, for this prompt I would probably read a book set during an earlier time period, maybe also focusing on a different culture.

[Traci]

Jackie wrote: "A short story collection or book of essays."

This is one of my favorite prompts, and I would have seconded it if it hadn't already been!

[°~Amy~°]

A book about or inspired by The Beatles (who will have broken up 50 years ago in 2020)

Books with titles representing Beatles lyrics:
book titles inspired by Beatles lyrics
a LOT more book titles inspired by Beatles lyrics

Here are some books that mention the Beatles in some way:
books that mention The Beatles

Maybe find a book related to a song title, perhaps a book involving a guitar (While my guitar gently weeps) or set on a submarine (Yellow Submarine) or with diamonds on the cover (Lucy in the sky with diamonds):
List of 188 songs performed by The Beatles

Books about or written by The Beatles or the individual band members:
Best Books about the Beatles
books by or about John Lennon
books by or about Paul McCartney
books by or about Ringo Starr
books by or about George Harrison

[Pam]

I second the Beatles prompt!

[MJ]

Steve wrote: "A book set in a nation or empire that no longer exists (e.g. West/East Germany, Prussia)"

I second this prompt!

[dalex]

Poll Entries:
1. A book written by an author who passed away in the last five years.
2. A book that is a retelling of another work (classic lit, ancient lit, mythology, fairy tales, etc.)
3. A short story collection or book of essays
4. A book by a Canadian author
5. A book with man, woman, boy or girl in the title
6. A non-fiction book about an event or era in history taken from the Billy Joel song "We Didn't Start the Fire"
7. Within one of your favorite genres, read a book that is somehow different from what you usually read
8. A book about or inspired by The Beatles
9. A book set in a nation or empire that no longer exists

Available to be Seconded:
• A book with glasses or sunglasses on the cover
• A new-to-you book found on a ‘top shelf’ for one of your favorite books
• Xenofiction - a book with an animal/non-human POV character

[°~Amy~°]

Thank you Dalex, you beat me to the summary by a few seconds! lol

[Karissa]

I'll second a book with glasses or sunglasses on the cover.

[Shari]

A book with a mostly green cover

[Shari]

Chinook wrote: "Read a book by a Canadian author.

Here are some lists that could help pick a book:

Canada Reads: https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/...

100 novels that make yo..."


I second this prompt as I had suggested it for another poll. perfect for the first week of July

[Pamela, Arciform Mod]

A book that takes place somewhere you would like to live (clearly if you live in your dream location, then where you do live!)

[ladymurmur]

"A book written by an author who passed away in the last five years"

I will second this one. I'd second this one if it weren't already seconded!

So many cherished authors have passed away in the last five years that the challenge for me will be in picking just one of the options, rather than in finding one.

[Vicky]

Pamela wrote: "A book that takes place somewhere you would like to live (clearly if you live in your dream location, then where you do live!)"
I second this one

[MJ]

ladymurmur wrote: ""A book written by an author who passed away in the last five years"

I will second this one. I'd second this one if it weren't already seconded!

So many cherished authors have passed away in the..."

I agree. It's a prompt I would have seconded had someone else not beat me to it!

[ladymurmur]

A new-to-you book found on a ‘top shelf’ for one of your favorite books

I'll second this one!

[Chrissy]

I’ll second xenofiction.

[Lin]

Mini wrote: "Xenofiction - a book with an animal/non-human POV character."

I second Xenofiction

[Nadine in NY]

Question about Laura’s “top shelf” idea: does “new to you” mean a book you haven’t read, or a book you haven’t heard of?

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

A book you haven’t heard of (when you find it on the shelves)

[Lin]

Linda wrote: "Mini wrote: "Xenofiction - a book with an animal/non-human POV character."

I second Xenofiction"

I see that Chrissy bet me to the second.

[Chrissy]

Here’s an article about writers who died in 2018, there are some lesser known ones too. I assume similar lists might exist for 2017, etc.
https://lithub.com/notable-literary-d...

[Avery]

Pamela wrote: "A book that takes place somewhere you would like to live (clearly if you live in your dream location, then where you do live!)"

If Pamela and Vicky approve, would it be possible to re-word this suggestion to match its opposite that’s already on the list? Just for continuity sake :)

The current prompt we have is: a book set in a place or time that you wouldn't want to live”

So I would suggest the following: a book set in a place or time that you would want to live

[Chinook]

This website discusses all the things mentioned in we didn’t light the fire: https://guff.com/an-explanation-of-al...

[Avery]

Steve wrote: "A book set in a nation or empire that no longer exists (e.g. West/East Germany, Prussia)"

Also just wanted to chime in and put in a plug for this cool book called Unruly Places: Lost Spaces, Secret Cities, and Other Inscrutable Geographies. It is just a fun coffee-table-esque book about places that don’t exist, hidden societies, and abandoned villages!

[Edie]

I nominate a book by an author on the Abe List (list of 100 women authors). https://www.abebooks.com/books/best-f...

[Charity]

I’ll second the Abe book list.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I’ll second the Abe list.

Man I love The We Didn’t Start the Fire prompt, but I wish it wasn’t just nonfiction.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Oops Charity got to it before me!

[Kathy]

I'm resubmitting this one:

A book related to Earth Day (for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day)

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

[Joanne]

Kathy wrote: "I'm resubmitting this one:

A book related to Earth Day (for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day)"

I second this

[Ann]

Emily wrote: "I’ll second the Abe list.

Man I love The We Didn’t Start the Fire prompt, but I wish it wasn’t just nonfiction." We can change it to any book if you want. I don't care.

[Edie]

Laura wrote: "A new-to-you book found on a ‘top shelf’ for one of your favorite books

Top shelves - Book’s GR page > ‘See top shelves’ on the right [under GENRE]"

My brain must be on pause. I am not understanding what this is. How is a book new to me if it is one of my favorite books?

[Charity]

I think the “we didn’t start the fire” topic would get more votes if it wasn’t limited to nonfiction because multiple people have stated through the years they don’t read nonfiction.