Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
Archives
>
[2020] Voting for 10th Mini Poll
Here's a list of English honorifics: https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFi...(link for other languages at bottom)
I suggested this prompt because I have Mrs. Fletcher, Dear Mrs. Bird, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and The Last Mrs. Parrish (just to name a few) on my TBR.
Mod
In general, I love cover prompts, so I'm thinking this round will be mostly upvotes for me. Before checking my TBR, I'm leaning towards 7 up and 1 down (sorry, westerns).
Aside from the cover prompts, I like the non-traditional family and mystery novel by POC author, and I really liked the suggestions of the ensemble cast that were given in the Wild Discussion...
Oh dear.
This is a tough week.
I really like this weeks choices. I think, I will only have one down vote. I don’t care for prompts that are based on debut books so that will be my downvote. Emily, I think a Western would be interesting change but I won’t be surprised if it ends up in the bottom.
Mod
Some lists for a mystery novel by a person of color promptRead Harder: A Mystery by a Person of Color or LGBTQ+ Author
Listopia: A mystery or thriller written by a woman of color
Listopia: Mystery & Detective Novels by Women of Color
Is a western by definition set in the US? I'm trying to have no books with primary setting of the US next year (though obviously with the caveat that if a prompt requires it, it's okay).
For the western, I think it would be totally ok to read a book that is set in the time/place but isn't a formulaic L'amour wanna-be. There are two new releases that work for the prompt if you thought about it in that way - Inland by Téa Obreht ( "a bracingly epic and imaginatively mythic journey across the American West") and A Prayer for Travelers by Ruchika Tomar ("explores the complicated legacy of the American West and the trauma of female experience").
Traci wrote: "Is a western by definition set in the US?"According to wikipedia....
Western is a genre of various arts incorporating Western lifestyle which tell stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, often centering on the life of a nomadic cowboy or gunfighter armed with a revolver and a rifle who rides a horse.
Mod
I really like the Western genre. There are some terrific authors - Wallace Stegner, Larry McMurtry, John Steinbeck, John Williams (Butcher’s Crossing) and Annie Proulx come to mind. You could probably include the Longmire (and some others) mystery series set in the West.
Emily wrote: "TBH, I'm reading The Luminaries, which is set in New Zealand but has a very distinct western feel. Maybe it's the gold rush and saloons and pistols? I think something can have a wes..."If western gets makes the final list I guarantee that I will be reading a Science Fiction Cowboy book.
https://best-sci-fi-books.com/15-best...
Most likely I would read the new novelization based on the tv show Firefly Firefly: Big Damn Hero. Yes, it's a stretch but mash-ups will be my KIS option! :-)
Traci wrote: "Is a western by definition set in the US? I'm trying to have no books with primary setting of the US next year (though obviously with the caveat that if a prompt requires it, it's okay)."I can't find a list right now, but there are westerns set in Mexico. Of course, there are also westerns set in outer space. I don't think it necessarily has to be the US. I think it's more about the conventions of the genre.
Mod
Probably a lot of NZ/Australian books would have that feel.
Mod
If the book with the immigrant as a main character, I totally recommend [[book:Behold the Dreamers|35259724]. I read it a few years ago and it has so stayed with me since then!
Does anyone have any books they would recommend for the non-traditional family prompt? I really want to vote for this, but most of the novels I’ve found are either YA or younger.
Mod
You could also consider books that feature single parents or grandparents raising children. Something like To Kill a Mockingbird comes to mind.
I’ve had the same struggle. I love the idea of non-traditional families, but when I research it’s all: books I’ve already read, and picture books. I’m not totally opposed to reading a picture book, so I’m definitely not down-voting it, but at this point there are other categories that seem more fruitful.
Thanks all for the Western input! This might keep me from downvoting it.
I am not a fan of cover prompts. I don't like to choose a book by the cover, so it just means combing the TBR to find a cover that will fit. Not too inspiring for me. Still, if others like it, I will be fine, and I know most people want a few cover prompts.I like the idea of the Western. Not something I read often and I can think of a number of books that would fall into that category that I would like to read.
For the non-traditional family prompt, you might check out Louise Erdrich, both LaRose and The Beet Queen have non-traditional families and I think it is rather a hallmark of her books. Also, When I Found You by Catherine Ryan Hyde and Saint Maybe by Anne Tyler come to mind.
Selu wrote: "A few mystery writers who are also POC: Tess Gerritsen, Alafair Burke, Walter Mosley, Attica Locke, Kellye Garrett, ..."Thanks, I was about to ask for suggestions. I like the prompt in theory, but was having a lot of trouble finding options.
I'm not a huge fan of cover prompts in general, because I use the library mostly and it's hard to guarantee that the edition I get will actually fit the prompt. I guess it's not the biggest deal as long as one version fits, but I post pictures of the books I'm reading on Instagram, so it feels a bit weird to me to choose a different edition and claim it fits. My own personal issue I guess, lol. Of all the cover suggestions here though, the one I like best is the silhouette.
This was a much better batch of suggestions overall to me than last week. There was only one that I very strongly don't want at all (the western), and I could live with everything else. I had three that I immediately loved. I'm going to have to really look through the options for the rest and decide what else (if anything) I want to vote for or against.
Traci wrote: "Is a western by definition set in the US? I'm trying to have no books with primary setting of the US next year (though obviously with the caveat that if a prompt requires it, it's okay)."I would definitely consider Dona Barbara which is set in Venezuela a western. I rated it 5 stars ( It was on the Great American Read list.)
Non-traditional Families:Rad Dad: Dispatches from the Frontiers of Fatherhood
Blood, Marriage, Wine, & Glitter
Rad Families: A Celebration
I'm not a fan of westerns at all which means I'll probably vote for it. This is supposed to be a challenge after all. I read one for...Book Riot I think?...called The Sisters Brothers which was way more traditionally western than I was expecting, but I actually really liked. Finding gems like that is the whole reason why I do these challenges, so it's good for me.For cover prompts, I use overdrive from the library almost exclusively, so I use whatever picture is the main one on goodreads. In my mind if I can go back and check that I did match it, then I fulfilled the prompt. It also stops me from worrying if overdrive changes the edition cover or something in between me penciling it in and actually reading it.
If you haven't read News of the World, it would be the perfect book for the Western category and I cannot imagine anyone not loving it.
I agree with Edie that Dona Barbara, set in Venezuela, is a western and a great story! I gave it 5 stars also. I usually think of the US with regard to westerns but it could include countries in South America, Mexico, and Australia. It’s a genre I rarely read but had a couple 5 star reads last year so I’m interested in reading another one. I also really enjoyed Doc and Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell. I think they could be considered westerns.
For the half a face, are we looking for exactly half a face? Or does no face work as well, like the head is cut off at the top?
Pam wrote: "I agree with Edie that Dona Barbara, set in Venezuela, is a western and a great story! I gave it 5 stars also. I usually think of the US with regard to westerns but it could include countries in So..."Absolutely, and there is always Lonesome Dove--a marvelous book under any criteria.
For western, also some modern mysteries like the Longmire series would also count.
Sara wrote: "If you haven't read News of the World, it would be the perfect book for the Western category and I cannot imagine anyone not loving it."I really liked that book.
Selu wrote: "A few mystery writers who are also POC: Tess Gerritsen, Alafair Burke, Walter Mosley, Attica Locke, Kellye Garrett, ..."Sujata Massey, Vaseem Khan, Vivien Chien, Ovidia Yu, Hideo Yokoyama
Wow. I looked at my tbr to get through next year and there are SO many silhouettes.
I like the idea behind the sky cover one but I don't have a favourite time of day. Is anyone else resistant to picking favourites?! And then even if I pick something like home time, well the sky can be anything, depending on weather and time of year. If it gets in maybe I'll just read a book with a grey cover :DI'm probably upvoting all the specific genre prompts, even tho two are thing I don't read much of. Last time I had to read a western (Read Harder?) I read about hippo ranchers! I should try harder if it gets in. I love the title on an angle one, they occur at just the right frequency to not be too easy but there's plenty of interesting books to choose from.
There's not really anything I dislike in this list., so hopefully I can't be disappointed.
Here's some lists for fantasy books, it's such a wide genre. Everything from a tiny bit of magic/myth to high fantasy:Magical Realism in Small Town America
Fantasy Novels by Women of Color
Best LGBTQA Fantasy
Best Books About Mythology
Best Books With Witches
The Best Fairytales and Retellings
Best Fantasy 2018
10 Works of Literary Fantasy You Should Read
Ellie wrote: "There's not really anything I dislike in this list., so hopefully I can't be disappointed."I correct myself, I don't want "novel on the cover". Is this more common in the US? I don't recall seeing it much here, and it just seems an odd thing to do.
A lot of books have it, to make clear that they are fiction.
I have an odd hatred of the “A Novel” on the cover of a book. I have no idea why. Not the prompt, just when I see it on a book.
Most the books I'm finding for it are US editions or a certain kind of literary fiction. I'd work out something but I have my fingers crossed for that one not getting in.
I actually have so many books on my TBR with "A Novel" on it that I'm not voting for it because it would be too easy.
Jody wrote: "I have an odd hatred of the “A Novel” on the cover of a book. I have no idea why. Not the prompt, just when I see it on a book."Same! Why do they do that?? Like, I'm holding a book, I know what it is, thank you. I assume publishers think it sounds fancy somehow to tell us "There There ... a novel" instead of just splashing the title across the cover.
I have no problem with the prompt, but I won't vote for it because it's so common, it doesn't feel challenging.
Ellie wrote: "I like the idea behind the sky cover one but I don't have a favourite time of day."You could certainly do ONE OF your favorites....it doesn't have to be exclusively the ONLY favorite.
And it doesn't have to be a picture that depicts your favorite. It's a cover that REMINDS you of your favorite. So, for like morning, you could do sunrise colors like yellow and pink or if you're a night person you could do shades of black, navy, grey. Or maybe it's a time of day during a specific season, like daytime on a snowy winter day with white, grey, lavender, muted yellow. Or daytime in summer with blue and green and bright yellow.
Personally, I completely love the abstract arty-ness of this prompt! It's like I'm searching for a concept or an inspiration instead of some specific thing.
dalex wrote: "You could certainly do ONE OF your favorites....it doesn't have to be exclusively the ONLY favorit..."Yes I know what the prompt was intending and I could do it, I just don't personally like the "favourite" part, because I don't have favourite times of the day. No need to shout at me.
Ellie wrote: "No need to shout at me."I was emphasizing, not shouting. I guess I should've used bold instead of capital letters. Apologies. :)
Sara wrote: "Pam wrote: "I agree with Edie that Dona Barbara, set in Venezuela, is a western and a great story! I gave it 5 stars also. I usually think of the US with regard to westerns but it could include cou..."I’ve been meaning to read Lonesome Dove. I highly recommend Brokeback Mountain for the western prompt, or the Thorn birds (which is Australian, but feels western to me).
Chinook wrote: "For the half a face, are we looking for exactly half a face? Or does no face work as well, like the head is cut off at the top?"FWIW, I would say including no face at all is more of a KIS option, but if it's 1/3 of a face or something instead of 1/2 it's close enough.
Mod
would work, but
wouldn't.Like... if they have the nose and lips, then it's closer to half a face, but if it's just the chin, it's probably not enough for me to count it.
It was fun to look at my TBR and see all the half-faces on the cover and yet how they're all different from one another: 
And then I realized how many silhouettes were on my TBR too.
I fear that the vote may get split for both of these prompts.
I really hope western wins, but I'm not hopeful it will. I don't read westerns, but I have a few I have been meaning to read, and I really want the challenge to give me the push to read them. Lonesome Dove
All the Pretty Horses
Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West
Ellie, I'm totally with you. I don't have a favorite time of day. I'm really literal in following prompts, so I will be down voting that one.
Hannah wrote: "Does anyone have any books they would recommend for the non-traditional family prompt? I really want to vote for this, but most of the novels I’ve found are either YA or younger."I know these are very specific genres you might not like, but throwing them out there just in case:
The Negotiator Christian romance, first in a series about the O'Malley family, a bunch of adult orphans who legally changed their names and treat each other as siblings.
Yesterday's Son Star Trek/sci-fi, single father discovers a son he didn't know he had and they have to learn to relate.
Also if you want to include blended/step families there's Wives and Daughters and any number of Cinderella retellings (though many of those are probably back in YA territory).
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael (other topics)True Grit (other topics)
Baba Dunja's Last Love (other topics)
Cheaper by the Dozen (other topics)
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Chester Himes (other topics)Chan Ho-Kei (other topics)
Louis L'Amour (other topics)
Attica Locke (other topics)
Alafair Burke (other topics)
More...
Voting will open on 8/16 and results will be posted on 8/21.
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 favourite and least favourite prompts (you can also use less than 8 votes)
- The poll will be open for five days, so you don't have to rush and vote straightaway
- The prompts with the more "positive" votes (top minus bottom) will be announced shortly after the end of the poll and added to the final list (expect between 2 and 5 depending on how the votes are spread)
- 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. We’ve introduced this for two reasons:
1. On a few occasions in each poll, people have used more than the allotted number of votes, either because they aren’t familiar with the rules or just by mistake. When this happens our only option is to disregard the vote as we can’t identify the voter to ask them to resubmit. By asking for your profile address we’ll be able to message you and ask you to vote again if you’ve accidentally used more than the allotted number of votes.
2. Unfortunately a very small number of people have voted more than once per poll and so we are asking for this information to prevent duplicate votes.
As a reminder: You have a total of 8 votes to use among your top and bottom votes. The mods have access to each individual vote, so we can see if you use more than 8 votes. If you use more than 8 votes in the poll, your vote will have to be deleted, so please make sure to follow the directions so your voice can be heard.
Poll Entries:
A book recommended by Stephen King
https://alexandbooks.com/archive/the-...
https://offtheshelf.com/2019/04/steph...
https://bookriot.com/2019/03/11/books...
https://www.epl.ca/blogs/post/books-r...
A book with a cover that is less than 5 colors
A book with flowers or greenery on the cover
A western
Best Westerns: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Literary Westerns: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...
Western Romances: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6...
Best Gay Cowboys: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
Native American Historical Fiction: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Weird Westerns: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
A book with a cover where the title is at an angle other than straight left-to-right
A mystery novel by a person of color
A fantasy book
A book whose title contains an honorific (Mr., Mrs., Doctor, Lord, Lady, etc.)
A book with eyeglasses or sunglasses on the cover, in celebration of the year 2020 (20/20)
A book with an ensemble cast
A book with the word 'novel' on the cover
A book with a silhouette on the cover
A book where the main character is an immigrant
A debut novel by an established/popular author
A book by an author with a colour in their name, where that colour also appears on the cover
A book from the "Most Read This Week In" page of one of your favourites genres
A book about a non-traditional family (eg. grandparents raising grandkids, LGBTQ+)
A book with a cover that reminds you of the sky at your favorite time of the day
A book with half a face on the cover
A book with a bug on the cover
Vote Here:
https://www.surveymoz.com/s/WRMMU/