[2020] Voting for the 17th Mini-Poll

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

It's now time to get ready to vote for our next set of prompts! But as we discussed before the process began, we are going to open the poll one day after we've gathered the suggestions. 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 on Thursday, October 10 and results will be posted on Tuesday, October 15.

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 from the 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards

A book related to a tarot card
The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun, Judgement, The World, and The Fool, plus the minor arcana which is more like a suit of playing cards so you can have kings, queens, etc.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarot

A book recommended by an influential person or group
(e.g. celebrity/public figure, YouTuber/Blogger, family member/friend, library, etc.) Influential can be based on the individual member’s definition and what’s considered influential to them.

A book that is a collaboration between 2 or more people
Could be two individual authors, two authors writing under one pen name, multiple authors contributing (like in an anthology), an author and illustrator, an author and translator, etc.

A book outside of your comfort zone

A book by an author you've only read once before

A book related to your guilty pleasure
A guilty pleasure can be something (movie, television show, food, book or music genre, etc) that you enjoy despite being slightly embarrassed about it

A fantasy (paranormal, epic, magical realism, fairy tales, mythic, portal . . .)

A book with a character who is pregnant
I am thinking that this can be fiction or non-fiction, any genre, main or side-character. The pregnancy can be "real" or paranormal/alien or even a fake pregnancy. Here are some links:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/book...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6...

A book related to a traditional holiday
E.G. A book related to Christmas. It doesn't necessarily have to be a Christmas book per se, but it could be set around the Christmas period, or have a few chapters that include the Christmas period. Works for any traditional holiday!

A book with a "fiery" title
(Contains words like fire, flame, blaze, ember, etc.)

A book set in Asia

An atmospheric book
An atmospheric book is a book in which the setting really comes alive and gives you a sensory experience. It could be a book that feels really spooky, it could be a book set during the winter that could make you feel the coldness even while reading it during the summer. It’s basically a book that does a really good job of transporting you to the setting and making you experience “the atmosphere” of it.

A book where the main character is in another age category than you

A book where a character spends time in jail or prison

There are 6 spots remaining on our 2020 ATY prompt list.
Vote here:
https://www.surveymoz.com/s/DOYUD/

[Avery]

Whoo!! I love six of these prompts right off the bat! Can you remind us how many prompt spots there are remaining to be filled on the final list?

[Avery]

Here are some expanded ideas for “A book that is a collaboration between two or more people”

- A book with two or more primary authors
- A book with multiple authors under one pen name (Christina Lauren, Liv Constantine)
- A book with an author and a ghost writer
- A book with an author and an illustrator such as a children’s book or a graphic novel
- A book with an author and a translator
- A collection of short stories, essays, or poems by various authors
- A book with a forward by someone other than the primary author

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

There are 6 spots remaining on the list!

[Nadine in NY]

I know I’m overthinking this but I’m not sure I understand this one:

What is a “traditional holiday”? I assume Passover, Yom Kippur, Kwanzaa, Thanksgiving, St Lucia Day, Valentines Day, Halloween, Eid alFitr, Beltane, Diwali, Dragonboat Festival, Boxing Day, May Day, Mother’s Day, etc all qualify?

And St Patrick’s Day, Veterans Day, and Pearl Harbor Day? Presidents Day? Columbus Day? Martin Luther King Jr Day? The Mooncake Autumn Festival? All Saints Day? I don’t know where the line is drawn.

which holidays are not “traditional”? Is it written that way just exclude things like National Doughnut Day and International Hug a Drummer Day? (Which, I mean, even finding a book set on National Doughnut Day would be a coup!)

[Avery]

Thanks Emily!

I love the duality of a book outside of your comfort zone and a book related to your guilty pleasure - that could be a cool unintentional multi-week prompt.

The guilty pleasure one would also possibly work for anyone who voted for the “place where your favorite food came from” last week, depending how guilty your favorite food is! I also like how the guilty pleasure prompt is worded that it doesn’t have to be a “guilty-pleasure book” per say, but could just have your guilty pleasure in the book.

Ah sorry I have lots of thoughts on these prompts and love a bunch of them!

[dalex]

Nadine wrote: "I know I’m overthinking this but I’m not sure I understand this one: What is a “traditional holiday”?"

The prompt was originally only Christmas and I asked it to be expanded to include any traditional holiday, with the idea being any religious, cultural, political, etc. type holiday but not wacky holidays like the ones on this list.

It's open to interpretation, really.

[dalex]

Question: is "an atmospheric book" the same as this year's "a book with a strong sense of place" or is there a difference between the two that I'm missing?

[viemag]

Are nominations for this list closed? Are there six spots open or will we vote with only 14 prompts in the poll?

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

There are 6 spots available on the master prompt list for 2020. There are 15 prompts suggested for this round of voting! People will be free to use their votes however they like (8 upvotes, for example, if they'd like).

[°~Amy~°]

I'm actually only counting 14 on this list too but I'm on my mobile so things may not be formatted correctly?

[Rachel]

Wow, I missed the suggestion process completely. It's too bad the domestic fiction didn't make it. I would have voted for that, and used a domestic thriller. I'll have to do a bit of research on a few prompts before deciding, but nothing stood out as an immediate "no" either.

[Steve]

°~Amy~° wrote: "I'm actually only counting 14 on this list too but I'm on my mobile so things may not be formatted correctly?"

I'm counting 15. I think maybe the fact that a couple of prompts have long example/expansions after them might look like two prompts blend together.

[Jette]

dalex wrote: "Question: is "an atmospheric book" the same as this year's "a book with a strong sense of place" or is there a difference between the two that I'm missing?"

I asked for clarification on this topic and think it is different. It may involve a place, but is more about how the book takes you in and makes you feel.

For this year's strong sense of place, I read King's Mountain about the Revoutionary War battle. The site, King's Mountain, was a huge factor in the outcome. However, it didn't really impact the 'feel' of the story. To contrast, Stephen King's Pet Semetary has such a feel to it that it could be set anywhere outside of Maine and still creep me out so much that I can never complete a re-read.

[Sarah]

dalex wrote: "Question: is "an atmospheric book" the same as this year's "a book with a strong sense of place" or is there a difference between the two that I'm missing?"

I think a lot of horror books are atmospheric in a way that doesn't necessarily have to do with place. I would definitely count a book that has a creeping sense of dread, that feeling makes you look behind you just in case, as atmospheric.

Edit: I looked up the dictionary definition out of curiosity, and it definitely works here: "creating a distinctive mood, typically of romance, mystery, or nostalgia."

[Serendipity]

You all were busy while I was sleeping down here in the Southern Hemisphere. I’m loving the tarot card prompt for its uniqueness. I’m pleased to see fantasy getting another run (albeit expanded from just high or epic). I’ll probably also vote for outside your comfort zones - to give me another chance at fitting in epic fantasy . Covering my bases in case fantasy misses out. Apart from that I’m not yet having strong feelings either way. Hopefully I’ll get some research time in the next few days to help me decide.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Here you go!

1. A book from the 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards
2. A book related to a tarot card
3. A book recommended by an influential person or group
4. A book that is a collaboration between 2 or more people.
5. A book outside of your comfort zone
6. A book by an author you've only read once before.
7. A book related to your guilty pleasure
8. A fantasy (paranormal, epic, magical realism, fairy tales, mythic, portal . . .)
9. A book with a character who is pregnant
10. A book related to a traditional holiday
11. A book with a "fiery" title
12. A book set in Asia
13. An atmospheric book
14. A book where the main character is in another age category than you
15. A book where a character spends time in jail or prison

[Sophie]

I'm glad to see suggestion topics fill up so quickly! I feel like last year the last ones dragged quite a bit more. Good job everyone!

[Nicole]

I really like almost all of the prompts. I think I'm going with eight up-votes again this week. There are a couple prompts I'm not overly fond of, but I don't feel strongly enough about them to down-vote.

[Ellie]

I went off to do some baking and wham the list was done! I like a lot of these, and the rest I'd be fine with. When the pregnant character one came up I instantly thought of The Fireman and I'd love to find more like that, where the character is pregnant in an unusual/dangerous situation and has to get on with things and generally be kickass!

For those wanting a slot for epic fantasy, I did think tarot cards would give some options, especially with the minor arcana which has things like king, queen and knight of swords.

[Kathryn]

I'd have seconded domestic fiction except I was asleep! I don't suppose we'll have 6 winners this time, so I'll second (or submit) next time if I'm awake!!

[Sheena]

dalex wrote: "Question: is "an atmospheric book" the same as this year's "a book with a strong sense of place" or is there a difference between the two that I'm missing?"

I was thinking this when I first saw it suggested. They're extremely similar.

[Rachel]

I think the one that I'm most on the fence about at the moment is the tarot cards prompt. It's definitely not a downvote, but I'm not sure whether to upvote or leave it alone. I love the creativity of the prompt and the fact that it allows a very wide range of options, but I wonder if it's a little too broad. There's cards in there like "the lovers" (so any book with a romance might work), or death, which is also pretty common. I guess it's an easy one to tailor to a KIS/BIO though, by choosing how to limit yourself.

[Bec]

Wow this went quick. I was looking last night for the suggestions thread and came to check this morning and it's done (not that I had anything to add so no biggie for me).
4 stood out to me immediately as upvotes (tarot card - I have a book called The Tower that I've had on my TBR for ages, goodreads choice awards, collaboration and fantasy).
I haven't decided what I will do with my other 4 votes yet.

[Eujean2]

The tarot prompt makes me think of The Castle of Crossed Destinies by Italo Calvino.
The book literally has tarot cards along the sides of the pages and the story is bound together by tarot cards.

[Kathy]

Eujean2 wrote: "The tarot prompt makes me think of The Castle of Crossed Destinies by Italo Calvino.
The book literally has tarot cards along the sides of the pages and the story is bound together by..."

That sounds really good Eujean2. Another for the TBR!

[Chelsey]

I'm upvoting the three character prompts. I just think I always end up reading something I wouldn't normally and end up liking these kind of prompts. I like the collaboration prompts as well. I think tarot card is way to broad. It's basically a catch all in my opinion.

[Jill]

At the moment the only one I don't like is the guilty pleasure one, because I just don't have one. If something pleases me, I don't feel guilty about it.

[Peter]

I think there is a difference between atmospheric and sense of place. I see sense of place as only setting, specifically strong worldbuilding while atmosphere may have to do with the setting but also encompasses feelings and evokes an emotional response in the reader.

With The Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter, both authors created entire worlds. They have a unique and distinctly strong sense of place that when referenced most people would understand even if they hadn't read the books, but I wouldn't call them atmospheric.

To contrast, The Child Finder or Misery don't really have a distinctly unique or strong settings or worldbuilding (a small town in a forest and a farmhouse respectively) but the atmosphere the authors create evoke a sense of dread and urgency from the reader despite the setting being more generic.

[Pamela, Arciform Mod]

Kathryn wrote: "I'd have seconded domestic fiction except I was asleep! I don't suppose we'll have 6 winners this time, so I'll second (or submit) next time if I'm awake!!"

Sigh... we'll probably end up with one result! I'm still shocked close calls only had one.

[Liz]

Peter, I think you summed up the difference between sense of place & atmosphere really well. The more I think about it, the more I like atmosphere. At first I thought the prompts might be too similar, but while there might be overlap, I think there’s plenty difference to make it worthwhile.

[Michelle]

Peter wrote: "I think there is a difference between atmospheric and sense of place. I see sense of place as only setting, specifically strong worldbuilding while atmosphere may have to do with the setting but al..."

You explained it better than I could ever have, Peter.

One of my favorite atmospheric books is The Night Circus. While I was reading it, I felt cocooned in this magical, enchanting atmosphere. Whenever the author described the circus food delectables, I felt like I could almost taste them.

Here are some other examples.

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

https://lithub.com/a-very-atmospheric...

https://natysbookshelf.wordpress.com/...

[Avery]

See that’s hard because I definitely see The Night Circus as a strong sense of place! I was transported to the circus every chapter! I do get the differences but I also think there will be a big overlap :/

[Avery]

If the Tarot Card doesn’t get through, I think it’d be a great multi-week prompt option next year!

[Shelley]

The only one that I don't feel is easily doable is the pregnancy one. Which means I'll definitely vote for it. Need a few challenges.

[Chrissy]

I went looking for books where a character gives birth this summer for the “something new” prompt, and found a decent number to choose from. I ended up reading A River of Stars and it was pretty good!

[Traci]

The Farm is the one I immediately thought of for the pregnancy prompt. I haven't read it, but it looks interesting.

[Bec]

Traci wrote: "The Farm is the one I immediately thought of for the pregnancy prompt. I haven't read it, but it looks interesting."
Ohh that does look good.

Maternal Instinct seems to fit also.

[Traci]

Bec wrote: "Traci wrote: "The Farm is the one I immediately thought of for the pregnancy prompt. I haven't read it, but it looks interesting."
Ohh that does look good.

[book:Maternal Instinct..."

Ooh, thanks. I want non-US/UK books, and this one fits the bill!

[Ellie]

Heh, I suggested tarot because it could be quite broad. The narrower ones don't seem to have done so well.

I'm probably going for pregnant character, tarot, collaboration and fiery title. Not sure what to do with my other votes, but I get the feeling upvoting too many isn't helpful for getting clear winners.

[Sophie]

Ellie wrote: "Not sure what to do with my other votes, but I get the feeling upvoting too many isn't helpful for getting clear winners. "

On the contrary! The main reason we had only one winner in the close-call poll is the high number of downvotes, so we need more upvotes to counter those 😉

[Entropia]

How do we define age categories? Decades or just broadly childhood, teenage years etc.?

A lot of those prompts are cool, the only ones I'm strongly against are guilty pleasure (I just don't feel like I have any) and pregnancy (my tokophobia is too strong).
Traditional holiday and jail time are prompts for which I don't really know (or don't remember) any books I'd like to read.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Voting is now open. You can vote here: https://www.surveymoz.com/s/DOYUD/

This link has also been copied into the first post on this thread.

[Marie]

It's nice to know I'm not the only one who doesn't feel bad about the things they enjoy - zero guilty pleasures for me.

I'm not sure how to interpret the comfort zone one. It just seems to be reading a book you don't really want to read? That doesn't sound like something I'd want to do.

Because of the joys of the English language, a book related to a traditional holiday means something entirely different to me than was was intended - I'm thinking of a family spending a rainy fortnight in a British seaside town :)

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Entropia, I would personally probably use age categories to mean child, teen, adult, elderly... I'm in my 30s, so I'd either read a YA book or a book with an elderly character to be on the safe side, since most books with people in their adult life don't really name a specific number.

And in writing this, I decided to upvote it lol. Off the bat, I have 5 upvotes and no downvotes. I'm not sure what I'll do with my remaining three votes, but I will probably use them since I hate leaving votes on the table.

[Ellie]

Entropia wrote: "How do we define age categories? Decades or just broadly childhood, teenage years etc.? A lot of those prompts are cool, the only ones I'm strongly against are guilty pleasure (I just don't feel ..."

I refuse to feel guilt/embarrassment about harmless things that make me happy. I think that prompt is at least worded in away that I can read about something in my life that I do kinda feel bad about, like if I get a takeaway I know that's not going to be high welfare meat, or buying products made in places with dubious ethics... I know that's not the intention of the prompt but it's the only way I can work it, and I don't mind fitting in some non-fiction on those topics.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I agree about the wording, Ellie. I'd much prefer this over "a book that is a guilty pleasure" because I feel zero guilt about books that I read. At least this way, I can squeeze in a book about fast food or even maybe a self-help type book to help overcome my laziness?

I'm not upvoting it, but I'm not downvoting it either for that reason.

[Ellie]

Marie wrote: "I'm not sure how to interpret the comfort zone one. It just seems to be reading a book you don't really want to read? That doesn't sound like something I'd want to do...."

Hah yes that's how I see that too, but I guess that's because I read quite widely across genres already? So outside my comfort zone is topics I don't want to read about, rather than trying a new genre.

[Jill]

5 Up votes and 3 down. I liked this list better than some of the others we have had. I did think the fantasy and the Tarot card ones were pretty similar, but would be happy to read either.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

For outside my comfort zone, I was thinking I would use that one to pick up a long book. Nearly 1/3 of the books I read this year are 400-600 pages, so that prompt won't really push me to read longer, but 700+ page books are outside of my comfort zone, and I try to read one big one a year (Gone with the Wind in 2017, Anna Karenina in 2018, and The Luminaries this year).

So I'd probably use this prompt for that book next year.