[2021] The Wild Discussion Showing 1,301-1,350 of 2,279

[Chelsey]

I think making a listopia is an excellent idea for people to pull from. I would personally love to look and find books off of it to fill other prompts. I just don't want the prompt because its been done too many times in various groups.

[Juliet]

Alicia wrote: "I really don't know if we should suggest the prompt again or that it's worth building out a listopia.

I don't think the results are going to change, as people have expressed that, for various reas..."

I think there ARE concerns about group feelings here potentially, and I know it's not what you wanted, but how about taking it back to a LBGTQA+ prompt and then people interested in the more restrictive version can BIO it? That should solve a lot of accessibility/genre interest issues?

[Chrissy]

Something being a close call doesn’t mean people don’t want it... just that the other ones got more this time. How a prompt does in a poll depends a lot on what it’s up against.

[[deleted user]]

if anyone is looking for more books with various queer rep, i have a 'queer rep' shelf with close to 700 books here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

i also have a specific queer author shelf with over 350 titles: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

and a trans, enby & gnc author shelf with close to 100 titles: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

[Rachel]

I think a listopia is worthwhile either way. I agree that it might not be necessary to suggest the prompt a third time, but I can definitely see a list being helpful for those of us who are interested. I was originally not going to vote for or against the prompt, but once I realized I had several authors already on my TBR that would fit and that I didn't initially realize would have fit, it changed my mind.

[Conny]

(1) I'm all for the random word generator prompt!

(2) Would love to see a listopia on the TQIA+ prompt no matter whether we give the prompt another try or not. PopSugar will certainly come up with another LGBTQIA+-related prompt (it seems to have become a staple recently) and there is no reason why we shouldn't focus on the second half of the term of our own accord. Personally, I would definitely love to extend my reading more in that direction no matter what.

(3) Random prompt idea I've been muling over for a while now: After a long discussion about MacGuffins with a friend the other week, I've been reading up a little on plot devices in screewriting and was wondering whether that could be translated into a prompt.
For those unfamiliar with the term, a MacGuffin is "an object, device, or event that is necessary to the plot and the motivation of the characters, but insignificant, unimportant, or irrelevant in itself" (quoted from Wikipedia). An oft-quoted example is the briefcase in "Pulp Fiction"; think also: the suitcase in "Ronin", the money Marion Crane embezzles in "Psycho", or the Rambaldi artifacts on "Alias" (the TV show), or indeed the Philosopher's Stone in the first Harry Potter book: objects which are coveted/sought after by the characters, but all they do is drive the plot forward without having a real function in and of themselves.
If that object actually DOES something (i.e. is must be obtained by the character to cash in later), it is referred to as a "plot coupon". Examples include the Golden Ticket from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" or indeed the One Ring from "The Lord of the Rings". The Deathly Hallows from the last Harry Potter book would also be a plot coupon rather than a MacGuffin (I would argue) because they have an actual use for the character.

So ... is that too outlandish (again) or do you think it would make an interesting plot-related prompt? Something like:

A book involving a MacGuffin or Plot Coupon

[[deleted user]]

Conny wrote: "A book involving a MacGuffin or Plot Coupon"

do you think it's something that could easily be researched? i love this kind of prompt but my first gut reaction was 'how will i know if it fits the parameters until the end of the book'?

[[deleted user]]

Ellie wrote: "A book related to a word given by randomwordgenerator.com."

love this wording, thanks!

[Conny]

annie wrote: "do you think it's something that could easily be researched? i love this kind of prompt but my first gut reaction was 'how will i know if it fits the parameters until the end of the book'?"

That is exactly why I'm asking you guys for your opinion, because I wasn't sure about that myself :)
However, I think that these kinds of plot devices are usually mentioned in the cover blurb, as they really are the main motivation for the characters to go on a quest/chase after an elusive clue/find an object lost in time which is supposed to have powers of some sort/etc. Think Maltese Falcon, Holy Grail, Atlantis, etc. And as I intend to cover both MacGuffin and Plot Coupon, there is no need to know beforehand which of the two it actually is (i. e. whether the object actually DOES something or not), so no knowledge of the dénouement/solution should be necessary. Ultimately, most quest-type stories involve either one or the other, I believe ... or is that taking it too far?

[Chelsey]

Conny wrote: "annie wrote: "do you think it's something that could easily be researched? i love this kind of prompt but my first gut reaction was 'how will i know if it fits the parameters until the end of the b..."

I think this is too out there personally especially for voters who don't participate in discussion..maybe i'm just not getting it

[[deleted user]]

Conny wrote: "And as I intend to cover both MacGuffin and Plot Coupon, there is no need to know beforehand which of the two it actually is (i. e. whether the object actually DOES something or not), so no knowledge of the dénouement/solution should be necessary. "

i think if having both the 'types' in the prompt covers whether you need to read the book or not, it's a great idea! i know it's something i would vote for because it's a little bit different, fun to research, and i adore a good quest book but i don't know if all the people who don't read any genre fiction will go for it.

[Conny]

annie wrote: "i know it's something i would vote for because it's a little bit different, fun to research, and i adore a good quest book but i don't know if all the people who don't read any genre fiction will go for it. "

Yes, it's the kind of prompt which I personally love, which is why I keep suggesting those "a little bit out there" prompts ... always trying to find something that has not been done before either here or over on Popsugar :D

Chelsey wrote: "I think this is too out there personally especially for voters who don't participate in discussion..maybe i'm just not getting it"

Thank you for your input. I was afraid that would be a problem, that is why put the idea up here first. I will wait for a little more feedback and then decide whether I'll give it a try ot not.

[dalex]

I fear the MacGuffin prompt would be one of those that people who don't follow discussions and/or research would see on the poll and react "don't know what it is, don't want it on the list."

Maybe if it was worded in an explanatory way, like "a book with a quest for a particular object (aka a MacGuffin)"?

[Becky]

Chrissy wrote: "Something being a close call doesn’t mean people don’t want it... just that the other ones got more this time. How a prompt does in a poll depends a lot on what it’s up against."
I agree with this. The TQIA prompt has been a close call twice and there is clearly plenty of enthusiasm from members who post here, so I think it could be worth giving it one more shot. If it had been polarizing or just middle-of-the-pack in the polls, I would be more inclined to agree that there isn't support for it in the group. A group listopia is a great idea either way.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

dalex wrote: "I fear the MacGuffin prompt would be one of those that people who don't follow discussions and/or research would see on the poll and react "don't know what it is, don't want it on the list."

Maybe..."

Quest conjures up fantasy but plenty of mysteries are about missing objects. I'm wondering if a book about the Olympics would sort of fit, since the medal itself isn't that valuable, it is the meaning of it. Maybe a KIS option.

[Hannah]

Maybe "a book that centers around the search for a particular object"?

[Juliet]

Do you all think ‘ a book related to folklore’ would interest people? I feel like it’s broad enough to cover nonfiction and a lot of fiction genres

[Hannah]

Juliet wrote: "Do you all think ‘ a book related to folklore’ would interest people? I feel like it’s broad enough to cover nonfiction and a lot of fiction genres"

I like that that prompt gives the option of a fairytale retelling but isn't limited to it. I like books about folklore (like Possession) much more than I like fairytale retellings, which I think are hard to do well (though I like the good ones!)

[Angie]

Juliet wrote: "Do you all think ‘ a book related to folklore’ would interest people? I feel like it’s broad enough to cover nonfiction and a lot of fiction genres"

I would like a prompt like that.

[Kathy]

Juliet wrote: "Do you all think ‘ a book related to folklore’ would interest people? I feel like it’s broad enough to cover nonfiction and a lot of fiction genres"

I'd like this also.

[Alicia]

Love this prompt too! Also if you like various folklore stories, I highly recommend the podcast Myths and Legends.

[dalex]

The folklore prompt was done by another group (I think Reading Woman) and I remember there was a lot of confusion about what folklore is. Is it separate from mythology and fairy tales, or does it encompass those things while being something separate, or what?

I think if it’s going to be a suggested prompt then there needs to be a clear definition. Or it could be a broader prompt - folklore or mythology or fairytale.

Just my thinks. :)

[Chelsey]

I think I would up-vote the folklore prompt and probably just keep it simple and read some traditional folklore short stories or something.

[Ellie]

The dictionary definition:
the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth.

So to me I wouldn't count Cinderella but I would count the Loch Ness Monster and Baba Yaga.

[Juliet]

See, I would count Cinderella because those stories were certainly passed down by mouth before the Grimes and Lang wrote them down, but I feel like people can make their own interpretations there

[Ellie]

I do know that Grimm and Anderson used other people's stories but I don't know how much of say Cinderella was folklore before it was made it not folklore. Cinderella was not handed down to me by word of mouth but Nessie was, so that is my only distinction for my understanding of the difference. Otherwise it might as well be a fairytale/myth prompt.

[dalex]

https://literaryterms.net/folklore/

Quote from article:
“Folklore refers to the tales people tell – folk stories, fairy tales, “tall tales,” and even urban legends. Folklore is typically passed down by word of mouth, rather than being written in book. The key here is that folklore has no author – it just emerges from the culture and is carried forward by constant retelling.

Some stories, such as the Grimm’s fairy tales, are mistakenly referred to as folklore, but actually they are not: they have a specific author, and therefore don’t fit the definition of folklore.”

[dalex]

https://literaryterms.net/folklore/

Quote from above article:

“Folklore refers to the tales people tell – folk stories, fairy tales, “tall tales,” and even urban legends. Folklore is typically passed down by word of mouth, rather than being written in book. The key here is that folklore has no author – it just emerges from the culture and is carried forward by constant retelling.

Some stories, such as the Grimm’s fairy tales, are mistakenly referred to as folklore, but actually they are not: they have a specific author, and therefore don’t fit the definition of folklore.”

[Juliet]

dalex wrote: "https://literaryterms.net/folklore/

Quote from above article:

“Folklore refers to the tales people tell – folk stories, fairy tales, “tall tales,” and even urban legends. Folklore is typically pa..."

Agree with your point re someone like Hans Christian Andersen, but in the case of the Grimms they collected (mostly German) folklore, they didn't author it

[Conny]

I find folk lore and urban legends fascinating and would love to see a prompt on it no matter how often it's been done before.

Thanks everyone for your input re the MacGuffin idea. I'm still struggling with it. "search for a particar object" does not quite cover it, because it limits it to the actual quest for a physical object. It is broader than that. It could also be a person or an idea or a mystery (think "Rosebud"), just something which provides for the primary motivation of the characters and instigates the plot.

Perhaps something like "A book centered around a singular idea or particular object which drives the plot forward (a MacGuffin)"

I would really love to have the word "MacGuffin" in the prompt, but I know that prompts should actually not be too wordy or contain brackets or "i.e." or colons, so I'm not sure how to work that in without the brackets without having people go, "Dunno what that is, gonna downvote."

Or maybe I should just let it go :D

[[deleted user]]

Conny wrote: "Perhaps something like "A book centered around a singular idea or particular object which drives the plot forward (a MacGuffin)"

to be completely honest, i couldn't see myself voting for a prompt worded like that. no books pop into mind when i read it and seems difficult to research (i know what it means now but if i was reading it for the first time, without this discussion). i think i'd only vote for it, personally, if it meant i could choose a fantasy with a quest element because i like books like that! but still worth a try at suggesting it!

[Steve]

Yeah, a MacGuffin prompt is tough for research because researching might lead to too much of a spoiler. Like if you know that Rosebud is the sled, the effect isn't as strong.

[dalex]

Juliet wrote: "Agree with your point re someone like Hans Christian Andersen, but in the case of the Grimms they collected (mostly German) folklore, they didn't author it."

And this confirms my point that folklore can be a difficult prompt.

I found an article that says Grimm's tales are not folklore and you have a valid argument that they are.

So people are either going to not vote for the prompt because they're unsure of the definition or, if it makes the list, people are going to read anything and everything - folklore, fairy tales, mythology, etc.

It's not a bad prompt idea.....just a difficult one to execute properly.

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

What do people think about a prompt like this:

A book about starting over or a character having a fresh start

I know many of us are ready to leave 2020 behind. It would also lend itself well to both fiction and non-fiction. There’s actually a fair number of lists:

https://bookriot.com/100-must-read-bo...
https://www.readitforward.com/essay/a...
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/...
https://earlybirdbooks.com/literary-f...

[Hannah]

dalex wrote: "Juliet wrote: "Agree with your point re someone like Hans Christian Andersen, but in the case of the Grimms they collected (mostly German) folklore, they didn't author it."

And this confirms my po..."

The thesis that I'm currently procrastinating on is actually on folklore/fairy tales and the precise definitions of the terms are complicated and debated. However, I think that many people have a sense of what folklore means to them and I hardly think it's a problem if some people read fairy tales, some people read mythology, etc. In my opinion, that's still a fun prompt. If we're worried about people not voting for it because they don't know the definition of folklore, I think expanding it to "folklore/fairytales/mythology," as you suggested above, is a great idea.

[Wendy]

I would vote for a folklore prompt. The highly specific definitions mentioned above didn't cross my mind, though. I suspect each reader would give their own spin. I personally wouldn't separate say, the Andersons from the Grimms in my interpretation. If others care to, that's perfectly fine with me and doesn't affect me anyway.

[°~Amy~°]

I think one of the best parts of this group and this challenge is that there isn't a prompt police deciding if we are "properly" fulfilling the prompts. I love how we are allowed and even encouraged to interpret every prompt how best it suits each of us. :-)

[Kathy]

Laura wrote: "What do people think about a prompt like this:

A book about starting over or a character having a fresh start

I know many of us are ready to leave 2020 behind. It would also lend itself well to ..."

I like this one, Laura.

[Juliet]

I like the idea of a fresh prompt idea as well, it feels very hopeful right now

[Alicia]

Rosebud is the sled??? J/k

I really like the folktale prompt as well. I think it’s a very broad definition (which I like) and I’d be excited to see what the listopia looks like.

[Angie]

I love the idea of a folklore-based prompt, and I don't see an issue with people perhaps defining it more broadly than some of us. I mean, that's every prompt, right?

Folklore is actually one of my sub-specialties. I have some great recommendations for this prompt if it comes around.

[Juliet]

I work swing, so it’s a toss up if I will be awake to suggest in the next round, if some else is and wants to I was thinking ‘A book related to folklore’ for the phrasing

[Avery]

Just continuing some of the conversation from round 13 suggestions/voting...

I also think that the unusual book prompt and “you read what?!” prompt are similar. I like both prompts and would be happy with either, but would not want both on the list.

That being said, I strongly prefer the “you read what?!” wording because it’s just unique and funny and makes me chuckle. I did not vote for the unusual book and I hope to be able to vote for the “you read what?!?” prompt again soon.

I would like to resubmit the you read what prompt... are there any wording issues to resolve before resubmitting it again? I personally would be happy with the original wording of:

A book that might cause someone to react “you read what?!?”

But... From the suggestion thread/discussion, it seems like some people don’t like it since they don’t know what other people would be thinking. I think the “you read what?!” book could be a book that you yourself thought was a crazy read when you first saw it and added it to your TBR. The prompt as it was worded doesn’t specify who was surprised at your book choice. But for those who are hung up on not being able to know what someone else thinks, wording like this could be more open to including your own thoughts:

A book that might cause someone to react “a book about what?!?”

[Sara]

I love that prompt, Avery and would vote for it in a resubmission. I think the wording is fine as originally stated. Just the fact that it is a question implies that you are thinking it is what someone might say about the book. It is a fun prompt and not stodgy. I'd like to see at least one of those.

[Kathy]

I'd vote for it too, Avery. I voted for the "unusual book" this time but I think the two prompts are quite different. I'd take both.

[Traci]

Avery wrote: "Just continuing some of the conversation from round 13 suggestions/voting...

I also think that the unusual book prompt and “you read what?!” prompt are similar. I like both prompts and would be h..."

I personally like the first wording better. I think the first wording is more open to something like a weird title that is about normal things, where the second wouldn't be. There might also be other differences in interpretation that I haven't thought about though.

[°~Amy~°]

Kathy wrote: "I'd vote for it too, Avery. I voted for the "unusual book" this time but I think the two prompts are quite different. I'd take both."

I agree. I don't think we need to choose one or the other.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Traci wrote: "Avery wrote: "Just continuing some of the conversation from round 13 suggestions/voting...

I also think that the unusual book prompt and “you read what?!” prompt are similar. I like both prompts ..."

I agree that first title is better, as it's not restricted to subject matter. (For instance, could be reading a chunkster or something else unexpected). I love the "you read WHAT?! ", while "unusual book" seems rather bland. I hope all readers have enough imagination to picture what someone else might think. Most of us have already had the experience of someone being surprised at what (or how much) we read.

[Sara]

Thank you, Robin. Expresses my feelings perfectly.

[Alicia]

I also prefer the you read WHAT?!? To the unusual. I also view them as similar enough that I wouldn’t want both. I see how they can be different (what I find unusual v someone else), but I don’t think researching which prompts would fit into each category would be much of a challenge for me. I’d likely end up copying and pasting a lot.

I didn’t vote either way on unusual, and decided to let fate take its course.