[2021] The Wild Discussion Showing 1,901-1,950 of 2,279

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Oh, thanks for clarifying, Jillian! That is important to know.

I guess it could be a BIO option if you want all your books to be over a certain length, like 100 or 150 pages. Sometimes page numbers are misleading as some books have small pages with lots of white space, big print, illustrations, etc. and others have dense small print.

[Pam]

Thomas - Summer by Edith Wharton sounds perfect! I added it to my TBR. When I was looking for it on GR I found Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver, which I have on my bookshelf. So, that’s my 2nd choice. And no, there’s no page length requirement. You can read novellas, mid-grade, picture books, etc. It’s your challenge!

[Jillian]

Robin, it seems that ever group has different rules on page length. I really like how here there is no length requirement and everyone gets to decided if their books counts. (It is possible the seasonal challenges here have a page count requirement but I don’t do them so I’m unsure). Some of my other groups have either 100, 125, and 150 pages minimums and different rules with graphic novels and children’s books. It can get to be quite confusing. I tend not to participate much in my more restrictive groups challenges.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Yes, the flexibility of this group is what appealed to me. A few years ago, I was doing multiple challenges through Book Riot and GR groups and one for reading a book published in each year of my life. But I noticed I was reading things I didn't particularly care about and going to the library for them rather than reading the many books I already own. So I just quit all of them and felt really freed up. I think those challenges would have been better for me when I was younger and had no idea what to read. My favorite prompts for this group have been those that weren't immediately obvious but took some creativity for me to fit in a book I already wanted to read.

[Tina]

Thank you Thomas and Emily!

[Thomas]

Your welcome

[dalex]

Thomas wrote: "How are the rest of you doing the associate with a particular season prompt? Now I need my WC for something else I’m working out how to do that one"

Think about associating books with seasons -
love stories/romance - February
comfort books (however you define that), light reads, etc. - spring
big tomes, like fantasy and historical fiction - summer
books about beaches, vacations, etc. - summer
"beach reads" - summer
books about academia - autumn
creepy books, mysteries, etc. - October
family sagas, books about family relationships - holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas
books set in winter or with a cold setting - winter
books set during Christmastime - December

Think about cover images that can be associated with seasons -
hearts - February
flowers, trees, nature - spring
beach scenes, boats, etc. - summer
autumn foliage, autumn colors - autumn
winter scenes - winter

Think about things, like foods, that you associate with a particular season -
Blackberry Wine - berries = summer
The Orchardist - orchard = apples = autumn
Chocolat - chocolate = Valentine's Day/February
Still Life with Bread Crumbs - bread + soup = winter
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake - cake = birthday

Books with seasons in the title
Books with months in the title
Books with holidays in the title

[Avery]

I'm pleased with this year's list!

Here are my stats:

Upvoted 78 prompts
Downvoted 74 prompts

20 of my upvotes are on the final list
9 of my downvotes are on the final list

8 of my prompt suggestions are on the final list! Some of these aren't super original, but I am particularly proud of the NATO prompt, element of magic, non-fiction other than memoir, you read what?! and ensemble cast!

- 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future"
- A book related to a codeword from the NATO Phonetic Alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie...)
- A book with elements of magic
- A non-fiction book other than biography, autobiography or memoir
- A winner or nominee from the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards
- A book that might cause someone to react “You read what?!?”
- A book with an ensemble cast
- A mystery or thriller

[Nancy]

I just have to say that I am jealous of all of you that have stats on your votes! I came in late as I didn't realize the voting had started and then I didn't keep track of my votes.

I'm going to make sure to pay better attention next year because I want to post stats too!

[Katie]

Alicia, I have to know what BIPOC retellings you're looking at for the card suits! Super creative.

[Alicia]

Katie wrote: "Alicia, I have to know what BIPOC retellings you're looking at for the card suits! Super creative."

I'm actually really excited about this group! Here is what I have so far, but I am ALWAYS looking for recommendations on BIPOC retellings. It's one of my new favorite niche's. In parantheses I was giving what my interpretation of the suit meant, and I'm also open to more creative ways to think of these.

~ book related to card suit diamonds (jewelry, money, greed): Scavenge the Stars or Of Curses and Kisses

~ book related to card suit hearts (romance): Of Curses and Kisses or Pride

~ book related to card suit clubs (team, organization): Blanca & Roja or Dorothy Must Die

~ book related to card suit spades (death, funeral, murder): Dorothy Must Die or The Girl in Red

[Kathy]

Avery wrote: "I'm pleased with this year's list!

Here are my stats:

Upvoted 78 prompts
Downvoted 74 prompts

20 of my upvotes are on the final list
9 of my downvotes are on the final list

8 of my prompt sugge..."

That's amazing, Avery! Great suggestions!

[Serendipity]

My success rate too a hit these last two poll. I upvoted 17 of the 48 prompts we voted for (17 out of 50 if you count the three week prompt as three but of course it was just a single vote) and downvoted three. None of my suggestions made it through. I suppose those figures aren’t too bad but right now I’m not feeling especially invested or excited for next year. It is possible I’ve overdone the reading challenges. I think my plan for next year is to read what I want, slot things in where I can and just see what happens. Because lots of super creative prompts didn’t get in it may all work out. I can already see one or two opening for where what I want to read will fit eg I’m planning to read my way through all the winners of the women’s prize. The inaugural winner will fit nicely for “in the beginning”.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Avery wrote: "I'm pleased with this year's list!

Here are my stats:

Upvoted 78 prompts
Downvoted 74 prompts

20 of my upvotes are on the final list
9 of my downvotes are on the final list

8 of my prompt sugge..."

Wow! You might have the record for winning prompts and I especially love the NATO alphabet and “you read what?,” I was thrilled that I got 2 voted in, though they weren’t particularly creative - a title with a negative word and a cover showing more than 2 people.

[Thomas]

I got one in Female Villain and proposed two that didn’t but one was for someone else. I am doing the two decades one I suggested for the prompt that did not make it prompt

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Avery, that success rate for suggestions is incredible!

[[deleted user]]

Alicia wrote: "Ok I think I’m cheating on the prompt that didn’t make it in because there were two I really loved: BIPOC retelling and the multi-week card suits (hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs).

So I’m going t..."

would be a good one! it's an alice in wonderland retelling by a black author and it has a spade on the cover. but your tbr sounds amazing already!

the girl in red is one of my favourite books of this year and blanca & roja, pride, & scavnge the stars are all fantastic as well

[Alicia]

annie wrote: "Alicia wrote: "Ok I think I’m cheating on the prompt that didn’t make it in because there were two I really loved: BIPOC retelling and the multi-week card suits (hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs).
..."

Ooh A Blade So Black sounds perfect! I'll definitely use it for spades. I have A Girl in Red as a possibility for a lot of our prompts because I really want to read it so I feel comfortable bumping it because I know I'll get to it for sure!

[Alicia]

You all inspired me to do the Harry Potter challenge by the end of the year.

Would The Girl in Red count for Care of Magical Creatures?

[[deleted user]]

Alicia wrote: "annie wrote: "Alicia wrote: "Ok I think I’m cheating on the prompt that didn’t make it in because there were two I really loved: BIPOC retelling and the multi-week card suits (hearts, diamonds, spa..."

i hope you enjoy them both! i think the other books in the series have different suits on their covers so i might even be able to use those for the deck of cards prompt myself

[[deleted user]]

Alicia wrote: "You all inspired me to do the Harry Potter challenge by the end of the year. "

what's the harry potter challenge?

[Alicia]

annie wrote: "Alicia wrote: "You all inspired me to do the Harry Potter challenge by the end of the year. "

what's the harry potter challenge?"

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

You're supposed to go through the seven Hogwarts Subjects seven times (to represent the 7 years at Hogwarts). But that's a lot with the same prompts. So I'm just going to do one pass at it.


Also, the rest of the series has a heart and clubs, which have all been added to my TBR! Not sure if I'm going to count them here because I don't know if it's still a retelling or just a continuation of one.

[[deleted user]]

Alicia wrote: "Also, the rest of the series has a heart and clubs, which have all been added to my TBR! Not sure if I'm going to count them here because I don't know if it's still a retelling or just a continuation of one."

thanks for the link 😊

i haven't read the sequels yet (hopefulyl next year) but i'm assuming they're just going to be a continuation of the alice in wonderland retelling

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

(Psssst... I have a busy day tomorrow so I posted the final order just a tad early ☺️)

[Thomas]

Fair enough my planning is already underway

[[deleted user]]

Emily wrote: "(Psssst... I have a busy day tomorrow so I posted the final order just a tad early ☺️)"

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! i'm so excited for this

[Kat]

Can't believe I only read this a minute before I'm supposed to start work. How am I supposed to concentrate knowing the full list is right there?

[Ellie]

Kat wrote: "Can't believe I only read this a minute before I'm supposed to start work. How am I supposed to concentrate knowing the full list is right there?"

Me too!

[dalex]

Emily wrote: "(Psssst... I have a busy day tomorrow so I posted the final order just a tad early ☺️)"

Squee! Let the organizing and planning commence!

[Kim]

Does anyone else think this is the hardest time of year to read? I've finished my challenges, and I don't really want to mess up my next year's plan, so I guess I have to totally read spontaneously!

[Thomas]

Normally yes but I am still finishing Popsugar

[Nancy]

Doing 2 challenges this year means I'm not feeling that way. I have one left on PS and two on ATY (one of those in progress) since I just did some shuffling (I wasn't feeling my pick for the literary prize, and then realized I'd read The Nickel Boys this year for a PS prompt, so I moved it to literary and used something else that wasn't for a challenge (The Vanishing Half) for the PS prompt.

I like to read holiday-themed books in December and already have those planned out. So I may need a few here and there but for the most part I should be set.

[Pam]

No, this is not the hardest time of the year for me to read. The summer months are when I hit a lull. I’m motivated right now to finish ATY. I may call it quits on Popsugar. I have 2 other challenges in other groups that I might finish but am losing interest in them, too!

[°~Amy~°]

I just finished organizing the KIS/BIO list to match our finalized 2021 ATY Challenge list. If anyone has any other KIS or BIO ideas to add to the list, just let me know on that thread and I will add it!

[°~Amy~°]

Pam wrote: "No, this is not the hardest time of the year for me to read. The summer months are when I hit a lull. I’m motivated right now to finish ATY. I may call it quits on Popsugar. I have 2 other challeng..."

I finished ATY a few months ago. I am struggling with finishing Popsugar. Even my rejects challenge isn't doing anything for me at the moment. I think I might just finish up the year with free reads :-)

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

I finished the ATY challenge for the 2nd time, still have a few more books for the fall challenge. Thanks to ATY (and a bit to the pandemic) I have read way more than usual this year!

I have a speaking "gig" every couple months so I have some reading to do for that. My past topics have ranged from women's history and issues (Free Thinker: Sex, Suffrage, and the Extraordinary Life of Helen Hamilton Gardener, Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger, to literary figures (Charles Dickens, Mary Shelley) to psychological and religious issues (The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts, The Lost Art of Scripture: Rescuing the Sacred Texts). My next one will be on "Class in America" and that is why I have been reading Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America and Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis.

I am also continuing mystery series I enjoy, including the Bryant & May series by Christopher Fowler and the John Fielding series by Bruce Alexander, and on audio the Walt Longmire series by Craig Johnson.

[Katie]

Alicia wrote: "I'm actually really excited about this group! Here is what I have so far, but I am ALWAYS looking for recommendations on BIPOC retellings. It's one of my new favorite niche's."

That is awesome. Pride is actually the first one I thought of for hearts.

My favorite BIPOC retellings I've read in the past few years are below. Not sure if they could fit into the suits though.

The Palace of Illusions
Home Fire
Unmarriageable

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Does anyone know about exporting books from GR to Excel? I know I have done it in the past but can't remember how. I see an option to export my whole library but that is over 3700 books. But almost 3000 of them are already read. I want only my unread books, which I called "Owned" and maybe my "Want to Read", which are books I don't own. It would be great if I could export just one shelf.

[Alicia]

Katie wrote: "Alicia wrote: "I'm actually really excited about this group! Here is what I have so far, but I am ALWAYS looking for recommendations on BIPOC retellings. It's one of my new favorite niche's."

That..."

I've added all of them to my TBR and Unmarriageable would definitely fit hearts!

[Thomas]

CHANGE OF SUBJECT: anyone know when they announce the goodreads award nominees?

[Ellie]

I've never seen an option to export just one shelf. I just download the CSV and then filter in Excel for what I need. Because it's CSV format it shouldn't be too big a file to download...

[Alicia]

Thomas wrote: "CHANGE OF SUBJECT: anyone know when they announce the goodreads award nominees?"

Usually mid to end of November. But there are a good amount that you can probably guess at based onpopularity and viewing the votes in this list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

It's not guaranteed, but it's a good guide.

[Kat]

It was 5th November last year so hopefully not long. I already miss voting for things.

[Steve]

Ellie wrote: "I've never seen an option to export just one shelf. I just download the CSV and then filter in Excel for what I need. Because it's CSV format it shouldn't be too big a file to download..."

Yes, it will export every book you've shelved. There'll be a column that lists what shelves those books are on. Once you've opened the CSV, you can sort the column, or run some sort of filter of your choosing to find the books you want.

[Alicia]

Kat wrote: "It was 5th November last year so hopefully not long. I already miss voting for things."

Even better!

[Kathy]

Robin P wrote: "I finished the ATY challenge for the 2nd time, still have a few more books for the fall challenge. Thanks to ATY (and a bit to the pandemic) I have read way more than usual this year!

I have a spe..."

That's a lot of interesting reading, Robin.

[Kim]

Robin P wrote: "Does anyone know about exporting books from GR to Excel? I know I have done it in the past but can't remember how. I see an option to export my whole library but that is over 3700 books. But almost..."

I also feel that way - I would love to be able to download specific shelves, I wonder if GR keeps a user wishlist.

[Alicia]

Does anyone have suggestions on where I can fit in Rules of Civility


I just can't figure it out. I've been to NYC, I'm using King of Scars for monochromatic cover (even though I think that would be a stretch here), and no one put it on their ATYBest Book list.

The closest I can think of is NATO alphabet because of Yankee and NYC. But that feels a bit stretched. Any other ideas?

[Jackie, Solstitial Mod]

Kim wrote: "I wonder if GR keeps a user wishlist."

If they do, it must be a mile long

[Rachel]

Does anyone remember around when PopSugar comes out with their list? I usually don't start fully planning until I see both our list and PS's, but I can never remember when it is!