Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
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[2021] The Wild Discussion
Yes, I would definitely up-vote a multi week version of this. I'm not a huge fan of multi week prompts but I like this one.
Chelsey wrote: "Yes, I would definitely up-vote a multi week version of this. I'm not a huge fan of multi week prompts but I like this one."I would definitely vote for a prompt like this. I like it a lot.
I like this one! There are spouse duos too, like Nicola Yoon and David Yoon and Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
I also like it as a multi-prompt and I'm sure we of the group could come up with a very decent list--as we did for so many of the prompts this year.
I think we can certainly come up with a fairly extensive list. And thank you so much, everyone, for helping get from 'notion in my head' to 'concept other people understand'
Been some great suggestions so far. I like challenges like this to force me to read out of my comfort zone. That's why I also like lists (1001 books, awards lists, etc.). Almost all my books on my TBR are from some sort of list, so a weekly challenge about a list is an easy week for me. There are so many books that I've discovered from those lists that I never would have read, but absolutely loved. Some of my favorite books of all time.I really like the idea of expanding an awards list to include lesser known awards. I know some people were saying what they read doesn't tend to win awards, but I know that almost every genre has its own set of awards, so if we want to provide a list of those for people to help them meet the challenge I think that's great.
I also support the idea of more diversity in reading.
I love some of the random prompts from the challenges like Maximillian Hell (even if I haven't figured out what I'm reading for that one yet).
This group is great about not judging people's lists. It's a fun way to guide my reading, which I was I really like.
Absolutely agree with Steven that this group is great about not judging people's lists. I love the prompts, and I also love being able to interpret them however I wish. This is a wonderfully supportive community that respects everyone's choices.
Steve wrote: "Glancing at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021, nothing really jumps out at me as a good event to tie a prompt into. We already did the Olympics this year, unfortunately!21 can tie into blackjack..."
Steve, I was thinking the same thing about 21 - gambling, card suits, casinos, etc.
I’d be happy to have at least one prompt linked to the Olympics again. It would be nice to be able to actually read the book against the backdrop of the actual event. That’s assuming it happens of course.
My main complaint about lists is how American centric they are. After trying to add more diversity to my reading it became very noticeable.One of the best things about this group is the encouragement to expand our reading horizons. These lists are counter to that.
Creating our own lists for this years prompts was great. It helps me with the harder prompts and expands my reading too. Maybe we can try making our own list and relating a prompt to it.
We have the best book of the month threads we could us as well. Something like pick a book from one of the books recommended on the best book of the month thread.
That is clunky so needs some work.
Anastasia wrote: "My main complaint about lists is how American centric they are. After trying to add more diversity to my reading it became very noticeable.One of the best things about this group is the encourage..."
It might be fun to make a new thread for ATY members favorite book of all time, then we could do a prompt like Read another ATY members favorite book.
I love that idea, Chelsey. I did a challenge this year that had a category in which you asked another player to choose a book for you. The book that was chosen was not on my radar at all and has turned out to be one of my favorite books this year. Sometimes it is great to read something that has already struck at the heart of another person.
I like that suggestion Chelsey. One book from every member is a good number too. It would be easier to manage.
I was thinking about a "how-to" book. It could be anything from a reference style (cookbook, gardening) book or a life lesson book, depending on how you interpret it.
Mod
Kim wrote: "I was thinking about a "how-to" book. It could be anything from a reference style (cookbook, gardening) book or a life lesson book, depending on how you interpret it."I would definitely vote for this idea, I love cookbooks and it would be nice to count one for the challenge.
I would hate to have someone tell me to read a book. It would be like going back to school. No Way.
I joined the group this January, so I don’t know all the prompts from previous years, but what about one for a Goodreads recommendation based on a recent book you’ve read? Some of the best books I’ve read lately have come from the “Readers Also Enjoyed/Books Similar to” section.
I wouldn't be fond of the "how to" prompt. Just too limited a selection for me. No way to reinterpret it that I can think of to get outside the single genre (although I'm betting that some of the innovative people here would come up with something).
Mod
Not sure which suggestion you were referring to? Was it about someone else choosing a book for you? If so, I agree. I am happy to get recommendations but even to submit to someone else a list of several books on my TBR and ask them to pick one for me, Nope! Of course, when you belong to a book group, somebody chooses and they aren't always what I would pick but that seems different to me.
Anastasia wrote: "My main complaint about lists is how American centric they are. After trying to add more diversity to my reading it became very noticeable.One of the best things about this group is the encourage..."
Yes! I suggested something similar. Hope this makes it to the final list for 2021. It'll be fun to connect the 2021 list to something specific for this group, like our faves for 2020.
I like the idea of compiling a list of people’s most favourite book and then having a prompt based on it. Although it would be so hard to pick just one favourite book.I also like the idea of picking from the favourite books of each month thread. Although we’d want to encourage people to post to those threads. It seems like the number of posts is declining each month. I haven’t been active here all year until now. So now I’m off to see if I can pick one top book per month to add to the list.
Scratch that. It seems that the threads for the favourite book each month are closed. I couldn’t post to the threads.
I thought of a prompt randomly the other day that might need to be improved as far as wording, but I think could be good and is also pretty general: "A book you disagree with" The idea would be to read a book from a worldview you don't normally agree with. Maybe a religious text from a religion you are not a part of, a book about theology you don't necessarily agree with (something like The God Delusion for a religious person as an example). This could extend to political books from the other side of the political spectrum or something by an economist, philosopher, etc. you generally disagree with. I even think certain fiction books could be included because many of them have strong themes and ideas that people might disagree with. I think it's important to encourage people to engage with ideas they disagree with. They may end up continuing do disagree with the book or theyay change their minds, but either way they will better understand others' viewpoints.
Sam wrote: "I thought of a prompt randomly the other day that might need to be improved as far as wording, but I think could be good and is also pretty general: "A book you disagree with" The idea would be to ..."This sounds interesting, but I think a lot would down-vote this. Maybe (just spitballing here) make the wording less "disagreeable" into something like "A book with a theme/idea that is different from your own."
Serendipity wrote: "Scratch that. It seems that the threads for the favourite book each month are closed. I couldn’t post to the threads."The mods could open it up again if they think that's a good idea.
Sam wrote: "I thought of a prompt randomly the other day that might need to be improved as far as wording, but I think could be good and is also pretty general: "A book you disagree with" The idea would be to ..."I really like the idea, but I know many people refuse to engage with other points of view, so I really hope people in this group are more open minded than what I have seen lately. I think it could lead to some very interesting experiences.
Mod
This could overlap with what I had in mind about a subject or area you don't know anything about. It wouldn't have to be a totally oppositional relationship. For instance, a lot of people are reading Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis. My understanding is that the author relates his upbringing to his later political views, which are more on the conservative side. Because of that, I as a flaming liberal, didn't rush to read it, but I am certainly open to it, much more than I would be for an overtly political or religious book.
Mod
The goal of locking the threads has been to avoid splitting of the discussion into a bunch of different locations. That was happening particularly at the start of the new month when some people were putting a reflection in the previous month while others were putting it in the current one.
Mod
I'm also kind of curious about these prompts that would encourage you to read something that you would otherwise be unlikely to read. One that I've been mulling over is something like "a book by an author that you're giving a second chance" or something along those lines - I don't want to encourage people to read a book by an author they hate and will probably not like, but I've often had the experience of reading one book by an someone that didn't quite work for me and not being sure if it's the author's style or the subject of that particular book that was the problem.
Kim wrote: "I was thinking about a "how-to" book. It could be anything from a reference style (cookbook, gardening) book or a life lesson book, depending on how you interpret it."I like the idea of the prompt using the words "how-to" rather than "self-help." Last year I had suggested a book that inspires or motivates you, which I thought could lend itself to self-help and how-to books, but also was a little more broad because it could be a book with a creative/beautiful cover, a book with a character who overcomes obstacles, or a book by an inspirational person to you. I'm not currently planning to re-suggest it, but I thought it was an interesting take on something like this!
Hannah wrote: "I'm also kind of curious about these prompts that would encourage you to read something that you would otherwise be unlikely to read. One that I've been mulling over is something like "a book by an..."I agree. I don't really think you can judge an author on just one book
I was wondering how many people, if any, are interested in continuing the KIS/BIO list for 2021? (and does anyone know why typing 2021 just now felt so VERY strange???) I wish I could make a poll, because I'd like to know how many people made suggestions, how many people read the suggestions as they were made, and how many people actually used the list throughout the year. Oh, and how many of our wonderful core group of participants in the list making process plan to return this year? If it weren't for that group, the list never would have happened. My poor little brain alone can not come up with all those great ideas!
And for those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, this is a link to the 2020 KIS/BIO list. Thoughts?
So many great suggestions already! I think the first couple of polls are going to be excellent. Definitely looking forward to the process starting and providing a welcome distraction from lockdown. It will be interesting to see if current issues have an impact on our suggestions for next year.
Mod
Amy, I think it would be good to continue the KIS/BIO. I don’t use it so much during the challenge but I find it helpful after the polls, especially, with the prompts that seem really challenging for me. The KIS options help make them seem doable.
Amy, I appreciate your KIS/BIO lists. I haven't contributed to them but do find them very helpful.
Avery wrote: "Kim wrote: "I was thinking about a "how-to" book. It could be anything from a reference style (cookbook, gardening) book or a life lesson book, depending on how you interpret it."I like the idea ..."You expressed my idea better than I did, I think. I definitely didn't want to present it as "read a reference book" but more read a book that you learn something from - such as how a character overcame an obstacle. I think worded correctly this prompt could be fun. I often take something away from a book that I've enjoyed!
Ana A wrote: "Sam wrote: "I thought of a prompt randomly the other day that might need to be improved as far as wording, but I think could be good and is also pretty general: "A book you disagree with" The idea ..."I've been brainstorming ways to make it a bit more general, maybe "A book by someone you disagree with" so that the book itself doesn't have to be about the thing you disagree with it on. Still gets people engaging with other ideas.
It could be as general as "A book you wouldn't normally read" (seems like a pretty common type of prompt) or "a book about a topic you know little/nothing about" as Robin suggested.
I do agree with y'all that many people might not like this prompt, so any improvements that might make people more open to it while still getting them to engage with ideas they might not totally agree with is great.
Sam wrote: "Ana A wrote: "Sam wrote: "I thought of a prompt randomly the other day that might need to be improved as far as wording, but I think could be good and is also pretty general: "A book you disagree w..."
i'm open to a book you wouldn't normally read (because i can easily try a new genre or format) but i personally hate the idea of picking up something i'll hate. i don't like that idea of forcing yourself to read something you won't enjoy. i know that'll make me slump
i'm open to a book you wouldn't normally read (because i can easily try a new genre or format) but i personally hate the idea of picking up something i'll hate. i don't like that idea of forcing yourself to read something you won't enjoy. i know that'll make me slump
annie wrote: "Sam wrote: "Ana A wrote: "Sam wrote: "I thought of a prompt randomly the other day that might need to be improved as far as wording, but I think could be good and is also pretty general: "A book yo..."Just because you disagree with some of the opinions discussed in a book does not mean that you will not enjoy it. I try to read books that discuss topics that I do not agree with once in a while, and though I may be more critical to the arguments and the thought process of the author, some times I really enjoy the book.
I don't know about wording the prompt "a book about a topic you know little/nothing about" because my brain tend to overanalyze it. Popsugar have a similar promt, and I still haven't decided what to read for it. How little is little enough?
I feel like ‘from a point of view different than your own’ sounds less confrontational than ‘that you disagree with’?
A book related to books. It can be fiction or nonfiction. It can be about anything dealing with books. Libraries,bookstores,booksellers,publishers/editors,authors,readers,etc.
Mod
I really appreciate your comment, Ira. It sort of relates to the discussion about different points of view. I have immediate and strong opinions on just about everything, so it is good for me to be reminded that other people may want more detail, more time to think things through, etc. and I should make sure my suggestions accommodate that. I am the opposite of an overthinker, sometimes jumping in without reading or hearing all the info, which has gotten me in trouble in "real life". I joined this group because it has the freedom to interpret the prompts widely, which isn't always the case.
Mod
Opens it up to include different socioeconomic status, birthplace, or ethnicity but also topics.
I was in a challenge once that had us read 5 books related to any topic of our choosing. I chose China as my topic and read a couple works of fiction translated from the Chinese, a book about the discovery of the warrior statues, a memoir, and a book of essays on China. I think that's too many books for our challenges, but maybe 2 or 3 books that relate to a topic of our choosing would be a good multi-week challenge. I really enjoyed exploring something in depth. Topics could be most anything that interests you: art, dogs, history, a country, writing, books, gardening, authors of color, children's literature, etc.
The Grand Egyptian Museum, described as the largest archaeological museum in the world, is expected to be completed in 2021. I was trying to think of a prompt around that...Book set in Egypt, in a museum, or dealing with archaeology perhaps.
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Around the Year in 52 Books
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And that would make phrasing it much easier too. Something like "Read books by two authors who are related to each other"