[2021] The Wild Discussion Showing 251-300 of 2,279

[Ashley]

I like that idea with the interpretation. I thought it was going to focus more on Egypt but like the possibilities if you want them. plus its different. some prompts seem to be the same each year.

[Rachel]

If the Egypt prompt gets in, I'd go for The Book of Two Ways. My favourite author, and luckily her new book has to do with Egypt!

[Emma]

I don't know if it has been suggested, but I always like the prompts that relate to the year, and with 2021, I feel like a prompt relating to turning 21 could be fun?

[Chelsey]

Emma wrote: "I don't know if it has been suggested, but I always like the prompts that relate to the year, and with 2021, I feel like a prompt relating to turning 21 could be fun?"

It was discussed on either a gambling related prompt due to the 21 in blackjack or a book published when you turned 21 or in the future if you arent. Most people seemed to not be a fan of the second option.

[Ellie]

I've been off Goodreads for a bit so it's exciting to see I'm back just in time for voting!

[Conny]

Seeing as we are such a huge group, I am sure that many of our members have met some authors personally or have at least interacted with them directly via social media or otherwise. This got me thinking about degrees of separation.

So the idea would be to have all of us list all authors we have ever interacted with directly and then see how many we get. And if we count all the group members as being one degree of separation to one another, too, we can link everyone in the group to any author on that list via just one link inbetween.
As a reminder, you are one degree away from everyone you know, two degrees away from everyone they know, and so on.

So I suggest: A book by an author from whom you are no more than two degrees of separation away

Example: I've met Austrian author Ursula Poznanski in person at a reading, and I've corresponded personally with Sharon Bolton on Facebook (by private message). So everyone in this group is, through me, two degrees of separation away from these two authors and could ready anything by either one of them.

If we increase the number to three degrees, we will probably already cover a good number of today's authors; all it takes is for a few of our members to have interacted with the likes of Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, or George R.R. Martin, because they, in turn, probably know half the world of literature. Perhaps it could be stipulated to provide some proof of connection, such as a known collaboration or a picture featuring both.

Example: Someone in this group has shaken hands with or perhaps attended a lecture by Neil Gaiman and asked a question he answered. So that would put not only Gaiman himself on our list but also everyone Neil Gaiman knows, or knew (Terry Pratchett, for instance, with whom Gaiman co-wrote "Good Omens").

If that is too complicated, maybe there is a way to tweak it even further.

[Irene]

Conny wrote: "Seeing as we are such a huge group, I am sure that many of our members have met some authors personally or have at least interacted with them directly via social media or otherwise. This got me thi..."

This is such an interesting prompt idea! If there's a way to easily compile a list of authors we've interacted with, that sounds fun! My only worry is if not as many members as we'd expect have met many authors (or if they don't publicly share it), resulting in a rather small list.

The part about authors interacting with other authors (3 degrees of separation) might also be a tad too complicated. While Neil and Terry's relationship is easy to prove, I think others might be too hard to establish and the lines would get blurred - would an author referencing another author in a book's acknowledgments count? Would them tagging another author in a post without directly addressing them count?

So I like this prompt idea a lot, but would strongly prefer it be kept to 2 degrees, assuming the list compiled has a good variety of authors, including some well-known ones.

Edit: List of authors moved to other thread!!

[Ellie]

I like the two degrees of separation idea and would make a list of who I've met if it was going to be submitted. Mine are mostly UK SFF authors though, unless just seeing them at a panel counts. Personally I would probably say I'd have had to have spoken to them (even that time I ran into Neil Gaiman in a restaurant and said "you're Neil Gaiman" - I'm pretty sure he knew).

[Johanne]

Ellie wrote: "...(even that time I ran into Neil Gaiman in a restaurant and said "you're Neil Gaiman" - I'm pretty sure he knew).."

Hahaha! I love this!

I like the prompt idea and would also prefer it to be two degrees of separation. I have personally met a lot of Danish authors, and a handful of international ones I have actually spoken to, like Meredith Russo and Patrick Ness.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I guess if you include talking to them via Instagram comments, then I have a few. The only one I've met in real life is E. Lockhart, so my contribution to the list would be pretty short lol.

[Sara]

My contribution would also be small. I imagine big city dwellers are more likely to have a long list.

[Conny]

I would definitely include Instagram etc. so long as it is a genuine back and forth, like the author reacting to or answering a specific thing you said/asked. Otherwise it would be a bit too difficult, I guess.
I'm also happy to think about more ways to make this a bit more accessible, but first let's see if thr idea catches :)

[°~Amy~°]

I would say that I have conversed with several smaller,local or indy authors, and my mother's college writing prof was Stephen King (and he was my 8th grade teacher's neighbor and friend). I don't think my contribution to the list would be too exciting, but I love the concept.

[Conny]

Actually, isn't it even better to have many local/indie authors on the list? There will be a few big names to pick from, I'm sure, but also loads of new names and new books to explore. We have already collected about twenty between us for now alone and will surely be able to collect at least a hundred as more people chip in, and after all, there are prompts (such as the GoodReads Choice Award one) where we have to choose from much fewer options.

[Stacey]

Fun idea. Does writing to an author and receiving a reply actually count? My young self wrote a somewhat cringy letter to the late, great John Fowles, which I still possess. Only one or two others I’ve met in person.

[[deleted user]]

what will be the parameters for adding an author? i've met a number of writers irl but who keeps track of their online author interactions?

[Conny]

The way I imagined this, that would definitely count, Stacey! That is why I called it "direct interaction" rather than "personal meeting". Anything that resulted in a direct conversation between you and the author, be it in person, in writing, on social media, or via smoke signals^^ Just being in the audience at a panel does not count. Getting an autograph and/or picture and/or having a book signed does. So does running into them and proclaiming they are who they are (love that story a few comments up!).

[Conny]

Annie, I'm not sure I'm getting you right. Are you saying you've interacted with so many authors online that you can't remember them all? I'm not talking about Likes and Facebook Reactions here, it should be the author talking directly to you. I have also engaged with a bunch of authors' posts on Facebook (and sometimes they liked my comments or something), but I have only ever really conversed with one or two.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

My guess is that we would work this like we work everything else in the group... if you believe that you had a meaningful interaction with an author, the author's name could go on the list, whatever meaningful interaction means to you. An author replying to a picture I posted on Instagram and me commenting back would be meaningful for me (and it's only happened for me a few times). If interacting online isn't meaningful for you, you could just add the ones you've conversed with in person. I know some people with popular instagrams or twitter accounts get a lot of author discussion, so it may not be as meaningful to them as meeting an author in person.

Conny, you could start a thread in the book discussions folder to get an list going if you do want to suggest this in the next poll.

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

[[deleted user]]

oh, okay. sorry i thought it included everyone who had liked a comment or instagram post because i definitely don't have a list of every single author i have interacted with is all

[Steve]

This may be off-topic, but I found out my new ultimate personal degrees of separation...

The people we bought our house from... the wife worked at the school where the Obama daughters went and likely taught them... So now I'm just a couple of degrees away from the Obamas!

(My previous favorite was a friend's coworker was dating the guy who played Kevin G in Mean Girls so I was a few degrees away from Lindsey Lohan, Tina Fey, and others).

[Conny]

Thank you, Emily, I think that was exactly what I was struggling to say :D

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Steve that's the coolest story!

[Conny]

Emily wrote: "Conny, you could start a thread in the book discussions folder to get an list going if you do want to suggest this in the next poll."

Done!

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

[Sherri]

I have 2 suggestions for future prompts to throw out here for discussion.
1. A graphic novel in any genre.
2. A book related to mental health. It could be fiction or nonfiction. Short stories or novel. May is mental health awareness month & 10/10/21 is World Mental Health Day so people may be reading books related to metal health for these occasions. Recently there have been a few releases dealing with mental health that look really interesting.

[Joyce]

Regarding the interacting with authors idea, I’m having most trouble working out who to count as an author. I can think of two musicians I’ve chatted to who have written multiple books but they are still known as musicians. Do they count or not?

[Conny]

Why shouldn't they count? Ultimately, "author" in this context means "person who wrote a book available to read," regardless of whether they write for a living or not.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Deborah wrote: "How about read a book that's been part of an library ebook vendor community read program? I know Overdrive and Hoopla have done them."

It could be expanded to a book that is part of a community read program in general. Here is Madison WI, that has been done for over 10 years. Other cities like Chicago have done this as well, and you can probably find those lists somewhere. Also many colleges now ask incoming freshmen to read a particular book.

[Conny]

We don't really have those kinds of programs in Germany ... :/

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Conny wrote: "We don't really have those kinds of programs in Germany ... :/"

Good point, we don't want the prompts to be American-centric. It's important to be inclusive. We already have a lot of lists that are based on US or British prizes, for instance, which is already somewhat limiting.

[Steve]

Dalex hasn't been around since February or so, and I'm really going to miss her insight/lists on all these prompts as the voting cycle goes on if she doesn't return! :(

[Tracy]

Steve wrote: "Dalex hasn't been around since February or so, and I'm really going to miss her insight/lists on all these prompts as the voting cycle goes on if she doesn't return! :("

We've noticed and wondered what happened to her :/

I'm sure we can come up with some good links for you all. I personally like to search for lists that fit the prompts.

[Sherri]

Speaking of a vendor community ebook read Overdrive is doing Black Lives Matter Community Read now. They have a lot of great titles available now on ebook and audiobook.

[Rachel]

Steve wrote: "This may be off-topic, but I found out my new ultimate personal degrees of separation...

The people we bought our house from... the wife worked at the school where the Obama daughters went and lik..."

I "met" Pink in a hotel pool a couple of summers ago. She was there with her husband and daughter. I didn't have my glasses on, and wasn't 100% sure it was her. I just remember when I heard her speaking to her daughter, I thought "Hm, she sounds a lot like Pink!"

And my mom and I noticed she had a bunch of tattoos, and when I looked up a picture of her afterwards, the tattoos matched. I didn't speak to her though!

[Mary Beth]

I initially was thinking of suggesting the oldest publication date on your TBR list but then I looked at mine and because books are republished it’s a little muddy. Maybe the book you’ve had on your TBR list the longest. I know I have missed some gems on my own list because I get interested in what’s coming out now.

Also I read about 1/4 non fiction I sometimes find it hard to fit non fiction into the prompts so I’m hoping for some prompts this year that lend themselves to non-fiction too.

I’m a first year participant and am dipping my toes into the chats. But enjoyed making my list and reworking it as the year goes on.

[Kelly]

Mary Beth, I would be interested in an older book prompt, too. Maybe something like "a book published 100+ years ago?" Just spitballing. I like to read one or two classics a year, but they always seem hard to fit into the prompts...

[Chrissy]

You can sort by initial publication date, fyi!

[Irene]

How about reading the 21st book on your TBR shelf? Sorted any way you want (by date added, original publication date, custom order if have it arranged a certain way, etc)

Got this idea since it’ll be 2021 and I figure everyone has at least 21 books on their TBR shelf.

[[deleted user]]

Irene wrote: "How about reading the 21st book on your TBR shelf? Sorted any way you want (by date added, original publication date, custom order if have it arranged a certain way, etc)

Got this idea since it’ll..."

THIS. i think this is my favourite suggestion so far

[Steve]

Irene wrote: "How about reading the 21st book on your TBR shelf? Sorted any way you want (by date added, original publication date, custom order if have it arranged a certain way, etc)

Got this idea since it’ll..."

This idea might be a little too similar to the "20th book" prompt from this year. It's not quite the same, but many people used their TBRs to figure out the 20th book.

[Sara]

Since so many things have been cancelled or postponed because of the virus (i.e. the Olympics), a prompt dealing with second chances. Could be a plot that involves a second chance (divorce, relocation, going home again, etc.), a book you failed to finish that you are giving a second chance, or one you are reading a second time, or an author you are reading for the second time.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I really like that Sara. I always end up rereading a book or two, so that would be perfect.

Reminder: Today is the last day to vote in Poll 1!

[Hannah]

Sara wrote: "Since so many things have been cancelled or postponed because of the virus (i.e. the Olympics), a prompt dealing with second chances. Could be a plot that involves a second chance (divorce, relocat..."

Love this idea! I really like the idea of a second chance author prompt, but figured that not everyone would be in to that. I'd love to see a broader prompt that I could use that way. I'll second this if you suggest it!

[Pam]

I really like Sarah’s idea of a 2nd chance prompt! Lots of creative possibilities.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Irene wrote: "How about reading the 21st book on your TBR shelf? Sorted any way you want (by date added, original publication date, custom order if have it arranged a certain way, etc)

Got this idea since it’ll..."

I didn't like this prompt because it was too easy to cheat. I went through my TBR backwards and forwards and didn't like or couldn't get those books at the moment. Most of the books on my TBR I don't own, I use that list to keep track of books I am interested in. Then I just went to my physical shelves and counted them from different directions until I came to a book I felt like reading right then. Maybe others were more honest than me and just took an arbitrary book but for me it just turned into "any book on any shelf".

[Sara]

I didn't like the prompt either, Robin. Same reason, it just wasn't nailed down enough. I checked the book that was 20th at the time the prompt was elected, then I read books and it changed. It has continued to change and I have continued to wait until it will show a book I am in the mood for. I have also got divided lists to make the TBR more manageable, so I have checked several lists. In the end, it will be, as it was for you, just a book from the shelf that most suits at the time.

[Ashley]

With everything going on lately, this is a slightly different topic but one that has been briefly mentioned and not the center of attention.

A book about or involving a "non-traditional" family.

It could be where a character has two mothers, two fathers, being raised by grandparents. It could be an aunt or uncle raising other kids, adoptive parents, or however you wish to interpret. Just something besides biological mother, father, brothers, and sisters as a family.

[Stacey]

To celebrate our true heroes around the world during the pandemic, the global medical community, how about a medical-themed prompt? It can be as broadly defined as we'd like, ie. first responders, nursing-related, etc.

[Ashley]

Stacey wrote: "To celebrate our true heroes around the world during the pandemic, the global medical community, how about a medical-themed prompt? It can be as broadly defined as we'd like, ie. first responders, ..."

I like this idea. There are so many possibilities.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Ashley, we do have a prompt involving non-traditional families on the 2020 list, so I'm not sure people would vote for it again.