Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
Archives
>
[2022] Wild Discussion
Mod
Robin P wrote: "I don't understand about the two little ducks. Is there a code for every number in Bingo and that is the one for 22?"Yes the traditonal bingo call for 22 was two little ducks.
Traditionally in bingo in the UK many of the numbers have a little saying that goes with it. The caller will say the number and then the saying. e.g. 21, key to the door, 22, two little ducks. Some of them are really obscure and vary depending on where you are.
I mostly read SFF and enjoy setting prompts.
Would people prefer the song prompt if it were related to rather than setting? Then you could have a character who travels a lot, which I think would suit a lot of SFF.
Multi week prompts. Anyone any suggestions for that one.
Robin P wrote: "I don't understand about the two little ducks. Is there a code for every number in Bingo and that is the one for 22?"The two little ducks are a visual association like 88 being two fat ladies, I mean persons!
Yeah two fat anything is pretty out nowadays. But will cross that bridge if get to 2088
Thomas wrote: "Yeah two fat anything is pretty out nowadays. But will cross that bridge if get to 2088"Hahaha this made me smile! Let's all hope we're still doing this in 2088!
I haven't thought too much of multi-week prompts yet, so the only one I can think of right now is a title prompt:
Read two books with the same word in the title, excluding articles and conjunctions.
Examples:
The Silent Patient and The English Patient
The Alice Network and Still Alice
A Game of Thrones and The Hating Game
The Light Between Oceans and The Ocean at the End of the Lane
P.S. I Love You and Love in the Time of Cholera
A KIS option might be to include series names in the title, so you could do:
Any book in the Chronicles of Narnia series, then The Travelling Cat Chronicles
Irene wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Yeah two fat anything is pretty out nowadays. But will cross that bridge if get to 2088"Hahaha this made me smile! Let's all hope we're still doing this in 2088!
I haven't though..."
An interesting idea I really like
Just as another idea three ways a book can be linked to an existing work. A sequel, a prequel and a retelling ( not necessarily of the same story) OR A Classical trilogy: in Ancient Greeks playwrights always wrote in trilogies but it was not required that they be chronological so they were not always about the same characters instead the plays would be separate stories linked by a common theme so this prompt would be three books with a common theme.
Irene wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Yeah two fat anything is pretty out nowadays. But will cross that bridge if get to 2088"Hahaha this made me smile! Let's all hope we're still doing this in 2088!
I haven't though..."
I like this idea for a multi-week prompt. The Bring It On option could be to read two books with the same title, not just one word the same. I have a couple pairs like this on my Kindle. I have thought about suggesting that in the past, but I figured people wouldn’t want to try to find the same title twice. I think the same word in the title would be a good compromise and has great BIO and KIS options.
Thomas wrote: "Just as another idea three ways a book can be linked to an existing work. A sequel, a prequel and a retelling ( not necessarily of the same story) OR A Classical trilogy: in Ancient Greeks playwri..."
I'm not sure I understand your idea can you give some books as examples that would fit.
Nicole wrote: "Irene wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Yeah two fat anything is pretty out nowadays. But will cross that bridge if get to 2088"Hahaha this made me smile! Let's all hope we're still doing this in 2088!
I ..."
Nicole, I love that as a BIO option! I've also briefly thought of suggesting that in the past, but it's a bit restrictive on its own because not everyone can find 2 books with the exact same title that they would want to read.
Thomas, I like the idea of 2 books linked to a third, existing work! It could mean a simple trilogy, it could be a book with 2 companion novels set in the same universe, 3 books by the same author, 3 retellings of the same fairy tale (easy for people like me who enjoy fairy tale retellings), etc.
Irene wrote: "Nicole wrote: "Irene wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Yeah two fat anything is pretty out nowadays. But will cross that bridge if get to 2088"Hahaha this made me smile! Let's all hope we're still doing thi..."
That sounds great.
Thinking about a prompt related to song lyrics, has anyone ever suggested R.E.M.’s “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It”? I just looked at the lyrics again and I would think most people could find a book related to the lyrics.
Mod
I think that was suggested last year but didn't happen to win. You could check the rejects list. But no reason it couldn't be suggested again. Maybe we thought that was a bit too fitting last summer!
Mod
Another form of this I saw in a different group is 2 titles with a word where one letter is different, such as Have and Hate, or Sheep and Sleep, etc.
A title with matching words has come really close before. One year we had a tie between it and 4 elements. The elements ended up winning the tie breaker. I believe it was a close call a different year. It is one I’ve always liked so it would likely be an upvote for me.
Hi all! Okay this is a total long shot, but a fun throwback!A book related to a Beanie Baby whose birthday is special to you!
http://www.tycollector.com/birthdays/...
For instance:
January 13 lists:
Sophie - cat
Wild - zebra
Crunch - shark
Minuet - horse
If your birthday or anniversary is January 13, read a book related to a cat, zebra, shark, or horse, a character or author with the name “Sophie,” a book related to the beanie baby’s poem (breakfast or lunch, eating - https://beaniepedia.com/beanies/beani...)
I know this is very niche but it’s all I’ve got right now and I thought it may make someone smile even if we don’t suggest it!
Robin P wrote: "Jill wrote: "Thinking about a prompt related to song lyrics, has anyone ever suggested R.E.M.’s “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It”? I just looked at the lyrics again and I would think most p..."Robin I think you're right, there was a lot of push back against anything that could be construed as pandemic related last year. It would be worth suggesting it again, I personally love the song and there are plenty of options in it.
Irene wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Yeah two fat anything is pretty out nowadays. But will cross that bridge if get to 2088"Hahaha this made me smile! Let's all hope we're still doing this in 2088!
I haven't though..."
Ooh I really like that as a multi-week prompt!
What about a word chain? So one word in book one must be in book two and one word in book two must be in book three.
Mod
That's a very interesting idea. We would need to specify no little words like a, of, and, the - maybe say a word of 4 letters or more. Like
What I Did for Love
How to Love a Duke in Ten Days
The Duke and I
Romance is easy that way, mystery would work too with words like Death and Murder that come up a lot.
Yes I like that idea and would vote for it. I think it all depends what else is in the poll at the time.
I am very excited for the process to begin. I like a couple of prompts here already. Especially the "here be dragons", "Zodiac sign" and two books with same words in the title or the word chain one.
Another thought. A book made into a film you haven't seen.
I can't believe it's that time of year again but it's so exciting to start working on the new list! There are some great ideas here already.I don't have much in the way of suggestions but one I thought of is 'A book with a lucky symbol on the cover' - if you look at different cultures there are lots of options which could be fun to research. This wikipedia list is a good starting point but I found lots of others too.
Here are some other ideas about the number 22 if someone wants to come up with prompts!Words that entered the dictionary in 1922 (https://www.merriam-webster.com/time-...). Examples include: robot, prepuberty, taxi stand, Jekyll and Hyde, kickball, cookie cutter, chipotle, picture-book, learning curve...
Taylor Swift's song 22 (although its lyrics aren't very conducive to a prompt)
22 divided by 7 = pi ... Something related to Pi? Number of pages? Pie?
In occult practices, the Major Arcana are the trump cards of a tarot pack. There are usually 22 such cards in a standard 78-card pack.
Another lyric prompt:Read a book related to a place mentioned in the song "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys
Aruba, Jamaica, Bermuda, Bahamas, Key Largo, Montego, Martinique, Montserrat, Port au Prince
Hmm what about:A book related to a place featured in the TV show "Survivor" (wiki list) (could use international versions of the show too)
or
A book related to a place featured in Season 22 of "The Amazing Race" (wiki list)
I was thinking about one of my favorite science fiction tropes: a “first contact” story. In sci fi, that’s a story where humans meet an alien species for the first time, but it’s also a term used in anthropology to describe the first meeting of any two communities that were previously without contact with each other. What do people think about it as a prompt? Too narrow? My thought is that you could use a classic sci fi example, but also any book that feature cross-cultural contact - I’m thinking books about an immigrant encountering a new culture, like Americanah, or something with a more colonialist bent, like The Poisonwood Bible. Any ideas of how to word this so that the scope I intend is clear?
Beth wrote: "I can't believe it's that time of year again but it's so exciting to start working on the new list! There are some great ideas here already.I don't have much in the way of suggestions but one I t..."
I like this suggestion! Lots of different symbols to choose from, including a couple of numbers.
Mod
I think it's interesting but it's another one where I'm concerned people won't read the description & discussion, but just vote on what they think "first contact" means, where they might assume sci-fi. Maybe it could be described another way, like "a book where different cultures meet." Well, I'm not thrilled with that wording either but personally I really like the idea. Maybe someone else has a better way to phrase it. It could even be a poor person coming to live in a rich person's house or vice versa, a city person moving to the country, etc.
Not sure if people would assume first contact is sci-fi if they don't touch the genre?
First Contact is a term most people in North America have probably heard before. It is a prompt that is both narrow as well as open to many interpretations. There would be some wildly different books read for it too. I can see my TBR growing rapidly if this one is picked for next year.
Yes, my concern is that people would assume sci-fi and not vote for it if they don't read sci-fi. Maybe if I word it like "a 'First Contact' book - a story about a character encountering an unfamiliar culture for the first time" that would give enough explanation?
Hannah wrote: "Yes, my concern is that people would assume sci-fi and not vote for it if they don't read sci-fi. Maybe if I word it like "a 'First Contact' book - a story about a character encountering an unfam..."
Maybe something about “when worlds collide,” or something? That could be used for something as out there as aliens meeting Earthlings for the first time, or something closer to home, such as different cultures meeting, or even different lifestyles interacting. It could be pretty broad or pretty narrow, depending on how you wanted to interpret it. 🤷♀️
Yeah first contact seems too limited but worlds collide seems better
An idea I have been thinking of is reading a book related to a mascot. This could be a mascot from a sports team, school, business or fiction. Any thoughts?
Rachel wrote: "An idea I have been thinking of is reading a book related to a mascot. This could be a mascot from a sports team, school, business or fiction. Any thoughts?"A kind of category I love. So many possibilities. But I suspect other people will dislike it for precisely that reason
I actually like the idea of the 'first contact' prompt as originally worded because it could be taken in the sci-fi/anthropology way as intended, or could be used in really creative ways like, a book that has a 'first kiss' scene, or a book about the invention of contact lenses, etc.
by the way what has everyone thought about diversity prompts. I know this year we have four for ethnicity two for gender ( one of which wasn't by vote and the other was arguable) and none for sexuality. I know its all by vote but it would be nice to see more of the latter two this year.
Rachel wrote: "An idea I have been thinking of is reading a book related to a mascot. This could be a mascot from a sports team, school, business or fiction. Any thoughts?"I think this is great. My school had an owl, and my football club has hammers, and my town has a ship, so I would have a wide choice
Hannah wrote: "Yes, my concern is that people would assume sci-fi and not vote for it if they don't read sci-fi..."I meant the opposite, that if they don't go near sci-fi they might not automatically jump to the sci-fi meaning. I feel like we always try to please the people who hate SF. I find it so tiring that I have to listen to people bash it so often. Maybe trying suggesting it your way first and if that doesn't make it, try something similar.
Worlds collide doesn't have quite the same meaning to me, I like that one less than first contact.
Ellie wrote: "Hannah wrote: "Yes, my concern is that people would assume sci-fi and not vote for it if they don't read sci-fi..."I meant the opposite, that if they don't go near sci-fi they might not automatic..."
Yes but if we are being asked to not suggest prompts that alienate people who only or largely read sci fi we shouldn't have prompts that alienate people who don't like sci fi
Mod
Robin P wrote: "Can one of the mods remind us if there is a word limit for the polls? It seems to me they were generally short, such as "a book about first contact" without any related explanation. The best thing ..."When you suggest a prompt you can put a description underneath and if you do, that is included in the poll. But I think some people are concerned a lot of voters will not bother to read the description.
Thomas wrote: "Ellie wrote: "Hannah wrote: "Yes, my concern is that people would assume sci-fi and not vote for it if they don't read sci-fi..."I meant the opposite, that if they don't go near sci-fi they might..."
What?! Did I say that? I have repeatedly said people should submit what prompts they like. How does "first contact" alienate anybody? It's a prompt that can be filled by different genres.
I don't really like domestic thrillers but if people wanted "a domestic thriller" on the list I'd be fine with that. It's not alienating me.
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold (other topics)Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans (other topics)
Among Others (other topics)
Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks (other topics)
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Renée Ahdieh (other topics)S.A. Chakraborty (other topics)
Stacy Reid (other topics)
James Ellroy (other topics)
Ta-Nehisi Coates (other topics)
More...
I don't meant to dis I just think given the variety of categories that come through I just think it would be hard for anyone to find at least one category that was outside their comfort zone especially if their comfort zone is a particular genre