Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
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[2022] Wild Discussion
Ellie wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "I'm curious about which prompts were people's favorites or least favorites this year. Do you think completion % is a good indication, even though some people follow the calendar sc..."
i belvie its doen in December. This was the poll for the 2020 list.
Sorry, I'm afraid I'm one who doesn't really get it. It doesn't feel logically complete. It would only make sense to me if I was reading a series, and spread out several of the books over the year. Or if it's a year in the character's life - like Harry Potter books which always roughly cover a school year.
I like the fill in the blank idea, especiallyAround the year with A Strange and Stubborn Endurance
I feel that sums up this challenge 🤣
Thomas wrote: "Ellie wrote: "i belvie its doen in December. This was the poll for the 2020 list...."I was referring to the spreadsheet.
Ellie wrote: "I like the fill in the blank idea, especiallyAround the year with A Strange and Stubborn Endurance
I feel that sums up this challenge 🤣"
Yes, THAT makes sense to me.😊
I woudl vote for "Around the year with _________"
Yeah count me as one who definitely hasn't finished yet, and the prompts I haven't completed yet have no bearing on whether I liked them or not. I am a library reader, plus do reviews, and like to save some books for certain times of the year, so I have several planned for October. I also plan my list in advance, though I also swap out books. I'm not a fan of the fill in the blank (the prompt, not the concept).
NancyJ wrote: "Sorry, I'm afraid I'm one who doesn't really get it. It doesn't feel logically complete. It would only make sense to me if I was reading a series, and spread out several of the books over the yea..."
It doesn't have anything to do with the book you read for the prompt. You're just trying to make a sentence. For example, "Around the Year with Somebody's Daughter" is a logical sentence whereas "Around the Year with The Last Thing He Told Me" makes no sense.
It reminds me of the prompt for a book that describes you in some way. ("Up all night" would work for me.) I really thought it would get in. I wonder if it was even close. The examples were great, and a few more might help.----
The survey results are interesting in that it shows how many people read a lot more than a hundred books a year. This suggests that we could have a few more side challenges for favorite or challenging prompts (e.g. a goal of 10 more to fit that prompt), with a small group participating and keeping track. For me this year, it would be countries I've never visited, authors with long careers, and world 1000 books, and I've continued to work on lists from last year's set - women's prize, female authors (Abebooks list), etc.
For the rejected prompts, I'm wondering if anyone has an edited list of them (eliminating near duplicates).
Mod
I think the fill in the blank idea might make more sense if I was on a computer to link to books for ideas rather than being stuck on my phone. I was trying to come up with a fun concept that incorporates around the year since we don’t have that yet. I like how you re-structured it Dalex to make it more clear.
I'm curious would anyone else count a book as about a woman in STEM if it was written by a females cientist but the book focuses on the research rather than the authors life?
Are you thinking of a specific book, Thomas? That might help answer the question. I would think it would count though.
I would count that, Thomas.I'm not a fan of the fill in the blank one. I think it's pretty confusing- I didn't get it at first and if I looked at that prompt on next year's list without having seen this discussion I wouldn't know what it meant.
I do really like the 'takes place within a year' suggestion!
dalex wrote: "When I suggested the idea of a book that takes place in one year, I meant a book that is not something like a multi-generational saga that occurs over decades or a dual timeline novel. I did not me..."I like this idea a lot Dalex! A book set in a short time frame (1 year) is very doable. I also like the fill in the blank idea! your wording makes perfect sense to me.
Thomas - I agree with your sentiment on long books! I usually read a few but they wind up working for other prompts. It's a stretch for me to read 52 books every year.
I really like the fill in the blank idea. Does - A book whose title can complete a sentence that begins “Around the year with…”. make it clearer for people? Or possibly replacing sentence with phrase? Just glancing at my shelf I see Ordinary People, Hieroglyphics, The Prophets and Blonde Roots which would all work.
Mod
So...I still would really like to see more theme or character prompts. I have been thinking this afternoon about theme and character and made a list of prompts I thought would be interesting. Wondering if any of these would appeal to anyone else:• Read a book about a character who reinvents themselves.
• Read a coming-of-age novel set in the 21st century. (I often ponder how growing up for my kids is different now than it was when I grew up in the 70s and 80s.)
• Read a book about a person who took a stand that put them at odds with their peers or family or society.
• Read a book about a family secret.
• Read a book about an unlikely friendship.
• Read a book with a theme of going home again.
• Read a book with a theme of forgiveness.
• Read a book about an -ism. (Racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, classism, etc.)
Some of these my have been suggested before, or maybe were on past challenges. I don't know. They all sound interesting to me though.
I like the idea of an unlikely friendship the best
Those are good suggestions Shannon! My favorite is the unlikely relationship.
*friendship not relationship. Although relationship could work, too.
Thomas wrote: "I'm curious would anyone else count a book as about a woman in STEM if it was written by a females cientist but the book focuses on the research rather than the authors life?"I would, especially if it's her research.
I really want a song related prompt. I know we all have different ideas about what makes something fun (and some of us know we aren't very fun, or have nerdy ideas about what is fun). But isn't music fun to a lot of people?What would it take to make last week's suggestion more winnable? Was it just too broad? I loved it, and I would probably use it for many books even if I slotted them elsewhere. Or make it a 5-10 book bonus challenge for myself.
I think we got bogged down by limiting ourselves to 22 relevant years (eg. 1972). That doesn't seem to matter to voters, so maybe we could look again?
OR what about a Beatle's song? I searched last month and I couldn't find one song that had several different topics, BUT I found several songs on a Beatles album that had really good themes. I love their songs about friendship and peace.
Options:
1. A book relevant to the Beatle's Song "I get by with a little help from my friends." Note: By "relevant" I mean a book about friendship, or how a little support from people really helps, a book about a deep act of kindness, or a book about groups or teamwork. Or a book about the friendship between the Beatles themselves.
2. A book about friendship
3. A book relevant to the theme of a song from the Beatle's ____ Album.
4. A book relevant to the theme of a John Lennon song. (Lots of peace)
5. A book relevant to the theme of a Beatle's Song.
Sub-Genre idea - I plan to submit this NEXT WEEK or even the week after, after I see what else gets in. I really appreciate the help. It's NOT all sci-fi. Is anyone working on a kindness related idea? I think there is a need for something this year related to kindness, friendship, found-families, uplifting messages, and hope. I would love a theme that could encapsulate all this without sounding too sappy. A few of us want to explore nuanced ideas such as up-lit and hope-punk, either in the sub-genre prompt or in another prompt. I know that the good ones have deeper messages related to finding the light in difficult circumstances (not just blind optimism).
Or a change related theme?
I think my trouble with the song prompt is that it is starting to feel forced. The first year I recall was Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire, which I loved because it felt fresh and unique. But now it feels like because that was fun we have to have one every year. And so far there have been prompts I’ve preferred in every round. I don’t necessarily down vote but I can’t see myself upvoting either. I’m probably an outlier when it comes to prompt preferences though.
Robin P wrote: "Strictly speaking, Serendipity is right, it is a phrase, not a sentence. It's a clever idea, but I am still afraid that voters won't "get" it. And our literal-minded members might only think of a p..." Just grasping here... Is there any way to do it without "year?" "Around the year" is just not a phrase I would ever use in a sentence, unless it was about this specific group. I often type "around the world" by mistake. Around the world, around the block. Is there any way to make this work without Year?
Shannon wrote: "So...I still would really like to see more theme or character prompts. I have been thinking this afternoon about theme and character and made a list of prompts I thought would be interesting. Wonde..."OMG Shannon, I missed all these. My favorites are marked by ***
*• Read a book about a character who reinvents themselves. I like it. It might be hard to search for though
**• Read a book about a person who took a stand that put them at odds with their peers or family or society. - This could include YA, fiction, Non-fiction, whistleblowers, etc.
***• Read a book about an unlikely friendship. I like this. It could involve race, age, religion, or other differences. It could include animals, partner, or people with political differences
Apeirogon - Two fathers on different sides of the Israeli conflict who both lost children to it.
His Majesty's Dragon - I never find all these things together - smart, deep, heartwarming, fun, adventurous, grown-up, organizational politics, teamwork, friendship, family, loyalty, war, stragy spies.
*** • Read a book about an -ism. (Racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, classism, etc.) - Yes. I think we could use this. We have diversity prompts based on authors that won't necessarily cover it.
• Read a book about a family secret. - These are very popular now in historical fiction dual time setting novels.
• Read a book with a theme of going home again.
• Read a book with a theme of forgiveness. - Personally I would like it broader. There was another prompt that brought 2 or 3 of these ideas together.
• Read a coming-of-age novel set in the 21st century. (I often ponder how growing up for my kids is different now than it was when I grew up in the 70s and 80s.) - This might be covered by the new YA prompt, but it's an attractive concept.
Oh It started already. Poll 15 === https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...Darn, I'm not ready.
Any ideas on Beatles? I like the Get by with a little help from my friend's song, but I also like Shannon's unlikely friendship idea. I don't want them to compete.
Shannon are you here?
I like the book that takes place within a year better than the phrase ___ idea.
Serendipity wrote: "I think my trouble with the song prompt is that it is starting to feel forced. The first year I recall was Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire, which I loved because it felt fresh and unique. But..."Thanks for the feedback. Any thoughts about a friendship or -ISM topic?
I really like the ism one, but don’t know whether you will have to list the isms you want to include.
Also, I am happy to post for someone… if they have two suggestions to submit.
Nancy wrote: "I like "within one year." dalex are you going to suggest that since it was your idea or did you have something else in mind?Have you tried a title without the word "the". I can't even remember wh..."
Nancy Are you going to suggest The book that takes place within a year? I'm waiting to decide what I want to do. Dalex said she wouldn't be here.
Lizzy wrote: "I really like the ism one, but don’t know whether you will have to list the isms you want to include."Excellent.
Shannon wrote: • Read a book about an -ism. (Racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, classism, etc.) - I would add color-ism or shade-ism. Ethnocentrism. Some categories aren't covere by "ism" so maybe add to the sentence.
You could list extra examples after the prompt, but I don't think you need to limit them to specifics. Emily will reword it if needed.
How about?
OR read a book about an "ism" or a form of discrimination.
Or replace "About" with "involving" or "includes"? "About" might suggest a non-fiction book, involves would allow more fiction I think.
Read a book that involves racism, ageism, sexism, ableism, colorism or a similar types of bias.
It could include ethnocentrisim, religious bias, ethnic discrimination, sorry, I'm thinking out loud.
Lizzy, what do you think? Do you want to submit some variation of this for Shannon?
I love the fill in the blank prompt! It's fun and original, and I love the connection to our group (it's one that I definitely wouldn't confuse with a popsugar prompt). I really, really hope it gets in, it might just need a list of examples that work and don't work to make it more clear for people who don't follow this discussion
I don't really see how ATY in a character name would be that hard to research. Nearly every Goodreads synopsis includes the name of the main character, often their first and last name, so it wouldn't take too long to check. I think it's a fun new twist on the ATY theme.
Rachel wrote: "I don't really see how ATY in a character name would be that hard to research. Nearly every Goodreads synopsis includes the name of the main character, often their first and last name, so it wouldn..."I agree. I think you should go for it. It's a tradition, right?
Judy wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I don't really see how ATY in a character name would be that hard to research. Nearly every Goodreads synopsis includes the name of the main character, often their first and last nam..."Why not? Worth a try!
Rachel wrote: "Judy wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I don't really see how ATY in a character name would be that hard to research. Nearly every Goodreads synopsis includes the name of the main character, often their first..."I nominated it. I thought it was a great suggestion.
Is anyone planning to submit Joyce's prompt about Bees? She said she couldn't be here.Were there any people that requested someone post for them?>
I may have to leave soon, my mom's breathing doesn't sound good and I'm here alone.
Dubhease wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Judy wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I don't really see how ATY in a character name would be that hard to research. Nearly every Goodreads synopsis includes the name of the main character, of..."JInx! Someone owes someone a Coke!
Y names might be a challenge.
Mod
Judy wrote: "Dubhease wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Judy wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I don't really see how ATY in a character name would be that hard to research. Nearly every Goodreads synopsis includes the name of the m..."For sure, but A and T should be pretty common. There are quite a few books with Adam or Anna in it, for example.
Robin P wrote: "I thought of it as the letters AT and Y in the name, such as Patty, Kathy, Katelyn, etc. Maybe the KIS would be just 2 of the letters. If you read fantasy, you will find all kinds of weird names!"That's actually how I originally interpreted it too, but later in the discussion it seemed to be referring to first letter. I'm totally open to either version of the prompt.
Rachel wrote: "I don't really see how ATY in a character name would be that hard to research. Nearly every Goodreads synopsis includes the name of the main character, often their first and last name, so it wouldn..."Good point Rachel. I think I questioned it before, but I see that some books list it in the data too. And many suggestions will come from the listopia too, which makes this SO much easier. And I agree with Judy about tradition.
Robin is it too late to change it if they both agree to remove and re-suggest? Y is a hard one for the beginning of the name, but I don't read enough fantasy to know for sure. I think it will get more votes if the letters are IN the names, not just the initials. Just my opinion.
NancyJ wrote: "Robin is it too late to change it if they both agree to remove and re-suggest? Y is a hard one for the beginning of the name, but I don't read enough fantasy to know for sure."
It doesn't really matter that Y is hard though, since you can just pick A or T instead. The current version of the suggestion is worded so the name has to start with any one of the three letters.
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A book that completes the sentence: Around the year with __________.
Some book examples would be Charlotte’s Web, The Ghoul Next Door, My Swee..."
I don't get it.