Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
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[2022] Wild Discussion
Irene wrote: "I guess I have the unpopular opinion regarding the AAPI/API prompt, and am curious if there are any other people of Asian descent in this thread who would like to voice their opinions - I have no w..."Sorry what part of that is the unpopular opinion?
Thomas wrote: "Irene wrote: "I guess I have the unpopular opinion regarding the AAPI/API prompt, and am curious if there are any other people of Asian descent in this thread who would like to voice their opinions..."That I prefer the wording of AAPI to API! I guess AAPI to me was more in the spirit of stopping Asian hate and all that, but that's admittedly a pretty western-centric point of view.
Popsugar had a Muslim-American author prompt that changed to Muslim-British for the U.K. version of the website, so I like your idea of a reading a book by a minority author from your own country. It might help bridge this prompt with Ellie's concerns about Asians in Asia being discriminated against as well (since changing it to API alone doesn't seem like it would do anything to amplify the voices Uyghurs either).
Maybe it can be reworded to "Read a book by an API author from your home country"?
Irene wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Irene wrote: "I guess I have the unpopular opinion regarding the AAPI/API prompt, and am curious if there are any other people of Asian descent in this thread who would like to voice..."thanks for explaining. I like your last suggestion.
Irene wrote: "I guess I have the unpopular opinion regarding the AAPI/API prompt, and am curious if there are any other people of Asian descent in this thread who would like to voice their opinions - I have no w..."For some reason, Bohemian Rhapsody lyrics just don't appeal to me as much. I think I was a little put off because right away there's a line "Is this just fantasy" and that immediately made me think that literally any fantasy book would fit. I wouldn't necessarily downvote this song, but I'm not set on voting for it either. It would really depend on what else it was up against.
I like La Vie Boheme much better, and that one would very likely be an upvote for me. There's a ton of variety in the lyrics so I think it's easy for everyone to find something.
I have tried reading the lyrics of La Vie Boheme and honestly I have struggled to find inspiration. If anyone has any suggestions other than dystopia I would love to hear them
Honestly I wouldn't downvote AAPI, it's just as a non-American it seems like reading about a specifically American experience is what that prompt is about rather than necessarily diversifying my reading? So I might not necessarily vote for it depending on what else was in the poll. It was just a preference based on me not being American 🙂I just felt the reasoning said against making it API was implying there wasn't prejudice against Asians outside of the US.
Irene suggested:Maybe it can be reworded to "Read a book by an API author from your home country"
I think a bit of extra wording will be needed to allow for participants who themselves live in Asian countries. But I got stuck on rewording...
"from your home country" wouldn't work for me at all - I don't know any authors that would fit the criteria and researching it would be quite difficult.
If I may ask why would researching be difficult?
Entropia wrote: ""from your home country" wouldn't work for me at all - I don't know any authors that would fit the criteria and researching it would be quite difficult."I agree that's not going to be easy for some countries without significant Asian populations.
Does the word diaspora help here? I'd like input from someone who knows the proper use of it, but would an author from API diaspora work?
Ellie wrote: "Does the word diaspora help here? I'd like input from someone who knows the proper use of it, but would an author from API diaspora work?"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaspor....
If this helps anyone
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Emily wrote: "I'm actually the opposite... I read quite a few Asian American authors but I'm less inclined to pick up an Asian author writing from their own country, for whatever reason. I wouldn't downvote AAPI..."I suppose its really about the agender, is it to look at a minority group or engage with other cultures.
on another note, another thought for the mullti week: a book related to each of the four elements (earth, fire, water and air,)
Thomas wrote: "on another note, another thought for the mullti week: a book related to each of the four elements (earth, fire, water and air,)"Thomas, that is a good idea but we also already did that as a multi week prompt so I think it is unlikely to be voted in again.
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Emily wrote: "Yea, I think that was the multiweek prompt my first year? 2017 or 2018? But I feel like we've gotten a lot of new members since then so it doesn't hurt to suggest it again."Well when we get to that poll I will suggest it. if it doesn't get seconded or doesn't get picked fairs fair.
Personally I'm happy with any of the (A)API wordings mentioned so far but I agree the compromise of an API author from your home country doesn't work for everyone. For example, where my husband is from the Asian population is extremely small and he could not name (or find) a single Asian author who writes in his native language. Not to say they don't exist, it's more a question of accessibility.I think including 'diaspora' would work as Ellie suggested. Or just going with the broader API term then people can interpret it however they choose.
Thomas wrote: "If I may ask why would researching be difficult?"basically I tried to google couple of queries I might thought could work and google didn't bring me anything worthwhile - it's either Asian in general or Asian American. I'd have to ask on some forums and there is no guarantee I'd get any answers.
Entropia wrote: "Thomas wrote: "If I may ask why would researching be difficult?"basically I tried to google couple of queries I might thought could work and google didn't bring me anything worthwhile - it's eith..."
thanks jsut wnated to understand. Just a thought> I remember this year we had a propt to read an author from a list of 100 Black Novleists. Is it possible their is a similar list somewhere for Asian writers? Just I seem to rmeber it had a mixture of nationalities.
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basically I tried to google couple of queries I might thought could work and google didn't bring me anything worth..."
Good idea, I bet there is a list somewhere. I agree that "home country" may not work for some of our members.
@Thomas travel by or to would both work. Leaving it open ended means more opportunities for each person to see the prompt I different ways.
Emily, is the pre-poll the 1st poll in July or will it be in June?
Anastasia wrote: "@Thomas travel by or to would both work. Leaving it open ended means more opportunities for each person to see the prompt I different ways."Thanks
Jillian wrote: "Emily, is the pre-poll the 1st poll in July or will it be in June?"I think Emily sent a message or post somewhere the pre poll is June 25th. The first standard poll will take suggestions on July 1st
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Thomas wrote: "My apolgies. i didn't do it till 2021"No worries! It is a great idea. Since you weren't sure what to do for the "something borrowed" part - As I recall, for the "something borrowed" people used a book that they borrowed from the library or borrowed from a friend, or a book that borrowed themes/details/storyline from elsewhere, such as a modern retelling of a fairy tale. I really enjoy seeing how creative and flexible people can be in interpreting prompts!
For those having trouble with La Vie Boheme lyrics, here's a few ideas. I don't necessarily have specific books in mind, but just some ideas of what kinds of books might fit:"We gather here to say our goodbyes" - Any book that involves a death or a funeral, or even just a separation of some kind (ie. best friends headed to separate colleges)
"Celebrate the birth, in that little town of Bethlehem" - Pretty sure this is a Christmas reference (I'm not Christian), so any Christmas book should work here
"Play hookey" - lots of YA books involve characters skipping school
"To need to express, to communicate" - Books with a heavy focus on social media or communication
"Going insane, going mad" - Books related to mental health, despite these not being the most politically correct terms
"Vacation" - People We Meet on Vacation, for example, or The Unhoneymooners
"to fashion" - The Knockoff or any book where the character works in the fashion industry or has a strong interest in it
If you include the spoken parts of the song too, there are also references to characters performing music, making films, even hacking into a computer with virtual reality capability.
Thank you all for your input on the (A)API prompt, it actually wasn't my suggestion so I was just commenting my thoughts on it as well since I'm Asian. It's up to the original poster if they want to edit the wording. I totally get the issue with the home country thing if you're from a country with a nonexistent Asian population. Honestly, I wasn't really expecting an Asian author prompt to make it through anyway so I'd probably be fine with any variation of the prompt. My initial reaction was to think of something like The Art of War by Sun Tzu for any Asian author, haha.
I'm really glad we're having this discussion though because it sounds like a lot of people don't particularly like or care for the original suggested AAPI author prompt and would not have voted for it (unless it got changed to API). Good to hear the reasoning why people don't love the phrasing of AAPI, and I definitely understand why. I guess I was looking at it from a discriminated/minority group point of view which is why I liked the focus on API authors as minorities rather than API authors who are celebrated, non-discriminated-against authors published in their home countries. E.g. Reading Haruki Murakami = reading an author who is very famous in Japan and has not had the identity crisis of being a minority group. Doesn't mean we shouldn't read him, it would just be for a different reason - to broaden our scope of global/world literature rather than to focus on minority voices. I guess both are equally important!
Would, "Read a book by an API minority author" come off as too specific? It avoids the issue of finding an Asian author from a country with a zero-Asian population and is much less U.S.-centric.
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Rachel wrote: "For those having trouble with La Vie Boheme lyrics, here's a few ideas. I don't necessarily have specific books in mind, but just some ideas of what kinds of books might fit:"We gather here to sa..."
Great suggestions!! Super helpful.
I'll just post a few ideas for Bohemian Rhapsody as well, which also has some great possibilities:
"Is this just fantasy" - a fantasy book
"I'm just a poor boy" - a book with a financially unstable protagonist
"Just killed a man" - a book with a murder
"Thunderbolts and lightning, very, very frightening me" and "Sends shivers down my spine" - a scary book
"Scaramouch" - a comedy, as it refers to a clown
"Galileo" - a book related to the stars/astronomy/physics/science/etc
Any book related to Italy, due to the numerous Italian words
"Bismillah" - any book with a Muslim character, or by a Muslim author, set in a Muslim country, etc
"Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me" - maybe a Christian book just because it's a Christian reference?
One of the definitions of "rhapsody" is an ancient Greek epic poem, so poetry could work for this prompt. And a book set in or related to Czechia for "Bohemia".
As a Christian, the idea of reading any random Christian book because of Beelzebub/devil reference kind of makes me laugh. I see what you mean about it being related to our view of how the world is, but to me it feels like the opposite of a reference to Christianity! If I were going that route for the prompt, I'd probably choose a book like The Screwtape Letters or This Present Darkness that more directly relate to devils or demons.
I like both songs and would be happy to have both of them on the list.
Jillian wrote: "I like both songs and would be happy to have both of them on the list."I personally wouldn't want more than two song lyrics prompts, jsut me.
I've been trying to think of a prompt that would include all mystery and thrillers but not be exclusive. Like a prompt where a thriller would be a clear option but other options are also avialble but I really can't think of one.
Thomas wrote: "I've been trying to think of a prompt that would include all mystery and thrillers but not be exclusive. Like a prompt where a thriller would be a clear option but other options are also avialble b..."What about:
A book that keeps you on the edge of your seat
or
A book with a plot twist (you could play with the wording on that one for those who are strict planners, it's just that 'a book you expect to have an unexpected twist' sounded a little funny to me :-D)
Good idea. I especially like the first one. That would also cover adventure and quest and probably even some sci fi
The discussion has suddenly gone very quiet. If evryone okay?
How about: A book you rediscovered while reorganizing your book collection.This could be something from your elibrary, your Goodreads TBR or your physical book collection that you literally forgot you had. (Or maybe I'm the only one who I forgets books before I can read them?)
T. wrote: "How about: A book you rediscovered while reorganizing your book collection.This could be something from your elibrary, your Goodreads TBR or your physical book collection that you literally forgo..."
Yeah the last part might cut some people out. But a book you rediscovered sounds great. it could either be what you describe or a book you heard about but didn't read then it comes into your mind again. Or a favourtie of yours from the past you ahven't read for a while.
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Emily wrote: "UPDATE: The pre-poll thread will go live on June 21, with voting opening on June 22 and closing on June 25. Mark your calendars!"how many votes in that one please?
T. wrote: "How about: A book you rediscovered while reorganizing your book collection.This could be something from your elibrary, your Goodreads TBR or your physical book collection that you literally forgo..."
Not just you, I have even bought another copy of a book forgetting I already had one
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This could be something from your elibrary, your Goodreads TBR or your physical book collection that you lite..."
I’ve done that, Jill! It’s especially easy when there are different covers or when books in a series have similar names.
Yikes. I've only read the first couple pages of ideas so far, but here are my reactions so far. Year of the Tiger - I love it. It's specific to a year, and can be interpreted in many ways, including tigers, books related to China, or the Chinese zodiac, or other tiger years.
Zodiac or Chinese Zodiac- love it. There are so many planets, stars, animals, and concepts that could be incorporated. It could turn into a big side challenge like the NATO challenge.
The four elements - fire, earth, air, water are also important in traditional astrology.
First Contact - I really like the concepts that were discussed relating to this: First contact in sci-fi, people meeting from two different cultures, a "meet cute" in a romance, or something related to astronomy or anthropology. I skipped some pages, so I'm hoping someone came up with a phrase that encompasses these ideas. (TBH, the last time I heard the words First Contact - the person was talking about how to introduce a new dog to other dogs in the neighborhood.)
Song- The end of the world as we know it - I like it. It could include books related to disasters, war, nature - mountains, birds, snakes, earthquakes, continental drift, hurricanes. Speed, change, politics, patriots, News reporters, Governments, Leonard Bernstein (Philharmonic), Lenny Bruce (Comedian). And there is also a line about birthday cake. The word "trump" is in the song too.
Culture - I always want to read books about new cultures, or sub-cultures, cross-cultural experiences, the immigrant experience.
Classics - I was surprised to see no classic related prompt this year. Could we come up with a prompt that would give people an out if they've already read all the great classics (or don't want to)? Is there a song or phrase that includes "Classic" but allows for other interpretations?
T. wrote: "How about: A book you rediscovered while reorganizing your book collection.This could be something from your elibrary, your Goodreads TBR or your physical book collection that you literally forgo..."
You're definitely not the only one who forgets what books they've bought - I went to my local bookshop the other week and came home with 3 books, only to find I already had one of them on Kindle! (Different covers but still).
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@Conny, I personally have no issue with the song from Rent, I guess I was just concerned if anyone else did! But I also prefer Bohemian Rhapsody so for that reason I would vote no to La Vie Boheme.
I love so many of the prompts that have been suggested, it's going to be so hard to vote once the polls start!