[2022] Poll 1 Results

[Jackie, Solstitial Mod]

The results are here!

Winners
A book with a language or nationality in the title
Listopia: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

A book connected to the phrase "Here (There) Be Dragons
Listopia: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Bottoms
A book you haven't read because it is or was overhyped
A book where the page count of any edition is a multiple of 22

The next suggestion round will open on Wednesday July 7th around 7a central time.

Please feel free to discuss the results here in the meantime, respectfully of courses.

[Thomas]

I’m utterly devastated. So many great suggestions and only two got through. Super miffed about Disney. So looking forward to that one

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Voting was CLOSE this round and there were a few who cycled in and out of the top throughout the voting, but these two pulled far enough ahead in the last few days of voting so we didn't have any close calls. Highly recommend resubmitting some of these ideas later down the road because they were so good.

Now I need recommendations for the language/nationality one. I am SHOCKED at how few I have on my TBR that fit that prompt.

[[deleted user]]

I'm devastated that more prompts didn't get through so I hope people resubmit them! Definitely surprised by the language/nationality one too but not in a bad way. I have none currently on my tbr so begins my favourite part of the challenge, the research! Also, so please about the dragon prompt.

[Nicole]

Wow! I don’t know why, but I am really surprised only two made it in. One I voted for and one I didn’t. Thankfully, the two I downvoted were the two bottoms, so I’m happy about that. I don’t know why I’m ever surprised at the results, because as we mention all the time, the people who participate in the discussion are only a portion of the voters, but I was really hoping for more winners in the first round since there were so many amazing prompts that everyone seemed to love. But again, those of us who comment aren’t necessarily the majority.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Like I said, there were quite a few that flitted in and out of the top options but these were the two that pulled ahead from the pack. I think it's pretty normal to have a small number of winners at the beginning because the options are all so strong so it divides the votes. I would give it a few weeks then resubmit any you were especially tied to.

[Ellie]

I'm pleasantly surprised here be dragons got in, I thought people might assume it had to be about dragons! Like others have said, it's a bit disappointing to not have more winners but we have a long way to go till the list is complete so I'm sure some of the others will make it in eventually.

I didn't vote either way on language or nationality, I'll have to see what other people come up with as I don't have a lot on my TBR.

[Nicole]

Emily wrote: "Like I said, there were quite a few that flitted in and out of the top options but these were the two that pulled ahead from the pack. I think it's pretty normal to have a small number of winners a..."

Yeah, I was going to suggest that any who want to resubmit their prompts wait at least a couple polls to do so. It seems like if something doesn’t get picked in its first go-round, and then gets immediately resubmitted in the next poll, it often (but not always) ends up in the bottom. I don’t want any of those to end up bottomed, so hopefully if we wait a couple weeks or more to resubmit, there will be a different outcome.

[Jillian]

It seems to me that when we have several popular prompts there are fewer winners. The top votes get spread out so there are not too many clear winners. It is the downside of lots of good ideas in one poll but with this being the first poll there is plenty of time to resubmit prompts.

I will admit I’m a little surprised that the nationality one made it in even though I voted for it. I have no clue what I’ll read but I typed in several nationalities into my libraries search and saw that I’ll lots of options.

[Nadine in NY]

Wow I really thought the "over-hyped" book would be polarizing. And I thought "glass" would make it to the top ahead of dragons; but I'm super happy about dragons!! I look forward to researching map-making books and adventure books ... might be a good non-fiction out there, like Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time (which I've already read).

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads)]

I felt like the mods prepped us very well for the results of the first couple poll results to be weird, so while I do hope for a lot of those prompts to get resubmitted, I'm happy with what did win.

It looks like I have half a dozen options on my owned TBR for the language/nationality one, mostly non-fiction.

And at some point I whittled my owned TBR books with dragon in the title down to just two! (I feel like I used to have a TON of those sitting around.) I'm sure I have plenty more that are related to dragons, especially if I go to my un-owned TBR, so I'll probably go with the obvious interpretation, just to keep working through that backlog.

[Entropia]

I didn't expect nationality/language one to get in and as others I hoped for more of the prompts to be voted in. Woud "Theban" count as nationality?

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

For future reference, I think it's wise to expect 2-3 per poll to make it on the final list. We sometimes get only one, and we rarely get more than 4, but two to three is the average.

[Pam]

I was surprised at how many language/nationality books were on the Listopia already when I woke up this morning! However, there are a few that don't fit the prompt. The name of a country is not the same as a nationality. (Chinese and Polish work but China and Poland don't.) I feel disappointed that Disney/Pixar didn't make it since I came around on that one and voted for it. But, it's early and we will have lots more great prompts to choose from!

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Jillian wrote: "It seems to me that when we have several popular prompts there are fewer winners. The top votes get spread out so there are not too many clear winners. It is the downside of lots of good ideas in o..."

This is an excellent observation, Jillian. We all remarked on how many good prompts there were. Many of us used mostly up votes, so the number for any one was lower.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

On language/nationality prompt

There could be less obvious ones, like Latin is a language, and there might be a book called The Latin Lover, which has nothing to do with that language, but that would work. A KIS would be that you could include cities/states like Theban, asked about above. Also a KIS could be made-up languages/nationalites, from sci-fi or fantasy.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Pam, it looks like we have quite a few people adding books to the list that are not part of the ATY group... which is fine, but does explain why the list exploded so quickly. I've gone through and deleted some of the more obvious books that don't belong.

[Angie]

I'm happy with these results and hope to see some of the unpicked suggestions from last round resurface in later polls.

[Ellie]

If you want to be geeky about it, you can also use a programming language. There are lots of obscure ones which could be found in book titles:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...

[Conny]

Ellie wrote: "If you want to be geeky about it, you can also use a programming language. There are lots of obscure ones which could be found in book titles:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of......"

Ohhhh, I love that :D

I'm thrilled that my Dragons prompt got through on the first attempt, and bummed because so many great suggestions didn't make it in. Please, PLEASE resubmit!

[Dubhease]

I liked the Twilight Zone prompt. I did vote for the dragon one, so maybe I''ll finally read Eragon.

[Alicia]

I'm like Annie, my favorite part of all this is the research!! I love hunting for current TBR and new books to satisfy the prompts. Even though I don't know how much of next year's list I'll be able to complete (having my first baby in November), unless I can do an all children's book challenge.

[Kelly Sj]

If anyone wants to resubmit "Around"/"Year" in a later poll, please feel free, because I have lots of other ideas I want to suggest before I get back to trying that one again!

[Jackie, Solstitial Mod]

How do we feel about the word celtic as a language? Google tells me its a language group but I'm unsure.

[Alicia]

Jackie wrote: "How do we feel about the word celtic as a language? Google tells me its a language group but I'm unsure."

I'm actually reading In Search of Ancient Ireland: The Origins of the Irish from Neolithic Times to the Coming of the English and the chapter I read last night was about how really one of the few things actually Celtic about Ireland is the Celtic language. Proto-Celtic was it's own language (not a group of languages) around 1200 B.C. to 800 B.C. (give or take a couple hundred years).

So long, random facts aside, it counts!

[Ellie]

Jackie wrote: "How do we feel about the word celtic as a language? Google tells me its a language group but I'm unsure."

Celtic is a language family which is a group of related languages, Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic and Manx for instance. I don't think you'd meet an Irish person or Scot who said they speak Celtic? Unless they're talking the language of football...

Another language group is "romance". So if you count Celtic I think you'd also have to count romance.

[Jackie, Solstitial Mod]

Hmm, well given that I don't think the books in question are using the word to mean the specific Celtic language of 1200 to 800 BC, I'll probably use something else.

[Alicia]

Jackie wrote: "Hmm, well given that I don't think the books in question are using the word to mean the specific Celtic language of 1200 to 800 BC, I'll probably use something else."

I actually think you could still use it. There isn't anything in the prompt that says it has to be a language or nationality that is still in existence today or that the book has to be about that specific language or nationality.

For example, The Only Good Indians would fit the prompt even thought I consider Indian to be people from India and the book is discussing Native Americans.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Alicia, I added The Only Good Indians to the list and hadn't even thought of that interpretation lol

[Jill]

Alicia wrote: "I'm like Annie, my favorite part of all this is the research!! I love hunting for current TBR and new books to satisfy the prompts. Even though I don't know how much of next year's list I'll be abl..."

Congratulations Hope all goes well for you in November

[Beth]

Interesting results for the first poll. I didn't vote for either of these (downvoted the dragons one) so a little disappointing. I don't have anything on my TBR that fits the language/nationality prompt but have had Mexican Gothic on my radar so might have to add that to my list. I also don't have anything on my TBR or from the listopia for the dragons prompt so that one is going to be tricky to fill.

[Tina]

I really hope disney and the twilight zone get resubmitted. Maybe I'll be doing a rejects prompt next year :)

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Tina, I thought about making a rejects challenge with every prompt I vote for that doesn't make it in the final list. I'm doing the challenge twice through this year (I hope to finish anyway lol) so I think it's doable.

[Nancy]

I am doing the NATO challenge, which I'm almost done with, and then I have a Close Calls challenge planned. The NATO one I'm using books I already used for the regular challenge and PopSugar. But since I'll finish both PS and ATY early, I may use all new books for the Close Calls one.

[Rachel]

I am so sad Disney didn't make it through! It seemed so popular in the thread, but it does seem to be a pattern in the past couple of years that when people upvote a lot of prompts, the votes get diluted. I'm definitely for resubmitting this one, but I'm not sure when would be the best time.

[Steve]

Alicia wrote: "I'm like Annie, my favorite part of all this is the research!! I love hunting for current TBR and new books to satisfy the prompts. Even though I don't know how much of next year's list I'll be abl..."

Congrats, Alicia! We just had our first daughter 2 weeks ago. We're so in love and so obsessed with her :) Somehow I managed to read an entire book during the hospital stay! Thank you, Project Hail Mary, for the distraction!

[Chrissy]

So excited that the list is underway! I like all 4 prompts we have so far, and it’s always interesting to see the imagination people can apply to this process.

[Irene]

Rachel wrote: "I am so sad Disney didn't make it through! It seemed so popular in the thread, but it does seem to be a pattern in the past couple of years that when people upvote a lot of prompts, the votes get d..."

Rachel, definitely resubmit it!! I'm honestly really surprised that the Disney and glass prompts weren't close calls. And the Birds Eye View prompt seemed popular as well. But you're 100% right about upvotes getting too spread out/diluted when there are lots of popular prompts. I'll probably make one more attempt to suggest the Twilight Zone prompt just because 2022 is the only year it'd make sense, but I also don't know when the best time would be.

@Conny, so glad your Dragons prompt got in, I would have been so upset if it didn't! Hahaha

[Alicia]

Thanks Jill and Steve and Congratulations! I'm having a girl too!

For some reason right after I tell people, they like to say "well, guess you'll never read again" and laugh. So I'm determined to prove them semi-wrong.

[Irene]

Alicia wrote: "Thanks Jill and Steve!! I'm having a girl too!

For some reason right after I tell people, they like to say "well, guess you'll never read again" and laugh. So I'm determined to prove them semi-wrong."

Oh my gosh, I completely missed this, but CONGRATULATIONS ALICIA!! I'm a November baby too! I hope everything goes well ^^ Please stay safe and healthy and strong!!

[Erica]

Alicia wrote: "Thanks Jill and Steve!! I'm having a girl too!

For some reason right after I tell people, they like to say "well, guess you'll never read again" and laugh. So I'm determined to prove them semi-wrong."

Congratulations on the baby! I actually found I had a ton of time to read after having my first baby. It might have been the year I read the most books! So much time holding a sleeping baby and breastfeeding... just had to be one handed reading, lol, on my phone or kindle. After the second baby was a different story though, with a toddler to entertain too.

[[deleted user]]

Congratulations Alicia! That is so exciting. All the best 💗

[Jill]

Alicia wrote: "Thanks Jill and Steve!! I'm having a girl too!

For some reason right after I tell people, they like to say "well, guess you'll never read again" and laugh. So I'm determined to prove them semi-wrong."

Congratulations, Alicia! I am expecting my first grandchild in November. My son and daughter-in-law are having a baby boy. My son gave me the job of setting up a “library” for the baby. It is such a fun project.

[Alicia]

Jill wrote: "Alicia wrote: "Thanks Jill and Steve!! I'm having a girl too!

For some reason right after I tell people, they like to say "well, guess you'll never read again" and laugh. So I'm determined to prov..."

I'm also a November baby, so I can assure you it's a fantastic month. You'll have to share your library picks. I've pulled all my old Nancy Drew books out of storage, but I'm a bit lost on baby books.

[Bec]

I was surprised with the winners too....not sure why though given we know anything can happen. They weren't ones I voted for but I'm not against them so will be able to find something easily enough. The bottom 2 were ones I downvoted, just because I read kindle and page numbers seems a really random thing to pick ,and I don't not read a book due to hype - I may read it, I may not...but I would be more likely to read due to hype rather than not read.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Yes, congratulations on the baby coming later this year! The first months might still be good for reading, as long as you aren’t too tired. Once the kids are mobile, it’s tougher. I do remember pushing my daughter in a swing when she was maybe 2 and reading at the same time.

The Here Be Dragons prompt doesn’t have to be about dragons. It could also be about maps, or travel to unknown destinations, anywhere in the world, or in space. A map with that wording is a plot point in one of the stories in Lord Peter Views the Body.

[Nadine in NY]

Alicia wrote: "... For some reason right after I tell people, they like to say "well, guess you'll never read again" and laugh. So I'm determined to prove them semi-wrong. ..."


LOL my reading DEFINITELY dropped off a cliff after my first was born... you're just so TIRED. It took a few years (maybe more than a few years) to recover.

Congratulations!! I have two daughters, they are the most wonderful people I know.

[Kat]

All of the ideas I have come up with so far are map related or journeys into the unknown. That doesn't mean I won't end up reading a book about dragons instead I just already have those on my tbr and wanted to find something new.

[Joan]

I hardly have any on my tbr for these prompts but I do have about 2 for each prompt.