Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
Archives
>
[2022] Poll 6 Voting
There are quite a few books about heist/thieves that would fit for true crime. Two that I have been interested in reading:
The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century
The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu and Their Race to Save the World’s Most Precious Manuscripts
Robin P wrote: "Ellie, you might want to search "up lit", ..."I'm happy to stumble on one. I actually find a lot of the books classified as uplit a bit depressing.
I didn't use all of my votes. I think I used 5 or 6. I only had one upvote and the others were downvotes. I didn't feel strongly enough about the others either way so I just let them be. There were books I could use if they got in.
Dial A for Aunties would be perfect for “extended family.” Same for the China Rich Girlfriend series. But, having already read that, I can’t think of any other books that would work, so I’m reluctant to vote for that idea.
Nadine wrote: "Dial A for Aunties would be perfect for “extended family.” Same for the China Rich Girlfriend series. But, having already read that, I can’t think of any other books that would work, so I’m relucta..."There is a sequel due next year Four Aunties and a Wedding! If you've not read Black Water Sister yet that would work too.
I went 5 upvotes/3 downvotes.My upvotes were:
*A parallel novel or spin-off of a well-known story
*A book that is set (at least partly) during 1900 -1950
*A nonfiction book by a BIPOC author
*A true crime book
*A book related to Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock
All of them caught my eye early on. Adding Lizard, Spock to the last one really opens it up to a lot of different ideas. If it goes through, I might use it as an excuse to revisit my Trekkie youth and read some kind of Star Trek novel, lol.
Thanks to those who posted all the non-serial killer ideas for true crime.
My downvotes were:
*A book related to the lyrics of Bohemian Rhapsody
*A book written by or featuring a character who is a healthcare professional
*A book whose title includes the name of a US State
My family has had so many health-related issues the past two years that I don't think I can read something related to medicine/health, and for the book to feature a healthcare provider, that would almost certainly be the case. If it goes through, I'll figure something out. The other two just didn't appeal to me.
Pretty polarizing set of prompts! I'm not going to vote until I read more comments in this thread because there are so many that I am ambivalent towards. I'm also open to hearing more options for the prompts I'm leaning towards down-voting. My favorites:
- Bohemian Rhapsody
I absolutely love this song and it is very flexible because of the lyrics (fantasy books for "is it fantasy," horror for "very very frightening," science books for Galileo, etc.)
- Small town or rural area
Least favorites:
- A book written by or featuring a character who is a healthcare professional
I don't want to research author's other jobs and am not in the mental space for reading about patients in the hospital, which seems unavoidable if the MC is a healthcare worker. And would be too difficult to figure out if there are any side characters who are healthcare workers
- A book whose title includes the name of a US State
There is only 1 book on my TBR that fits and I'm reading it this year. It's also incredibly US-centric and seems strange for someone from another country to have to find a book with the name of a state of a specific country in their book titles. It's not a given for everyone in this group to know the names of all or even some of the states.
- A book related to Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock
I don't understand the Lizard/Spock thing at all. I've never seen the Big Bang Theory
- A book related to the year you or someone in your family turned 22
For a number of reasons: I have a very small extended family, I'm the youngest aside from some cousins' children, and I'm not interested in calculating what exact year everyone turned 22 and then finding books for those years. For example, my dad turned 22 in 1972 and I'm seeing zero options on my TBR.
Parallel or spin-off story- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies?
Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter?
A mystery series I really enjoy is Darko Dawson, Wife of the Gods, by Kwei Quartey. He was a physician before leaving to write full time. If the healthcare professional prompt is voted in I plan to read one of the books I have yet to read in the series for it.
Alicia wrote: "Jill wrote: "This would fit both Gothic from last poll, or spin-off from this poll...I think the Grishaverse example works well. I think many fantasy authors do this too. The prompt doesn't require that it be a retelling.
This allows sequels and prequels too which can come in very handy some years. The best part is you don't have to read both in the same year, and you don't have to read/reread a classic.
Rachel wrote: "A mystery series I really enjoy is Darko Dawson, Wife of the Gods, by Kwei Quartey. He was a physician before leaving to write full time. If the healthcare professio..."Good point, There are quite a few medical professionals who write novels, many of which have little to do with healthcare.
Irene, if you liked the rock, paper, scissor prompt before, this is basically the same thing. You don’t need to watch/ have watched Big Bang Theory. It’s the same game, but also adds the option for some people to choose some science/science fiction books.
Yes, it’s a variation Scissors cuts Paper
Paper covers Rock
Rock crushes Lizard
Lizard poisons Spock
Spock smashes Scissors
Scissors decapitates Lizard
Lizard eats Paper
Paper disproves Spock
Spock vaporizes Rock
And, as it always has, Rock crushes Scissors
Kelly wrote: "Thanks Robin for suggesting "up lit" - it definitely makes the act of kindness prompt more searchable.Here's a listopia for up lit: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1......"
I like the title Dalai Llama's Cat
I'm trying to find other books to add to the list.
Someone commented that they sound depressing (Eleanor Oliphant didn't have an easy life) but I think that's when kindness, hope, friendship are most beautiful.
ADDED
I found some descriptions of Up-lit. They don't take a sacharine or blindly optimistic view of life. At their best, they are realistic with difficult situations (even depressing) but they demonstrate that kindness, friendship, connection, and community provide hope, healing and a richer life. They shouldn't have an unrealistically happy ending. Eleanor Oliphant's problems didn't all go away at the end, but she had more hope.
https://bluepencilagency.com/what-is-...
https://katemallinderblog.wordpress.c...
This is one more "lesser known sub-genre" for my list!
Juliet Brown wrote: "And, as it always has, Rock crushes Scissors"That is interesting! I learned the game as "rock blunts scissors" :)
The addition of lizard and spock seemed totally random to me, but I like the quirkiness of it and decided to upvote anyway... although I will probably find myself desperately searching for something to fit. But that's next year's problem ;)
Rosemary, in that scenario what is a blunt supposed to be? Or is it what I think and not a secret “wholesome child” meaning. And what does the blunt beat? I’m clearly very fascinated.
Blunt in this case is a verb, meaning to dull or make less sharp the scissors. But I‘m kinda into the way you interpreted it and now I’m wondering what that version of the game would involve... 😂
I’m truly embarrassed now. That makes a lot more sense. I was very confused by what seemed like more of a college party game. Lol
For those who don't want to read a book in a hospital/medical setting, there are definitely authors who fit the healthcare worker criteria but don't write about it. Some examples:Khaled Hosseini (physician)
Joanna Cannon (physician)
Arthur Conan Doyle (physician)
Agatha Christie (pharmacy assistant)
Christina Lauren (one has a neuroscience phd, the other is/was a counselor)
SJ Watson (audiologist)
Sue Monk Kidd (registered nurse)
It does take a bit of searching to find them though.
Mod
Khaled Ho..."</i>
[author:Anton Chekhov was a playwright and short story writer who was also a doctor.
NancyJ wrote: "Kelly wrote: "Thanks Robin for suggesting "up lit" - it definitely makes the act of kindness prompt more searchable.Here's a listopia for up lit: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1......"
NancyJ, I Loved The Dalai Lama's Cat :)
Beth wrote: "For those who don't want to read a book in a hospital/medical setting, there are definitely authors who fit the healthcare worker criteria but don't write about it. Some examples:[author:Khaled Ho..."
There's also Lisa Genova, whose books are very good.
First impressions1. A book that features an act of kindness. Driftless. The Keeper of Lost Things, Harry's Trees, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Little Paris Bookshop, The Story of Arthur Truluv, The War for Kindness
5. A fiction or nonfiction book that is set (at least partly) during 1900 -1950 - The Four Winds, A Town Like Alice. The Blind Assassin, Bohemian Paris
3. A book set in a small town or rural area - The Snow Child, Plainsong
6. A book related to the lyrics of Bohemian Rhapsody -
Bohemian Paris: Picasso, Modigliani, Matisse and the Birth of Modern Art, a fantasy
10. A book written by or featuring a character who is a healthcare professional - Walking Free
8. A nonfiction book by a BIPOC author -Walking Free
11. A book featuring an important extended family relationship - And the Mountains Echoed.
4. A parallel novel or spin-off of a well-known story
13. A book that features a bilingual protagonist
2. A book by an author you might like to meet
15. A book related to the year you or someone in your family turned 22
14. A book related to Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock
9. A true crime book
7. A book about independence
12. A book whose title includes the name of a US State
NancyJ wrote: "Someone commented that they sound depressing..."Not that they sound depressing, it's more like they were sold to me as uplifting and then they made me feel the opposite! Uplit was a big trend in UK commercial fiction a few years ago, and I think that meant lots of stuff got called it no matter if it wasn't uplifting. I will still read it occasionally but I don't read it as something to cheer me up any more as been burned too many times.
Rosemary wrote: "Juliet Brown wrote: "And, as it always has, Rock crushes Scissors"That is interesting! I learned the game as "rock blunts scissors" :)
The addition of lizard and spock seemed totally random to m..."
Rock blunts scissors is what I know it as too...may be a location thing.
Nina wrote: "Prompts I like:1. A book that features an act of kindness
The first book I thought of for this prompt was Les Misérables. An act of kindness is what sets the whole thing rolling. I c..."
Les Miserables is a wonderful suggestion. I really hope this prompt wins.
I saw Scaramouche on one of the lists, and I really have no idea what it is, but it is fun to sing. I like the idea of a bohemian book too.
If act of kindness gets in I will add Les Mis to my reading suggestions for myself :)
Thanks Alicia and Juliet for the explanations! After thinking about it more, I appreciate the creativity of the prompt (it has that fun element) so I might actually end up up-voting it instead!
For a medical professional do not forget corners and paramedics. Books that feature corners are usually murder mysteries , although there are a few non fiction options too. I have two books by paramedics on my TBR that are about working on search and rescue teams.
Some books are about small town doctors that do not necessarily focus on their practice.
You could also stretch the prompt to veterinarians. There are some funny books written about them.
Oh and don't forget Doctors who do research on things like diabetes, blood transfusions etc.
Dentists, optometrists, podiatrists and more are medical professionals as well.
I think some of your suggestions are a matter of how one interprets the prompt. There are ones I didn’t think of that would fit for me. However I downvoted the prompt because, to me, ‘health care professionals’ is more specific than ‘medical professionals’ and after last year I am just not up for it
Mod
1. A book that features an act of kindness
The first book I thought of for this prompt was Les Misérables. An act of kindness is what sets the whole thing..."
Scaramouche is a kind of swashbuckler that includes the hero joining a troupe of actors where he performs the traditional role of that name, while he is trying to right some kind of injustice or discover a criminal, I forget the details. In real life I am a pacifist and feminist but in the book world, I have a weakness for old-time sword fighting and glamorous heroes.
Mod
I have two books by par..."
I was a little confused about corners, I assume you mean coroners, who examine dead bodies to show cause of death, etc. (probably autocorrect took over your message.)
I used one of my spare votes for true crime, not because I love true crime but I do enjoy those sort of genre prompts. And I feel there are enough books about non-violent crime that I can avoid the stereotypical serial killer books that always spring to mind.For the health care profession prompt, if it gets in and people don't want to read about illness, I know we can all come up with ideas to help. I know that Joanna Cannon is a doctor, even if she did write one of those uplit books that made me sad! A lot of people enjoy her novels and they are not directly linked to her being a doctor.
Also healthcare professional could be a wise woman who treats people with herbs and gets accused of being a witch. I do agree medical profession would have widened the net a little. I am not sure a coroner is really involved in "healthcare". Still I did vote for it, because despite my brush with health anxiety I actually feel better reading about such things.
I would not count coroners as health care professionals.
Nancy wrote: "I would not count coroners as health care professionals."Coroners aren't HCPs because they don't need to have any medical training, but Medical Examiners are physicians so they would certainly count.
Well, this is the least interesting batch of prompts so far. 😂 I won’t down vote any, because I don’t mind any of them, but I’m not really excited about any either. Maybe it’s time for people to start resubmitting prompts that didn’t make it earlier, because I would definitely vote for something like the rabbit prompt if it were in this group!I’ll upvote the RPS/lizard/Spock prompt, and probably would read a Star Trek book for it. I’ll vote for nonfiction by a BIPOC author if only so I have an excuse to recommend Gifted Hands and Olaudah Eqiano’s memoir to everyone. And I do like the idea of the extended family prompt—I’ve read some stories with awesome aunt/uncle/grandparent characters and generally enjoy those parts of the stories.
On healthcare professionals, I know Dee Henderson included a book about a paramedic in her Christian romantic suspense O’Malley series, and I bet there are a lot of similar books with doctors and nurses, so that might be a good lighter reading option.
I would also make a case for psychiatrists/psychologists/therapists as healthcare professionals. It might be a bit of a stretch, but I'd consider mental health a part of healthcare. Since the prompt wording specifies healthcare but not necessarily medical, I'd include books where a character is in one of these professions too.
Here psychologists are definitely considered medical professionals. My daughter was in one of the earlier groups to be offered the Covid vaccine.,She’s two years into a post-grad qualification in psychology but is seeing some clients.
Nancy wrote: "Elizabeth Acevedo's books all have bilingual characters. If you haven't read any of hers I highly recommend them. They are YA, and some are written in verse and better listened to. But they are all..."The Dorothy Must Die series is SO funny, but it's SO dark. Lots of fun though!
In the US coroners are elected, and often do not have medical training. Medical examiners are appointed, and must have medical training, and are board-certified. I think sometimes the two terms are used synonymously.
I forgot I had a thought on bilingual characters! Almost any classic English novel has characters who also speak French very well. The ones that come to mind are The Scarlet Pimpernel and also the classic mystery series with Lord Peter Wimsey (starting with Whose Body?). Many Agatha Christie characters would also count as bilingual, including Hercule Poirot.
Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads) wrote: "I forgot I had a thought on bilingual characters! Almost any classic English novel has characters who also speak French very well. The ones that come to mind are The Scarlet Pimpernel..."Good point. I just read The Scarlet Pimpernel last week. I've become so accustomed to bilingual characters I didn't even register it. It's a great story, but the repeated comments about Jews toward the end of the book were very hard to take. They were made by the character we're meant to hate, and it was published in 1905, but be warned.
Rachel wrote: "I would also make a case for psychiatrists/ psychologists/ therapists as healthcare professionals. ..."Absolutely. Mental health is health, and the brain affects everything. I would include neuroscientists, psychiatric social workers and and medical research doctors.
Beth wrote: "For those who don't want to read a book in a hospital/medical setting, there are definitely authors who fit the healthcare worker criteria but don't write about it. Some examples: [author:Khaled Ho..."
Beth, I love it! I didn't know that about Christina Lauren (or Christina and Lauren). I can't read most romance novels anymore, but theirs are a cut above - smart, funny, complex, with interesting characters. Now I know why they're also full of emotional intelligence. I recommend Soulmate Equation for the Summer challenge, or any of their books for the medical prompts.
The medical professionals who turn author can choose any topic they want, and those books count for this prompt.
I really hope this prompt is voted in. I can't wait to see all the interesting books people come up with.
Shannon wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Kelly wrote: "Thanks Robin for suggesting "up lit" - it definitely makes the act of kindness prompt more searchable.Here's a listopia for up lit: https://www.goodreads.com/list/sho...
NancyJ, I Loved The Dalai Lama's Cat :)"
Thanks Shannon! I'm adding to my 2022 list. I read a book this year by the Dalai Llama (with others) and I found him delightful. He narrated his parts and his humor came through.
I really hope the kindness prompt makes it in. There are many books on my tbr that would count. It's not a trivial thing in the world today. We are hard-wired for kindness and connection, but we may forget along the way.
I also want to read:Seven Years in Tibet which is about the Dalai Llama's childhood I think.
Perri wrote: "OoOOO, I just saw Amor Towle's new book this year takes place in the 1950s The Lincoln Highway"Wow, this looks like a departure for him. It sounds fascinating.
Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads) wrote: "I forgot I had a thought on bilingual characters! Almost any classic English novel has characters who also speak French very well. The ones that come to mind are The Scarlet Pimpernel..."I love the idea of Hercule Poirot (further proof that almost any prompt can be solved by Agatha Christie) or Lord Peter Wimsey. I'll probably do one of those if the prompt wins.
Angie, I actually started to really consider an all Agatha challenge for next year, but the Goodreads Choice prompt (which I do love) is the one I couldn’t skirt around. I figure even for published in 2022 there is bound to be a 75th edition of something or a new cover coming out that year.
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Lincoln Highway (other topics)The Chosen and the Beautiful (other topics)
The Guest List (other topics)
The Scarlet Pimpernel (other topics)
The Lincoln Highway (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Anton Chekhov (other topics)Khaled Hosseini (other topics)
Arthur Conan Doyle (other topics)
Agatha Christie (other topics)
Christina Lauren (other topics)
More...
Vote here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/EGSR8M/