Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
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[2023] Wild Discussion
NancyJ wrote: "Emily wrote: "I also think of "fanfic" as something written by an amateur or something self-published, published online, etc. A retelling of a classic (like [book:The Chosen and the Beautiful|55169..."I'm not sure why people hate "inspired by". I don't think "retellings" is broad enough to cover something like the modern takes on Pride and Prejudice - I think I have 4 of them on my TBR list. Maybe they'd count as "fanfic".
Maybe it should be fanfic or retellings.
Perhaps a word like "spin-off" would cover books like Death Comes to Pemberley, which isn't a retelling, but basically a fanfic sequel? There are lots of sequels and prequels of that sort written around classics especially (in addition to more straightforward retellings that do the same storyline in a different setting or from a different POV, or what have you) that are more closely connected to the original than "inspired by" might suggest.
Dubhease wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Emily wrote: "I also think of "fanfic" as something written by an amateur or something self-published, published online, etc. A retelling of a classic (like [book:The Chosen and the ..."I think for some people inspired by sounds too broad i.e an awful lot of books would fit some people really do not like broad prompts. personally I see fanfic as soemthign ofa derisve term sually to suggest poor quality and would nto vote for it
Dubhease wrote: "I'm not sure why people hate "inspired by". I don't think "retellings" is broad enough to cover something like the modern takes on Pride and Prejudice - I think I have 4 of them on my TBR list. Maybe they'd count as "fanfic"I agree, I think "inspired by" or "related to" gets you the most options in this case. It could be a literal retelling, a spin-off story (like Death Comes to Pemberley) or a book that started as fanfiction.
The latter is also a broader category than you might think: e.g. Naomi Novik originally started her Temeraire series as Master and Commander fanfic before deciding to write them as original novels instead, while there are lots of contemporary romances these days that started as fanfiction (Ali Hazelwood is a prominent example, but there are many others). There is plenty of trashy, unedited fanfiction out there but the works that have made it to mainstream publishing are typically of the same standard as their peers.
I'm one of those people who didn't like "inspired by" in the context of "inspired by something you read in 2022", however, in the context that the author wrote a book that was "inspired by" another book, it makes sense to me. I can't tell you where my brain draws the line, so that might not be helpful. I like the retelling prompts. Other words around this idea last year included spin-off, parallel novel and pastiche. To me a retelling or spin-off would make sense. Why is wording so difficult?!?
I feel like pastiche was suggested last year but most people aren't familiar with that term and the voters who don't read the threads tend to just not vote for something they don't know.I love the prompt though so hope we can come up with good wording.
For a list prompt, how would people feel about a book that won/was a finalist for the Lambda Literary awards. This would give people an opportunity to read books that feature LGBT+ chararacters/authors (which it seems hard to agree wording for a prompt for) and there are a lot of books to choose from across all genres. https://lambdaliterary.org/awards/pre...
https://lambdaliterary.org/awards/cur...
I think the Lambdas are worth a try. However it seemed like LGBT diversity prompts got a lot of pushback last year and combining that with a list prompt that also gets automatic pushback might put it in the bottom out of the gate. No way to know without suggesting it tho
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Traci wrote: "I'm one of those people who didn't like "inspired by" in the context of "inspired by something you read in 2022", however, in the context that the author wrote a book that was "inspired by" another..."I feel the same Traci. To me "inspired by something you read in 2022" feels incredibly broad. I could pick up any book on my shelf and connect it in some way to something I read last year
However, reading a book that an author based off another book ("inspired by") is much more limiting. I would really have to search to find a book on my shelf that was intentionally inspired by another book. I would vote for it just for the challenge of it.
Thomas wrote: "Another challenge a few years ago ( not this group) had a book set somewhere you have lived Which would include country. I’m still not sure about that but definitely an improvement"I like that....I'm in Australia but find I don't read a lot set in Australia but really enjoy it when I do. So for me it would give me a push to read one set in Australia (like I did this year for the 3 continents).
Roxana wrote: "Perhaps a word like "spin-off" would cover books like Death Comes to Pemberley, which isn't a retelling, but basically a fanfic sequel? There are lots of sequels and prequels of that sort written a..."I would be happy with "spin-off / retelling" in the prompt wording
Traci wrote: "I'm one of those people who didn't like "inspired by" in the context of "inspired by something you read in 2022", however, in the context that the author wrote a book that was "inspired by" another..."I agree, this is a context where inspired works... I think in the past I have disliked inspired because I tend to see "a book inspired by" to mean the author was inspired, not that I was inspired to pick up a book because of something related.
I think "inspired by another story" works for all sorts of things, I don't think the prompt wording needs to include all the possible examples. I tend not to vote for prompts that are overly long winded even if I like the intent (eg. the genetics one had traits and heritage added to it which just made it odd to me).
Dubhease wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Emily wrote: "I also think of "fanfic" as something written by an amateur or something self-published, published online, etc. A retelling of a classic (like ..."You're in luck, there are more retellings of Austen's books than any others. Here's a list of nearly 300:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
Retellings is a blanket term that includes any books that tell a story inspired by an original novel or tale. It includes but is not limited to fan-fic. A retelling might use some of the plot, themes, settings or characters - and reimagine them, extend them in time, or write a completely new story in the book's "universe" with different characters. It can take a piece of the plot and write a story in a modern or international setting.
I would like to see both "inspired by" and "retelling" in the prompt. Adding fanfic would be ok too.
I think the word spinoff is more frequently used by new works by the same author, such as a new series set in the Grishaverse. I don't think that's what we want to do here.
Due to availability of some of the books outside the US, I'd ask for a Lambda awards prompt to at least include finalists. There's a few Tor titles I can easily get hold of, but I imagine the more literary titles from small presses would be hard to find here. Most the ones I recognise I've read already.
NancyJ wrote: "Dubhease wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Emily wrote: "I also think of "fanfic" as something written by an amateur or something self-published, published online, etc. A retelling of a classic (like ..."Yo..."
Hm, interesting; for me, if I heard "retelling" as a prompt, I would think it had to be a direct retelling of that story, like Pride & Prejudice but modern, or Macbeth in space, etc., not including sequels or prequels along the lines of Death Comes to Pemberley. Maybe my not thinking of spin-off as being the same author necessarily comes from the comics world, though, I don't know.
That being said, I think "inspired by" covers both of those meanings (and more), anyway! Lots of people seem to be agreeing now that in this context, "inspired by" isn't off-putting at all, so my suggestion might not even have been needed at all. 😅
Re the Lambda awards - gotta admit, I'm one of the people who tends to dislike list prompts, lol. But I agree I'd be more into such a prompt (for any award, not specifically the Lambdas), personally, if it included finalists/nominees, just for more options. My problem with a Goodreads Choice Award prompt, for instance, is usually that I've already read all the winners in the categories I often read. Opening it up to include some amount of nominees just gives more options, and unless it's a reeeally big list, it's probably still not making it too broad for the folks who want more restrictive prompts, I'd think?
problems with awards and lists: They have been done so often that people no longer have books they want to read on those lists.
They tend to be American centric. eg NPR is American. It may have books from other countries but it is an American list.
How about a book that has a food or beverage in the title?
Sorry, just had another idea - for one of the multi-week prompts, read a book with each season in the title. So a book with Spring in the title one week, Summer in the title the next week, etc. “Winter, Spring Summer and Fall” multi-week prompt.
Michelle wrote: "How about a book that has a food or beverage in the title?"I feel like we just did this, but it may have been a few years ago....years seem to merge together!
For a list prompt how about: Read a book that’s mentioned in the Rory Gilmore book challenge https://bookriot.com/rory-gilmore-rea...It’s a list of 408 books which are mentioned/seen being read in the series, and it’s got a huge variety of books on it.
Michelle wrote: "How about a book that has a food or beverage in the title?"We have a Food and Drink theme this year?
I like the Rory Gilmore suggestion. A list prompt I might actually vote for.
Thomas wrote: "I like the Rory Gilmore suggestion. A list prompt I might actually vote for."I had a look at the list and would only choose one of the classics, so I probably wouldn't vote for this one.
I like the Rory Gilmore list. Lots of variety!
The Gilmore List is one I might vote for. It has variety.
I also like the Gilmore list for variety.I've read many of them, but there is a strong majority of those I haven't, and several of them are on my TBR, or I would be interested in reading.
Still like the NPR list for a list prompt, because it is SO huge, but this is certainly a unique list I would vote for.
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We have a Food and Drink theme this year?"
and last year (eta- I still like it cause I already read this year's and have more I could read!)
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It’s a list of 408 books which are mentioned/seen be..."
I think we did that a few years ago (is there a list somewhere of all past topics). It's a good one one though cause there's so many choices and it also makes you read something not new.
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Any list with Crime & Punishment, I'm there as I've been meaning to read it for years now! So every year I vote for prompts it'll meet... and don't read it.
I have one more I want to suggest then I’m free to second other people’s ideas
Since 2023 is the year of the rabbit which is seen as the luckiest of the zodiac what about a prompt related to the word lucky.
another idea as I am hoping that 2023 will be the year I get to travel againA book about an item you can't take on a plane.
Is the Rory Gilbert list all classics?
actually didn't think the plane prompt through very well. eg can't take an elephant on a plane. was thinking of banned or restricted items eg. scissors, spray cans, explosives, knives, knitting needles
Here is the Goodreads list for the Rory Gilmore. Then you can look at what you have read or is waiting to be readhttps://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
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A book about an item you can't take on a plane."
Or a book with a plane in it? That gives you fiction and non-fiction about pilots and war and technology as well as any book where a passenger gets on a plane for any reason
And knitting needles are allowed on planes! Qantas and the Turkish airline used to be strict but even they have loosened the rules.
My suggestion involving art, music, dance and acting didn't get it. Is there a better way to write it, or are these topics not of great interest?
It didn’t this time but there were a lot of good ideas. I can’t think of a better way to phrase it
Pearl wrote: "My suggestion involving art, music, dance and acting didn't get it. Is there a better way to write it, or are these topics not of great interest?"To me the performing arts are art, so the art bit threw me. Is the prompt saying music, dance and acting aren't art? Then what's the art bit of the prompt? Like painting/drawing/sculpture? It could simply be a book involving art, or a book involving the performing arts, if you wanted to focus on music, dance and acting?
Do people want to give a book related a rabbit a chance or would a more flexible related to the Year of the Rabbit be better? I'm not sure if the guardian of the rabbit prompt is around? 😁
Pearl wrote: "My suggestion involving art, music, dance and acting didn't get it. Is there a better way to write it, or are these topics not of great interest?"We had a similar prompt one year. It was a prompt I up voted but then found it hard to complete so while I like the idea and books of this nature. It is not something I’d up vote. I have a few books that would fit so it is not something I’d down vote either. Not sure how to reword it to get more votes.
Ellie wrote: "Do people want to give a book related a rabbit a chance or would a more flexible related to the Year of the Rabbit be better? I'm not sure if the guardian of the rabbit prompt is around? 😁"I’ll continue to vote for it however it however it gets suggested.
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To me the performing arts are art, ..."
The arts--- painting, sculpture, printmaking, etc is "visual arts"
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What about in honor of 2023 being the Year of the Rabbit, read a book related to rabbits?
I'm 100% voting for this cause the new Alex Stern book has just had its release moved to Jan 2 and it has a rabbit on its cover (Hell Bent
Ellie wrote: "Do people want to give a book related a rabbit a chance or would a more flexible related to the Year of the Rabbit be better? I'm not sure if the guardian of the rabbit prompt is around? 😁"I would love year of the rabbit. because it does encompass the moon goddess in Chinese folklore. the only part that was taken from my suggest was the water part in the title (since it is the year of the water rabbit.)
also I loved the suggestions of the bird, bees, and bunnies (i think they said) that way there are more options.
Pamela wrote: "The arts--- painting, sculpture, printmaking, etc is "visual arts" ..."I know they are the visual arts, but are you saying you wouldn't count the performing arts as "art"? I think I'll carry on downvoting it if it's "art or performing arts" it just sounds wrong to me.
Sonia wrote: "actually didn't think the plane prompt through very well. eg can't take an elephant on a plane. was thinking of banned or restricted items eg. scissors, spray cans, explosives, knives, knitting nee..."While scanning I saw Sonia's idea - which might be called 'things that could be used as weapons,' and Pamela's desire to read Crime and Punishment. Did we have any prompts this year about mysteries, murder, thrillers, crime, jail? I would love to see a prompt or two about one or more of these topics. (I'm planning to read the short story that inspired The Shawshank Redemption, so jail breaks are on my mind.) I would have liked a little more romance this year too.
Ideas:
Read a book involving crime and (or) punishment.
Read a book that is relevant to: 'For Love or Money"
For a two week prompt I've been thinking about opposites that could go together: Such as Love and Hate (marriage and divorce)
Crime and Redemption (isn't there a phrase or quote about this?)
"Or all's fair in Love and War "
"For love or money" - one week or two weeks
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Some people have objected to "inspired by" in other contexts, so I would hope "retellings" would be in the sentence too. Retellings is a popular tag, making it easy to search. Examples of Literary retellings of classics are great, so people don't think they're all fairytales.
I just heard about a new translation of The Odyssey by Emily Wilson. It's considered to have a different sensibility. I might argue that some translations are retellings.