Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Archives
>
[2023] Wild Discussion
The 23rd element on the periodic table is Vanadium which I have never heard of, so I don't think I'll be attempting to get that on the list.
Kat wrote: "The 23rd element on the periodic table is Vanadium which I have never heard of, so I don't think I'll be attempting to get that on the list."Apparently it is used in nuclear rectors, so could be about power plants, creating energy
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
Kat wrote: "The 23rd element on the periodic table is Vanadium which I have never heard of, so I don't think I'll be attempting to get that on the list."Vandium is also used in bed springs and cars and planes.
Kat wrote: "The 23rd element on the periodic table is Vanadium which I have never heard of, so I don't think I'll be attempting to get that on the list."I couldn't remember the etymology of the name, so I looked it up - it's named after the Scandinavian goddess of beauty and fertility Vanadis (Freya), so maybe a book about either of those topics or set in Scandinavia.
I like most of the suggestions.First year doing it so missed the whole bunnies saga but sounds OK to me.
I've noticed the list is heavily American so not so keen on middle America theme or American woman theme when there have been prompts like Asian-Pacific Islander Author which are so broad to cover more than a continent and doesn't translate very well to places never grouping them together. Also maybe something linked to months in other countries e.g. June is Gypsy, Traveller, Roma history month in the UK and there is a South Asian history month too.
I wonder if there can be several women themes e.g. book with an aviatrix, book with a female head of state etc. A book with a non binary character or author could work well as a single prompt for the broad gender specific prompt.
I don’t think anyone suggesting a middle America it was just an example of Times Person of the Year for anyone who didn’t want to use an individual. Of yours I really like s female head of state
Miles wrote: "I like most of the suggestions.First year doing it so missed the whole bunnies saga but sounds OK to me.
I've noticed the list is heavily American so not so keen on middle America theme or America..."
I like your months in other countries idea
Shannon wrote: "Miles wrote: "I like most of the suggestions.First year doing it so missed the whole bunnies saga but sounds OK to me.
I've noticed the list is heavily American so not so keen on middle America th..."
I am little torn on the months issue becuase I really don't think its relevant to picking the prompts, if a prompt got in months are perfectly relevant to decding where they should go in the order/ So for me the pormpt should be " a character with a gypsy or romany character" then if it gets in cosndier putting it in June. IMO
Thomas wrote: "Shannon wrote: "Miles wrote: "I like most of the suggestions.First year doing it so missed the whole bunnies saga but sounds OK to me.
I've noticed the list is heavily American so not so keen on m..."
You're right Thomas, I think I just liked the explanation/description/reason
Shannon wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Shannon wrote: "Miles wrote: "I like most of the suggestions.First year doing it so missed the whole bunnies saga but sounds OK to me.
I've noticed the list is heavily American so n..."
agreed
My favourite ideas put forth so far are- Rabbit (surely being the year of the Rabbit means it's time has come)
- Who, what, where, when, why
- Disney (I'm reading the original books that inspired the films)
- Heritage/Ancestry (I like the idea of learning more about my heritage and local history)
Some of the ideas I like so far:- Birds, bees, and bunnies (I'd prefer the broader wording rather than solely focused on rabbits)
- Climate, Ecology, or Environment (fiction or non-fiction)
- Set in or by an author from Scandinavia
- Antartica, Exploration, Sailing
- One of the 5 W's in the title
I'd also be interested in:
- A book about a journey, trip, or voyage
The only thing about Scandinavia is defining it, I remember it got heated when Popsugar used it
It’s not a problem, Thomas - if people just use the term Scandinavia correctly, lol. Which is Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Whilst if you want to include Finland and Iceland it’s the Nordic countries.
I like the "birds, bees and bunnies" prompt, and would also prefer the broader version since it covers all the suggestions without needing multiple weeks for animal themed prompts. If we're aiming for a prompt about women (which I'd love to see), I'd prefer something a bit broader, like maybe a book with a theme of feminism or women's rights. Which would allow people to read about women achieving great things in all sorts of career fields, but also other options as well.
Can I suggest wording the birds, bees, bunnies one with an "or" rather than an "and"? And makes it seem like we're asking for a book to be linked to all three.
Ellie wrote: "Can I suggest wording the birds, bees, bunnies one with an "or" rather than an "and"? And makes it seem like we're asking for a book to be linked to all three."good point
Unless we made it a multi week prompt birds, bees and bunnies
Actually birds, bees and bunnies wouldn’t be bad for the multi week poll.
Two suggestions having nothing to do with 2023, celebratory months/years, or bunnies…1) A book set in a place you’d like to visit. It could be a foreign country, a city/state/province in your own country, a national park, an amusement park, or some other actual place you could possibly travel to.
2) A book about, or featuring, a person who IS / DOES what you answered when asked as a child “what do you want to be when you grow up?”.
Tracy wrote: "Two suggestions having nothing to do with 2023, celebratory months/years, or bunnies…1) A book set in a place you’d like to visit. It could be a foreign country, a city/state/province in your own..."
love your first one. i like the second one assuming everyonce can remeber ( I anted to be king)
Mod
1) A book set in a place you’d like to visit. It could be a foreign country, a city/state/province in your own..."
Those are great ideas. I have noticed, though, that some people object to any prompt that asks about their personal life. Of course, nobody is investigating whether your response is true. For instance, someone had very negative experiences in childhood, and doesn’t want to think about that time, but they could just choose something that appeals to them now, or something a friend or a child in their life wants.
Good point, Robin. Maybe word it as something a child might want to be when he/ she grows up. But worded better, LOL
Tracy wrote: "Two suggestions having nothing to do with 2023, celebratory months/years, or bunnies…1) A book set in a place you’d like to visit. It could be a foreign country, a city/state/province in your own..."
1) A book set in a place you’d like to visit.
I like this one a lot.
I like the occupation idea in #2, but not the childhood part. (Thomas wanted to be King. I reportedly wanted to be a bear or a singer. The jobs I would dream about now didn't even exist when was a kid.)
Maybe something like:
A book with a character who has a job or career you might have loved.
(I would keep it aspirational just so people don't limit themselves to jobs that they're qualified for. I used "might have" to allow for both childhood or adult dream.)
Ellie wrote: "Can I suggest wording the birds, bees, bunnies one with an "or" rather than an "and"? And makes it seem like we're asking for a book to be linked to all three."I agree. It was originally worded with "or."
Birds, Bees or Bunnies
I'd much rather Birds, Bees or Bunnies since it's a bit more open. As someone who has been involved in the voting for years now, I'm kind of over the bunny prompt. It's been suggested so many times and never made it, so I personally would rather see something else at this point.
I really liked the ideas related to:DNA, heredity, etc. - There are science and non-science books that would work.
Birds, Bees or Bunnies. - As a single prompt (not 3 weeks)
Disney
Hollywood anniversary
Time Magazine's person of the year.
5 W's
Climate, Ecology, Environment
A book set in a place you'd like to visit.
Set in or by an author from Scandinavia. Though to Hilde's point I like "Nordic" better because I would want to include Iceland and Finland. Is Northern Europe too broad? Which terms would allow room for fantasy books about Vikings?
I also liked the suggestion involving Exploration, Antarctica, or Sailing. There might be other ways to phrase/combine the ideas.
Kathy Jo wrote: "Some other anniversaries for 2023: (from a British website) Captain James Cook and his crew become the first Europeans to sail below the Antarctic Circle. (17th Jan 1773). Possible prompt themes: A..."Wow. Thanks for compiling these. You could take them in many different directions.
I like the idea of events that changed the world. It would be really interesting to see what people come up with
Today audible has a book on 9/11 on sale (it's actually a feel-good book):
The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland
Set in or by an author from Scandinavia. Though to Hilde's point I like "Nordic" better because I would want to include Iceland and Finland. Is Northern Europe too broad? Which terms would allow room for fantasy books about Vikings?Vikings came from Scandinavia (Sweden/Norway) but "Nordic" also includes Greenland so would additionally allow books about the Inuits as well as Vikings.
I prefer Nordic myself but I know the Scandinavian thing was I believe based on a link
I think a challenge with several cultural flavours would be fun, An explore the world category might be fun - as Joyce wrote
"- A book about a journey, trip, or voyage"
It could be arctic expeditions, John Muir explorations of wild nature, or female travel-writers like Lesley Blanch.
Maybe a Fire & Ice double category with a book from the Northern and Southern hemisphere respectively?
Louise wrote: "I think a challenge with several cultural flavours would be fun, An explore the world category might be fun - as Joyce wrote
"- A book about a journey, trip, or voyage"
It could be arctic exped..."
I like journey, trip, voyage - I would add the word expedition
I also like the northern & southern hemisphere for a 2-book task
I agree with Miles Row. It would be nice to make the list less US centric this year. Someone always suggests lists or awards. If would like to see some, even though I really dislike those prompts, to be from places other than the US. I do not have specific suggestions right now. As a group it would be nice to shape our bias in another way.
I personally don’t feel it’s particularly US centric. I mean it’s not like we require people to read Pulitzer Prize winners ( I’m not American FYI)
I don't feel our lists are particularly US Centric either (though the publishing industry probably is). I agree that we should continue to look for prompts that move us to explore books from other parts of the world. How about a prompt to read a Translated book? *
This didn't make it into the 2022 list, but we had other international options this year.
In past years, I loved the World 1000 list, and Women in translation award (which was too narrow for some). This year's continent prompts, and author prompts ( Latin, Jewish, Asian) create many opportunities to travel the world through books. This year's Powell awards prompt includes a lot of different awards.
The Nobel prize is International. The Booker Prize and the Dublin prize also have International awards (both are based in the UK).
My favorite awards list is the Women's Prize in literature, which often honors writers from other countries. I read an Elif Shufak book for the readathon from this list.
How about something related to this: Read a book that was nominated(or on the short list or long list) for an International Award. I'm thinking of awards that actually use the term "international award" but there are probably many others ways to get at this idea.
*Note "translated book" often means translated into English, but our members who speak multiple languages might choose a different language. I suppose someone (such as Robin) might challenge themselves to read a book in a different language. We all have the freedom to tweak prompts as needed. To me, the spirit of this prompt is that you are also reading about a country or culture other than your own.
Or Keep it simple: Read a book set in a country other than your own.
Regarding the recent discussion, I like these a lot:- A book set in a place you’d like to visit.
- A translated book (to me this means translated into any language you are able to read)
- multiple-book prompt to include 1 in northern and 1 in southern hemisphere
Sorry, I think I added "and" instead of the original "or" for Birds, Bees, OR bunnies.
Nordic works for me.
Agree with adding expedition to:
- Antartica, Exploration, Sailing, or Expedition
I personally would say translated means a book not roignally written in your first langauge.
Mod
Translated means that the book you are reading is not in the language it was originally written in, not that it's not written in *your* first language.
Emily wrote: "We have had quite a few non-US specific awards prompts (though they were often UK based, like the Booker or Warwick award).Translated means that the book you are reading is not in the language it..."
yes i was wrong about translated
Mod
What prompts do we want to see on the pre-poll?
Last year, we used these prompts:
1. A winner or nominee from the 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards
2. A book published in 2022
3. A book you meant to read in 2021
4. A book that fits a suggestion that didn't make the list this year
5. A book inspired by something you read in 2021
6. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2021 or 2022
Only two made it in during the pre-poll (ATY BOTM and published in 2022), while the "didn't make the list" prompt got in after during voting.
What do y'all think?
Mod
Emily wrote: "Tossing this out there before I go back in my hole (I'm working intense hours this week for AP grading so I haven't been around the group much):What prompts do we want to see on the pre-poll?
La..."
Last year the inspired by prompt got a lot fo backlash but when it was rephrased as " connected to" it was voted, jsut a thought.The other seem good for the poll even though there are soem I would not vote for
There's only one I have a big problem with - a book you meant to read last year is (hopefully) impossible for me. The only books I mean to read in a year are those in my AtY plan, for me to have one unread for next year I have to fail this year. I don't know if I'm a rarity in being a planner who doesn't read enough to expect to get through more than this challenge.Though if it was "wanted to" instead of "meant to" I would have a lot of options! There are always a books I discover during the year that I wish I'd been able to include at the planning stage.
Similar to Marie and Thomas: - I don't have many books that were "inspired by" old reads, and prefer "connected to".
- Most of the books I meant to read and didn't were because I picked them for a certain prompt but they weren't available at the library, so I don't like that one much.
I've fallen out with the Goodreads Choice Awards since they took away the write-in votes. *grumble grumble*But it does get suggested every year, so it probably should be in the pre-poll. We can always downvote it to get it out the way.
Robin P wrote: "The one I'm not crazy about is GR Choice awards. Some of us tend to have read the ones we are interested in and don't want to read most of the others. A book you meant to read in 2021 is pretty muc..."Agree - I find the GR Choice award to be mainly marketing fluff - and I expect to have LOTS of books I meant to read in 2021 unread by the end of the year :-D
Just going down a rabbit(!) hole of googling the number 23, discovered there are 23 books in Beatrix Potter's series that starts with The Tale of Peter Rabbit and that there is a thing called the 23 Enigma in which people believe the number 23 is significant, started by William S. Burroughs. If he'd had the internet he'd have been even more convinced!EDIT: It gets worse, in 1923 Beatrix bought a sheep farm...and the 23rd Psalm is called.... The Shepherd Psalm! I might be a convert to the 23 Enigma! 🤣
I like a book published in 2023. I also like a book inspired by something you read in 2022. The wording can be changed to what works best for the group. This prompt has a lot of possibilities. It could be your newest favorite author you discovered in 2022. It could be a book based on an article you read in 2022. It could be your new favorite genre.
I think that’s why a lot of people don’t like “inspired” what if you don’t have a new favourite author or favourite genre?
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Harriet the Spy (other topics)The Kaiju Preservation Society (other topics)
The It Girl (other topics)
The Lost Metal (other topics)
The Kaiju Preservation Society (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Louise Fitzhugh (other topics)Susanna Kearsley (other topics)
Jhumpa Lahiri (other topics)
Salman Rushdie (other topics)
Celeste Ng (other topics)
More...
James D. Watson and Francis Crick announce that they have discovered the structure of the DNA molecule. (28th Feb 1953). Anything DNA, genetics, scientific discovery
Ceylon (later renamed Sri Lanka) becomes independent within the British Commonwealth. (4th Feb 1948)
Elizabeth II opened the new London Bridge. (17th Mar 1973)
Ian Fleming publishes his first James Bond novel, Casino Royale. (13th Apr 1953) James Bond or any spy novel. The first in a series
The Kennel Club is founded, the oldest and first official registry of purebred dogs in the world. (4th Apr 1873)
The Beatles reach the number one for the second time with the single "She Loves You". (12th Sep 1963). Possible song prompt
C.S. Lewis, the author most famous for the Narnia books (1950�1955), dies at the age of 65. However, media coverage of his death is overshadowed by the assassination of American President John F. Kennnedy. (22nd Nov 1963) CS Lewis, fantasy, Kennedy, single events that changed the world
Hugh Gray takes the first known photos of the Loch Ness Monster. (12th Nov 1933) any mythical creature
Winston Churchill wins the Nobel Prize in Literature "for his mastery of historical and biographical description as well as for brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values". (10th Dec 1953) Churchill, histories, biographies