Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
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[2023] Wild Discussion
Edie wrote: "°~Amy~° wrote: "Hm. I just had a thought. What IF, the voting wasn't one long process like it is now? What IF we started earlier in the year, had a shorter period of voting, took a break, had anoth..."Just adding my two cents to say that I agree the voting time could be shortened by a day each round. I had this thought earlier in the process, so I'm glad to see someone voice it!
We’ve had prompts about books and writing before, but I wanted this to focus on people or stories that deal with spoken language. Like the interpreter in Intimacies, or the ways different languages mold our minds like in Embassytown, or fantasy stories where speaking a word or phrase has power, like in Carry On. There are interesting nonfiction options too. It’s a concept that spans all genres, which is one of the reasons I thought it might work well for this group, but I don’t know how to get that all across in a pithy prompt.The listopias I found had fiction options, but I guess not everyone will click those links before voting.
Maybe something like the books are important prompt would work.A book where spoken language is especially important?
Mahi wrote: "Maybe something like the books are important prompt would work.A book where spoken language is especially important?"
Yeah to match the books prompt might work. I don't think it needs especially.
would somebody please put in my suggestion tomorrow cuz I won't be here until all the suggestions are full again. A book that answers the question "What if".
Ann wrote: "would somebody please put in my suggestion tomorrow cuz I won't be here until all the suggestions are full again. A book that answers the question "What if"."I can try and suggested it for you.
Are there examples or extra information to add so that it gets added to the voting thread?
Mod
I'm with you! I hate prompts with too few choices but also hate the ones with too many! There's a sweet spot where it guides your choice but doesn't force your choice.
Mod
I just finished an awesome book about a group of people who get together because they live in the same building (Other Birds) so i'm there for it! I don't think it needs to be expanded.
eta- listopia: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
I'm reading Other Birds now and definitely thought of it for that prompt! I've seen it suggested but usually the person is too late and the list is already full. I'd love to see it actually make it to a poll.
Mod
I've seen it suggested but usually the person is too late and the list is already full. I'd love to see it actually make ..."
Tomorrow! Although I have 3 prompts I stlll want to try to get through
- In honor of MLK's I Have a Dream speech, a book with an interracial relations (friendship, romantic, family)
- A book from Tookie's reading list (need to work on the language)
- the author with a name popular in 1923
I have a colonoscopy tomorrow (my first- eek!) so no clue if I'll be available during nominations!
Chrissy wrote: "The listopias I found had fiction options, but I guess not everyone will click those links before voting..."I did look at the links, but I still didn't understand exactly what the connection was or why the books on that list qualified. If I don't understand the prompt, then I can't decide for myself if a book qualifies, and I'm dependent on the list of books for options. Then it becomes a "list prompt" and I am not a fan of list prompts. I like to be able to pick up a book and figure out if it fits or not, without having to consult a list.
So the idea is to choose a book in which spoken language is somehow important? I've read Embassytown and Intimacies, but I have no idea what else would fit.
Mod
LOL-- if nominations go up while I'm coming out of anesthesia, we could have the best prompt ever!
Hope the colonoscopy goes well Pamela!I love the popular names in 1923 prompt because it's kinda quirky and original. Wikipedia shows these names as the most popular of 1923 in the US:
Males: John, Robert, William, James, Charles, George, Joseph, Edward, Frank, Richard
Females: Mary, Dorothy, Helen, Margaret, Betty, Ruth, Mildred, Virginia, Frances, Elizabeth
I was able to find lists for a lot of European countries as well, though I haven't been able to for countries on other continents.
I also like the popular names prompt
Deborah wrote: "I also like the popular names prompt"Me three! (or, uh, four)
The popular names prompt is so fun! Is there a way we could include “top 10 names in 1923” without running into the country issue? Popular seems too nebulous.
@Mahi, I think top 10 might restrict it too much for readers from countries that don't have published lists or access to census records from 1923. The "popular" wording might be easier since a lot of people do know names that were popular in the 1920s regardless of if it was in the top 10 or not.
Mod
I love the popular names in 1923 prompt because it's kinda quirky and original. Wikipedia shows these names as the most popular of 1923 in the US:
Males: J..."
We were going to leave specificty out of it as the US seems to be the only country that does annual lsits, other countries seem to be by decade. So by not having limiting language, you can decide what country you want and the best way to chose the names.
If anyone want to nominate it, have at it! If I'm alert when nominations go up, I think I'm going to do the MLK one
Mod
I've seen it suggested but usually the person is too late and the list is already full. I'd love to see it ..."
I'm sure the colonoscopy will be fine. Because I have had polyps, I have had more of them than most people, and I recommend a prep called MoviPrep instead of the usual one. I'm sure you're already set up for this time, but with that one, you don't have to drink anywhere near as much.
My other advice is to schedule the procedure for first thing in the morning. Then only 1 day is messed up by prep instead of 2, and you're unlikely to be delayed. It might mean finishing the prep at 2 am the night before but I still like that better.
Mahi wrote: "The popular names prompt is so fun! Is there a way we could include “top 10 names in 1923” without running into the country issue? Popular seems too nebulous."Perhaps "top ten baby names in your country or another country in 1923"?
I think that's a good wording as regards countries but I would suggest 'popular baby names in your country or another country in 1923', which would allow people from countries without lists to choose names from those countries.
Why not just "a name that was popular in 1923" as Pamela initially suggested? Without the "in your country or another country"? Is it grammatically incorrect/does it not make sense if you don't add in the country thing? (this is an honest question about grammar, not sarcastic in any way)
How about a book related to ghosts or undead. phantoms and phantasms
haunted and hauntings.
it could be horror, tragedy, fantasy, paranormal etc.
ghosts of the past - a break up, regrets
haunted by memories -- characters suffering ptsd
phantom of the opera
spirits, shades, apparitions
vampires (including the sparkling ones 😂)
lich
zombies
Nadine - to me, one easy way to tell if a novel would fit is if a character is a linguist, interpreter, or language learner. If that is mentioned in the synopsis, then it is likely important enough that it will matter to the story. I think I will wait a poll to re-suggest, but "about (spoken) language or connected to linguistics" is the direction I'm thinking.
I think now is a good time to resubmit a prompt from the pre-poll that didn't make it. A book that fits a suggestion that didn't make the list this year. We are half way through our process. I'm sure many of you have prompts you were excited about that weren't selected. I have a list of 17 prompts personally I really liked. I'm sure there will be more prompts coming that won't make the cut. To me this seems like a winner because you will get to read for a prompt you loved.
Chrissy wrote: "We’ve had prompts about books and writing before, but I wanted this to focus on people or stories that deal with spoken language. Like the interpreter in Intimacies, or the ways dif..."Chrissy, I just heard about this 'book' on a wonderful podcast I just found. I say 'book' because it is INTENDED to be read/heard with an audiobook, although paper and Kindle/e-book versions are available.
The book is Haunted Voices by Rebecca Wojturska. Wondering if you think this fits your idea. I believe it would, not because it is intended to be consumed via audio, but the reason behind that intention. The book is "an anthology of gothic storytelling from Scotland" (the subtitle), so the storytelling aspect is primarily why I think it would fit your intention. The fact that you get to actually HEAR the storytellers (and not just audiobook narrators) feels really special, too.
What do you think?
Mandy wrote: "How about a book related to ghosts or undead. phantoms and phantasms
haunted and hauntings.
it could be horror, tragedy, fantasy, paranormal etc.
ghosts of the past - a break up, regrets
haun..."
I'm 100% in support of this! :)
I love it. I'm still hoping a supernatural/paranormal something gets in. Haha
Mod
I love that prompt! If I thought I could read 104 books/year. I would so do a rejects challenge!
Mod
phantoms and phantasms
haunted and hauntings.
it could be horror, tragedy, fantasy, paranormal etc.
ghosts of the past - a break up, regrets
haun..."
I love it. Except that real vampires don't sparkle.
Tracy wrote: "Chrissy wrote: "We’ve had prompts about books and writing before, but I wanted this to focus on people or stories that deal with spoken language. Like the interpreter in Intimacies,..."Sounds cool, and would definitely fit!
Sherri wrote: "I think now is a good time to resubmit a prompt from the pre-poll that didn't make it. A book that fits a suggestion that didn't make the list this year. We are half way through our process. I'm su..."I agree
Mandy wrote: "How about a book related to ghosts or undead. phantoms and phantasms
haunted and hauntings.
it could be horror, tragedy, fantasy, paranormal etc.
ghosts of the past - a break up, regrets
haun..."
As long as I can use vampires I would be willing to vote for this prompt. I am not really into ghost stories.
Louise wrote: "Letters to spell out your first name on the cover?"I like this...but it might be a hard one for people with long first names.
Kinda similar but not as hard - Title with words that start with your initials?(Not necessarily in order or only those words)
Harini wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I would rather the India/Pakistan prompt be resubmitted, with the addition of Bangladesh. Combining India with China seems arbitrary."I am thinking of resubmitting the prompt and al..."
I also have been wanting to resubmit the prompt adding Bangladesh. There is such a wealth of literature of different genres and great writers from there.
NancyJ wrote: "Mahi wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I would rather the India/Pakistan prompt be resubmitted, with the addition of Bangladesh. Combining India with China seems arbitrary."What if we said Indian subcontinen..."
For me, using Indian subcontinent makes it less clear, unless we list all the countries. Aren't Sri Lanka and Maldives in the Ocean and not part of the Indian land mass? I would vote for this either way, but I wonder if that are folks like me we aren't clear on what is part of the Indian subcontinent/
Louise wrote: "Letters to spell out your first name on the cover?"I just checked my TBR and I'd vote for this!! Especially if it's "on the cover" so you can use the full title (and subtitle) and full author's name to find the letters. You'd have to have a very unusual first name to not be able to find something.
It turns out that you can spell "Nadine" with "Deadline" - somehow I never knew that!!
I love it. Except that real vampires don't sparkle I died laughing! my coworker looked at me funny!
Chrissy wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Chrissy wrote: "We’ve had prompts about books and writing before, but I wanted this to focus on people or stories that deal with spoken language. Like the interpreter in [book:Intimac..."Great!
For anyone who might be interested in this audiobook of gothic storytelling from Scotland, apparently it's only available from the publisher, for any of the versions (paperback, audio, or ebook): https://www.hauntpublishing.com/books...
This is the link to the audiobook, but you can click through to the paperback or ebook if that's what you want. Any shipping from the UK will apply, if needed.
As long as I can use vampires I would be willing to vote for this prompt. I am not really into ghost stories."well, most original vampiric mythology have them as undead. so they can definitely be included.
I'm still trying to come up with a good cover prompt. I debated element of symmetry like we had last year but there are less options than I thought.What about something like "an object that is repeated on the cover" or "multiples of an object on the cover"
Some examples:
Thoughts?
Irene wrote: "Why not just "a name that was popular in 1923" as Pamela initially suggested? Without the "in your country or another country"? Is it grammatically incorrect/does it not make sense if you don't add..."I agree with you Irene. I think the adding in your country or another country is obsolete - it basically means popular in any country....and therefore why do you need the information about country at all....
Nancy wrote: "I'm still trying to come up with a good cover prompt. I debated element of symmetry like we had last year but there are less options than I thought.What about something like "an object that is repeated on the cover" or "multiples of an object on the cover"..."
I really like this!
I’ve lost track, but good luck to whoever has the colonoscopy tomorrow. It struck me as odd as I had a physical today and was told it was time to set up my first one. 🙄I don’t really understand what is meant by the term “unreliable narrator” although I have seen this term before.
I saw conversation in here about wanting to have more cover related prompts, and someone said something about reworking the architecture prompt because they wanted to read about doors. What about a book with a door on the cover?
Just wanted to add that i love these suggestions: Set in an apartment building, popular names, and the ones based on songs
@Nancy I love the repeated objects on the cover prompt! I find it more interesting than the "shoe/hand/random color/etc" on the cover prompts although to some extent I love all cover prompts. @Bec yes that's what I was thinking! it's already implied.
I think this was discussed a few days ago but my favorite prompts are the ones that have multiple ways of fulfilling or interpreting them, just because I find them the most fun (this is probably one of the reasons why I like the popular names prompt, aside from the connection to the year!). My favorites include the monopoly token on the cover, here be dragons, related to glass (which also has a connection to the year 2022), inclement weather, and the NATO phonetic alphabet. You can make them harder (e.g. by choosing "Zulu" or the t-rex token) or easier (e.g. "Papa," "Yankee," choosing the hat or shoe token) without feeling like you're stretching the prompts, and I like that they're not so open that any random book would fit.
Also, I would definitely vote for the Indian subcontinent prompt! I think the new wording is closer to the spirit of the prompt, and I don't think anyone would mind if books set in Sri Lanka or Bhutan were included. According to worldatlas.com, it's 7 countries that share "ethnic, linguistic, cultural, and historical ties" (https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/w...). It doesn't seem particularly difficult to look up the region if it does get voted through. Even without doing research I think most people could extrapolate that a book set in India would count.
Mod
There are books with ghosts that aren't ghost stories...lots of magical realism books have ghosts as observers
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I did my own research and with help from the group in the discussion I have a better idea. But I think I’d still struggle to identify a fiction book on my own. My mind still automatically goes to books where a character is an author, which I don’t believe was your intent.
I think maybe cutting the word “language” would help. But could you fully flush out what you would include in the prompt. That may help us with the wording.