[2023] Wild Discussion Showing 2,201-2,250 of 4,060

[RachelG.]

Tracy wrote: "I don't remember who was talking about suggesting "A book by an author with punctuation in their name", but I hope you do suggest it! A fun sort through my TBR."

That is a prompt idea that has also been on my mind. Wish I could find easily where it was first suggested. Edit: Found it. I may submit it it I am available during suggestions.

Original post was: What does the group think of an author who uses punctuation in their name?

J.D. Robb
Madeleine L'Engle
Seth Grahame-Smith

I also like the song idea “on the road again”

[Alicia]

I think it was Nancy No-J

[Dubhease]

I like the suggestion of an author with punctuation in their name, largely because I'm reading through Madeleine L'Engle's book and would just slot the nest one here.

I'm always good for a song prompt and could come up with something for On the Road Again. Whoever is suggesting it should also link to the you tube video. I suggested a song prompt last year and had people tell me they couldn't vote for it because they didn't know the song.

[Nancy]

Alicia wrote: "I think it was Nancy No-J"

This made me laugh Alicia!

I also think it was me, but feel free to suggest it.

[Pamela, Arciform Mod]

Kathy wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Do you think it's too soon to submit another travel related prompt? Or should I wait a couple weeks? I simplified my original "On the Road" idea, and combined it with the song "On th..."

If we were doing a Willie Nelson prompt, I would prefer City of New Orleans, it has lots of lines that could be books

[Ellie]

I don't really know much about Willie Nelson, I vaguely recognise On the Road Again, and the title of that one alone lends itself to lots of books. I wouldn't be voting for a prompt on the basis it was a song by him.

[Tracy]

Tracy wrote: "dalex wrote: "Nancy wrote: " I like prompts that are streamlined, so "A book related to a chess piece" is my preference. "A book with a character or setting related to a chess piece" just seems ove..."

To anyone who might picture my account by my profile pic (like I do), I've been playing around with updating my image. My old one was the top half of my face, with confetti in my dark wavy hair. You might see a few iterations of my trial and error, but I think I've landed on this colorful bird.

[Jillian]

Tracy wrote: "I don't remember who was talking about suggesting "A book by an author with punctuation in their name", but I hope you do suggest it! A fun sort through my TBR."

I'm glad you like it. I had forgotten about my idea. If I'm around when the next poll opens, I will suggest it or anyone who likes it can also suggest it.

[Alicia]

A prompt I loved when I voted for it, but hate now that nothing I want to read matches, is two sets of double letters. This prompt is driving me crazy!

Also, Nancy, I was going to say Nancy who loves books about books, but thought that may be too specific lol

[Jillian]

Alicia wrote: "A prompt I loved when I voted for it, but hate now that nothing I want to read matches, is two sets of double letters. This prompt is driving me crazy!
"

That was a really hard prompt for me. I had only read two other books that fit and they were for harder prompts. Plus, I have a self imposed rule that once a book is placed for a prompt I don’t move in around.

[Pamela, Arciform Mod]

Alicia wrote: "A prompt I loved when I voted for it, but hate now that nothing I want to read matches, is two sets of double letters. This prompt is driving me crazy!

Also, Nancy, I was going to say Nancy who l..."

It was the first book I read this year because I knew it was limited. Still like it although I didn't vote for it!

[Jette]

How about a character who is engaged in a compassionate profession or career?

I was thinking about the students in our school system and the struggles they face. Honestly, today I just need a little compassion myself. It could be a counselor, teacher, medical professional, clergy, veterinarian, caregiver, etc. I probably will not be around for the suggestion list so if anyone likes it, feel free to suggest and/or change the wording.

[Joy D]

I like that idea, Jette! Our world can always use more compassion.

[°~Amy~°]

Jette wrote: "How about a character who is engaged in a compassionate profession or career?

I was thinking about the students in our school system and the struggles they face. Honestly, today I just need a litt..."

That is an interesting suggestion Jette!

[Rachel]

Jette wrote: "How about a character who is engaged in a compassionate profession or career?

I was thinking about the students in our school system and the struggles they face. Honestly, today I just need a litt..."

I love this!

[NancyJ]

Jette wrote: "How about a character who is engaged in a compassionate profession or career?

I was thinking about the students in our school system and the struggles they face. Honestly, today I just need a little compassion myself. It could be a counselor, teacher, medical professional, clergy, veterinarian, caregiver, etc. I probably will not be around for the suggestion list so if anyone likes it, feel free to suggest and/or change the wording.

I really like this one! Whoever submits this should make sure to list many potential jobs.

Some of our members don't like soft concepts (like hope or faith) but this prompt is more objective, as it focuses on jobs. We don't need to know in advance if the book actually has compassion, as long as it has one of these jobs. There are compassionate doctors and evil ones. : )

[Pamela, Arciform Mod]

NancyJ wrote: "Jette wrote: "How about a character who is engaged in a compassionate profession or career?

I was thinking about the students in our school system and the struggles they face. Honestly, today I ju..."

So one could read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Nurse Ratchet isn't compassionate but she is a nurse!

[NancyJ]

Pamela, that's probably not Jette's intention, but someone recently said that she didn't want to have to read books that are good for us, or that would make us better people. So while I prefer nurses who are compassionate, I have to agree that One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is entertaining! We all like choices.

[Ann]

Are there enough books out there that start at the end and move to the beginning? I just got one from the library and just wondered if there are enough for a prompt.

[Ellie]

Ann wrote: "Are there enough books out there that start at the end and move to the beginning? I just got one from the library and just wondered if there are enough for a prompt."

Like the first chapter is the end and the rest of the book is how it got there? I don't think that's too rare but hard to know before you start reading. Maybe a book with a non-linear narrative which would also include books that jump back and forth in time?

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Survivor is the only one I can think of.

[Mahi]

A non-linear narrative prompt sounds cool!

[Nadine in NY]

Ann wrote: "Are there enough books out there that start at the end and move to the beginning? I just got one from the library and just wondered if there are enough for a prompt."


There are not very many! I've read four
Megan Miranda's All the Missing Girls
You-Jeong Jeong's The Good Son (this one is not purely in reverse - it starts in the middle of the action and there are a lot of flashbacks)
Chan Ho-Kei's The Borrowed
Julia Alvarez's How the García Girls Lost Their Accents


here is a short Listopia:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
Only 15 books on that list, but I'm sure there are more than that! But, still ... there aren't many.


Which book are you reading?

[Ellie]

I think this has some extra that aren't on the listopia, but reverse chronology would probably a bit too narrow for me based on a brief google.
https://bookriot.com/books-that-begin...

I've read The Night Watch and Genuine Fraud but I don't even remember them being in reverse!

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Probably it would be better to have the prompt say something like "non-linear narrative" as Ellie put it. That would include a lot more books, with flashbacks or double timelines, for instance. Actually, knowing a book is end-to-beginning could be a spoiler of sorts. I think Beartown starts with a scene that makes you think you know what happened and then all the story comes around again to that point and it's different than you thought.

[Tracy]

Although I would be happy to read an end-to-beginning book (reminds me of the movie Momento, which actually also has a second storyline from beginning-to-end), you are probably correct that there aren’t enough to choose from. So the idea of non-linear timeline sounds like a good compromise.

[Pamela, Arciform Mod]

Ann wrote: "Are there enough books out there that start at the end and move to the beginning? I just got one from the library and just wondered if there are enough for a prompt."

That is my personal pet peeve! I feel like it's a narrative device everyone depends on now! Like it was shocking and awesome in the beginning but now everyone uses it. I just finished Firekeeper's Daughter and nearly quit it when I realized it was going to be a flashback.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

I am tired of the dual timeline where a young woman finds a diary or other item that belonged to her grandmother or some historical woman. She goes to the place and finds out about some past romance/war story/secret and there is a convenient young man available for her own romance.

But sometimes flashbacks are very effective.

[Nadine in NY]

Robin P wrote: "I am tired of the dual timeline where a young woman finds a diary or other item that belonged to her grandmother or some historical woman. She goes to the place and finds out about some past romanc..."



LOL the dual timeline was fun when I first started reading them (I think my first was The Secret History of the Pink Carnation) but it's been quite a few years now and I am over it!!

[Mandy]

Nadine in NY wrote: "Ann wrote: "Are there enough books out there that start at the end and move to the beginning? I just got one from the library and just wondered if there are enough for a prompt."


There are not ve..."


To the Sky Kingdom definitely starts in medias res

then goes back to explain what happens.

[Laurel]

Robin P wrote: "I am tired of the dual timeline where a young woman finds a diary or other item that belonged to her grandmother or some historical woman. She goes to the place and finds out about some past romanc..."

I am reading a book like that right now, and when it made the first jump from the 17th century to the present day, I was irritated.

[Pamela, Arciform Mod]

Robin P wrote: "I am tired of the dual timeline where a young woman finds a diary or other item that belonged to her grandmother or some historical woman. She goes to the place and finds out about some past romanc..."

That too!! It's like give me a story that isn't all flashback (although reading the new Kevin Wilson book and it is but I love it anyways!). Start at the start and end at the end! . Signed Grumpy Old Lady

[Nancy]

Robin P wrote: "I am tired of the dual timeline where a young woman finds a diary or other item that belonged to her grandmother or some historical woman. She goes to the place and finds out about some past romanc..."

Dude. Same. I specifically avoid these because I'm so tired of this plot device.

I'm also tired of WWII historical fiction about women in the resistance. I loved The Nightingale and a couple of others but it's so done to death now.

[Nadine in NY]

Nancy wrote: "I'm also tired of WWII historical fiction about women in the resistance. I loved The Nightingale and a couple of others but it's so done to death now. ..."



Yes, I am OVER it. But ... my bookclub chose The Book of Lost Names, I complained bitterly to my family, then sat down and read the book and it was actually pretty good.

[Nancy]

Yes Nadine, I agree that that was very good. I only read it because it had such rave reviews and I did end up loving it. And then my book club read it, so I would have read it eventually anyway.

[Marta]

Nancy wrote: "

Dude. Same. I specifically avoid these because I'm so tired of this plot device.

I'm also tired of WWII historical fiction about women in the resistance. I loved The Nightingale and a couple of others but it's so done to death now"

Lol I rarely read contemporary novels so I rarely encounter these problems.

On the other hand most plot devices have been used to death already. It depends on HOW well it is executed.

[Michelle]

can we please stop recycling the same prompts over and over again.

[Nancy]

Michelle wrote: "can we please stop recycling the same prompts over and over again."

I'd love that. What ideas do you have?

[°~Amy~°]

Michelle wrote: "can we please stop recycling the same prompts over and over again."

People are suggesting new and exciting things, but it's the same old same that keeps getting voted in. Obviously the old reliable prompts are what the masses want. *shrug*

[Pam]

I like the non-linear narrative but not restricted to an “end to the beginning” storyline.

[NancyJ]

Nancy wrote: "Robin P wrote: "I am tired of the dual timeline where a young woman finds a diary or other item that belonged to her grandmother or some historical woman. She goes to the place and finds out about ..."

Robin - me too. I'm leery of any book with "secret" in the title.

Nancy, I'm so bored with the WWII Resistance book I'm reading this month. I loved the book about the spy Virginia Hall, but the others didn't come close.

[Nancy]

Which one is it, Nancy-with-a-J?

[NancyJ]

Nancy wrote: "Which one is it, Nancy-with-a-J?"

I was bored with: Resistance Women. 640 pages was twice as long as it needed to be.

I loved: A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II. It was one of the first, which probably helped.

[Irene]

Robin P wrote: "I am tired of the dual timeline where a young woman finds a diary or other item that belonged to her grandmother or some historical woman. She goes to the place and finds out about some past romanc..."

Oh my gosh Robin that is exactly why I can't bring myself to read Across the Winding River, which I think I got for free from Amazon. I'm thinking of just deleting it from my Kindle library.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Sorry for the delay; poll 10 voting thread is posted: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Nancy wrote: "Robin P wrote: "I am tired of the dual timeline where a young woman finds a diary or other item that belonged to her grandmother or some historical woman. She goes to the place and finds out about ..."

Yes my mantra is "I can't read any more books about Nazis!"

[Mandy]

how about a book title that is different from the original

example

Where the crawdads sing = (spanish) La chica salvaje (the wild/savage girl)

[Alicia]

Would there be a semi-easy way to identify that without searching for translated titles then putting them into Google translate?

[Mandy]

i found a list of 10 or so far. I will have to do some searching for others. it may have to wait for a while though. i was putting it out incase other group members knew of other titles.

[Laurel]

Mandy wrote: "how about a book title that is different from the original

example

Where the crawdads sing = (spanish) La chica salvaje (the wild/savage girl)"

Would Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (British) and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (American) count as a different translation ;)