[2023] Wild Discussion Showing 2,301-2,350 of 4,060

[Jillian]

I consider the ATY book of the month a list prompt. It is just a group generated list. If you don’t read a book on the list then you used a wild card. (The only possible way to KIS is to read a book and have it be your favorite book of a month and add it but I don’t really think that is the spirit of the prompt). I voted for it because there were some books on it that I’d like to read and that way I don’t feel bad at all about down voting almost every other list prompt (there is a possibility there will be one I like). In my mind, we have one list and that is plenty.

Most list are either are mainly books I’ve already read or books I have no interest in reading.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Our breakdown of prompts includes "Goodreads & Recommendations" and "Awards, Lists, etc." In this case the ATY BOTM would fall under recommendations, not lists, though I can see your point. I guess I consider lists to be curated lists from an outside source, not general recommendations from the group, which is what the BOTM is.

As someone who doesn't generally like character prompts but loves list prompts, I'd be more inclined to have a list-only poll than a character-only poll lol. But that's exactly why we as mods generally don't want to have subject specific polls... the group does a good job of finding prompts that the majority want to participate in on its own without us meddling.

[Jillian]

Some prompts really overlap in the general category prompt break down. The ATY list is one of them. I don’t think, it really matters which category it is in since the category break down just helps to organize which prompts we have. (I imagine it is useful for the mods when putting the list together to make sure the types of prompts are spread out for those who read in order). I’m sure there are members who never look at the break down when considering how to vote.

[Ann]

how about a book from one of the new genres; like steam punk, bromance, or mystery blends?

[Marta]

Dubhease wrote: “People say they want a prompt about 2023 or the number 23, but then they hate everyone's idea. I suggested something genetics (for the 23 pairs of chromosomes) or connected to Hollywood because the Hollywood sign was created in 1923. People did not like either suggestion.

People who have tried to suggest the 23rd book on your TBR list or anything with the number 23 in it, were also criticized. We will see if that 2nd or 3rd book in a series gets in."

23 - Michael Jordan :) I have his biography on my shelf. Maybe if we simply say related to 23? Let your imagination run wild! just off the top of my head (disregard those that don’t apply to you):
- Michael Jordan or basketball related
- the 23rd on your tbr
- 23 letters in title
- published in a year ending in 23 (2023, 1923, 1823, etc)
- the 23 is significant in the story
- Book published in the year you were 23
- Book whose author was no older than 23 when it was published (this could even be its own suggestion)
- one character is 23(ish) when something important happens in the book
- the book has 23 chapters/stories/tales
- read 23 poems from a poetry book
- read 23 board books/fairy tales to your child
- read 23 recipes from a cookbook
- there is the number 23 or number 5 (2+3) in the title
- the book is the 23rd on one of your shelves (without moving it there)

etc etc
I could go on but I gotta run now :)

Edit - back. More ideas with 23:
- 23rd book on any of your Goodreads shelves (if you sort your tbr)
- 23rd book on any tbr or wishlist you have (library wishlist, amazon, a journal, etc)
- 23rd book on any library shelf
- 23rd on a list of recommendations for you (goodreads or otherwise)
- the author has been writing for at least 23 years (23 years since debut)
- the author has at least 23 distinct published works
- book is set in the 23rd century (entire Star Trek universe!)
- 23rd in a series (if you are into long series)

[Tracy]

Creative idea Marta! Like a “choose your own adventure”, but instead a “choose your own relevance to 23”!

I had been thinking of the 23-year-old author idea but hadn’t had the time to see if there were enough (I know there are several though).

Or maybe an author with a first/given name that is 2 syllables and last/sir name with 3 syllables, e.g., Nicole Hannah-Jones, Bryan Stevenson, Larry McMurtry. I just pulled these names from the first several entries on my TBR. Didn’t take long to find.

[Jill]

I do like that 2 and 3 syllables. Not too difficult but not too easy.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Ann wrote: "how about a book from one of the new genres; like steam punk, bromance, or mystery blends?"

You would need to define those, people tend not to vote for something if they don't follow these threads and aren't sure exactly what it is. I read a lot of mysteries and I haven't heard of mystery blends.

[Ann]

Robin P wrote: "Ann wrote: "how about a book from one of the new genres; like steam punk, bromance, or mystery blends?"

You would need to define those, people tend not to vote for something if they don't follow t..."
Mystery blends are mysteries that have three genres like western romance mystery or science fiction mystery fantasy

[Irene]

I would love to see more 2023-related prompts! I liked genetics, and the reason I didn't vote for Hollywood was because I'm not interested in the topic and not because I didn't like the 1923 connection.

I agree about wanting more fun prompts. I'd love for us to have a poll that consists exclusively of our most creative, wacky, quirky prompt suggestions but I know that's probably wishful thinking, lol.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Maybe there's a way those "wacky" prompts could be used for a Read-a-thon or seasonal challenge!

[Ellie]

Since Hollywood was suggested because of the sign's anniversary rather than filmmaking...

A book with a sign on the cover
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
A book involving a sign or omen
A book with white lettering on the cover
A book related to a famous landmark
A book related to the saying "sign of the times"
A book with a character who uses sign language

[Alicia]

I also like the choose your own 23 adventure. It allows us all to get a bit creative or take it easy next year if we want.

I’m reading my first choose your own adventure book. Not the greatest book, but it’s definitely fun.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

In 2020, we had a prompt that said "The 20th book", and it was up to the reader to decide how that 20th book was chosen (TBR, 20th book purchased that year, etc.)

I'm not a big fan of the wording "Choose your own 23 adventure", but maybe "A book related to the number 23" or "A book connected to the number 23"

[Tracy]

Sorry, that’s my fault. Marta originally suggested “A Book Related to 23” and I compared it to Choose Your Own Adventure. That connection was NOT her intent — it was simply a “related to” wording.

[Alicia]

Oh I definitely didn’t mean that to be the wording. I just saw someone mention it was similar to choose your own adventure books.

I wouldn’t want the 23rd book because it makes me think it’s have to be a list. And I don’t know if I’d like “number 23”. I don’t know if I would consider the Hollywood or Wizard of Oz to fit into “number 23”. Maybe just related/connected to 23

[Jillian]

I’m someone who never wants a prompt tied to the year number because next year it will be the same thing. I didn’t like the open prompt Emily just mention. We have the W question words title so we do have a prompt tied to 23 already.

[Ann]

I'm with wacky fun this year. I love open ended prompts that require imagination. We have had a few in the past. What if you wacky? up the Bring It On version of the prompts.

[Nadine in NY]

Marta wrote: "23 - Michael Jordan :) I have his biography on my shelf. ..."



We could do "An author named Michael or Jordan." It's kind of basic, but it works. I just checked, I've got quite a few choices on my shelves. But people who like open-ended won't like it.

[Marta]

I wouldn’t discount an idea based on the year number just because we would have the number prompt next (or every) year. For instance, 23 is Michael Jordan - not 22 or 24. My mom was 23 when she had me so I might read something about moms or family. 23 is a prime number so might read something about prime numbers.

Different ideas would pop up in 2024. 24 is two dozen so I could run with the idea of dozens right there, which definitely does not come up for 23.

How about “Be creative with the number 23 (see ideas on the voting thread)?” If you are not feeling creative, you can read a book published in 2023 or the 23rd on your tbr. If you are feeling creative, you can go to town and research the number

[Marta]

I just found the Wikipedia article - most of it is obscure math but some lines have fun implications:
- prime number - read something about math or about primates or prime ministers
- The human DNA has 23 pairs of chromosomes. You could read something about genetics!
- Here is an interesting bit: 23 is the width of the Arecibo message, sent to space in search for extraterrestrial intelligence. You could read about first contact or aliens!
- The earth's axis is tilted at approximately 23° - mybe something Earth or seasons related

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/23_(num...

[Nadine in NY]

Marta wrote: "I just found the Wikipedia article - most of it is obscure math but some lines have fun implication:
- prime number - read something about math or about primates or prime ministers
- The human DNA ..."


I'd like to see genetics suggested again!

And I'd vote for "aliens" and "earth" - I like the connections with "23"

[Irene]

Robin P wrote: "Maybe there's a way those "wacky" prompts could be used for a Read-a-thon or seasonal challenge!"

That sounds awesome! Especially since wacky doesn't equal challenging, it could be a quirky theme without altering the difficulty (I personally love the difficulty level of our summer challenge - not too easy but not too challenging since it's lasts 3 months)

@Ellie I like the signs idea! I like the way that you could use sign language for a book related to a sign.

@Marta the aliens/first contact idea is really cool! You could even make it a sci-fi prompt, since it would be a genre prompt that ties into the year (and I say this as someone who dislikes sci-fi, haha).

[Tracy]

@Ellie and @Irene - I like the signs idea too!

[Mandy]

Nadine in NY wrote: "Marta wrote: "I just found the Wikipedia article - most of it is obscure math but some lines have fun implication:
- prime number - read something about math or about primates or prime ministers
- ..."

Me too. I had four books picked out related to genetics.

Aliens are up my alley too.

[Tracy]

I was one of the two people who suggested Genetics. I had decided not to pursue it since Science got in, and it could neatly fit in there, at least some interpretations could. I would not be unhappy if it eventually also became a prompt to allow the other interpretations to be used.

[Kathy]

Marta wrote: "I wouldn’t discount an idea based on the year number just because we would have the number prompt next (or every) year. For instance, 23 is Michael Jordan - not 22 or 24. My mom was 23 when she had..."

I like "Be creative with the number 23 (see ideas on the voting thread)." I like prompts that can go many different ways. Sometimes I choose the easy way - read the 23rd book on my TBR-- but sometimes I like making it more difficult. It depends on where I am in the challenge. Do I want something easy or hard at that time.

[Tracy]

Another idea to wrap into the Creative 23 prompt.

Someone talked about authors who published at age 23 or younger. I still haven’t been able to do the research to see if there enough options, but maybe that is a really good thing about the Creative 23 prompt — you can read a book that might fit into a narrow 23-based prompt. I just found out that Know My Name was written when the author (Chanel Miller) was 23, and I’ve been wanting to read that.

[Tracy]

New Quirky Fun Idea (I think so anyway - no offense if you don’t):

We had a LOT of discussion about lists - some love them, some hate them, some find them too limiting.

How about the prompt “A book with List in the title”? (I know, some also think that we have too many title prompts, but I’m trying to sneak this in under List Prompt.)

I had NO idea how many there are. Fiction AND Non-fiction (some don’t follow my intent because LIST is part of another word, like Listen). This is my search result: https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Li...

[Lindsay]

I love the idea of a book with list in the title.

Also I love a book written by an author age 23 or younger. I read The Reason I Jump which was written by a 13 year old.

Or a book published when you were 23 (or in 2023 for anyone under 23 years old).

[Tracy]

re: LIST IN THE TITLE

I guess I was thinking it would be more a book ABOUT a list (or lists), but then I realized that those books most likely would have List in the title, and therefore be much easier to find if the prompt was written that way.

[NancyJ]

Marta wrote: "I just found the Wikipedia article - most of it is obscure math but some lines have fun implications:
- prime number - read something about math or about primates or prime ministers
- The human DNA..."

I would love a DNA prompt, or something related to the Earth, or First contact/aliens.

The genetics suggestion didn't make it in early this summer (I think there were comments about the language or the scope). Maybe someone can come up with just the right phrase or angle that would make it more work for more people. There is a lot going on with DNA right now in science and science fiction. And there many compelling human stories relating to families, privacy, law enforcement, fertility, paternity, genetic testing and other health issues. So I would want it to fit both NF and Fiction.

BTW, I am on a serious book high right now because of The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford. It included a few DNA topics including a futuristic discussion of epi-genetics. The book covers 3 centuries and at least three genres. (I'll write up a review soon and post it on the bom thread.)

[Pamela, Arciform Mod]

I like the more specific ideas. "Anything linked to 23" is too wide open for me.

[Tracy]

@NancyJ - The Many Daughters of Afong Moy sounds interesting!

[Marta]

Pamela wrote: "I like the more specific ideas. "Anything linked to 23" is too wide open for me."

Well, it looked pretty limited before I started to research and brainstorm about. But that’s what makes it so fun!

Most of the ideas I have listed would be too limiting on their own. But I just like the idea to be creative about it.

[Marta]

Robin P wrote: "Maybe there's a way those "wacky" prompts could be used for a Read-a-thon or seasonal challenge!"

That would be cool! Maybe pick our favorite wacky prompts for a side challenge. The wacky prompts often don’t get voted in.

[Ann]

How about read a book that seems wacky to you.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Ann wrote: "How about read a book that seems wacky to you."

That sounds fun, could be a humorous book or just something unexpected, like the prompt in 2021 that said - a book that causes someone to say "you read what???"

[Pam]

I think a debut book was suggested in a previous week. I really like it and hope it’s re-suggested. I am thinking about doing a side challenge w all debut novels since I’ve found so many I want to read!
I like the suggestion of a sign on the cover. I haven’t seen it before as a prompt. It could be a literal sign or something symbolic.

[Alicia]

I also really liked debit novel. If it doesn’t get in, I’ll probably pair it with our multi-week century setting prompts.

[Mandy]

Alicia wrote: "I also really liked debit novel. If it doesn’t get in, I’ll probably pair it with our multi-week century setting prompts."

Authors debut book was voted in. It’s on the list.

[Pam]

Thank you Mandy! I completely forgot that debut book was voted in! I’m sure that’s why I created a list.

[Alicia]

Oh haha I forgot too. Oh darn. Now j need a new favorite prompt that didn’t make it in.

[Rachel]

Pamela wrote: "I like the more specific ideas. "Anything linked to 23" is too wide open for me."

I was going to say the exact same thing. I'd want something with a little more direction to it, because otherwise it's too wide open and becomes "read a book" to me. I had the same issue with prompts like "two books connected to each other in some way" or whatever the exact wording of that was. It was too vague for me and even though it really should have been easy since any connection at all works, it ends up being harder for me to decide.

[LeahS]

I'm going to disagree. There have been quite a few interesting prompts around number 23. Just choosing one (eg. genetics, which I like) means that it might not get voted in at all, whereas a wider prompt just naming 23 allows people to go with the option that suits them best. 23 is a limiting factor there - I don't think it's just read any book.

[KP]

Could we do something with 1973? End of the Vietnam War, Watergate, Exorcist, Roe v Wade, Battle of the sexes -Billy Jean King, Britain in European union

Some of the these things have reversed or repeated recently.

[NancyJ]

A few people mentioned Geographic prompts. I started a list of Isolated locations last month. Some were extreme locations (very hard to get to). I'm attracted to them because of their incredible beauty, which may or may not come through in the words.

I also have a list of Tropical books that sounded good to me.

What other countries, continents or types of locations are others considering?
---

Also, did Emily mention when she might post the results?

[Jillian]

Nancy, Emily said they would post the results sometime this morning.

[Lindsey]

Two thoughts:

1) A book with fewer than 2023 ratings?

2) A book related to Hollywood, Bollywood, Dollywood, or Nollywood?

Someone else mentioned an idea similar to this at some point way back in this thread, and I thought it was neat, but I haven't seen it discussed again. Finding books related to Hollywood and Bollywood seems to be pretty easy. For Dollywood, there's Run Rose Run or several Dolly Parton bios, but I'm not sure what else off the top off my head. I had never heard of Nollywood until I saw it discussed here, so I'm not sure what books there are about it, other than a couple that have been adapted (Things Fall Apart and Americanah seem to be the most well known). Anyone have any good thoughts or lists to help flesh this one out a bit?

[Alicia]

Nollywood is Nigerians film industry and its significant size market internationally (my friend works in Amazon studios and solely manages nollywood). But since it’s related to you can probably go so broad to include Any books set in Nigeria.