[2023] Wild Discussion Showing 3,351-3,400 of 4,060

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

From Wikipedia

New adult (NA) fiction is a developing genre of fiction with protagonists in the 18–30 age bracket.[1] St. Martin's Press first coined the term in 2009, when they held a special call for "fiction similar to young adult fiction (YA) that can be published and marketed as adult—a sort of an 'older YA' or 'new adult'".[2] New adult fiction tends to focus on issues such as leaving home, developing sexuality, and negotiating education and career choices.[3] The genre has gained popularity rapidly over the last few years, particularly through books by self-published bestselling authors like Jennifer L. Armentrout, Cora Carmack, Colleen Hoover, Anna Todd, and Jamie McGuire.[4][5]

The genre originally faced criticism, as some viewed it as a marketing scheme,[6] while others claimed the readership was not there to publish the material.[7] In contrast, others claimed the term was necessary; a publicist for HarperCollins described it as "a convenient label because it allows parents and bookstores and interested readers to know what is inside".[8]

Examples of books in the new adult genre include Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses and Throne of Glass, Jennifer L. Armentrout's Wait For You and Blood and Ash series, Jamie McGuire's Beautiful Disaster,[9] Colleen Hoover's Slammed,[10] Cora Carmack's Losing It,[11] Kendall Ryan's The Impact of You[12] and Casey McQuiston's Red, White & Royal Blue.

[Irene]

@Emily, here are some suggestions!

International Chess Day is July 20, so that's an idea for the related to a chess piece prompt.

World Book Day is April 23rd, for the book where books are important prompt.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, or Spy was published in June 1974 so maybe somewhere in June?

For some reason the word from a recipe prompt sounds super cozy to me, so I'd love to see it around the holiday season (late November to early January). Or just in any cold-weather month?

I think the name popular in 1923 prompt should go near the very beginning since it's related to the anniversary of the year (starting January 1st). It's also cool as a spiritual successor to this year's #1, which is also name-related.

October 14 is the date of the next annular solar eclipse, so maybe that could work for the sun/moon/stars on cover?

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

I personally think it's kind of silly to have all these labels. There was no YA when I was a teenager, I just started reading adult books at some point. There have always been coming of age books. And I adored Red, White, & Royal Blue, even though I read it at age 68.

[Alicia]

Tracy, I will ALWAYS upvote a prompt that deals with books, librarians, booksellers, voracious readers, etc.

That said, I agree it may be tough because of the books about books prompt. To give context, this is the 3rd year Nancy has suggested a prompt like that (with me being her unofficial groupie cheering her on in the background) and the first time it’s gotten in and there have been different versions.

All to say, definitely submit it, but don’t be discouraged. I’ll be your unofficial groupie too!!

[Thomas]

Okay, you’re a lot older than I imagined you were Robin

[Irene]

Thomas, I've also seen "New Adult" used to describe adult books (like The Night Circus, City of Brass, etc) that people consider having wide appeal for YA readers even when they're not actually marketed as New Adult.

(Personally, I think the age bracket from 18 to 30 should be called Young Adult, and current YA should be called Teen)

[Nancy]

And I have loved having an unofficial groupie! I wonder if I had suggested that one later on in the process, if it would have gotten in.

Personally, while I love the idea of the adventures of librarians, I do not think another book-related prompt would be welcomed.

[dalex]

For scheduling prompts I would prefer that pride being anywhere but June. I'm finding it irksome that everyone is all "pride=lgbtq" when there are a million other ways to interpret the prompt.

[Kat]

3rd December is the UN's International day of persons with disabilities

Halloween and ghosts seems obvious (too obvious?)

The US annual geometry festival seems to be in April

[Tracy]

Robin P wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Nadine you could use your last name too. I used non-fiction last time and would probably do that again since I don't read as much non-fiction as I'd like.

Interracial relationship wo..."

I had intended to comment on Tropical being good for a winter escape, but forgot. Thanks for pointing this out.

[Tracy]

Thomas wrote: "Sorry but what is New Adult?"

I had never heard of this either Thomas. I found this:

"New adult (NA) fiction is a developing genre of fiction with protagonists in the 18–30 age bracket."

I think it could be similar to "coming-of-age".

[Amy (Other Amy)]

dalex wrote: "For scheduling prompts I would prefer that pride being anywhere but June. I'm finding it irksome that everyone is all "pride=lgbtq" when there are a million other ways to interpret the prompt."

I agree with that even though I'm going to probably read Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex for it. The prompt should be allowed to have its broader meaning.

[Tracy]

Kat wrote: "3rd December is the UN's International day of persons with disabilities

Halloween and ghosts seems obvious (too obvious?)

The US annual geometry festival seems to be in April"

I'm so happy to know that there is an annual Geometry Festival! Now if I could just find an Algebra Festival...

[dalex]

Tracy wrote: "I think it could be similar to "coming-of-age""

Coming of age (aka bildungsroman) is a story trope about a person's formative years. This trope can be found in books for adults or young adults.

New Adult is a classification that targets a specific age group, usually about 18 to mid/late 20s.

Not the same, imo.

[Tracy]

dalex wrote: "Tracy wrote: "I think it could be similar to "coming-of-age""

Coming of age (aka bildungsroman) is a story trope about a person's formative years. This trope can be found in books for adults or yo..."

It's a relatively new "genre", 2009, and the way it's described in Wikipedia it's a little confusing.

On the one hand it says that it focuses on protagonists aged 18-30, which I would say is at least partially involving typical coming-of-age/bildungsroman stories. It also states "New adult fiction tends to focus on issues such as leaving home, developing sexuality, and negotiating education and career choices.", which I think are also typical coming-of-age storylines.

But to YOUR point, the article also discusses the idea that this new "genre" is a marketing ploy to attract readers in that age group, sort of a YA book that is more adult.

Sounds like it could go either way.

[L Y N N]

Nancy wrote: "Robin P wrote: "I think tropical would be a great escape prompt in winter! I always complain about calendars that show me snow scenes in winter. I can see that by looking outside!"

Totally agree Robin, and I did think about that too! Maybe for January, when post-holiday doldrums is setting in?"
Though it is not winter in January in all geographic locations on this planet... :)

[L Y N N]

How about "Read a classic from genre fiction?"

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

We typically post a BIO/KIS thread at the beginning of the voting process and build on it as we go.... but I haven't been good at keeping up with it in previous years and I didn't think we had enough participation in it last year to keep it going forward.

That being said, if anyone wants to start a KIS/BIO thread for the prompts we already have on the list, feel free to start one in this folder!

[NancyJ]

dalex wrote: "Copy/pasting this from the voting thread (where it got zero responses so I think it got lost):

Dystopian fiction is a subgenre of speculative fiction. It is not the same as apocalyptic and post ap..."

To me the definitions are clear, but you seem to be saying that they cannot co-exist in the same story. I agree that dystopian stories don't require an apocalyptic event. But a post-apocalyptic world seems ripe for some nasty dystopian developments.

It's not just my opinion. Many of the most popular Post-Apocalyptic books have almost as many Dystopian tags as apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic tags. Possibly even more when you add up the various forms/spellings of dystopian. So it seems clear that at least in some books, readers see evidence of both.

I think it's because the death, deprivation, fear, and chaos associated with an apocalyptic event is sufficiently dsystopic for most people. There might be some delay before the politically oppressive type of dsytopia kicks in. (Disasters sometimes bring out the best in people, especially at the beginning.) Disruptions on a large scale will attract fascist, autocratic, power-hungry narcissists who will want to take charge (and kill their rivals if necessary), impose martial law and institute the political oppression that is associated with other Dystopian books. (Think about all the legislative changes that came about after 9/11,)

If the apocalyptic event killed enough people, they might end up with small groups of people who share utopian values and live peaceably. Think of Lost or Station Eleven, before the evil people on the other side of the island (or lake) showed up and started grabbing people.

Even in a collegial utopia, people might feel oppressed by a leader who calls too many meetings, and insists on Roberts Rules. (If you've been in that type of group, you might find that funny. If not, sorry.)

OK I had my fun for the day. 😃😏😁

[Chrissy]

I agree that the new release should be closer to the end of the year, but it would be great to move it back just a bit so that if you are reading in order, you can get something in before voting for GR choice awards closes! (maybe November?)

Pro tip for library users - if you get on the libby hold list for a new book the day it is released, your wait is usually much shorter than if you wait a week or longer, at least with my library system. It seems they order one copy, then see how many people have it on hold before deciding how many additional copies to buy. GR sends me emails on the day that books I have on my TBR are released, so I don't have to remember when to start looking for them at the library.

[dalex]

NancyJ wrote: "To me the definitions are clear, but you seem to be saying that they cannot co-exist in the same story."

Short quick answer: it seems that people read a book synopsis that says something like "the world exploded" or "almost everyone got sick and died" and they're ready to label it dystopian. Nope.

Dystopian does not mean the world has ended. It means societal structure has shifted and things have become really horrific. Think The Handmaid's Tale. It's the author's way of imagining the really awful way society could turn out given the way it's currently headed.

It could also be that something apocalyptic has occurred and after the event a faction of society becomes a dystopia. But if you don't have the dystopia after the apocalyptic, then it's just apocalyptic.

[Mandy]

Nadine in NY wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Does anyone have a problem with the letter-in-your-name genre prompt, since we did it in 2020? It's been 3 years and I think that's enough of a gap. Plus it's pretty open so you could..."

because it was fun!

new adult, adventure fiction (yes, it's a genre), dystopian, inspirational, narrative, epic fiction

https://book-genres.com/book-genres-a-z/

[NancyJ]

Irene wrote: "Edie wrote: "Joy D wrote: "I think Asian diaspora covers the idea without limiting it to America or the UK."

Doesn't diaspora mean people "forced" to leave their country (and initially referring t..."

Irene,
Can you use a more common term? When I first heard the term diaspora I though it sounded sad or negative too. I don't think everyone knows what it means, and they don't all read the explanations.

[Thomas]

The Oxford dictionary and Miriam Webster define it as “ a speculated society or community which is especially frightening or undesirable”

[NancyJ]

Robin P wrote: "I personally think it's kind of silly to have all these labels. There was no YA when I was a teenager, I just started reading adult books at some point. There have always been coming of age books. ..."

I was always in a hurry to grow up, so New adult would have appealed to me by the time I was 16. I don't think YA was coined yet when I was a teen.

[Beth]

Just jumping in to say that I personally don't feel like diaspora has any connotation to it (negative or otherwise) in modern usage - to me it's a neutral term to describe people who descended from one place and now live in another. I am from a different country from where I now reside and would not have an issue being referred to as part of the 'British diaspora'. I wonder if others feel the same way or if that's just me? I can't speak for becoming a racial minority in a different country so maybe that could be a factor in differing opinions on the term(?).

Anyway I like this prompt idea for Asian authors and would certainly vote for it.

[MJ]

Beth wrote: "Just jumping in to say that I personally don't feel like diaspora has any connotation to it (negative or otherwise) in modern usage - to me it's a neutral term to describe people who descended from..."

I agree with you on this. My parents’ grandparents were part of a diaspora. I don’t feel there is a negative connotation associated with this word. I too, would vote for it.

[Nancy]

Chrissy wrote: "Pro tip for library users - if you get on the libby hold list for a new book the day it is released, your wait is usually much shorter than if you wait a week or longer, at least with my library system. It seems they order one copy, then see how many people have it on hold before deciding how many additional copies to buy. GR sends me emails on the day that books I have on my TBR are released, so I don't have to remember when to start looking for them at the library.."

I can request books from some of my libraries before the book is released. I've been on the hold list for The Winners for weeks, even though it doesn't come out until next week.

[Martha]

Diasporic book lists: https://www.goodreads.com/list/tag/di...
https://www.vogue.in/culture-and-livi...

From Study.com: What Are Diasporic Novels?
"Can you imagine having your whole life uprooted and starting over in a completely different place? This is what the term ''diaspora'' refers to. The word comes from the Greek meaning ''dispersion.'' Diasporic literature encompasses stories about those who disperse or scatter away from their homeland. These novels follow characters who try to assimilate life in a new country, who for several reasons leave home and create a new one, sometimes thousands of kilometers from what was known to them."

"Diasporic novels are considered transnational as they tend to involve different countries: a home country and the new adopted one. One of the most important themes in these novels is identity; characters must make sense of their own self as they try to adapt in a new place. As their life changes, contrasts soon emerge and the old is compared to the new, the past with the present, and the familiar with the foreign."

This definition is the one I recognize.

[Kelly Sj]

Copied over from the Poll 14 Results...

For all of you who supported my route of travel idea - I may or may not be available for the suggestions poll tomorrow, so feel free to resubmit it!

For ideas using it as a title prompt, just type in a route of travel in the "search books" box (or search your own TBR list) - road, street, path, trail, sidewalk, highway, etc.

For ideas using it as a cover prompt you'd have to do a scavenger hunt, but I know I have a few on my physical shelves, and more on my overall TBR, it's a fairly common cover picture. Here's a couple examples off the top of my head:

[Nadine in NY]

New Adult is a YA book with lots of explicit sex. Publishers can say what they like, but I remain convinced that they coined the term when popular series like Throne of Glass started to have lots of explicit sex scenes and people complained. So then they said "voila! it is New Adult!"

[Joy D]

Lynn wrote: "How about "Read a classic from genre fiction?""

I like this idea.

I am not understanding why we even need more genre prompts, but if we have to have another, I'm all for allowing flexibility to select one you enjoy.

To provide more info on why I don't care for genre prompts:
- I find them both too limiting (if one is selected which you don't like) and too broad (if one is selected that you like there are way too many options to fulfill it)

[Thomas]

Sorry but what is genre fiction, I thought all fiction has a genre?

[Joy D]

I think the idea is to choose any genre you like.

[Amy (Other Amy)]

It's a publishing term for fiction written to conform to particular genre conventions (for fantasy, science fiction, western, romance, mystery, or horror), or any fiction that isn't literary fiction pretty much.

ETA: I agree with Joy; genre is both too limiting and too broad and I would rather have other prompts, but if we must have it then I want something flexible.

[RachelG.]

Nancy wrote: "Does anyone have a problem with the letter-in-your-name genre prompt, since we did it in 2020? It's been 3 years and I think that's enough of a gap. Plus it's pretty open so you could use a differe..."

I like the idea of a letter in your name genre prompt but I wasn't apart of the group in 2020 so it is totally new to me.

[Jill]

Any suggestions for J. Other than journal.

[Roxana]

I like the letter in your name genre prompt, too, and I *did* do it in the previous year, but I’d vote for it again! I do prefer the “any letter in your name” version rather than initial only, to make it easier on folks with initials like K (although my name starts with one of the easier options, since I love romance, ha).

Also wanted to throw out there that I quite liked the route of travel prompt and voted for it, and would again if it’s resubmitted, so I hope it makes it back into the polls.

[RachelG.]

I copied the following from the Goodreads genre page

japan 378,599 books
japanese-history 12,020 books
japanese-literature 117,638 books
jazz 23,682 books
jewellery 1,906 books
jewellery-making 615 books
jewish 162,969 books
johannesburg 717 books
jokes 5,320 books
josei 36,767 books
journal 51,771 books
journaling 7,338 books
journalism 169,645 books
judaica 45,738 books
judaism 99,190 books
junk-science 732 books
juvenile 569,738 books

[Jill]

RachelG. wrote: "I copied the following from the Goodreads genre page

japan 378,599 books
japanese-history 12,020 books
japanese-literature 117,638 books
jazz 23,682 books
jewellery 1,906 books
jewellery-making 61..."

Thanks

[Juliet]

I would also like to see the route of travel prompt again, I didn’t vote for it because I ran out of votes but would in a different poll

[chysodema]

Nancy wrote: "I did have a hard time with cross genre when we did it last, but I feel like it's becoming more popular and there are more options now than there were last time.

I also wonder if genre would be be..."

Nancy, I love this! I had never looked at Goodreads > Browse > Favorite Genres before. I think a prompt to pick a book from there would be so much fun.

The lists seems to be alphabetical but also only inclusive of genres I enjoy, and yet not a list of my actual most read genres by any means. So the genre list does inspire new thoughts of things to read. For example, my list is Adult Fiction, African American, Book Club, Chick Lit, Classics, Contemporary, Cookbooks, and Fantasy. I love the idea of reading a juicy cookbook for this prompt, the kind full of prose interspersed with recipes.

If no one decides to suggest a genre prompt based on this for this year I will try to remember it to suggest next year. Getting one suggestion in on time was enough anxiety for me this year.

[dalex]

My understanding is that genre fiction is sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery/horror. It’s fiction that is (usually) formulaic and tropey, unlike general/literary fiction that doesn’t necessarily follow specific rules.

I can already see this prompt being problematic since we are not agreeing about a definition.

[Nadine in NY]

RachelG. wrote: "I copied the following from the Goodreads genre page

japan 378,599 books
japanese-history 12,020 books
japanese-literature 117,638 books
jazz 23,682 books
jewellery 1,906 books
jewellery-making 61..."



I thought I knew my way around Goodreads, but I did NOT know there was a main page listing all the genres. The only way I ever got to it was by googling and backing into it. But today, thanks to my curiosity after seeing this post, I finally found it!!

https://www.goodreads.com/genres/list

Of course GR shelves are only as accurate as the GR users who use them, caveat lictor, etc etc ... Still, this is a nice resource.

[Joy D]

I don't think those Goodreads "genres" are officially agreed upon by any literary body of experts, if such thing exists. Those are more "tags" related to content or author.

For example, in the list posted above I disagree that "jewelry" is a genre.

dalex wrote: My understanding is that genre fiction is sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery/horror. It’s fiction that is (usually) formulaic and tropey, unlike general/literary fiction that doesn’t necessarily follow specific rules.
That's one reason I prefer topics or subject matter (or other creative) prompts as opposed to "genres."

I realize no one is going to check up on what tag/genre a person uses, but it ends up being a freebie.

[Chrissy]

Nancy wrote: "Chrissy wrote: "Pro tip for library users - if you get on the libby hold list for a new book the day it is released, your wait is usually much shorter than if you wait a week or longer, at least wi..."

Bummer! My system doesn't show the book in libby until they own it and can loan it out, so the waitlist doesn't start. For print books, it's different.

[Irene]

@NancyJ, I completely hear you about some people not being familiar with the term "diaspora" and/or thinking it has a negative connotation, but I can't think of a better word/synonym at the moment... I might end up having to suggest it as-is, and re-workshopping it if it doesn't get in this first time around.

@Martha, I actually wanted this prompt to focus on the author (supporting authors who have faced elevated discrimination due to athe pandemic) and not on the content. Lots of Asian diaspora authors write books completely unrelated to diasporic literature so I would not want to limit it to that. Hope that makes sense.

@Nadine, it's funny you say that because I'm super involved with Bookstagram/Booktok and The Night Circus (possibly because it follows the protagonists from childhood?) always comes up as a New Adult recommendation despite having zero explicit sex. At least for fantasy books, it just seems to be the term thrown around for adult books with protagonists between 18-30 regardless of sexual content. I also see The Bear and the Nightingale come up a lot, although I have no idea if that one has explicit sex scenes.

@Kelly I love the idea of turning the travel route prompt into a cover prompt! I'd 100% vote for it.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

dalex wrote: "My understanding is that genre fiction is sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery/horror. It’s fiction that is (usually) formulaic and tropey, unlike general/literary fiction that doesn’t necessarily follow s..."

Adventure/spy/military and western are also genres (of course we have western now). Sometimes books marketed to women are dismissed as "genre" but men have their fantasy worlds too. (not that women don't read them also.)

[Jette]

RachelG. wrote: "I copied the following from the Goodreads genre page

japan 378,599 books
japanese-history 12,020 books
japanese-literature 117,638 books
jazz 23,682 books
jewellery 1,906 books
jewellery-making 61..."

I like the junk-science sub genre. Last time, I chose Southern Gothic since I have both an S and G in my full name. I found it while scrolling through the list of genres and I was very pleased with my choice.

[NancyJ]

RachelG. wrote: "I copied the following from the Goodreads genre page

japan 378,599 books
japanese-history 12,020 books
japanese-literature 117,638 books
jazz 23,682 books
jewellery 1,906 books
jewellery-making 61..."

These are all are SHELF TAGS that are user generated. Goodreads calls them genres in some areas, and makes nifty genre pages for some of them. But I think everyone could agree that jewelry is a topic not a type of genre.

There used to be a small number of genres that everyone agreed were genres.

But there is a growing middle area of newer genres, sub-genres, cross- genres, categories, special interests, themes, market- segments, and quirky terms that are showing up on websites, articles, blogs, etc. Sci- fi seems to have the most sub-genres, and romance has the most categories based on tropes.

These are fun for prompts, and they often reflect trends in writing. But they can strain logic, especially for those who liked the old school rules. I think we need to be flexible and willing to find compromise terminology when possible. So for the prompt about the letters in your name, you have to be flexible enough to allow many possibilities, to be fair. Could the prompt change the wording.? Instead of find a genre….

Read a book from a genre or book category that matches a letter in your name.