[2023] Wild Discussion Showing 3,451-3,500 of 4,060

[Judy]

NancyJ wrote: "Thanks Judy and Dubhease. I'll need to find some links.

https://www.goodreads.com/genres/family
https://www.goodreads.com/genres/frie...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
https:..."

Got it. They're up. I added my own post with books on Adult friendships and strange families.

[Tracy]

Irene wrote: "Jillian wrote: "I'm not sure if I missed something. I don't get why there is a strong desire/discussion going for Asian decent/ex-pat/Asian diaspora.

This year we have "18. A book by an Asian or ..."

@Irene - I came to this after the Voting round, but I would have supported this prompt anyway. Thank you for your great discussion behind your intent for the prompt. NOW I understand why the wording is so critical, and why it's not just "read an Asian author". I appreciate all the nuance, and the comparisons we don't even think about (like the fact that we don't say 'European-American').

I just finished Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson so I have been doubly enlightened today :)

[Irene]

Thanks Tracy! :)

[Thomas]

Apart from diversity and genres is there’s any kind of prompt people feel there’s isn’t enough?

[MJ]

Thomas wrote: "Apart from diversity and genres is there’s any kind of prompt people feel there’s isn’t enough?"

I would like another prompt in lists and recommendations area, but people seem against those.

[Tracy]

MJ wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Apart from diversity and genres is there’s any kind of prompt people feel there’s isn’t enough?"

I would like another prompt in lists and recommendations area, but people seem again..."

We had talked briefly about "a book with a list that is important to the story", like The Reading List, or The Guest List. Although these have 'list' in the title, that's not necessary, it wouldn't be intended to be a Title prompt. Would this fulfill your desire for a List prompt?

[MJ]

Tracy wrote: "MJ wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Apart from diversity and genres is there’s any kind of prompt people feel there’s isn’t enough?"

I would like another prompt in lists and recommendations area, but people..."

I just put The Reading List on my tbr! But no. I’d like a prompt that would fit into that category, which is sparse compared to other categories. That is why I suggested the book recommended by by someone you admire prompt. I’m not invested in that particular suggestion, I just want to balance the overall list!

[MJ]

These two categories have fewer prompts in them:

1)GOODREADS & RECOMMENDATIONS
2)AWARDS, CHALLENGES, & LISTS

I’m just a lister, and I like exploring recommendation pages for books.

[Thomas]

Much as I don’t like list prompts I can’t deny there are very few this time

[Tracy]

Thomas wrote: "Apart from diversity and genres is there’s any kind of prompt people feel there’s isn’t enough?"

Here are some ideas I have Thomas:

1) A setting that is not geographically based, e.g., workplace, circus, train or ship, restaurant.

2) A conceptual prompt (I guess this would go in 'Other'): involves a disappearance, about revenge, a big change in the character's life, makes you cry, etc.

Even though Recommendations, and Awards/Lists are on the slim side, I don't have any great ideas for those, especially since they seem to be challenging for the group to like.

The only 'list' idea I have is one I just mentioned to MJ in message 3456 - a book with a list that is important to the story.

Edit for clarification:
Re: idea 1) a non-geographic setting

There has been some confusion about this (some thought all the places listed would ALL be in the prompt). This was not my intent — only ONE of those listed would be in the prompt.

So, the idea would be EITHER "a book set in a workplace" OR "a book set in a train or ship" OR "a book set in a circus", etc., not all of them in one prompt and you pick which on you want to use.

I'm thinking that "set in a workplace" would be both flexible enough, and not TOO broad. If you really like Circus or Restaurant, the book should be from the point of view of a circus or restaurant worker, not one of their customers.

[MJ]

Tracy wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Apart from diversity and genres is there’s any kind of prompt people feel there’s isn’t enough?"

Here are some ideas I have Thomas:

1) A setting that is not geographically based, e..."

I was thinking this morning about something along the lines of your #1, but my thought was about the book taking place while in transit (train, ship, vehicle). Different but similar.

I don’t have any decent ideas either. I’ve upvoted most list/recommendation/award etc suggestions hoping to balance those categories out…

[Martha]

I like lists for book projects. This year the PEN America award short lists and next year The Dayton Peace Prize long list are books I'll be reading.

Tracy and MJ I like a book with a list important to the story. I want to read a book from Tookie's list and that idea would enable me to do so for this challenge.

I also love the setting that is not geographically based. I want the apartment prompt and this idea would make it possible to read a book that takes place in that setting.

[Tracy]

For Lists:

Maybe something like "a book on the NYT Bestsellers List..." with a qualifier of some sort, like:

1) in 2020 (many of us were reading more that year)
2) in a year that was important in your life (you probably have several years that were important, so are not limited to a specific year)
3) that was on the list for at least 2-3 months, or 'at least 8 weeks'

I'm sure there would be other qualifiers that would make this a reasonable challenge.

[Tracy]

Martha wrote: "I like lists for book projects. This year the PEN America award short lists and next year The Dayton Peace Prize long list are books I'll be reading.

Tracy and MJ I like a book with a list import..."

Good idea to get Tookie in! And I love the 'apartment' prompt idea. My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman would be a great option for this — AND found family.

[dalex]

Thoughts about any book on any of the lists mentioned in this article “The Ten Best Top 100 Book Lists” - https://bookriot.com/the-10-best-top-...

Or maybe we can reach a consensus about one of those lists and suggest just that one for a prompt?

[Mandy]

I don’t mind list prompts as long as they have a variety of genres or a good variety to choose from like npr. Some like tookie and millions were saturated with only one type of book.

If I can’t find at list 3 or 4 books to choose from then it’s a downvote for me.

[Martha]

I like the idea of reading a book from one of the lists on the Ten Best Top 100 Book Lists. It might be overwhelming for some people to choose one book, but there's a list for everyone. I can also see some possibilities for personal reading projects, so thanks for the link!

[Joy D]

Mandy wrote: "I don’t mind list prompts as long as they have a variety of genres or a good variety to choose from like npr. Some like tookie and millions were saturated with only one type of book.

If I can’t f..."

I think you have pinpointed the issue. The lists need a mix of old and new, geographically dispersed settings and authors, mix of genre and literature, popular and obscure - it is hard to find all of that in one list.

I think "Read a book from one of your favorite lists" might work.

[Tracy]

@dalex: a list of lists — I love it!

[RachelG.]

I agree with you Martha that I would be good with reading a book from one of the lists on the Ten Best Top 100 Book Lists. I always want more choice rather than a very restricted choice in what to read.

[Mandy]

Joy D wrote: "Mandy wrote: "I don’t mind list prompts as long as they have a variety of genres or a good variety to choose from like npr. Some like tookie and millions were saturated with only one type of book. ..."

That’s why the nor and the one with all the w awards got in. They have that variety.

[Joy D]

Yes. The problem with lists is that people have different tastes and are trying to accomplish different things with the challenge.

[Irene]

I'm someone who generally dislikes list prompts if they seem irrelevant/random to me (I don't mind the list prompts from NPR or Powell's because those are good sources). 2021's Are You Well-Read in World Literature list was made by a random internet user named Im2bz on an ad-ridden website with no quality control (I used to make random lists on that website in middle school for fun). And one of the suggestions that didn't make it last year was a list posted on an advertising firm website that only listed its few client books. So I'd just love to avoid lists from questionable sources.

I consider the Best Books of the Month prompt a list prompt as well, and like that it's more personal to the group.

[Thomas]

A bit like “ the BBC believes you’ve only read six of these” no such claim was ever made

[Katie]

I would like a book like (the movie) Forrest Gump that shows historical (and pop culture) events that defined an era or a lifetime in a certain place.

I'm starting Violeta by Isabel Allende, "A woman whose life spans one hundred years and bears witness to the greatest upheavals of the twentieth century."

Would this be a good prompt idea? I don't know how to find books that match.

[Katie]

Thomas wrote: "A bit like “ the BBC believes you’ve only read six of these” no such claim was ever made"

All the ads on bookriot make stupid claims like that. Not BBC, but other things.

[Tracy]

@Katie - I’ve just started this book, so not sure yet, but West with Giraffes by Linda Rutledge takes place over the life of the MC from 17(?) to 105. So far the Dust Bowl era is discussed, but I’m assuming there will be more “current then/history now” events in the book.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

[MJ]

Katie wrote: "I would like a book like (the movie) Forrest Gump that shows historical (and pop culture) events that defined an era or a lifetime in a certain place.

I'm starting Violeta by Isabel Allende, "A w..."

Read a book about an event that changed the world or defined an era?

I’d read a book like that, although to some that could be seen as a historical fiction prompt, which it is. Unless it could be narrowed down to a certain period

[Katie]

how about

A second book that fits your favorite prompt.
For when it's hard to read just one.

[Katie]

MJ wrote: "Katie wrote: "I would like a book like (the movie) Forrest Gump that shows historical (and pop culture) events that defined an era or a lifetime in a certain place.

I'm starting Violeta by Isabel..."

Not about one event, many many events. I would have to say it better. Forrest Gump met all the presidents, witnessed the first school desegregation, went to war and war demonstrations, went to China to play ping-pong, was present at the start of many fads, witnesses the Aids epidemic.

[Siobhan]

Katie wrote: "how about

A second book that fits your favorite prompt.
For when it's hard to read just one."

I really like that one!

[Thomas]

Has voting opened yet? Just I normally get a notification but not always

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Thomas wrote: "Has voting opened yet? Just I normally get a notification but not always"

Opened just a couple minutes ago!

[Thomas]

Thanks Robin

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

You'll always get a notification when voting opens! I just had a busy day today, but it is open now.

[Tracy]

Katie wrote: "how about

A second book that fits your favorite prompt.
For when it's hard to read just one."

How funny! I had this exact same idea in the last hour — I just hadn't made it to my computer yet. I would LOVE this. I already know I've going to have trouble picking just one for some prompts.

For those old enough we could call this the "Lay's potato chip prompt".

[Thomas]

Emily- occasionally it doesn’t come threw not your fault probably just my tech but nonetheless I double check in case

[T.]

What about a book set in, or involving a carnival or circus?

[Thomas]

T Hampton- probably be a none vote for me, doesn’t appeal particularly but certainly not one I’d downvote

[KP]

dalex wrote: "Thoughts about any book on any of the lists mentioned in this article “The Ten Best Top 100 Book Lists” - https://bookriot.com/the-10-best-top-...

Or maybe we can reach a consensus abo..."

I ruled out one of the Times lists so far (it was written by two critics who both loved the same obscure books, based solely on their opinions). I don't have any patience for a list that is presented only one book at a time. Did we have the Times Notable books list before? I think I liked that one.

[KP]

Katie wrote: "how about

A second book that fits your favorite prompt.
For when it's hard to read just one."

Yes. This. Just as it is.

I'd pick the W-Award prompt to do twice.

[Dubhease]

T. wrote: "What about a book set in, or involving a carnival or circus?"

I was going to tell you that this is a terribly narrow prompt, but there is a listopia with 650 books on it, so maybe it isn't.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...

[Jill]

T. wrote: "What about a book set in, or involving a carnival or circus?"

Yes. I like this. I voted for it a couple of years ago but I think it didn’t get in.

[Rachel]

dalex wrote: "Thoughts about any book on any of the lists mentioned in this article “The Ten Best Top 100 Book Lists” - https://bookriot.com/the-10-best-top-...

Or maybe we can reach a consensus abo..."

I didn't read each list thoroughly, to be honest, but just by skimming through them all, I see a lot of overlap between the books chosen (and not too much that I'd personally be interested in reading). But I'm also generally not a huge fan of list prompts, so I don't mind that we only have a few this time.

I do like the idea of a book set in an office/workplace. I wouldn't mind a couple more genre prompts, but it's so hard to find something that works for everyone. I'd prefer something more specific than that your favourite genre/least favourite genre/etc. but the specific genres tend not to be so popular in the votes in general. We've also had specific genre prompts in the past (ie. historical fiction or mystery), so it might be tough to get one through without it feeling a bit repetitive.

[Pamela, Arciform Mod]

Katie wrote: "how about

A second book that fits your favorite prompt.
For when it's hard to read just one."

I like that!! Cause sometimes it's hard to pick one!

[KP]

Dubhease wrote: "T. wrote: "What about a book set in, or involving a carnival or circus?"

I was going to tell you that this is a terribly narrow prompt, but there is a listopia with 650 books on it, so maybe it is..."

Amazed there are so many. I saw a couple possible books for me. It's not a topic I would seek out, but I wouldn't downvote it. I like prompts with solid topics, so I might even upvote it.

The Light Between Oceans is on the list. I read it and saw the movie. If there was a carnival it was a very small part of the book.

[T.]

Dubhease wrote: "T. wrote: "What about a book set in, or involving a carnival or circus?"

I was going to tell you that this is a terribly narrow prompt, but there is a listopia with 650 books on it, so maybe it is..."

I found that list too, but I couldn't figure out how to link it. Thank you!

[Nadine in NY]

Irene wrote: "2021's Are You Well-Read in World Literature list was made by a random internet user ..."


yeah the user was not an authority, but I liked that list!! I found quite few interesting books that I had not heard of.

[Nadine in NY]

Tracy wrote: ") A setting that is not geographically based, e.g., workplace, circus, train or ship, restaurant...."


I would vote for "a book set in a restaurant" - because I have been enjoying Vivien Chien's Ho-Lee Noodle House mystery series.

But I wouldn't want all five of those things together in one prompt.

[Chrissy]

I like set in an apartment building or hotel, circus or carnival is ok, and a second book for a fav prompt is a great idea. The list of lists is also interesting to me.