Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
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[2023] Wild Discussion
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Judy
(last edited Oct 05, 2022 09:57AM)
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Oct 05, 2022 09:57AM
I didn't suggest my BIPOC diversity prompt last time, in order to make way for the Asian Author suggestion. I was going to suggest it today but I was too late, so I seconded another prompt.
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NancyJ wrote: "Has anyone started a list of books that won a diversity award? Did everyone look at the banned book list? I was surprised by the number of books that I would like to read. I guess I always though..."
There are some Goodreads Listopias.
I am so bummed the rock/paper/scissors prompt did not make it in, but we ended up with some other suggestions I can get behind.
There are a ton of good suggestions every time. I'm hoping we get another 3 this time and the challenge list will be set! :)
Lynn wrote: "There are a ton of good suggestions every time. I'm hoping we get another 3 this time and the challenge list will be set! :)"I do too.
NancyJ - I renominated your fish out of water prompt. I loved it last week, so I hope you're okay I put it forward again.
Dubhease wrote: "Lynn wrote: "There are a ton of good suggestions every time. I'm hoping we get another 3 this time and the challenge list will be set! :)"I do too.
NancyJ - I renominated your fish out of water..."
Thanks Dubhease. I thought about resubmitting it today myself, but I wanted to get a new idea on the list, so I would at least have it on the rejects list.
I love the fish out of water prompt, too.
I’m torn I’d love one more go but I can’t say I fancy having a poll where only one can be picked
Another round of discussions is open on the KIS/BIO board! 31. A book nominated for an award beginning with W
Baseline: Women’s Prize for Fiction, Wolfson History Prize, Wainwright Prize, Walter Scott Prize, Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children's Literature, etc
32. A book related to a geometric shape
Baseline: Shape can be a word in the title, a shape depicted on the cover, the setting (Pentagon, Times Square), Topic (love triangle, closed circle mystery), shape related place (football field, baseball diamond, drum circle)
33. A novella
Baseline: Wikipedia definition: A novella is a narrative prose fiction whose length is shorter than most novels, but longer than most short stories.
34. A book related to a ghost, spirit, phantom, or specter
Baseline: title, cover, character, etc (actual beings or “ghosts of our past, or spirits that guide us”
35. A book with a tropical setting
Baseline: This could be an actual tropical location near the equator (between 23 degree North and 23 degrees South latitudes), between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Or a futuristic book about climate change. Or an especially hot period or event in history ( e.g. drought, heat wave, huge forest fire.)
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
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I'm good with one picked this round
Pamela- yeah but that would mean two to go which I could do more easily
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I don't want it to end! I'm still waiting for that prompt that pushes me! Of course, I normally know what prompt that is partway through the year and not before, but I really want one that makes me look at my TBR list and dig through it.
Pamela- I’m afraid I’m not much help there I’m always voting for prompts which give me options
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I go 50/50-- I want some options but I also wants ones that'll steer me
If there is another poll I will really try to rework first contact. I really feel I put it up without considering most of the possbilties it actually has.
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I liked it until people started adding so many interpretations so pretty much any book where someone meets someone would count!
Pamela wrote: "Thomas wrote: "If there is another poll I will really try to rework first contact. I really feel I put it up without considering most of the possbilties it actually has."I liked it until people s..."
Most every prompt can be interpreted in such a way that most any book would count if you want it too. It's up to each individual to decide what "counts" for them. I'm only counting alien first contact but that doesn't mean someone else can't have a broader interpretation.
Pamela wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Pamela- I’m afraid I’m not much help there I’m always voting for prompts which give me options"I go 50/50-- I want some options but I also wants ones that'll steer me"
Out of curiosity which ones steered you so far this year?
For me it was earth day, flora /fauna, aging, psychology, continents, and the author prompts. I picked extras for all of these and used them to fill other spots. Small town and historical- fiction-early-1900s worked well with another annual challenge. and I read quite a few.
The major theme this year is cover and title prompts.Most of the “related” prompts provide several more potential uses.
°~Amy~° wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Thomas wrote: "If there is another poll I will really try to rework first contact. I really feel I put it up without considering most of the possbilties it actually has."I liked it...
Most every prompt can be interpreted in such a way that most any book would count if you want it too. It's up to each individual to decide what "counts" for them. I'm only counting alien first contact but that doesn't mean someone else can't have a broader interpretation.
"
I also don’t get why anyone worries that someone else will stretch a prompt so far that any book works. I figure if they need to over stretch a prompt that is okay; it does not mean I have to as well.
Exactly. There is no challenge police. No one is going to say, you can't interpret the prompt that way! Just because someone else sees it as having too many options means I can't narrow it down. I tend to decide what direction I'm going with a prompt and stick with it.
Jillian wrote: "°~Amy~° wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Thomas wrote: "If there is another poll I will really try to rework first contact. I really feel I put it up without considering most of the possbilties it actually h..."My thoughts exactly. How I run my reading year does not affect how anyone else does, and vice versa.
In many US reality show competitions there is a cash prize (which often fuels much drama unrelated to the competition itself). In Britain there is the Great British Bake Off (...Baking Show in the US) that only has a cake plate as the prize, and accordingly, everyone is cordial and often helpful toward their fellow contestants. I view our Reading Year as more of a Great British Bake Off — there is no prize, not even a cake plate or a bookmark — so no one need be concerned with how anyone else is "playing the game". It's all about enjoying your reading, whatever that means to you.
On a separate note after how long is it acceptable to send the librarians a reminder about a book request?
Thomas wrote: "On a separate note after how long is it acceptable to send the librarians a reminder about a book request?"I would think after a week, definitely bump the post. I’d also suggest adding a note to the thread title (open) or a similar word and then changing it to done. It seems the librarians are overwhelmed with requests since GR has made changes to who can add books.
What do you need done, Thomas?
Amy (Other Amy) wrote: "What do you need done, Thomas?"Hijacking Thomas’ comment.
Can you look into this request from me Amy? I posted it on August 29 and have bumped it three times and have had zero librarian input. Thanks!
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...?
Amy- basically I’m trying to get a book added. I know they are busy so I’m trying not to be unreasonable but I also want to use it for the challenge
Thomas wrote: "Amy- basically I’m trying to get a book added. I know they are busy so I’m trying not to be unreasonable but I also want to use it for the challenge"Give me the link to your request and I'll add it.
dalex wrote: "Can you look into this request from me Amy? I posted it on August 29 and have bumped it three times and have ha..."
All done.
ETA: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
Amy (Other Amy) wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Amy- basically I’m trying to get a book added. I know they are busy so I’m trying not to be unreasonable but I also want to use it for the challenge"Give me the link to your reques..."
Thank you
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
No problem. I just added the Kindle edition as well. (Give it a few and the cover should correct; I forgot to upload it on the Kindle at first.)
Just for fun, I went ahead (a bit earlier than I usually do) and compiled the list that will most likely end up being my rejects challenge. For me, that means all of the prompts that I personally voted for that didn't make it onto the official challenge, removing any duplicates. I also tend to weed through any prompts that are not quite duplicates but extremely similar. Without removing anything yet, aside from one or two doubles that I noticed immediately, ironically enough I have exactly 52 prompts on my list (although one is a multi-week, so it would be 54 books)
I do end up filtering the list again closer to the end of the year when I choose some of my other reading challenges like PopSugar (I know some people said it would still be happening without Tara, but I haven't been able to find any info) and a couple of other challenges. Just found it kind of funny that I ended up with a full list of 52 already.
Just an FYI - for reference for anyone that wants to add to and/or use the Banned/Challenged book list I created, I have changed it to be any book banned/challenged "around the world" [Thanks Lynn!] but left it as 21st century. I can't add anymore so have at it! Thanks to all who have added to it.
Rachel wrote: "I know some people said it would still be happening without Tara, but I haven't been able to find any info..."The only info is a pinned post on their Facebook page at the moment, saying it will still be happening in 2023.
With regards to librarian requests, I know there's a few of us here, would it be helpful to have an official thread for group members to request things? I don't really spend time going through the main group to do requests, I got librarian status back in the day when you could just ask to be one and I go round adding UK editions when they're missing. But I am happy to do requests for you guys.
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I'll also have Robin highlight it in the monthly newsletter in November.
Emily wrote: "You can put it under projects. I plan on cleaning out some of the folders and archiving old discussions, so it will be more prominent once I have a second to get some organizing done.I'll also ha..."
Emily- iy you don't mind me asking is it November you are due?
Rachel wrote: "Just for fun, I went ahead (a bit earlier than I usually do) and compiled the list that will most likely end up being my rejects challenge.Without removing anything yet, aside from one or two doubles that I noticed immediately, ironically enough I have exactly 52 prompts on my list."
I organized my rejects & prompts yesterday and discovered that I have precisely 26 of each for a total of 52. I thought I was going to have to do some sorting and deleting but - nope - it fell together exactly how I want it to be!
I haven't done a rejects challenge for a few years. This year there were so many prompts I loved that didn't make the final list and several rejected prompts that just work well with the books I want to read next year.
If I did a challenge of all of my upvotes that didn't make it, with duplicates removed, I'm also at about 52. I can't handle 3 challenges without overlap so I'll need to decide if I'm doing PopSugar or an upvote rejects challenge.
Rachel wrote: "Just for fun, I went ahead (a bit earlier than I usually do) and compiled the list that will most likely end up being my rejects challenge.For me, that means all of the prompts that I personally voted for that didn't make it onto the official challenge, removing any duplicates. I also tend to weed through any prompts that are not quite duplicates but extremely similar. Without removing anything yet, aside from one or two doubles that I noticed immediately, ironically enough I have exactly 52 prompts on my list (although one is a multi-week, so it would be 54 books)
I do end up filtering the list again closer to the end of the year when I choose some of my other reading challenges like PopSugar (I know some people said it would still be happening without Tara, but I haven't been able to find any info) and a couple of other challenges. Just found it kind of funny that I ended up with a full list of 52 already."
That is such a wonderful idea! And 52 prompts! Quite a coincidence!
We have been assured there will be a Popsugar challenge issued for 2023. :)
What coincidence. I was just rounding up rejects. We have so many good prompts that didn't get in. I don't have it in me to do a full 52 without double dipping, but I think one reject prompt a month is manageable.
I think with Popsugar it really depends what it’s like. I believe it’s a new team this year
Nancy wrote: "Exactly. There is no challenge police. No one is going to say, you can't interpret the prompt that way! "A weird trend I've noticed in this year's voting process is that we have several prompts that say one thing but mean something else and somehow we're expected to understand "the spirit of the prompt." I've seen that phrase more times this year than ever before!
And that seems to bring out the Challenge Police. If I say a prompt can be interpreted one particular way, someone is bound to comment, "But that's not the spirit of the prompt." What does that even mean? Why can't the prompts just be worded in such a way that they aren't so nebulous?
dalex wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Exactly. There is no challenge police. No one is going to say, you can't interpret the prompt that way! "A weird trend I've noticed in this year's voting process is that we have sev..."
I've seen this too. I don't know if it's because I've participated in the Wild Discussion more this year than last year (so that I'm seeing the conversation that inspired a prompt) or if there are more people proposing other people's prompts and not quite getting the wording the OP intended.
I thought it was interesting that the summer winner with the large animal prompt said in a message that she didn't intend to mean dragons, but there are still a number of dragon books on the listopia.
Hopefully, as the voting ends and people lose track of who nominated which prompt and what the OP said, this "spirit of the prompt" will end.
Which raises the question of whether it’s up to the OP to define the post.
Agree; I'm very much a believer in death of the author (so to speak; of course wishing everyone well!). What the OP meant can help clarify, but in the end everyone can interpret, modify, rearrange, and otherwise fill prompts however the heart desires.
I’m definitely of the ‘my challenge, my rules’ mindset, so if I think something fits a prompt then it does :-) I’ve been working on a rejects challenge too. I’ve picked my favourite one from each vote that didn’t get it but I still need to check none were too similar to what was voted in. I think doing all my rejects would be too many, as I voted very positively!
I’ve planned a lot of my reading for next year but I know I’ll probably change my mind before January. I’ve enjoyed planning it anyway.
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