[2023] Poll 11 Voting

[Kendra]

Underground/underwater isn't that narrow - you could interpret it as not just a physical setting, but as someone part of an underground organization, or some one going through bankruptcy (being under water) etc.... and know I'm wishing I could go back and change my vote and upvote this one...

As for picking books a head of time, I really only do that for the 'hard' prompts. then I try to read those right away, so if I DNF it I have time to find something else. Occasionally a prompt will match up to a book I'm planning to read perfectly, so I add that to my plan. the rest of the time I just read what I want and then match it up after.

And as the Goodreads choice nominees prompt is one of only 2 list prompts I actually like (NPR being the other) I'm really hoping it makes the list.

[Tracy]

Amy (Other Amy) wrote: "Ah, I have found my people LOL. My planning strategy is that I have a list of books I absolutely want to read for the year... and then I just read completely different books."

haha - love that! I have definitely done that too :)

[Edie]

Kendra wrote: "Underground/underwater isn't that narrow - you could interpret it as not just a physical setting, but as someone part of an underground organization, or some one going through bankruptcy (being und..."

I am with you. I do some pre-planning for challenging prompts. However, early in the read, I read what I feel like... books that I really wanted to read in Nov-Dec, but was spending reading time on books to finish off reading challenges. Usually those books can fit somewhere on a challenge. When my list of books requested from the library gets short, I will go through Listopias to see what books from my massive TBR list should be requested and tentatively fill in a few more prompts.
I am in awe of people who take the time to find and record several books for each prompt. I would rather spend that time reading.

[Tracy]

Re: pre-planning next year's choices —

I'm finding that I'm less happy with the books I've read this year than the ones I read last year. Last year I did a different challenge (my first ever) and I don't think I pre-planned my books. At least not until the end when I had a few prompts left that didn't get fulfilled naturally. This year I picked a few options, highlighting what I thought would be my favorite choice. I may still do something like that this year, but in a less structured way, so it doesn't feel like a decision that then has to be redecided. But I do like knowing ahead of time that I have at least one option that will work.

Re: feeling 'guilty' about changing my mind about pre-made book choices, as my son said when he decided to give up being a vegetarian, "Why do I have to stick to a decision that 9-year-old-me made?"

[Amy (Other Amy)]

Tracy wrote: "Re: feeling 'guilty' about changing my mind about pre-made book choices, as my son said when he decided to give up being a vegetarian, "Why do I have to stick to a decision that 9-year-old-me made?""

Well said and very wise.

[Tracy]

Haha Amy (Other Amy) - college juniors (when he made the change) can be fairly introspective.

[Nancy]

Edie wrote: "I am in awe of people who take the time to find and record several books for each prompt. I would rather spend that time reading."

Would it make you feel better if I told you it's usually during time I should be working? LOL

[Pamela, Arciform Mod]

Kat wrote: "I find it really hard to pre plan as I'm too much of a mood reader but I do jot down a few ideas. When it comes to voting I don't really think about what I will read just how I feel about the promp..."

I could never do the books I own only option! I'm too intrigued by shiny things! But I'm a library user so there's no guilt!

[Nancy]

I was going to say I don't own enough books to do a challenge as I'm not a big buyer of books. But then I remembered all of the free books on my Kindle....

[Bec]

After thinking I was going to have mainly downvotes - did a bit of researching (and thank you amazon search on digital content - I own so many books I don't even know about as I bought them so long ago - really helped for a few prompts!) and have gone 5 up 3 down.

The name popular in 1923 and about healing were ones i found books that I own through digital content search on amazon - so have now upvoted them. I also upvoted disability, goodreads choice awards and award beginning with W.

[NancyJ]

Amy (Other Amy) wrote: "Ah, I have found my people LOL. My planning strategy is that I have a list of books I absolutely want to read for the year... and then I just read completely different books."

I'm so glad to hear all this! When I look at the planning threads, I see all those lists with just one book per prompt. I got the impression that everyone planned ahead, or planned in order, and then stuck to the plan! Everyone else looks so much better organized than I am. I don't use separate spreadsheets. I try to keep it all on that one thread. I always look for many possibilities for each prompt, and my lists are always a mess. I'm in other groups, and in one I have a different theme every month (with only 1 week notice). I always try to find books that fit multiple challenges, so I like to start out with many options.

[NancyJ]

When making decisions, or creating a plan, are you a "diverger" or a "converger?"

"Divergers." <<< When making decisions, or solving problems, divergers prefer to gather many ideas and potential solutions at the beginning. They try to get divergent points of view, and ideas from many sources. They explore all the options, then narrow them down, and eventually converge on a decision. They try to "maximize" the results, with contingency plans or by leaving some options open to change.

Convergers." >>>Convergers prefer to make quick decisions. They like to consider a few options and quickly choose an acceptable solution. If the first option doesn't work, they'll consider another option and make another quick decision if possible. They like to keep things simple and orderly, and move onto the next task. They often "satisfice" by picking the first acceptable ("good enough") decision.

The best decision making teams have both divergers and convergers, and they can drive each other crazy.

[Martha]

I just learned that one of the 2022 Victober prompts is to read a Victorian work with chronic illness or disability representation. I voted for the character with disability prompt but if the prompt is voted in I think approaching what a read from a historical perspective about representation could be interesting.

[NancyJ]

Bec wrote: "After thinking I was going to have mainly downvotes - did a bit of researching (and thank you amazon search on digital content - I own so many books I don't even know about as I bought them so long..."

I'm going to have to figure out how to use that. I have a ton of kindles and audio books. I don't know if I'm very lucky winning goodreads giveaways, or Amazon let's everybody win the books they want to promote.

And still, every day I open that email from bookbubs to see which books on my TBR are on sale for 1.99.

[NancyJ]

Martha wrote: "I just learned that one of the 2022 Victober prompts is to read a Victorian work with chronic illness or disability representation. I voted for the character with disability prompt but if the promp..."

I'd like to see what you find. It sounds very interesting.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Martha wrote: "I just learned that one of the 2022 Victober prompts is to read a Victorian work with chronic illness or disability representation. I voted for the character with disability prompt but if the promp..."

Dickens has multiple characters who are lame (Tiny Tim), blind (the girl in The Cricket on the Hearth), mentally handicapped (Smike in Nicholas Nickleby). Then there are all the victims of what I call "Victorian beautiful wasting disease". This might have often been tuberculosis. The victims are invalids, look beautiful, cough a lot and have redeeming death scenes. No mess, blood, etc.

[Martha]

My choice for the Victober prompt will be Olive. This is a novel about a young girl with a curvature of the spine who goes on to become an artist. Other books I considered included Wives and Daughters, Cranford, Great Expectations, and Deerbrook. There were about 20 books mentioned in the introduction video for this prompt. There is a Victober group on Goodreads if you want to see more suggestions as well as a YouTube video.

The Victorians thought the feverish state of TB equaled a sign of beauty. I'm sure I'll find some of the representation of chronic illness and disability to be cringe worthy, but I'm interested in the history of medicine and think this prompt will be of interest to me from the viewpoint of Victorians both for Victober and for the ATY prompt if it gets voted in this round.

[Katie]

Robin P wrote: "Martha wrote: "I just learned that one of the 2022 Victober prompts is to read a Victorian work with chronic illness or disability representation. I voted for the character with disability prompt b..."

That reminds me of La Boheme and Moulin Rouge, with beautiful women dying of consumption. I would like to read a book like that.

[Shannon SA]

Kendra wrote: "Underground/underwater isn't that narrow - you could interpret it as not just a physical setting, but as someone part of an underground organization, or some one going through bankruptcy (being und..."

I have Notes from the Underground so I upvoted it :)

[Ellie]

Nancy wrote: "Would it make you feel better if I told you it's usually during time I should be working? LOL..."

Work downtime is the best time for planning! My workload always fluctuated wildly so sometimes I'd be sat around waiting for stuff and I'd do a bit of planning. Though now I need a new job and there might not be ATY time, I'm not sure that's something I can specify in an interview...

[Nadine in NY]

NancyJ wrote: "When making decisions, or creating a plan, are you a "diverger" or a "converger?"

"Divergers." <<< When making decisions, or solving problems, divergers prefer to gather many ideas and potential ..."




I am like the Poster Girl for a diverger. Just reading that description of a converger made me antsy.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

NancyJ wrote: "When making decisions, or creating a plan, are you a "diverger" or a "converger?"

"Divergers." <<< When making decisions, or solving problems, divergers prefer to gather many ideas and potential ..."

I'm a diverger married to a converger... helpful, but yes, drives me crazy lol

[dalex]

NancyJ wrote: "When making decisions, or creating a plan, are you a "diverger" or a "converger?""

I am one thousand percent a converger! (Great question, by the way!)

[Jillian]

I'm a converger.

[Nancy]

I'm totally a converger.

[dalex]

Pamela wrote: " I would love to see it resubmitted as two- one for Hollywood in honor of all those centennials and then a book related to Oz, the Wizard or Australia."

In the Wild Discussion, before the Hollywood/Disney/Oz prompt was suggested and put to a vote, I suggested the concept be worded as "a book related to the Wizard of Oz (book/movie) or the Land of Oz (Australia)."

In my opinion, this is worded better and makes a lot more sense as a prompt idea.

[Pamela, Arciform Mod]

NancyJ wrote: "And still, every day I open that email from bookbubs to see which books on my TBR are on sale for 1.99..."

Every day! And I keep buying books I never heard of and will probably never read. I come from a family of library users and my brother says he uses Bookbub as a way to still support writers. My mother has a friend who is a writer and she gets her normal commission on those deals and sometimes more when it's an older book.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Emily wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "When making decisions, or creating a plan, are you a "diverger" or a "converger?"

"Divergers."

I'm a diverger married to a converger... helpful, but yes, drives me crazy lol"

I'm a converter married to a diverger. In Myers Briggs it is the J vs P. J makes fast judgments, P likes to keep options open and get more info.

[NancyJ]

Pamela wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "And still, every day I open that email from bookbubs to see which books on my TBR are on sale for 1.99..."

Every day! And I keep buying books I never heard of and will probably neve..."

It's good to know the authors get the full commission. I always wondered how well the Amazon Publishing authors do financially. I like Amy Harmon, who is with Lake Union Publishing, an Amazon imprint. Her books are often on Kindle unlimited or on sale. But it's really hard for the libraries to get Amazon books through their distributors, and I wonder if the blogger incentives are different too.

[Jillian]

Robin, that makes sense because I’m a INFJ.

[Nadine in NY]

Robin P wrote: "I'm a converter married to a diverger. In Myers Briggs it is the J vs P. J makes fast judgments, P likes to keep options open and get more info...."



That's the opposite of my experience. Based on the above description I'm a diverger (or divergent haha!) But I'm INTJ.

[NancyJ]

Nadine in NY wrote: "Robin P wrote: "I'm a converter married to a diverger. In Myers Briggs it is the J vs P. J makes fast judgments, P likes to keep options open and get more info...."

That's the opposite of my exp..."

Nadine, it's probably because your NT overcomes the J tendency to make quick decisions. NT's tend to want more information than other styles when making important decisions (and sometimes unimportant ones). They might want a lot of ideas, alternative perspectives, data to analyze, creative ideas, and logical arguments. This can take time.
Personal note - (view spoiler)[
I'm an NT also (ENTP or INTP). I find it fun to look at problems from all directions, but it takes time. If I don't have a deadline, I tend to keep my options open with different contingencies.

NT's might like theories, creativity, principles, and intuitive approaches, AND logical arguments based on practical facts, data, and analysis. This can confuse or annoy people, because most people tend to favor one over the other. NT's can be somewhat demanding as managers. or strain the patience of colleagues who want to move on. Many founders of high tech companies have the NT combination.

INTJ's are excellent on decision making teams, especially with novel problems, and when there are other styles or skills to provide balance. I'm an ENTP, and the most productive partnership in my whole career was with an ISFJ. She was my assistant and kept me organized. I was her mentor and helped her advance. 20 years later she was a VP and I was the consultant she brought in on a project. We accomplished things together we couldn't have done alone. (hide spoiler)]

[NancyJ]

Emily wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "When making decisions, or creating a plan, are you a "diverger" or a "converger?"
"Divergers."
I'm a diverger married to a converger... helpful, but yes, drives me crazy lol"

Robin P wrote: "
I'm a converter married to a diverger. In Myers Briggs it is the J vs P. J makes fast judgments, P likes to keep options open and get more info.

Emily and Robin, that's so funny!

I'm the opposite of my husband on many dimensions too. I think it's nice to provide balance. I used to consider myself an extrovert, and my husband was definitely an introvert. As I got older I became more introverted, while he became more extroverted. I've become a better listener and he became more talkative.

[Nadine in NY]

NancyJ wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Robin P wrote: "I'm a converter married to a diverger. In Myers Briggs it is the J vs P. J makes fast judgments, P likes to keep options open and get more info...."

That's the..."


That's really interesting, thanks!

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

NancyJ wrote: "Emily wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "When making decisions, or creating a plan, are you a "diverger" or a "converger?"
"Divergers."
I'm a diverger married to a converger... helpful, but yes, drives me cr..."

My husband's best friend (for over 50 years) is ENFJ same as me. My husband is I think INTP, though he has become more extroverted over the years. I enjoy the friend but he is too much like me - so I find him tiring and besides, I am supposed to be the performer myself!

The E and I aren't necessarily showing how much we like people or not, but E types get energized being around others and I types need to get off by themselves to recharge. My daughter is very much E and the pandemic was hard for her, being so isolated. I know other people who thrived on the time at home with no need to make excuses for not going to a party or event.

[Joan]

I don't know where August went. I missed the last three rounds of voting. I like the prompts that got in though.

This vote I had six upvotes and 2 downvotes. My two downvotes I really don't want to get in because I had next to zero books on the suggestion lists. But sometimes I find these the best prompts when they get in. They push me outside of my box.

[Pearl]

I'm in the middle of a move and a job change so I've been missing them too.

I upvoted Disability, Healing, Hollywood, Goodreads and other lists. I don't know if any of my upvotes have a chance. I downvoted 500+pages and 23 years older than me.

I know the Goodreads Choice Award might be part of a money making scheme to get authors to spend more on giveaways and promotions, but I don't care. I like it, and I missed it this year. We don't have to spend a dime to use this site, and GR has a right to make money to keep all this going. Sorry, I'm not angry. I'm just sticking up for them. 😎

Emily, I'm sorry if I voted twice. I wanted to get it out of the way early since I'm moving.

[Dubhease]

Robin P wrote: "I'm a converter married to a diverger. In Myers Briggs it is the J vs P. J makes fast judgments, P likes to keep options open and get more info. ."

Same. I'm a INFJ married to a INTP. His inability to make decisions drives me crazy.

[Thomas]

Personally Pearl the issue of author promotion is true of most awards. I still downvoted because 1 I don’t like lists 2 it forces me to read modern books which I think there is already enough of 3 I’m miffed they no longer allow write ins ( I am aware of the irony that I said I don’t like lists and then made one)

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Dubhease wrote: "Robin P wrote: "I'm a converter married to a diverger. In Myers Briggs it is the J vs P. J makes fast judgments, P likes to keep options open and get more info. ."

Same. I'm a INFJ married to a IN..."

And my idea of vacation is to plan what to do and do it. HIs idea is to wing it and choose things as we go along, makes for some conflicts!

[Pamela, Arciform Mod]

Pearl wrote: "I'm in the middle of a move and a job change so I've been missing them too.

I upvoted Disability, Healing, Hollywood, Goodreads and other lists. I don't know if any of my upvotes have a chance. I..."

Yay? I did that last year and it was so stressful but at the end, so much for the better! Hope it all goes smoothly and you find happiness!

[Michelle]

I think I managed to remember to vote just in time for my own disability prompt. Also upvoted common names from 1923, an award starting with a W (I don't like list prompts, but then I would at least have a list of many lists to choose from until I found something I like) and the signs one which sounds interesting.

Downvoted syllables as it sounds like too much work and just not a fun thing (to me), and 23 years younger than me - also doesn't sound fun. Downvoted Tookie's list mainly just because I don't like list prompts and being constrained to a list. Maybe I would feel more interest if I had any attachment to the book it is based on. Also downloaded 500 page book because I have no desire to choose a book purely based on page count or be told I "need" to read a book of a certain length.

[dalex]

I get so excited when I click over to the groups list and it says that ATY was updated 9 minutes. I scroll down to 2023 challenge section and …

nope, no new posts here. It’s been Sunday morning for hours! I. Want. Results. Haha.

[Mandy]

Me too. Excited to see results.

[Jackie, Solstitial Mod]

Y'all are too funny! Like the dog seeing the first crack of dawn over the horizon and demanding breakfast.

Anyway results are posted.

[Mandy]

Jackie wrote: "Y'all are too funny! Like the dog seeing the first crack of dawn over the horizon and demanding breakfast.

Anyway results are posted."

🤣 my dog does not wait for the crack of dawn! She wakes me up before that (now the solstice has passed). I get to see the sun rise every morning now. Like clockwork. On weekends. 😭

[Nadine in NY]

Mandy wrote: "Jackie wrote: "Y'all are too funny! Like the dog seeing the first crack of dawn over the horizon and demanding breakfast.

Anyway results are posted."

🤣 my dog does not wait for the crack of dawn! She wakes me up before that (now the solstice has passed). I get to see the sun rise every morning now. Like clockwork. On weekends. 😭..."



LOL!! That's my dogs when I visit my mom. My mother doesn't have a fenced in yard, so I walk my dogs first thing every morning there, and they LOVE it, so they wake me up EARLY. It is lovely to see the sun rising as I'm walking them, but wow I do wish I could sleep in on my vacations.