Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2023 Challenge - General
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Excited chatter while we wait for the 2023 list to post!!!
Mod
That's an interesting point. I do occasionally buy new & used books from thriftbooks - I had been planning to just use a book I bought from the library for this category (if it is a category LOL!) but thriftbooks opens up my choices a bit more, I've got a stack of books from them that I haven't touched yet. It didn't occur to me that they are an independent bookseller! When I read "independent bookseller" I picture an imaginary charming little store filled with lots of gorgeous wood molding and stacks of books.
Kim wrote: "Ellie wrote: "I think it's independent bookshop too. Shame they specified "you" otherwise we could create a group list of books bought in independent bookshops for those that rely on the library or..."I agree. You can find many books from independent bookshops on Amazon/ebay and etsy. Also I recently found a bookseller online that sells books with beautifully sprayed edges. Those will be worth buying and keeping :)
I love Nadine's theme list. My closest "book store" is 15 minutes from me and is a thrift store.
Lol, I happened to be up late last night and at midnight I went looking for the new list, then realized they were coming out at 12 noon.... whoops! :)
If anyone wants to go with "found at an independent bookstore", but doesn't have easy access to one, I'd recommend the Powells staff picks. https://www.powells.com/staff-picks. There's lots of good suggestions there.
My dog wants to go for a walk but I'm all "not now, the list is about to drop!".
And I'm gonna have to wait for Nadine to share the list because their site just redirects me to the UK site. Again.
Ellie wrote: "And I'm gonna have to wait for Nadine to share the list because their site just redirects me to the UK site. Again."Same here :(
So has the list dropped yet?? It is now 5 past 12 EST and thus 5 past 9 Pacific time.
I keep refreshing the popsugar challenge page. but it still shows 2022.
I had to reload a few times, but I got it here!https://www.popsugar.com/entertainmen...
(and I love you all so much that I posted it before reading it- you're welcome! ;)
Melissa wrote: "That's a lot of repeat prompts."Okay so it's not just me. I thought the same thing.
also two rereads. I don't like to reread for challenges
You guys were right about the independent bookstore. LOL Is Kobo considered to be an independent book store?
Because I buy all my E-Books from there.
So I looked at the list using Nadine's link, and I'm kind of surprised (ok, shocked) with the use of "a fat lead" under #10. What's wrong with "heavyset" or something gentler like that? Not trying to start anything, just sharing feelings.Otherwise the list looks very doable!
I decided to replace prompts I don't like otherwise I would be well annoyed at having to find yet another two 1980s books. It was hard enough this year.
This must be the most disappointing list in years :(
Yeah, that was my first thought. So repetitive!
Meg wrote: "So I looked at the list using Nadine's link, and I'm kind of surprised (ok, shocked) with the use of "a fat lead" under #10. What's wrong with "heavyset" or something gentler like that? Not trying ..."Totally agree. i was about to comment as well.
I would have used "larger sized".
OK...I am struggling here. I copied the list from the post but where do we post and plan our reading?
Yeah, I feel like they cut and pasted a lot of these prompts. Several of them are also from recent years, so that's not as much fun. Still, I don't see any that I outright hate off the bat... so that's a start!
Meg wrote: "So I looked at the list using Nadine's link, and I'm kind of surprised (ok, shocked) with the use of "a fat lead" under #10. What's wrong with "heavyset" or something gentler like that? Not trying ..."It's leaning into the idea of fat acceptance/body positivity - calling it what it is, rather than sanitizing/making it more palatable by saying something other than fat.
Start from here - the titles will be changed and unlocked as the mods update the promptshttps://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
Bea, there'a a post name: Post your 2023 reading list, but it's not open yet, we will have to wait.
I'm wondering about the first prompt in the advanced section. A book written during Nanowrimo?
Not everyone writes during Nanowrimo let alone completes a book and gets it published.
I did Nanowrimo once and it really wiped me out. I have not done it again.
Bea wrote: "OK...I am struggling here. I copied the list from the post but where do we post and plan our reading?"Nadine or Lynn will post a thread where you can make your own personal list- here!
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
(I am a mood reader, I never plan, but if you do, enjoy!)
Ashley Marie wrote: "Meg wrote: "So I looked at the list using Nadine's link, and I'm kind of surprised (ok, shocked) with the use of "a fat lead" under #10. What's wrong with "heavyset" or something gentler like that?..."If anyone would like to learn more, there are some great articles on this if you google "fat isn't a bad word"
Meg wrote: "So I looked at the list using Nadine's link, and I'm kind of surprised (ok, shocked) with the use of "a fat lead" under #10. What's wrong with "heavyset" or something gentler like that? Not trying ..."Fat is the term used by fat activists. The plus size community is working to reclaim the term as a neutral descriptor for people who don't have straight size bodies (ie bodies that can purchase clothes from almost all stores, usually sizes 00-16). It's similar to the way that LGBTQ activists have reclaimed the word "Queer". As a fat person I feel that fat is an appropriate term to use as it isn't trying to hide or play down the characteristics of the characters body in the way that a word like "heavyset" does.
Melissa wrote: "That's a lot of repeat prompts."Agreed.
Robynne wrote: "I'm wondering about the first prompt in the advanced section. A book written during Nanowrimo?
Not everyone writes during Nanowrimo let alone completes a book and gets it published.
I did Nano..."
A lot of authors got their start during NaNo, and others have used NaNo to provide motivation. The NaNo folks have a big list that they're aware of. Water for Elephants was the first big one.
Can we rebel and have Nadine make up our list?? :)
I wonder if it's because Tara (who used to run the PS challenge) left just a couple of months ago? I suspect that they weren't really planning on doing a challenge for next year, but then got inundated about it and decided they had to do something?? That's my guess.
What a disappointing list. I keep thinking 'We've just had that prompt', and there are two romance prompts, two prompts that really require you to buy a book rather than use the library, etc.
I'm going to be counting on the group for a lot of these prompts for either research or inspiration. For example, it's hard to know which books take place in one day or started out as fan fiction unless you've already read the book or done some homework.I feel like a lot of the prompts are ones that the group has had issues with in the past in some way, such as prompts relying solely on book covers and ignoring titles.
To end on a positive note, I like the vacation prompt.
Melissa wrote: "That's a lot of repeat prompts."Yeah, there are usually a couple repeats but there are a lot this year and I feel like some of them are super recent. A book with two languages was just this year. Wish there were more prompts unique to this year, especially as "favorite prompt from a previous year" is a perennial item and it makes it harder to pick one for this year when so many of them are repeats.
Robynne wrote: "I'm wondering about the first prompt in the advanced section. A book written during Nanowrimo?
Not everyone writes during Nanowrimo let alone completes a book and gets it published.
I did Nano..."
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis (comes out in Jan) could be an option if you like YA. On the back of the ARC, it says: Krystal Marquis began researching and writing on a dare to complete the NaNoWriMo challenge, resulting in the first partial draft of The Davenports, her debut novel.
I'm grumpy that I've already started the book. Darn it! :)
I am certainly not doing the whole list either. I echo what people are saying about disappointing repeats.I know I did the year of your birth prompt about 4 years ago, struggled to find a book and gave the one I read one star. I'm not thrilled to see it back.
The NaNoWriMo prompt is straight up weird because that's going to be a small number of books. I say this as some one who has done NaNo three times.
Dubhease wrote: "I am certainly not doing the whole list either. I echo what people are saying about disappointing repeats.I know I did the year of your birth prompt about 4 years ago, struggled to find a book an..."
I would think the FanFiction prompt would be pretty limited also. I've written fan fiction, I've read fan fiction, but I don't consider it on the same level as books, and I'm 100% not reading any of the Shades of Grey books.
I'm a bit annoyed with this list. I joined started participating in 2019 and every year I've been doing the current list and one of the ones I've missed so the repetition is glaring. I am confused that they told us months ago they would release this list and it looks like this was created five minutes before posting. Where's the 2023 theme? Changing "a favourite prompt from a previous year" to #19 instead of #40 does not disguise copy and pasting. That prompt is supposed to be the last for a reason. Also this is designed to sell books hence the "published sprin 23" and "published in the second half of 23" so why are there two silly rereads?
I may change the rereads out. I quite liked the idea about the 23 chromosomes and the 23 letter of the alphabet being W.
There were a few that were interesting though.
Erica wrote: "I'm a bit annoyed with this list. I joined started participating in 2019 and every year I've been doing the current list and one of the ones I've missed so the repetition is glaring. I am confuse..."
They do the favorite prompt from a prior year every year, along with a book published in the current year and 2022 was the only year (I think) that they didn't do a book that you meant to read last year. I think those are good repeat prompts. That does not excuse the rest of the list being mostly repeats, and worse yet, so many similar prompts within the list.
For example, 2 rereads, 3 romances, a book published your birth year and a book that takes place the decade you were born. a book bought from an indie store AND a book bought used, a book becoming a movie and a book based on a movie.
I can understand why some people are frustrated with the repeats this year, but I think maybe that's what they were going for. At least that's what I got from the little blurb on the Popsugar website. It mentioned 'leaning into nostalgia'. BUT, that could also be a convenient way to get out of planning, I guess. Personally, I'm excited about the more generalized prompts. Last year's list was great, but there were some very specific prompts that were harder to fill.
I love to reread, so I'm excited about all the potential reread prompts, but I know many readers do not reread.
And the Nanowrimo prompt---there are quite a few books that were written (or partially written) during Nanowrimo, I'm sure readers will start sharing them in the discussion soon, me included.
It's not perfect, but I'm just happy to finally see the list. Happy planning, everyone!
oh, I really dislike prompts that are based on specific information about yourself. Same initials, book published in birth year. Gives me the same vibe as those scam posts that go around, like "your sci-fi name is based on [day of the month you were born] and [name of your first pet]" etc., which are just there to collect info that people commonly use in passwords...
Cendaquenta wrote: "oh, I really dislike prompts that are based on specific information about yourself. Same initials, book published in birth year. Gives me the same vibe as those scam posts that go around, like "you..."I always think of scam posts too so a while back I started using different years for birth year prompts and book names for the name prompts.
So the "book from your favourite prompt from a previous PS challenge" has gone this year?Boy am I going to need the listopia for some of the others - including NaNoWriMo, as I have no idea how you'd find out if a book was written during it.
Also, wasn't "longest book" on the list only two years ago? Because I remember reading Les Misérables for it (which I didn't finish until January this year).
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As for independent bookshops, I'm going to count second-hand bookshops and I already have plenty of books on the bookshelf that meet that criteria. I want to do ATY as well this year, so I'll look for something that can fit a prompt on both lists.