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[2024] Poll 3 Voting
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Robin P, Orbicular Mod
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Jul 13, 2023 12:46PM
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What, are there no books about the field of “statistical analysis and data reconfiguration” ??? haha🤪 (Chandler’s profession) But there are several authors with the name Chandler. Mainly last and middle name but it could work too.
Thinking out-loud.Possible Prompts:
1. A book on a banned books list
Although I think it is important to read any banned book, just as a protest, still...I am a bit worn out with this prompt. I will probably be neutral rather than down vote, though.
2. A book with a title containing 6+ words
A nice challenge since most of the books I read are 2-4 words long.
3. A book with a divided, or split, cover
I haven't investigated this one, but, I have the feeling that few of the mysteries I usually read use this type of cover. It might be a challenge to find a title in a genre I enjoy.
4. A book that is not a novel
I would probably do a non-fiction rather than some other format like plays or poetry. Still there are non-fiction subjects that I enjoy reading, and I could probably find a book easily.
5. A book set mostly in or around a building
A possible up vote. I would probably find a building setting that would be interesting. And I enjoy the hunt for a book in a particular location.
6. A book with disembodied hand(s) on the cover
Not a prompt that excites me. Neutral.
7. A science fiction fantasy novel
Just discovered this genre in the past year. Love fantasy...relatively less familiar with science fiction. Enjoyed the mix.
8. A book related to Friends
I don't know more than the superficial bits about that TV show, but I would think it would be fairly easy to find books.
9. A book with a ranch or farm setting
Although I enjoy some westerns and farm settings are OK, I am not overly excited about this particular prompt. Neutral.
10. A book related to an invention or a discovery
Medicine and exploration in forensics/geography come to mind as possible topics.
11. A book related to a sensory disability
I read one last year that was about the inability to recognize faces that would seem to fit. Neutral over all.
12. A book set in a new-to-you location
I would enjoy finding a new location.
13. A book involving a STEM topic
This one seems to be similar to the invention/discovery one. I would prefer this one over the other.
14. A book set in a different hemisphere than where you live
Yes, this could be an interesting read. I do read a fair bit in Asia and Australia already.
15. A book related to a mountain
Again, an interesting location.
My antipode is in the ocean with the closest land being Gnarabup, Australia. I suppose that a book set in Western Australia would work.
Bea wrote: "My antipode is in the ocean with the closest land being Gnarabup, Australia. I suppose that a book set in Western Australia would work."Most people on earth don't have an antipode that's on land but there are some cool ones, such as part of NZ with part of Spain.
NancyJ wrote: "Mandy wrote: "here is a listopia for long book titleshttps://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
And because Light Novels are notorious for the long book title here is a..."
its the demographic genre for young adult in the Japanese market.
Robin P wrote: "I have read most of the classic banned books, though I'm sure there are recent YA books with LGBTQ themes that would qualify. Still I'm not excited about that one. I assumed different hemisphere ..."
bookriot has kept up with the The Great American Library Purge (insert sarcasm and extreme eye roll because i find it ridiculous) the news archive will probably have a list. or links to lists.
Jennifer W wrote: "=O People are not fans of reading banned books? More books have been banned in the last year in the US than at any other point in history.This list from PEN America has over 1500 banned or challe..."
I've been keeping an eye on this list. Every time i found a book the library collection didn't have, I bought it and placed in in the collection. because i feel that banned books should be available to everyone.
Robin P wrote: "I would say an arm would be ok for the disembodied hand, it's still "disembodied" - that is not connected to a body. I love the idea, but the actual books tend to be creepy or thriller types, not m..."a v e schwab book from the darker shade of magic series has diembodied hands that look like trees.
Karin wrote: "It's not just America that bans this sort of thing.."The prompt says to read a book off a banned books list and nearly all the lists I see are regarding banning books in US libraries and schools. If you have lists from other countries, please share them.
Ellie wrote: "Karin wrote: "It's not just America that bans this sort of thing.."The prompt says to read a book off a banned books list and nearly all the lists I see are regarding banning books in US librarie..."
I've done many searches on banned books so that's what I suggest, but sometimes I also read ones that were banned in the past for various reasons. Some countries, such as Canada, don't do as much of that but it has happened. You can search for books banned in countries and get a few from a number of countries (or query individual countries,) you can search for countries that ban the Bible or Tanakh or Qu'ran etc and find those as well.
Here's one article about it https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...
Here is one that lists some banned by governments around the world (not all at the moment) but it skips over the Cultural Revolution in China during which virutally all western culture was banned as were others not that far west. This doesn't include local or regional bans or library bans, though. Dates vary over centures but go to at least 2021 if not later (didn't read the entire list carefully)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of... but note it isn't complete re the Bible since it doesn't list countries that ban all versions entirely.
Robin P wrote: "I would say an arm would be ok for the disembodied hand, it's still "disembodied" - that is not connected to a body. I love the idea, but the actual books tend to be creepy or thriller types, not m..."I can see why you'd think that Robin, but I've read several of the books I listed as examples of covers with disembodied hands, and none of them are creepy or thrillers (not my thing):
Girly Drinks: A World History of Women and Alcohol - NF - the history of women and alcohol
Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators - NF - involving the #metoo movement (Ronan Farrow investigative journalism)
Inventing Latinos: A New Story of American Racism - NF - about the history, and many definitions, of "Latinos"
True Biz - F - deaf culture
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close - F - a boy investigates his family history post-9/11
Klara and the Sun - F - a family and their AI companion
The Night Circus -F - a magical competition involving a mysterious circus
The Indian in the Cupboard - F - kids book about a tiny live native american found in doll house (read a long time ago, but this is close enough to correct)
I haven't read these two, but I'm familiar with the authors, and they are not thriller writers, plus, would a food based memoir thriller even work (haha)?
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life - NF - food based memoir by Barbara Kingsolver
Eat My Globe: One Year to Go Everywhere and Eat Everything - NF - another food based memoir
OK, you get the picture. Disembodied doesn't need to mean "cut off from the body", it just means "the rest of the body is not visible on the cover". There are many other books with these covers that I'd be willing to read, and like you, I don't read creepy thriller.
Karin wrote: "Alicia wrote: "Hmm I'm stumped on this list. There isn't anything I love, but there also isn't anything I dislike. I'm more like meh because I feel like all of these are things I could do without t..."Sorry, definitely didn't mean to be so American-centric. BIPOC and LGBTQIA bans are across the world, I just get a lot of lists from U.S. based organizations so that was what popped in my mind.
Also, not opposed to the prompt, I can just see why others would be
For a book set in or around a building I *knew* I had a good one on my TBR!! City Under One Roof. The blurb starts off "A stranded detective tries to solve a murder in a tiny Alaskan town where everyone lives in a single high-rise building"That will be my choice if the prompt gets in and uh, I remember.
@Chrissie - thanks for reminding of City Under One Roof! It may be the ultimate locked room mystery :)
Mod
..."
As someone living in NYC at the same age, I hated Friends so have only watched a few episodes (and the 30th anniversary??? YIKES!) However, a quick Google shows apparently a lot of reading went on in the show
There's lists in episode (https://www.glamour.com/story/all-the...) and other order https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Robin P wrote: "I would say an arm would be ok for the disembodied hand, it's still "disembodied" - that is not connected to a body. I love the idea, but the actual books tend to be creepy or thriller types, not m..."Same here. I didn’t see anything I want to read, but I loved the Barbara Kingsolver book on the list. It would also fit the farm prompt. I never thought I’d enjoy reading about a family farm, but it was very engaging. Some on this list wouldn’t fit our prompt because they weren’t disembodied.
Lol, do I lose my late Gen X/early Millennial card (I prefer the "Oregon Trail Gen" if people have heard of that one) if I've never seen an episode of Friends? I honestly don't even know what it's about, if it had a plot-line as such- beyond, I assume, people who are friends. That said, I would probably try to read a book by an author with one of the characters' names. Failing that, a book about friends.
Mandy wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "=O People are not fans of reading banned books? More books have been banned in the last year in the US than at any other point in history.This list from PEN America has over 15..."
Now I know why A Court Of Mist And Fury was one of the most read books this year (according to a blog last month). It was one of the most frequently banned books in 2022.
I used to think it was too narrow, but a banned book prompt is now Very Easy. It’s almost as good as a queer or black author prompt, as nearly all these books are at risk of being banned somewhere. (It was especially bad in Florida. A politician is trying to show he’s more conservative than Trump.)
Some groups want to ban any books showing successful black people because “it will make our kids feel bad about themselves.”
So I hope this is a temporary problem in some US states. Most libraries, and most states fight it very hard. I’m proud that my state has taken a strong stand against it. There are book bans in many countries, but I don’t think the efforts are as active right now as in some US states.
I was shocked by the truly wonderful books on the lists I saw this year. Even classics like O Pioneers (maybe because the author was gay?). I know why Gender Queer is on the lists, but I don’t know why John Steinbeck books are there. Stephen King too.
There are a lot of lists.
https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/f...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.journohq.com/blog/top-100...
https://libguides.ithaca.edu/bbw/list....
Mod
Jennifer W wrote: "Lol, do I lose my late Gen X/early Millennial card (I prefer the "Oregon Trail Gen" if people have heard of that one) if I've never seen an episode of Friends? I honestly don't even know what it's ..."I've read/watched interviews with the creators and they said the show was based on the idea that in your 20's, your friends become your family, so pretty much any found family book would count.
First impressions:1. A book on a banned books list - Not particularly interested. I've done this prompt many times before, but I wouldn't downvote it
2. A book with a title containing 6+ words - A solid maybe.
3. A book with a divided, or split, cover - Love this! It's a cover prompt I've never seen before. Definite upvote.
4. A book that is not a novel - Meh. Not particularly interested, but not a downvote either.
5. A book set mostly in or around a building - Another upvote for me. I've been really into haunted house stories over the past couple of years.
6. A book with disembodied hand(s) on the cover - Also love this, although the wording is creepy.
7. A science fiction fantasy novel - Not a fan of the wording on this. I tend to consider sci-fi and fantasy two separate things, although they could overlap. Probably won't vote for it this time because of wording alone, but I'd be open to something similar
8. A book related to Friends - I'd have to think about how to tackle this one. I'm not sure I want it that strongly.
9. A book with a ranch or farm setting - Would need to research this one to check out my options, but at first glance, I'm not particularly interested.
10. A book related to an invention or a discovery - Definitely not a downvote, but don't want it badly enough to be an upvote either
11. A book related to a sensory disability - Disability prompts are always an upvote for me because of my job (working with adults with special needs)
12. A book set in a new-to-you location - I'm tired of geographic prompts, and that's what this one feels like to me. I guess it could also apply to fantasy settings, but still not enough to sell me on it.
13. A book involving a STEM topic - A very strong maybe. I would need to look into options.
14. A book set in a different hemisphere than where you live - Most likely a downvote for me because it's another geographic prompt. It's definitely doable, just not so interested.
15. A book related to a mountain - I'd have to look at options, but I think I have so many other strong upvotes already that I'd be fine without this
Wow this one seems to have gone quick.....all the suggestions happened overnight (for me) and we are voting already...I need to catch up on the discussions (probably best if I do that after work or in my lunch break)!!
I have missed the last two rounds of voting but have been ok with most of the prompts. I think I will have to try to remember to vote so I can use some downvotes- especially on science fiction fantasy and a book that is not a novel. Science Fiction and Nonfiction are two of my least favorite genres - especially science fiction. As a huge Friends fan, that one sound fun though!
Mod
You're right, I loved Klara and the Sun and the Night Circus! I will have to look more closely at the options!
Mod
Gotcha, you're good
I don't think I will vote either way for the disembodied hand. I did find 3 options on my shelves, 2 of which are not human hands. One is a statue -
and one is a robot -
. I think the split cover sounds hard but I like it because it's original and I like a cover search. I have 2 options that I had planned to read this year:
and
A book set mostly in or around a building - I've been wanting to reread From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, set in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This prompt might be a little challenging but fun to research.
I voted 7 up and 1 down. I could live with any of the prompts, though. I hope we get another 3 or 4 this week!
Another really good list! The ideas are just amazing so far this year.Upvotes:
2. A book with a title containing 6+ words - A good match with the 1 word title one, and I have a lot of long winded book titles that could fit this!
4. A book that is not a novel - Fun and flexible, will probably slot in a non-fiction book for this one.
8. A book related to Friends - Again, love the flexibility! Could be about friendship, or more directly reference the TV show (which I love).
12. A book set in a new-to-you location - I’m not sure what I’ll find for this yet, but it’s another one you can get really creative with.
14. A book set in a different hemisphere than where you live - I have a few Australia set books that could slot in very nicely here. Another one where it’s flexible enough that I shouldn’t have to stretch, but might get me reading something new and interesting.
15. A book related to a mountain - It just tickles me for some reason. I’m not entirely sure what I’d slot in here, but I like the thought of finding something!
Downvotes:
6. A book with disembodied hand(s) on the cover
7. A science fiction fantasy novel
Edie wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "=O People are not fans of reading banned books? More books have been banned in the last year in the US than at any other point in history.This list from PEN America has over 15..."
I will also be upvoting a banned book. I know it gets used a lot but I think any opportunity to get people to read banned books should be taken
Definite upvotesBook with title of 6+ words (no idea what I'll find but appeals because easy to find when scanning library catalogue)
A book related to an invention or discovery (I like historical and fantasy genres so should find a book I enjoy)
A book related to a sensory disability (I'll narrow it down to own voice fiction)
Definite downvote
A book on a banned booklist (In UK it's much less relevant and makes me groan a bit when people try to be edgy by reading easily available heavily promoted books. I get context is very different for example in some US states.)
Not sure about the rest
Mod
With you on that one. Plus so many challenges I've done in the past have this same prompt (including PopSugar this year and one of the prompts in ATY's own summer challenge, which has it as an option). Which is why from this list, for example - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1... - I've already read 37 of the top 50!
Okay I need selling this round.....2 jump out at me based on books I have on my TBR that I need a push to read:*3. A book with a divided, or split, cover - for Transcendent Kingdom
*5. A book set mostly in or around a building - I assume The Woman in the Library would fit and I have The Maid on my TBR that's in one of the listopias.....
Banned books and not a novel don't appeal at all, but I think I need convincing either way on the others.
I like fantasy and I like sci fi, but I'm not sure if there is anything fantasy sci fi on my list....
okay scrap that...seems like Robin Hobb would coun't and given the lenght of her books I'm always needing an excuse to get into one.
I like the idea of 6 words or more, but could only find 1 book on my TBR and its one I added years ago due to winning it maybe, or maybe kindle scout, not really sure, but also not that intereted in reading it,.
Disembodied hand - meh - don't really care for it either way. I have Klara and the Sun on my TBR - but again not really that intereted in reading it - added it due to the hype - but I guess it would give me a push to read it.
Related to Friends - probably easy and wide ranging, so I'm fine with this one.
Ranch or farm - neither here nor there on this one....
Invention or discovery - not sure about this - is there a list?
STEM - I'm sure I would enjoy one of the STEM romances so doable enough
Sensory disability - my kids have autism so this one seems good to me too...but I would need to seek out books rather than grabbing from my TBR
New to you location - I can't be sure what locations I've read books about - so I find this would be difficult...unless it' new to me as in visited - that I can remember....
Different hemisphere than where you live - this is easy for me - I live in Australia. But my goal for myself this year (and I would like to continue) is to read more books set in Australia and from Aussie authors...so this goes against that. I found I wasn't reading enough of the local talent...but that said I'm just trying to read more, not exclusively. this would be really easy for me though, plenty would fit.
Related to a mountin - meh - not doing anything for me.
Here's another list for 'A book with a ranch or farm setting' https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...I know I have books on my TBR which are set on a ranch/farm but I can't see them jus now!!!
I'm doing a personal challenge to read books from round the world so I'm upvoting 'new to you location' and 'different hemisphere', as these will allow me to fit 2 in which don't fit anywhere else.
Overall these are awesome suggestions and I'd be happy with everything except for 'banned books'. It's my only downvote, as I think its too US centred and its been overdone in book challenges.
Hopefully any prompts that don't get in this time get suggested again as I struggled to only vote for 8 of these!!!
I really like the disembodied hands one even though at first glance I don't have loads on my TBR at the moment. But it seems frequent enough that I'll find something.Some hands without bodies from various lists I have (if the disembodied part puts too many people off maybe we can word it that way next time):
That last one might be a stretch I don't think there's a hand in the gauntlet but it looks handlike.
Stetching it a bit to include more arm:
My votes, all up votes:2 - Title with 6+ words
3 - Divided cover: per list, I can continue the Japanese coffee series
4 - Not a novel
6 - Hands on cover: per list, I can finally read Animal, Vegetable, Mineral
7 - SF Fantasy genre
8 - Friends: like the found family suggestion but could also use character names...would love to read a book they read or discussed?
12 - New-to-you location
14 - Different hemisphere
No disrespect to the person who suggested it, but please .... not another banned book prompt! Seriously, this whole book banning is making me sick in the first place, and having to research the stupid bigoted reasons for which schools etc. ban important books makes me even angrier on top of that. Practically any "banned book" will fit into another category that has a positive vibe (like BLM reading list, LGBTQIA+ related, etc.)So I'm definitely downvoting the banned book prompt.
I kind of like the mountain prompt. I never liked "Friends" much (and since the show hasn't aged particularly well, by now it makes no sense to start watching it for the first time), but I'll find a way to make the prompt work with a little creativity, which I like. Also upvoting STEM and new-to-you location, and the rest, I'm not sure yet.
For everyone whose antipode is Mauritius/near Mauritius, An Impossible Return is my book for translated work this year and it will get you really close!
Lizzy wrote: "I’m a little amazed that I don’t have any books on my TBR list that overlap the sensory disabilities lists. While I don’t generally choose a book because I think I should read it, I might vote for ..."Me too. I think there are probably many other books that fit but just didn't make those particular lists. The first list I saw was heavy on NF and seemed geared to experts.
For fantasy/dark academia fans, I would recommend The Whispering Dark with a Deaf protagonist and for mystery fans there's the whole Tuva Moodyson series starting with Dark Pines (I love the audiobook narrator on this series).
Ellie wrote: "For fantasy/dark academia fans, I would recommend The Whispering Dark with a Deaf protagonist and for mystery fans there's the whole Tuva Moodyson series starting with [book:Dark Pi..."Oooh, The Whispering Dark sounds right up my street, thanks! *adds book to massive TBR*
With you on that one. Plus so many challenges I've done in the past have this same prompt (including PopSugar this year and one of the prompts in ATY's own summer challenge, which has it as an option). Which is why from this list, for example - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1... - I've already read 37 of the top 50!I've read 18 of the top 20, and I'm reading Huck Finn for the PS prompt this year.
Alright, I talked myself around on most of my downvotes and let go of a couple of my upvotes. Ended up with 6 up and 2 down. Pretty equally excited for all my upvotes, so that's always good.
Mod
One is a statue -
and one is a ..."Isaac's Storm is one of my favorite books of all time! And the Mixed-Up files was one of my favorite books as a child, one of the reasons I work in museums! Great plans!
Mod
My favorites are Fantasy, New to you location and hemisphere. I'm voting for set in a building even though I don't like the generic phrase. I'll continue to call it apartment building.
I'm voting for friends even though the TV show doesn't interest me anymore.
I'm voting for sensory disabilities because I need a nudge to read about hidden disabilities since a family member was diagnosed with a processing disorder.
The disembodied hands are creeping me out today and I don't want to look at them. Sorry.
I also did 4 up and 4 down.I loved non-fiction, FRIENDS, building (for the haunted houses), and SFF.
Some prompts seemed so narrow that there are zero books on my TBR that fit the prompt
I'm going 7 up, one down. I hope that those who are pro-banned books (as a prompt, not in general lol) realize that those of us who are against it aren't for banned books. But it's such a broad prompt these days, and I think those of us who do challenges are aware that it's an issue so don't need to be pushed to read banned books. And as I said in my first comment on the subject, I'm just tired of it as a prompt.
Ellie wrote: "I really like the disembodied hands one even though at first glance I don't have loads on my TBR at the moment. But it seems frequent enough that I'll find something.Some hands without bodies fro..."
@Ellie - thank you for the suggestion for rewording (hand without a body) should this prompt not make it. It was not my intention to have the gruesome connotation, I was just trying to be succinct. Thank you also for displaying so many other options!
I personally don't have a problem with including arms. It was more about the not having a body along with the hand.
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Dark City (other topics)Exhalation (other topics)
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (other topics)
Transcendent Kingdom (other topics)
Fourteen Days: An Unauthorized Gathering (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Becky Chambers (other topics)Salman Rushdie (other topics)
Jules Verne (other topics)
