Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
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[2024] Poll 8 Voting
For those worrying they won't find enough books for the Smallest Places prompt, if you interpret it as smallest in terms of size (rather than population) then Jamaica, Greece and Ireland are all on the list and there are loads of books set in those countries.By population, you've got Ireland and Jamaica again, plus Iceland and Botswana (all the The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency books would count).
Ellie wrote: "No one has to vote for things they don't know or like but can we please stop saying things aren't globally known just because they're not in your personal realm of knowledge.I have never watched ..."
Yes, thank you! I found it more surprising that people don't know Sailor Moon; I never watched it as a kid, but she's enough of a pop culture icon among my generation that you're hard pressed to find people who don't at least recognize the name, even if they don't know anything about the show/manga. Especially since they did a revival on Hulu fairly recently (I believe around 2015/2016?).
The same goes for Eurovision - it's incredibly popular in Europe (obvs) and a decent amount of Americans at least know what it is, even if they don't follow the nuances. I'm fairly familiar with it just from online European friends freaking out about it during Eurovision season! And tbf, the prompt itself doesn't actually require you to know exactly what Eurovision is - just to pick a country that participates in it. That's a huge chunk of Europe, which is why I liked it - I've got plenty of books in my TBR set in Europe if I want to keep it easy, but I can also make the challenge more difficult by choosing a lesser-known European country to try to match the prompt.
Kristina wrote: "Ellie wrote: "No one has to vote for things they don't know or like but can we please stop saying things aren't globally known just because they're not in your personal realm of knowledge.I have ..."
Well I hadn’t heard of Silver Moon till we started this so there is at least one. Eurovision is different because all the prompt asked for was a country participating which anyone with a computer can easily, I’m guessing most people accessing this group have reasonable internet access. The problem with any pop culture is there are quite a few. I could just as easily say “ a book related to Anne of Green Gables” I’m sure I could come up with plenty of ways a book connects to that one but would that mean people who only know it in passing would vote for it?
Ellie wrote: "No one has to vote for things they don't know or like but can we please stop saying things aren't globally known just because they're not in your personal realm of knowledge.I have never watched ..."
I never said that Sailor Moon wasn't globally known. My post about Sailor Moon made it clear that my comments were about my own experience only. The later post, where I replied to Pam about Animal Crossing, Taylor Swift, the Spice Girls, and Eurovision, was just me thinking aloud about pop culture prompts in general, which I also stated, and which it now occurs to me should have taken place in the Wild Discussion thread, if anywhere. No offense to Sailor Moon or any of its fans intended.
Thomas wrote: "Kristina wrote: "Ellie wrote: "No one has to vote for things they don't know or like but can we please stop saying things aren't globally known just because they're not in your personal realm of kn..."Thomas, if anything, I have a bias to vote for things like Sailor Moon which was totally unknown to me, since I expect to learn something. With the caveat that the discussion of what it entails may sway me for or against. For Sailor Moon the discussion intrigued me, so it was an upvote.
Edie wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Kristina wrote: "Ellie wrote: "No one has to vote for things they don't know or like but can we please stop saying things aren't globally known just because they're not in your perso..."I’m almost tempted to submit the Anne of Green Gables thing in a future poll. It wouldn’t get in but it would be great to see people talking about it
Charlsa wrote: "I can't remember the name of the book at the moment, but there was a book released a year or two whose protagonist is a forensic accountant. Won't work for this prompt, but it sounded good at the time...."Forensic accountants seem to pop up a good bit in mystery novels. Aaron Falk in Jane Harper's books is a forensic accountant.
Thomas - I like the Anne of Green Gables idea! There are so many different angles you could take. I would absolutely vote for it.
Thomas wrote: "Edie wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Kristina wrote: "Ellie wrote: "No one has to vote for things they don't know or like but can we please stop saying things aren't globally known just because they're not ..."I'd vote for that - Anne is a beloved literary hero in my household! 😄
I personally usually like referential prompts (to pop culture, other books, etc) because they're usually fun to try to match (for me, anyway!). Like Edie, I usually am for even references I don't immediately know - I like the challenge and it can sometimes lead to me learning about something I'm not familiar with. Take this year's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy prompt - I was only vaguely aware that it was a reference to anything (no idea it was a book, just that I thought I saw a movie with the title years back) and had no idea of its plot/themes... but it was fun to find a match to the prompt anyway!
I have not had television for over 23 years. When it comes to pop culture related to any type of television, whether American, European, or other, I don't have a reference point. I generally don't vote for television pop culture for this reason. If you think everyone has heard about it. I probably have not.
I am just throwing this out there so others have a different perspective. I am not here to judge what you or others vote for or why. I also don't want to be judged for my opinions on the way I vote.
Let us all be kind and understanding of our differences. It makes life more interesting.
Mod
My awareness of Eurovision mostly comes from the amusing movie with Will Ferrell from a few years ago! I voted for the prompt because I liked the idea of a book set in a European country.
I would guess that my 16 year old son might know Sailor Moon because he's into Manga/anime but I have never heard of it. TBH when I saw it on the suggestions list I thought it was a phase of the moon type thing.
Nancy wrote: "I would guess that my 16 year old son might know Sailor Moon because he's into Manga/anime but I have never heard of it. TBH when I saw it on the suggestions list I thought it was a phase of the mo..."I thought the same
I’m disappointed that the Eurovision and Intelligence prompts didn’t make it last time. I really liked them both. I don’t follow Eurovision, but I loved that list of countries. (It sure didn’t hurt that Ireland and Iceland were on the list). I enjoy talent shows so I want to check it out. I like the technology idea a lot, and I think it could be good for people who wanted sci-fi, Artificial intelligence, social media and STEM topics.
I also like the small countries idea. It’s a challenge, but I already have a great list of Caribbean island books. There is another group on Good Reads that has books for all the small countries.
I just got back from a busy trip, so I haven’t really looked at the whole list yet.
Robin P wrote: "I also noticed the reference to Sailor Moon being known in a certain generation. It wasn't known in mine or my kids' as far as I know. I'm not opposed to that prompt, but it's actually kind of amus..."Robin it’s interesting given that 21 is the drinking age is America so even there it has some connotations of maturity.
All up votes for me. Didn't feel strongly enough about any for down votes.
This was once again a tricky voting. No downvotes for me and really difficult to not being able to upvote all of them. I didn't vote for Sailor Moon or Barbie for example but not because I didn't want to, only because there were others I wanted more. But Sailor Moon almost made it.(I only know a tiny bit about Sailor Moon due to my youngest son being an anime/Japanese popculture nerd) but when I saw all the examples for how it could be used in the prompt I became interested. The same with Barbie. I think I'm one of the few women/girls in Europe and US that never had a Barbie. I loved Sindy with her dark brown hair instead of the blonde Barbie and I still got my one Sindy doll.
As an adult I've understood that many had several Barbies or Sindys and that younger girls have a lot of them. I grew up in a family with not so much money and I was really content and happy with my one Sindy doll.
I was surprised to read all the professions Barbie have had through the years! I hadn't a clue that she had any profession at all!
So even that prompt interested me but my eight upvotes were not enough. Anyway - I wouldn't mind at all if any of the ones I didn't vote for would win.
I voted for Zodiac signs, sci fi, titles referring to reading, technology and I forget now which the others were. Well human rights also, as I think that's something that is always important.
Nike wrote: "I loved Sindy with her dark brown hair instead of the blonde Barbie and I still got my one Sindy doll...."I had Sindy's horse for my Barbie, I think it was a better model (at least in the 80s). I can't remember if I had a Sindy doll as well or if we just randomly got the horse. I was much more interested in horses than people!
NancyJ wrote: "I’m disappointed that the Eurovision and Intelligence prompts didn’t make it last time. I really liked them both. I don’t follow Eurovision, but I loved that list of countries. (It sure didn’t hurt..."I think many of these great prompts didn't make it in just because they were all great and so the votes got spread out. I've often thought that a lot of reality competitions make sure there are some less qualified contestants for this very reason.
Eurovision I'd be happy with because it is very much like the prompt we have this year to read an author who is a Continental European — not the same, I know, but an encouragement to easily choose a non-English speaking author.
I was especially hoping the Intelligence prompt made it because there are so many interesting ways to take that.
I also really like this poll's Small Country prompt, again, to encourage reading from an author from a less obviously chosen place/language.
Ellie wrote: "Nike wrote: "I loved Sindy with her dark brown hair instead of the blonde Barbie and I still got my one Sindy doll...."I had Sindy's horse for my Barbie, I think it was a better model (at least i..."
I know I wished for the horse, not so much because I really wanted it but because my school mates had the horse and the stable. I did have the riding clothes. I always wanted to take riding lessons but WWE couldn't afford it. I still long for riding lessons but my chronic conditions is making it difficult though I've recently learned about a new riding school nearby with lessons for adults with certain physical difficulties so I will look into that! 🙂
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One thing I could afford and loved was paper dolls, which gave a similar option of extensive wardrobes for very little money (but I liked best the ones with kids, not grown-up women). I also had a kit with a maybe 6-inch doll and miscellaneous fabric that you could cut up to sew clothes yourself by hand. In my daughter's era, there were stencils you could use to create fashions. Now you can do it all online but that seems unsatisfying to me.
Sadly, when I was about 12, I decided I was too old for any kind of dolls and gave everything away. I sure wish I had kept some of it.
Originally girls more like 8 and up were into Barbies, but by the time my daughter was born, 3-year-olds had them. I resisted them, especially since my daughter wasn't a big fan of any kind of dolls. But various relatives gave her several by the time she was 6 or so. She really only played with them when friends were over.
I did love the movie though!
I really like the 100 smallest countries prompt. There are books by Caribbean Island authors I want to read like Cuban sci-fi author Yoss. I’m also interested in Greece and South Korea.
Pam wrote: "I really like the 100 smallest countries prompt. There are books by Caribbean Island authors I want to read like Cuban sci-fi author Yoss. I’m also interested in Greece and South Korea."Me too. I'm interested in Greece and South Korea too. I definitely have books I can read that take place in either country.
Anastasia wrote: "I have not had television for over 23 years. When it comes to pop culture related to any type of television, whether American, European, or other, I don't have a reference point. I generally don't vote for television pop culture for this reason.If you think everyone has heard about it. I probably have not.
I am just throwing this out there so others have a different perspective. I am not here to judge what you or others vote for or why. I also don't want to be judged for my opinions on the way I vote.
Let us all be kind and understanding of our differences. It makes life more interesting."
Oh, my! We are kindred spirits! I also have not had TV for 23 years! Such a quiet and peaceful place is my home without it! :)
And I could not have said this better! Let's all continue to be respectful of others, please.
So I asked my son if he knows what Sailor Moon and he gave me the biggest eye roll and "of COURSE I know what Sailor Moon is." Teenagers! It started in 1992 when I was in college and I don't think I even knew what anime was back then, let alone be aware of a specific one.
I'm enjoying reading people's comments on pop culture. I'm with Dixie that a pop culture prompt that has relevance to me would excite me, even if I could think of a ton of options for something else. I've heard of Sailor Moon, but I'm not at all interested in it.
I had a couple of Barbies when I was a kid. My favorite was a red haired Barbie and my friends and I fought over who got to play with her. I had a horse that blinked when you pulled her hair, really loved her, too. My daughter (5) has a bunch of Barbies, but I don't buy them for her, just relatives!
Nancy wrote: "So I asked my son if he knows what Sailor Moon and he gave me the biggest eye roll and "of COURSE I know what Sailor Moon is." Teenagers! .."
I asked my 16 year old when we were driving on Sunday as he likes Japanese magma and he said yep he has heard of it but hasn't read it. He said he would happily read it if I bought it for him.
I had not heard of it until this thread.
I voted all 8 up. There were a few that I found intriguing, but didn't vote for only because I didn't have enough votes and so far I found books I liked better using other prompts. This was especially the case with A book with a great first line. That just sounds like fun, so if it comes back I hope to have time to explore further. There were several on the provided lists that had GREAT first lines, but I'd already read the books.
Robin wrote: "Re: Academy Award WinnersWhat has surprised me the most is how many "classic" movies didn't win any of the "Major" awards. Like Doctor Zhivago and Giant. I've been wor..."
Wow thanks for doing this. I love all the new books added to this list. The best films IMO are based on great books. There are so many I still need to read.
I was at a wedding this weekend at a beautiful house where the master bedroom had it's own porch. I instantly flashed back to the summer I lived in an old house with a bedroom porch - I read Sophie's Choice while swinging in a hammock on that porch. It was heaven.
I hope everyone votes for this prompt. It think it will be great.
I have a fairly good sized Barbie collection. In addition to her "careers", she has also had some great movie roles...Scarlett O'Hara, Eliza Doolittle, Dorothy (Oz)...many others I'm sure. She's also a great "fan"...Elvis, Elton John (just got that one). But the one I really want is the Project Runway Barbie. Enough rambling...I'm heading home...
NancyJ wrote: "Robin wrote: "Re: Academy Award WinnersWhat has surprised me the most is how many "classic" movies didn't win any of the "Major" awards. Like Doctor Zhivago and Giant...."
Giant won Best Director which is one of the big five
I ended up going 6 upvotes and 2 down. Up:
3. A book featuring a person who works in one the jobs that Barbie has had
4. A book involving travel
7. A book that is part of a series
12. A book about or related to technology
14. A book with a word in the title related to reading -
15. A science or science fiction book
Down:
8. A book that was the basis for an Academy Award (Oscar) winning movie - I initially liked this but after looking at the lists there is nothing really I want to read
10. A book with a great first line - too hard to plan for. I feel like I need to read the first line to determine if it's great or just pick from the listopia - neither of these interest me. I want to be able to pick the book based on the author, title, cover or blurb and know it will fit.
I haven't found one prompt that I wouldn't enjoy in some way. Even Barbie. (I was a tomboy as a kid, so I couldn't admit I ever played with dolls.) But I like reading about people with different types of jobs (other than detectives!!) and if we have this prompt, I know I'll get some great recommendations from the group. I have a hard time reading graphic novels, but I like Japanese fiction, and the topics related to Sailor Moon. It might give me something new to share with my youngest niece as she gets a little older. Right now she tells people about her aunt who lives in Buffalo with a real Gruffalo. If I give her a book or toy related to Sailor Moon, I wonder what her imagination will come up with.
I really like:
Smallest Countries - I have a great list of Caribbean books I didn't get to for the tropics prompt.
Oscar Winners - so good!!
Civil Rights/Human Rights - I have a lot of books I can recommend.
Prompts from previous years - This could be a great Side Challenge too.
Technology and/or Science/Science Fiction (We keep pitting similar topics against one another, so I hope they get submitted again later if they don't make it now.
Zodiac - One of the lists had books that are already high on my TBR. It's easy for me to find relevant books.
I'll have 8 upvotes for sure. The hard part will be deciding what to leave off.
I had only one Barbie growing up, and I got it quite late (I was around 12 when I got my first one, most of my friends if they had them at all had them much younger). I guess technically I had two, but the other was a Pocahontas doll that I'm not sure was officially a Barbie that I kept on display. For some reason, I could never really figure out how to play with them effectively, since the games always amounted to constantly changing outfits and I just didn't find that fun. Maybe if would have been different if I'd had more friends who had Barbies too, but most of my friends at the time were boys and weren't interested. In terms of voting, I ended up with a very straightforward 4 up and 4 down. I upvoted Going for the Gold, technology, word in the title related to reading, and civil rights. I downvoted travel, zodiac, Academy Award, and 100 smallest countries. The downvotes were mostly based on prompt fatigue and/or what seemed to be a very limited pool of options (for the movies prompt).
Rachel wrote: "I had only one Barbie growing up, and I got it quite late (I was around 12 when I got my first one, most of my friends if they had them at all had them much younger). I guess technically I had two,..."It sounds like we had similar childhoods. Barbie has had a lot more interesting jobs in this century than in the last.
Thomas wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Robin wrote: "Re: Academy Award WinnersWhat has surprised me the most is how many "classic" movies didn't win any of the "Major" awards. Like Doctor Zhivago and [book..."
Yes, you are right!
I ran out of votes so I didn't vote for the Barbie job, but I just went to see the movie for the SECOND time (truly unprecedented for me) and I'm really hoping that one gets in.
Velvet wrote: "Judy wrote: "First impressionsSo far my favorite is the books adapted into Oscar winners. I already found 5 I want to read on the listopia, and that’s not counting the movies made in the 10 years..."
Thanks, I like it. If I don't read the manga I have a Japanese book about a traveling cat that a friend recommended.
Mod
So far my favorite is the books adapted into Oscar winners. I already found 5 I want to read on the listopia, and that’s not counting the movies made ..."
The Travelling Cat Chronicles is very short and sweet, but you may need some Kleenex by the end.
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Books with Red Heads, orphans, Canada, Island life, people named Ann or Anne, where houses are important, annoying kids. romance, doctors, farming, authors with initials... it can become a read all. And I work at the House of Seven Gables and you would be amazed how often we hear "which room was Anne's" so you can add all sorts of more books that way!
I would use it as an excuse to reread the whole series!
Robin P wrote: The Travelling Cat Chronicles is very short and sweet, but you may need some Kleenex by the end The Travelling Cat Chronicles is one of the best books I have ever read. By the end, I was crying and my cats were getting concerned about me. I highly recommend it. If Sailor Moon doesn't make it in, it will work for the Raining Cats and Dogs prompt.
The Cat and The City by Nick Bradley is a book of short stories that are linked by a tattoo artist and a cat. It is similar to The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
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I loved it, too - and yes, there were tissues.
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Pamela wrote: "Is this the longest week ever? How is it only Wednesday?"I agree. Results are tomorrow, right?
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I agree. Results are tomorrow, right?"
I've looked 3x for them today, each time thinking "ooo, it's Thursday, wonder what the results are!"
Velvet wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Is this the longest week ever? How is it only Wednesday?"I agree. Results are tomorrow, right?"
Good news for me...I thought the results would be in on Friday!
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Thanks Emily! I don’t know you do it all. 🏆
Around the Year in 52 Books
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The Travelling Cat Chronicles (other topics)The Travelling Cat Chronicles (other topics)
Doctor Zhivago (other topics)
Giant (other topics)
Doctor Zhivago (other topics)
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Jane Harper (other topics)Patricia Engel (other topics)
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I have never watched ..."
Agreed! I mean, I have actually watched it. But I remember it being hugely popular when I was a kid and fairly widely known (at least amongst my age group). And that was when I was living in The Netherlands!