Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
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[2024] Poll 12 Voting
Definite upvotes: B/B/B/B/JB, mushrooms, Goodreads choice (love love love this prompt and always sad when it doesn’t get in), guide (I’ve read a lot of books on the list and loved most of them)Maybe: initials, African country. I do a lot of these already, enjoy them and have options
Hard but not necessarily downvotes: autumn (it’s in the fall challenge and the only prompt I don’t have a book set aside for), Anne of green Gables (I never read/watched but if it got in I’d probably just read the first one)
Jimmy Buffet was a singer and songwriter much loved around the world for his music and laid-back beach/coast/island lifestyle.Some of his songs were ballads, most notably Come Monday, A Pirate Looks at Forty, and Son of a Son of a Sailor.
He developed a residential area in Florida called Margaritaville, named after one of his most successful songs.
He also owned a minor league baseball team for a few years.
AND he was an AUTHOR! Where is Joe Merchant? made it to #1 on the NYT best seller list. I heard from several people that it is a pretty good book. I have not read it yet, but when I heard he died I ordered it and one of his other more popular books, Tales From Margaritaville.
He was from Mississippi but made his home in Sag Harbor on Long Island.
Directions to go would be anything related to:
Music, especially beach or island
Islands
Mississippi
Long Island
Ocean/sea
Beach
Coast
Margaritas and alcohol in general
Parrot heads (fans are known as parrotheads) or parrots
Boats
Bars
Fish and more specifically sharks (if you know, you know)
Baseball
Hawaiian flower shirts
Guitars
Ukuleles
You can go almost limitless directions with this prompt.
If the prompt is voted in, I will probably save one of his book to read next year.
Fins up!
Mod
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Or Nova Scotia books (where Anne was born and did 4 years of university)
https://ww..."
Hey! There;s an Anne of GG graphic novel done by a woman... just saying!!
Mod
Yes, but you will need to search by the specific ISBN which is cumbersome to do. If someone else has another method I'd love to hear it because it is annoying for cover-based prompts!
Show all editions link will bring up all gr editions. Isbn is still the fastest way though if the book is in hand.
Mod
As much as I loved last week's suggestions (I had 6 upvotes and only 2 downvotes last week, and even those 2 were more things that I was tired of, not necessarily that I very s..."
I'm sure we had Goodreads Choice as a prompt at least 2 of the years I've been here. They tend to be books that are by well-known authors or got a lot of hype, so it can be hard to find one I haven't read but want to read. But I'm sure I could find something, there are multiple genres.
Many books have a poem as an epigraph - I think that's the word for a short message/quote at the very beginning of the book. And I'm sure I would end up reading a book at some point that has a poem in it, but I doubt I could plan ahead at all. Not a big problem for me, I'm not much of a planner, but some are.
Yeah, last had it in 2021. But it feels like forever without it.
I think you can add into listopia a different cover easier if you have it in your shelves.
I'm mainly upvotes on these.On the Anne of Green Gables suggestion, I remembered that Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, loves this book and visited Prince Edward Island especially on a royal tour. That could open it up to books about royalty (quite a few royal Annes and Catherines), books set in Wales/by Welsh authors.
Mod
I think What moves the Dead's sequel will also count."
Mexican Gothic, too, for a similar reason.
Working with animals would presumably include animal shelters? There's a lot of cozy mysteries with that link in them.
Welp, I see we have a few horror movie fans in the 'guide' listopia. I hope some more people vote to even it out, because right now it is very heavily skewed to one topic and you can't really see the range of possibilities.https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Isabel wrote: "Welp, I see we have a few horror movie fans in the 'guide' listopia. I hope some more people vote to even it out, because right now it is very heavily skewed to one topic and you can't really see t..."There are some people who aren't in this group that just love adding to any listopia they see, and to me it seems like they add any book that fits rather than trying to create a useful and inspiring list. So that's probably why it's full of random books that are guides, rather than books which aren't really guides that have it in the title.
Mod
There are romances/action/mystery, like The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy, The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry, A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem, etc.
I added a note to the guides list that it's for books that are not guides, and deleted things that had unknown authors or were clearly out-of-date reference guides (apologies if you were intending on time travelling back to the 80s to buy a fax machine, and needed a guidebook). Hopefully it's a bit clearer now.
It is. However, one of the problems that I have with this suggestion is that the books that I haven't read and that interest me have the word 'Guide' in the subtitle. I realise this is total nitpicking but I like to have a prompt word in the main title, so I am finding this a difficult one to plan.
Is there a listopia for novels with a poem in them? I wouldn't mind this prompt but I really don't know how to know which books will have a poem. I'm reading one now for example, it's a really good Nordic Noir and I would have never known that it would include two or three poems. (If someone starts a listopia I will definitely add this book).
Nike wrote: "Is there a listopia for novels with a poem in them? I wouldn't mind this prompt but I really don't know how to know which books will have a poem. I'm reading one now for example, it's a really good..."I agree with this. I would love a listopia. At the moment I've got it as a downvote a I just have no idea what would fit so wouldn't know how to plan for it.
Rachel wrote: "First impressions: As much as I loved last week's suggestions (I had 6 upvotes and only 2 downvotes last week, and even those 2 were more things that I was tired of, not necessarily that I very s..."
Regarding number 4 my issue is not that it’s a popularity contest it’s:
1 I don’t like inflexible prompts anyway
2 it’s restricted to this year which as the next year prompt always gets in we don’t need both IMO
3 I find it hypocritical that Goodreads treats like a democratic vote while certain books are guaranteed nominees
So by all means vote for it but my reasons at least for downvoting are not the ones you think
Jackie wrote, "Like obviously there's a lot of animal-related professions but you could also come at by looking at books where people have service animals:"There are also dog handlers in the police and military and search dogs.
Jennifer W wrote: "Tracy wrote: " A book with a hand(s) on the cover, but no torso prompt, The Listopia I included has 191 suggestions. And if you look at this message on your computer (as we know the app has display..."Jennifer, I do better at finding the book I actually read by searching for the ISBN. Sometimes, it doesn't work as the covers change over the years but the ISBN doesn't. GR allows an alternate cover without an ISBN.
"A book with guide in the title" seems very narrow to me. I would prefer if it was something like "a book with a reference work in the title - guide, dictionary, atlas, etc." (which is a prompt I suggested in a previous year's voting).
Ellie wrote: "I added a note to the guides list that it's for books that are not guides, and deleted things that had unknown authors or were clearly out-of-date reference guides (apologies if you were intending ..."Thank you Ellie!
@Dalex: I know, personally I prefer prompts that are specific and not so broad. I kept noticing new releases with the same "X's guide to Y" format, and when I checked I already had 4 in my TBR so it seemed like a good prompt. If it doesn't get in we can always try the broader approach.
Charlsa wrote: "Jimmy Buffet was a singer and songwriter much loved around the world for his music and laid-back beach/coast/island lifestyle.Some of his songs were ballads, most notably Come Monday, A Pirate Lo..."
Not to mention his song Titles (just a few taken from Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads)-
He Went to Paris
Havana Daydreaming
Treat Her Like a Lady
The Captain and the Kid
Ragtop Day - for those interested in cars and roadtrips
Money Back Guarantee
Christmas in the Caribbean
Livingston Saturday Night
Who's the Blond Stranger
I Have Found Me a Home
The Great Filling Station Hold Up
Vampires, Mummies, and the Holy Ghost (the first 'new' song I heard beyond Come Monday and Margaritaville -It was playing in Radio Shack and I was hooked instantly)
and a personal favorites ~ Love in the Library & Little Miss Magic
Even if it doesn't get in, this is really helping me process his death. I will use it for my prompt that didn't make it. Right now, I'm reading Tourist Season and one of the main characters, Skip Wiley, is a character in a Buffett song. The song may be based on the book...I haven't read that far yet.
In 'Incommunicado', Jimmy sings of the day that John Wayne died, he 'can't believe the old man is gone'. In the same song, he also mentions Travis McGee, from a John D. McDonald character, is still in Cedar Key. (Travis McGee is a jaded detective and beach bum who lives on a house boat.)
Its funny how much Jimmy Buffett means to me and the role his music has played in my life. He had such a sense of humor that he named an album The Buffet Hotel, playing on the confusion of his name. From him, I learned to 'Breathe In, Breathe Out, and Move On'.
A coworker says that all of life can be found in a country song...that's Jimmy to me. Plus, his smile is contagious!
Isabel wrote: "Ellie wrote: "@Dalex: I know, personally I prefer prompts that are specific and not so broad. I kept noticing new releases with the same "X's guide to Y" format, and when I checked I already had 4 in my TBR so it seemed like a good prompt. If it doesn't get in we can always try the broader approach."I have 2300+ books on my TBR and only two have the word "guide" in the title so for me it's entirely too specific.
Mod
I like that! I've always looked for an excuse to reread Encyclopedia Brown!
In my list I have 5 Guides- 3 are marked dnf.
I found plenty of "guides" on my shelves but I do slightly prefer reference book. I think they do lean more towards fun/light books, I didn't see many serious novels when I was adding to the list. Lots of murders, romance and witches, and of course non-fiction is well-served.
Isabel wrote: "Welp, I see we have a few horror movie fans in the 'guide' listopia. I hope some more people vote to even it out, because right now it is very heavily skewed to one topic and you can't really see t..."I thought this was supposed to be fictional guides. Several on this list look like real guides. Although, I guess the prompt is non-specific.
I was having a hard time with the mushrooms, and then when someone mentioned fairies I found this Rewards and Fairies
. So cute!
Breathe In, Breathe Out, and Move On will be my next tattoo. It was intended to be for my recent divorce, but will also be in honor of Jimmy. I just need to make the appointment.I like the idea of using this for the prompt that didn't make it, if it doesn't get in. I may re-read one of his books, though my ex took them with him (he was the Parrothead first). Maybe A Pirate Looks at 50.
Emily wrote: "Voting is open: https://forms.gle/YRPrtL8TbJ3RYD2w7"And I'm done! Am I the first who voted?
Jill wrote: "I was having a hard time with the mushrooms, and then when someone mentioned fairies I found this Rewards and Fairies . So cute!"Super cute! But there has been some great brainstorming and numerous great ideas have come up. 🍄🙂
Nancy wrote: "Breathe In, Breathe Out, and Move On will be my next tattoo. It was intended to be for my recent divorce, but will also be in honor of Jimmy. I just need to make the appointment.I like the idea o..."
That's a good one. I don't have any tattoo's (yet)...I always thought if I got one it would be the compass rose from the Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes album. (My kids bought and framed that album for me and I have it on my office wall with some other Buffett type quotes and signs.) I might add BIBOMO under my fantasy design.
Then I could say, 'He!! yes, it hurt!' -IYKYK
After much mind changing I upvoted: Initials
Anne
Poem
Library card
Then i downvoted:
Africa
Mushrooms ( but if it gets in there’s always Alice)
Book of the month
Goodreads awards ( although if it gets I suppose some thriller will be there)
I have palm trees on my shoulder but that's not specifically for Jimmy. I also have a book on my ankle, because of course lol. The compass rose is a good one, I've seen that a lot. Other than parrots and margaritas of course! And shark fins.
I think I just discovered my weird fungal horror book for 2024, A Botanical Daughter! If mushrooms doesn't get in, it's going on my rejects challenge for sure.
That’s a beautiful cover Ellie - could work for Botanical Cover as well. The synopsis likens it partially to Mexican Gothic, which wasn’t for me, but this sounds fun!
I keep hearing mushroom is connected to Mexican gothic. Anyone know what’s that’s about?
Thomas wrote: "I keep hearing mushroom is connected to Mexican gothic. Anyone know what’s that’s about?"It's horror about a family in a manor with a secret.
And Mexican Gothic definitely has mushrooms - no spoilers though.
Ellie wrote: "I think I just discovered my weird fungal horror book for 2024, A Botanical Daughter! If mushrooms doesn't get in, it's going on my rejects challenge for sure."Wow! Thankyou for this - it's now on my TBR also! 🍄🤩🍄😍🍄
Tracy wrote: "And Mexican Gothic definitely has mushrooms - no spoilers though."Tracy- so the specifics would be a spoiler but it definitely has mushrooms?
Tracy wrote: "The synopsis likens it partially to Mexican Gothic, which wasn’t for me, but this sounds fun!"I generally try to ignore publisher comps. Either I'm disappointed they're not like a book I loved, or I put off reading amazing books because I didn't like the comp title. Like Mexican Gothic probably just means "horror with mushrooms". I was a bit disappointed by Gods of Jade and Shadow so I'm yet to read any more of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's books, but after reading the author note in What Moves the Dead, I might give Mexican Gothic a chance.
Thomas wrote: "I keep hearing mushroom is connected to Mexican gothic. Anyone know what’s that’s about?"it's a bit of a spoiler to say it, just trust that they figure prominently in the plot.
Agreed. You would able to use Mexican Gothic for mushrooms, no problem.
Ellie wrote: "Tracy wrote: "The synopsis likens it partially to Mexican Gothic, which wasn’t for me, but this sounds fun!"I generally try to ignore publisher comps. Either I'm disappointed they're not like a b..."
I would give Mexican Gothic a try! I've read a lot of Moreno-Garcia this year (she's an author I had on my list this year to read more of), so I hard agree about Gods of Jade and Shadow (which I finished but skimmed the last half of). I mostly enjoyed The Beautiful Ones and Certain Dark Things, and I'm still debating about trying The Daughter of Doctor Moreau or Silver Nitrate next year - I think her ideas/aesthetics are always so unusual and strong, but the execution varies and her writing is a little clunky, imho.
That said, I thought Mexican Gothic was pretty good and I definitely think it's her strongest novel. And for a weird mushroom book, it's certainly up there - I can see why Kingfisher mentioned it as an inspiration for What Moves the Dead. If the mushroom prompt gets in, both of those books are great contenders to fulfill it (and great books to read in spooky months like October!).
Kristina wrote: "I can see why Kingfisher mentioned it as an inspiration for What Moves the Dead...."It was more that she was in the middle of writing What Moves the Dead when she read Mexican Gothic and felt her book couldn't compete and very nearly didn't finish it. But I love Kingfisher's writing so she should let herself off.
Mod
And I'm done! Am I the first who voted?"
No the first person to vote is always the mod who made the poll lol :)
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