[2024] Poll 12 Voting

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

But you were the second! haha!

[Kat]

My main issue with GRC as a prompt is that we are voting for a list that doesn't exist yet. I know we can make an educated guess on what will be on there but we don't know for sure.

[Nike]

Jackie wrote: "Nike wrote: "Emily wrote: "Voting is open: https://forms.gle/YRPrtL8TbJ3RYD2w7"

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 :)"

Well, of course 😂

[Nike]

Emily wrote: "But you were the second! haha!"

🥈 That's at least something! 🙃🥳

[Mary]

Nothing that I loved, nothing that I hated. So i upvoted 8!

[Thomas]

Kat wrote: "My main issue with GRC as a prompt is that we are voting for a list that doesn't exist yet. I know we can make an educated guess on what will be on there but we don't know for sure."

very true, an extra reason for me to downvote

[Martha]

I voted for 8 prompts. I wasn't against anything and double checking I have books on my shelves that can be used for the followingi prompts:

Related to Jimmy Buffet I will use a summer setting or a Caribbean book.

Anne of Green Gables: I have some books set in Maritimes that I haven't read yet.

An author known by their initials I was surprised by how many books I have.

A book by an author from an African country: I am in a read around the world group and there will be an African country to read in 2024. I will always vote for country settings.

A book set in autumn: My favorite season. I'll always vote for seasonal prompts.

A book related to your birth month: I'm so behind on Book of the Month Club books, plus my birth month is a good book release month.

A character who works with animals. My dog who I raised as a guide dog puppy and who became a guide dog for 6 years and was returned to me when she retired just died. I had to vote for this.

A book posted in ATY Best Book of the Month - We need a list and I like this one.

[Tracy]

Martha wrote: "I voted for 8 prompts. I wasn't against anything and double checking I have books on my shelves that can be used for the followingi prompts:

Related to Jimmy Buffet I will use a summer setting or..."

So sorry to hear your dog-daughter died... 🦮

[Dubhease]

Thomas wrote: "Kat wrote: "My main issue with GRC as a prompt is that we are voting for a list that doesn't exist yet. I know we can make an educated guess on what will be on there but we don't know for sure."

very true, an extra reason for me to downvote ..."

Last year, for the first year ever, I had none of the winners on TBR list. I would be scared to vote for this since who knows what will be on this year.

At least with the ATY Best Book of the Month, you can look right now and see what's there. I already have 4 books I want to read, and 2023 isn't over, let alone what will be there in 2024. I guess I trust this group to pick interesting reads more than I trust Goodreads.

[Marie]

I never understand why the GRC prompt is always restricted to one year, and that it's the year that hasn't even been announced when we're voting. We don't do this with other awards, and it seems unnecessarily restrictive.

It's an automatic downvote for me every time because of this. If it was open to every year I'd upvote it. I have so many old nominees on my TBR, but no idea if I have any future nominees.

[NancyJ]

I agree. I think one of the GRC suggestions last year covered multiple years. I would be more likely to vote for it if it did. I like our member's BOM favorites a lot more though, so I'll always vote for that above the gr awards.

The Nominees for the choice awards are based primarily on the # of people who have shelved the book. I don't think ratings matter, just attention. A key strategy to get more "want to read" clicks is to offer the book on the giveaways list every month. Every time you click on a giveaway you're automatically shelving it (and you'll have lots of duplicates.) The books that make a lot of the "most anticipated" lists also get shelved more. If an author is with a big budget publisher who believes in their book, they'll get promoted more heavily. Indie books, small budget firms unknown authors are less likely to get on the GR nominations lists.

[Charlsa]

Jette wrote: "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 Mon..."

I love everything you wrote here. I saw him live 3 times over the course of about 30 years. I can't imagine not seeing him again. He was great at sharing joy, peace, and happiness through his music.

And yes, I will use this prompt no matter what.

[Charlsa]

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..."

I would like to read A Pirate Looks At Fifty as well.

[Dixie]

Dubhease wrote:At least with the ATY Best Book of the Month, you can look right now and see what's there. I already have 4 books I want to read, and 2023 isn't over, let alone what will be there in 2024. I guess I trust this group to pick interesting reads more than I trust Goodreads.

My reasoning exactly.

[dalex]

I’ve been researching some fae books and now I’m almost hoping the mushroom prompt makes the list (because fairy rings).

[NancyJ]

1. A book related to Boats, Beaches, Bars, Ballads, or Jimmy Buffett UPVOTE - You had me at boats and ballads. This one makes me feel good.
2. A book related to mushrooms - Neutral. I don't like mushrooms but I like the idea of the network of connections under ground.
3. A book connected to Anne of Green Gables UPVOTE - Demon Copperhead fits really well. Based on my reading list I must love books with child protagonists, especially orphans. Or I'll read a book set in Canada.
4. A book from the 2023 Goodreads Choice Awards (winner or nomination) Downvote or neutral (discussed elsewhere)
5. A book by an author known by their initials -maybe/probably upvote. I have several possibilities, but none that excite me right now.
6. A book by an author from an African country - UPVOTE. I have several books that I've wanted to read for a long time by Aminatta Forna , Chimanada ,, Half a Yellow Sun.
7. A book set in autumn - Probably up - I always want to read something for Halloween.
8. A book related to your birth month - maybe
9. A book with a character who works with animals - probably upvote. West with Giraffes, Elephant books, dog trainers, veterinarians - All Dogs Go to Kevin: Everything Three Dogs Taught Me (I picked this up to read with Kevin.)
10. A book with a poem in it UPVOTE - many good choices
11. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2023 or 2024- UPVOTE. This is always a good source for popular books.
12. A book with 'guide' in the title - Nothing there appeals to me. Downvote or neutral
13. A book with a family member in the title - Maybe Up
14. A book with a character whose name that starts with a letter in the phrase LIBRARY CARD - Downvote or Neutral - I really do not want to search for character names. These letter prompts work better for author initials in my opinion.
15. A book with a hand(s) on the cover, but no torso -neutral

I'm going to try to continue all upvotes, but it's hard this week. Too much stress and too little sleep make me grouchy. It's harder to see the upside in every prompt.

[Nadine in NY]

NancyJ wrote: "I agree. I think one of the GRC suggestions last year covered multiple years. I would be more likely to vote for it if it did. I like our member's BOM favorites a lot more though, so I'll always vo..."



Oh that's sneaky. I've always been annoyed at how the giveaways result in duplicates on my shelves. Every other week I go through and clean out all the duplicates. I couldn't figure out why GR couldn't fix that bug. Now you've opened my eyes. It's not a bug, it's a feature.

[Jette]

NancyJ wrote: "1. A book related to Boats, Beaches, Bars, Ballads, or Jimmy Buffett UPVOTE - You had me at boats and ballads. This one makes me feel good.
2. A book related to mushrooms - Neutral. I don't like m..."

Not a spoiler, just FYI
Regarding Demon Copperhead, when you get to the elephant story, just know that it is true. I live in the town where it happened.

[Siobhan]

A very good week this week! Seven upvotes, only one downvote.

Upvotes:

2. A book related to mushrooms - I’m not quite sure what I’d read for this yet, but I really like the creativity of the prompt and am sure I could find something! At the very least, I have a few books with mushrooms on their covers as I recall.

3. A book connected to Anne of Green Gables - I do like Anne of Green Gables, and I have been vaguely meaning to reread it! And even if I don’t, there are a lot of creative ways you could interpret this.

5. A book by an author known by their initials - One of my favourite authors is known by their initials, so this is a rather selfish vote by me. XD But even if I don’t read them, I have plenty of others on my tbr.

6. A book by an author from an African country - I suggested/Seconded this, so of course I’m going to vote for it! At the moment I’m eyeing up a crime novel or a romance novel for this, both have a lot of fascinating options.

7. A book set in autumn - I’m just in a very autumnal mood, I guess!

11. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2023 or 2024 - One of those prompts I’ll always vote for when it comes up. Some of my favourite reads have come from this one, and I’m excited to see what’s turned up over the next year!

14. A book with a character whose name that starts with a letter in the phrase LIBRARY CARD - This is so fun and inventive. There are a lot of options here, but framed in a really creative way.

Downvotes:

4. A book from the 2023 Goodreads Choice Awards (winner or nomination)

[Tracy]

I used all my votes for UP votes. There were a few that I was less thrilled with, but nothing so much that I wanted to trade one of my upvotes for a downvote.

1. A book related to Boats, Beaches, Bars, Ballads, or Jimmy Buffett: neutral - I like Jimmy Buffett, just most of the books I read don't use these themes

2. A book related to mushrooms: UP - I've been wanting to read Merlin Sheldrake's Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures for a couple of years

3. A book connected to Anne of Green Gables: UP - I've never read Anne, so I may use this to do that - or at least read an author from that part of Canada

4. A book from the 2023 Goodreads Choice Awards (winner or nomination): neutral - this is one I'd downvote if I didn't want to keep all my upvotes. But not the end of the world if it gets in.

5. A book by an author known by their initials: UP - I have several books I want to read by authors who use initials. We need author prompts, and this is an easy one to scan for.

6. A book by an author from an African country: UP - this is one I was thinking of suggesting eventually. Seems like we've covered all areas of the globe except here.

7. A book set in autumn: neutral - nothing wrong with this, I just don't tend to focus on seasons in my reading, and don't tend to read scary (Halloween or otherwise) books.

8. A book related to your birth month: neutral - I'd be fine with this, just others were a higher priority. I'm a February baby, so I'd probably either pick a romance (not my usual fare, but a way to try something new), or something involving Lincoln or Darwin (the 3 of us share a birthday - day only obviously)

9. A book with a character who works with animals: UP - since 'dragons' didn't get in, and I had several good suggestions for dragon books, I was hoping one of them included "working with dragons". One did! In Burn by Patrick Ness a dragon is hired to be a farm worker.

10. A book with a poem in it: neutral

11. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2023 or 2024: UP - this has been handy for me in the past when I really want to read a book and it doesn't fit into a prompt I have open, especially when the book is suggestion is from the previous year so it was taken from a whole different group of prompts.

12. A book with 'guide' in the title: neutral - a bit limiting. I would have been more likely to vote for it if it included additional similar words as someone else suggested. Words like 'dictionary', etc. would have opened it up some more.

13. A book with a family member in the title: UP - this is another that I jotted down as something to maybe suggest later on.

14. A book with a character whose name that starts with a letter in the phrase LIBRARY CARD: neutral - I was excited about this at first because it was creative, but then realized that because it's a character you are looking for it would be harder to find - not impossible - but harder. I won't be upset if it does get in though. Still like it.

15. A book with a hand(s) on the cover, but no torso: UP - my suggestion, so I have several books lined up for this that I'm interested in. Two are The Power by Naomi Alderman and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver.

[NancyJ]

Jette wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "1. A book related to Boats, Beaches, Bars, Ballads, or Jimmy Buffett UPVOTE - You had me at boats and ballads. This one makes me feel good.
2. A book related to mushrooms - Neutral...."

Re the elephant story (view spoiler)[ No, really? That was crazy - and very hard work. Our next bookclub book is Barnum: An American Life. I might not like all the elephant stories in that one either. (hide spoiler)]

[Alicia]

Ooh I loved the power. Have read it twice and will probably read again

[Tracy]

Glad to hear it Alicia - thanks! Have you read Alderman’s new one - I think it’s called The Future?

[Alicia]

No I didn’t know about it. Looks like it comes out in November. Just added it to my TBR

[Tracy]

Oops - didn’t realize it wasn’t published yet since I wasn’t planning on reading it until next year anyway.

[Jette]

NancyJ wrote: "Jette wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "1. A book related to Boats, Beaches, Bars, Ballads, or Jimmy Buffett UPVOTE - You had me at boats and ballads. This one makes me feel good.
2. A book related to mushro..."

It's crazy and one of our claims to infamy. I don't usually tell people about it myself, but some folks around here recount it to everyone they meet, everywhere.

I live in a former railroad town (view spoiler)[ and the incident happened in a neighboring city just over 100 years ago. The city would not pay to move the crane they used to their city. That part of the story always gets left out, so we get the blame. (hide spoiler)]