[2026] Poll 12 Voting

[Trish, Annular Mod]

It's now time to get ready to vote for our next set of prompts! The thread will be open for at least 24 hours before the poll gets posted. This is a good opportunity to ask any question you may have regarding the prompts, do some research, or ask for recommendations.

Voting will open in the morning of Saturday 6 September and the results will be posted in the morning of Wednesday 10 September (CST time).

How it works:
- When the voting opens, follow the link to the mini-poll that will be added at the end of this post
- You have a total of 8 votes this poll to spread across your favorite and least favorite prompts (you can also use less than 8 votes)
- You can find examples of acceptable voting practices on the Introduction thread.
- The prompts with the more favorable votes (comparing top votes to bottom votes, and looking at the overall number of votes it received) will be added to the final list

We are asking people to include their Goodreads profile address when they vote. To find this, just go to your own profile and then copy the URL/web address. If for some reason you can't link to your Goodreads profile, please post your full Goodreads name with enough identifiable information that we'll be able to access your profile.

Poll Prompts:
1. A book related to a painting by Vincent Van Gogh
2. A vacation book
3. A book that relates to a river
4. A book with a cat on the cover
5. A book that has been made into a movie
6. A book with a number, ordinal, or iterative numeral in the title
7. A book written in or set in the 1700s
8. A book featuring a lawyer, politician or clergyman
9. A book with a character list or family tree.
10. A book about perceptions of reality or alternate realities
11. A history or historical fiction book
12. A book set in the west (however you define it)
13. A book set in an Olympics host city
14. A book on one of Obama’s reading lists
15. A biography, memoir, or autofiction

Feel free to discuss the prompts below, but please remember to be respectful to the other group members.

Vote here tomorrow morning, 6 September

[Trish, Annular Mod]

THOUGHTS AND IDEAS FROM THE SUGGESTIONS THREAD

1. A book related to a painting by Vincent Van Gogh

Some options: shared titles or title words (e.g. using "Starry" or "Night"), covers that share primary colors/color palettes or primary painting subjects (e.g. yellow books, books with sunflowers), books set where the painting was painted (the Netherlands, France), autobiographies (so many self portraits!)

2. A vacation book

In Preparation for a Vacation: could be a travelogue or book set in a location that is likely to be a vacation spot.
On a Vacation: either something you could comfortably read at a pool or beach (aka a “beach read”), OR a dense book that you wouldn’t normally have the free time to read in a compact amount of time.
A book involving a vacation: a vacation is part of the plot or is the setting.
Some titles might be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...
or in one of these listopias: https://www.goodreads.com/list/tag?id...

3. A book that relates to a river

There is just something special about rivers and books. There are wonderful new books each year with rivers in the plot, title or cover catching my attention. A river could be also be used as a setting or metaphor.
https://www.goodreads. com/list/show/6874.Rivers#top
The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb
There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
Is a River Alive? by Robert MacFarlane
Rivers of London by Ben Arronovitch

4. A book with a cat on the cover

A book with a cat on the cover.
How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety: And Abstinence, Drugs, Satanism, and Other Dangers That Threaten Their Nine Lives
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
Herding Hemingway's Cats: Understanding how our genes work. It's not really about cats.
The Lion in the Living Room: How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over the World
Before the Coffee Gets Cold: cat on the cover if you don’t want to actually read about cats.

5. A book that has been made into a movie
Possible listopias
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6...

6. A book with a number, ordinal, or iterative numeral in the title

Here are a few lists for numbers
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

7. A book written in or set in the 1700s

Listopias written in or set in 1700s: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
historical fiction set in the 1700s: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

8. A book featuring a lawyer, politician or clergyman

9. A book with a character list or family tree

10. A book about perceptions of reality or alternate realities

Fiction or nonfiction.
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
hhttps://thegreatestbooks.org/the-grea...
https://sobrief.com/lists/top-10-book...

11. A history or historical fiction book

12. A book set in the west (however you define it)

A book in the western genre
A book set in the west coast of your country or continent
A book set in the Western hemisphere (geographically)
A book set in The West (culturally, politically)
A book set in a country, town or city to the west of you
A nonfiction book about the west.

13. A book set in an Olympics host city

A list of cities can be found in the link below but here are some of the many cities:
London, Paris, Mexico City, Berlin, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Lake Placid, Montreal, Innsbruck, Vancouver, Brisbane, Moscow
https://architectureofthegames.net/ol...

14. A book on one of Obama’s reading lists.

https://www.goodreads.com/genres/obama
There is also this list outside of Goodreads - suppposedly all his recommendations during and after his presidency:
https://ew.com/books/2017/01/18/barac...

15. A biography, memoir, or autofiction

Autofiction or autobiographical fiction is a novel that takes true life events of the author but retells them changing names and/or events to create a more cohesive narrative
Here's a list: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

[Pamela, Arciform Mod]

Good list! Some ups and some downs- which I'm convinced is good for getting a bunch of prompts through!

And while I slept through much of the suggestions, I then missed the rest because BFF sent me a text that we should go to PEI and Green Gables for my birthday next year! So booked those flight-- and if the vacation book gets through, we know what I'll be reading!
I love the Obama book list- I've read some things over the years he's recommended. Whether its him or his aides, there are normally gems in there. He does about 12 books a few times a year-- the GR lists are way too short.

[Wendy]

I suspect it's a longshot, but I'm excited for the 1700s book. I've been meaning to pick up another Ann Radcliffe or Frances Burney novel (hooray for those early women authors!), and also A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel about the French Revolution. Alexander Hamilton is another book that's been sitting on my shelf for far too long. Some of my other favorite books with 1700s settings include Kidnapped and The Scarlet Pimpernel. And while they aren't for me, I believe the entire Outlander series is set in the 1700s. It seems to me a pleasantly specific category which still includes a lot of options, but isn't essentially "read a book" like the history/historical fiction one, which I assume means anything before the 21st century?

And I'm here (again) for the Van Gogh painting prompt. Last time it was up, I scrolled through the entire wikipedia page of his paintings in order...it was so very cool to see how his style developed over time. I also didn't realize how prolific he was, and how many of his paintings still survive.

[Nike]

I will vote for the following:

1. Vincent Van Gogh! I'll finally read one of my two biographies about him!
3. A book that relates to rivers. I would like to recommend two books I read this year, one new and one old reread: River Sing Me Home set in the Caribbean about a former slave who travels around the Caribbean to relocate her children that all have been sold to other plantation owners. By Eleanor Shearer

The other book that I'd love to recommend is the classic Siddharta by Hermann Hesse which I read for the fourth time I believe. It must be twenty years since the last time. What I would read if this prompts gets in I really don't know! Lol.

6. A book with a number in the title. I always like that by some reason.

7. A book written in or set in the 1700s. Love this! I've started reading a magnificent trilogy (or maybe it's a continuing series but there a three books for the moment) which are so fascinating, horrific and dark (which I love) and so meticulously crafted when it comes to all details in the living of both rich and poor. Every little detail the writer has thought of and researched. Love them. Don't know if they are translated into English, they ought to be. I'm sure they are translated into German.

Well yes, they are translated into English and are apparently an international success! The Wolf and the Watchman, 1794: The City Between the Bridges and 1795: The Order of the Furies by Niklas Natt och Dag

9. A book with a family tree or character list. I believe I got some fitting books in my shelves.

10. A book about perceptions of reality or alternate realities.

11. A history or historical fiction book

14. A book on one of Obama's reading lists. There were several books I want to read as well as several I've read and loved.

[Wendy]

Nike wrote: "Don't know if they are translated into English, they ought to be. I'm sure they are translated into German. 1794"

Great call, Nike! They are indeed translated into English...or at least the first one (1793) is: The Wolf and the Watchman -- although I must confess, while I love me some dark murdery books, this one was too gruesome for me (which is...not really like me at all)! 18th Century Stockholm is very vividly depicted. I may need to try it again though, as I liked the characters, so much that I was so worried about what would happen to them, I put it down.

ETA: the full English trilogy is:
1793: The Wolf and the Watchman
1794: The City Between the Bridges
1795: The Order of the Furies

[Amy (Other Amy)]

I wish I could vote (one way or the other!) on almost all of these. Great list of suggestions. Really hoping for Van Gogh. Here is a partial list of his works. (There are around 900 paintings, and I don't know of a comprehensive list, but I'm not an expert, either.)

ETA: Forgot the link LOL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...

[Nike]

Wendy wrote: "Nike wrote: "Don't know if they are translated into English, they ought to be. I'm sure they are translated into German. 1794"

Great call, Nike! They are indeed translated into English...or at lea..."

Oh, we searched for the English versions simultaneously I guess ◉⁠‿⁠◉


Well, I must admit a few chapters were indeed to gruesome for me as well and I had to take some breaks in between but I still had to continue because it was so brilliant. But I do understand that not everyone could put up with it. I hope you try again, it's worth the pain!

[Pam]

Like Wendy, I also like the 1700s book and Van Gogh. I went to the Van Gogh Experience several years ago and still have pics and videos on my phone. I would probably scroll through them and see what moves me. I also like the Obama list but not sure if I will vote for it. The books on it that I've read were all excellent and there are others I still plan to read. I don't usually like the limitation of a list but it might push me to read one that I own.

I don't have a list for books with a character list or family tree but here are a few examples:
Historical fiction and classics (especially Russian)
Queen Margot by Alexandre Dumas
War and Peace
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers
Edward Rutherfurd novels

[Tracy]

Pam wrote: "Like Wendy, I also like the 1700s book and Van Gogh. I went to the Van Gogh Experience several years ago and still have pics and videos on my phone. I would probably scroll through them and see wha..."

Pam - thanks for these suggestions of books with character lists. I normally avoid these types of books, but I do really enjoy Edward Rutherfurd's books and have 3 on my shelf that I still need to read!

[Nike]

Pam wrote: "Like Wendy, I also like the 1700s book and Van Gogh. I went to the Van Gogh Experience several years ago and still have pics and videos on my phone. I would probably scroll through them and see wha..."

I know that Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky has got a character list in the beginning and I guess a lot of Russian classics have that feature.

And the Remembrance of Things Past-series by Marcel Proust has got an entire volume (the eighth) that only contains a character list! (At least the edition I've got)

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

I like all of these (though a little tired of book made into movie, as it gets used a lot).

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Some fantasy books have character lists and family trees in them.

[John]

I'm likely to vote for a book about a river, alternate realities, and historical fiction. I probably will vote down a cat on the cover since i will use a cat for the death symbol selected earlier. I will probably also vote down a book written in or set in the 1700s since I prefer the 1800s. I was surprised to find that Obama and I have read many of the books on his list; therefore I will probably vote this one down since I have little interest in the ones remaining. However, all being said, I can make do with any that are selected.

[Katie]

John wrote: "I'm likely to vote for a book about a river, alternate realities, and historical fiction. I probably will vote down a cat on the cover since i will use a cat for the death symbol selected earlier. ..."

I like the same ones you do, plus 5 more.

They didn’t post all of Obama’s lists. If you liked the books you read, you might like the missing years too. I think he makes more than one list per year, and he’s been doing it for almost 20 years.

[Marie]

Robin P wrote: "I like all of these (though a little tired of book made into movie, as it gets used a lot)."

That seems to be the perception every time we get this type of prompt, but I can't find it more recently that 2019, when we had A book related in some way to a tv show/series or movie you enjoyed. In 2017 we had A book being released as a movie in 2017 and in 2016 we had A book that you've seen the movie of but haven't read. Unless I've missed any? As well as being quite rare, they're all quite different from each other.

On the other hand, there's A history or historical fiction book, which we had exactly in 2024 and 2022. We also have the tighter version this year, requiring it be pre-1925, and in 2022, 2017 and 2019 we just had historical fiction.

(Sorry, it's a quiet afternoon at work and trying to fill time until it's 5 o'clock and I can escape!)

[Pamela, Arciform Mod]

Wendy wrote: "I suspect it's a longshot, but I'm excited for the 1700s book. I've been meaning to pick up another Ann Radcliffe or Frances Burney novel (hooray for those early wo..."

The 1700s is a perfect prompt IMHO-- not overly restrictive for genre but might also push me to read something I might not pick up right away. I don't read many books that take place in that century.

[Ciara]

I really like the 1700s prompt. That might be the only one on the list that I'm really excited about. I'm with Robin in being a little bit tired of prompts for books-into-movies. Even if that prompt in that exact phrasing hasn't been used in this specific challenge a lot, we've had plenty of movie-related prompts, & the book-into-movie prompt seems to be on SOME reading challenge or another every year. (I read over 200 books a year, so I usually do several different challenges at a time.) I'm also pretty tired of Olympics-themed prompts. Plus that category is always a gimme. It would be harder to read 52 books in a year & NOT read a book set in an Olympic host city.

[NancyJ]

Marie wrote: "Robin P wrote: "I like all of these (though a little tired of book made into movie, as it gets used a lot)."

That seems to be the perception every time we get this type of prompt, but I can't find..."

This happens a lot, There are some prompts that people say they’re tired of, that we rarely vote in. So I guess they’re just tired of hearing the suggestions.

I would love a book to movie prompt, since they’re often great books. Plus they can help bridge the conversation gap between readers and watchers. I rarely watch movies or tv these days. But I could join the conversations about the stories if I read the book.

I like the wording of this version of the prompt. It doesn’t require that you did or didn’t already see the movie (which are irrelevant restrictions imo). I think a lot of people enjoyed reading Atonement and Pride and Prejudice even more AFTER seeing the films.

But I don’t know whether I’ll have enough upvotes today, with all these great prompts.

[Dixie]

FYI Trish, the "rivers" link (msg 2 #3) does not work. I think it's supposed to be this one: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6...

[Jillian]

Part of the ”movie” prompt coming up so often has to do with how often it comes up in reading challenges in general not just this group. For example, I had it this summer for my library summer reading challenge.

[Pam]

I was in a hurry to leave earlier and forgot to list my favorite series Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels (starting with My Brilliant Friend). They all have a list of characters, which I find to be very helpful! I still have book #4 to read.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Marie wrote: "Robin P wrote: "I like all of these (though a little tired of book made into movie, as it gets used a lot)."

That seems to be the perception every time we get this type of prompt, but I can't find..."

You're right, I realized that it is in other groups that I had the movie prompt, so that's my problem! As Jillian pointed out, it's out in the world.

[Dubhease]

I love the simplicity of so many of the prompts

Prompts I like:
A book related to a painting by Vincent Van Gogh
A vacation book
A book with a number, ordinal, or iterative numeral in the title
https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...
A book written in or set in the 1700s (I think the addition of set in is genius as there is always someone who won't read a book written before 2000)
A book with a character list or family tree
A book set in an Olympics host city (a great setting prompt)
A biography, memoir, or autofiction - so many on my TBR

Maybe:
A book with a cat on the cover - one of the witch books might have a cat
A book set in the west - I'm reading a series set in Vancouver - although that is an Olympic city

Don't we get this prompt every year?: A history or historical fiction book. A consistent definition of "historical fiction" would help. I've heard set 20 years earlier, 30 years, and 50 years.

A book on one of Obama’s reading lists - I want to like this, but I think we just read different things. He seems to like history and science fiction and I dislike both.

[Angie]

My initial thoughts:

1. A book related to a painting by Vincent Van Gogh I'm not sure what I'd read for it, but I could work with it.

2. A vacation book Neutral

3. A book that relates to a river Neutral

4. A book with a cat on the cover I have a stack of cozy mystery cat books, so this is one I will upvote.

5. A book that has been made into a movie Neutral

6. A book with a number, ordinal, or iterative numeral in the title Neutral, but it's doable.

7. A book written in or set in the 1700s I like this one. Definite maybe.

8. A book featuring a lawyer, politician or clergyman I like it, but i feel like there is some crossover with the Clue prompt.

9. A book with a character list or family tree. This could be a fun scavenger hunt.

10. A book about perceptions of reality or alternate realities Maybe. I do read things in this genre.

11. A history or historical fiction book It's a mabe.

12. A book set in the west (however you define it) I think this has some interesting possibilities.

13. A book set in an Olympics host city This is a definite maybe.

14. A book on one of Obama’s reading lists Glancing at the list, there is definitely some crossover with my reading list.

15. A biography, memoir, or autofiction Definite upvote.

[NancyJ]

Dubhease wrote: "I love the simplicity of so many of the prompts

Prompts I like:
A book related to a painting by Vincent Van Gogh
A vacation book
A book with a number, ordinal, or iterative numeral in the title
ht..."

I’d be happy with a history prompt every year in some form. I think the history /historical fiction prompt came about when we had several vocal people both for and against nonfiction, and other history related prompts already got shot down. It was a way to get something related to history in.

I dislike the formal historical fiction definition for our challenges, because it excludes books that were written and set in the same time period. The distinction is important to a writing prof looking for good examples of historical fiction, but it’s less useful to me.

“ A book written in or set in the 1700s” - This prompt successfully avoids the term completely and is open to f/nf.

[Samantha]

Initial thoughts-
1. A book related to a painting by Vincent Van Gogh Happy to see it again so soon- upvote
2. A vacation book neutral
3. A book that relates to a river Maybe, I like the idea but it will depend on how I vote on some others
4. A book with a cat on the cover I adore cats but generally dislike animals for prompts, most likely down.
5. A book that has been made into a movie I will see if I can find anything but most likely downvote.
6. A book with a number, ordinal, or iterative numeral in the title I like the creativity of ordinal and iterative but I am not really sure I understand how iterative would play out. 1,2,3 maybe. I will look around to see if I can turn my curiosity to excitement.
7. A book written in or set in the 1700s probably a downvote, I am not a fan of historic fiction or classics.
8. A book featuring a lawyer, politician or clergyman maybe, I would more character prompts
9. A book with a character list or family tree. upvote, this one seems like fun to me.
10. A book about perceptions of reality or alternate realities upvote
11. A history or historical fiction book neutral or down
12. A book set in the west (however you define it) neutral or down, I am not sure I fully get it.
13. A book set in an Olympics host city neutral
14. A book on one of Obama’s reading lists neutral
15. A biography, memoir, or autofiction upvote if I have enough votes.

[Rachel]

First impressions:

1. A book related to a painting by Vincent Van Gogh - I was pretty indifferent to this one last time, and still not sure I'm particularly attached either way. I'm not that familiar with his paintings to know if a book relates somehow, other than Starry Night

2. A vacation book - Likely an upvote. I have a lot of books on my TBR that involve characters on vacation, especially thrillers!

3. A book that relates to a river - Most likely a downvote. I just don't think I have very many books that would fit.

4. A book with a cat on the cover - Neutral. I'm a little tired of animal-related prompts, but this one is easily doable so I wouldn't downvote it.

5. A book that has been made into a movie - I like that it's not restricted to being made into a movie this year, but it's still a likely downvote for me. I've done versions of this prompt so many times so I'd rather have something else.

6. A book with a number, ordinal, or iterative numeral in the title - It's another prompt that I've done a lot, but somehow it doesn't bother me as much. Most likely neutral, but might even upvote.

7. A book written in or set in the 1700s - I'd go for "set in" if this gets in, but not sure I'd actively vote for it

8. A book featuring a lawyer, politician or clergyman - Love this! It's similar to the trial prompt that I also really liked, and I have a whole bunch of books with lawyer characters.

9. A book with a character list or family tree. - I like to plan in advance and I feel like this would be hard to research. I also tend to find books with that many characters to merit a list or family tree a bit overwhelming.

10. A book about perceptions of reality or alternate realities - A strong maybe. I'd need to see what options I have, but I theoretically really like this

11. A history or historical fiction book - Another prompt that I've done many times, but I do have goals to read more historical fiction, so this could be helpful

12. A book set in the west (however you define it) - Likely a downvote. The majority of the books I read are set in the west, so it seems too easy.

13. A book set in an Olympics host city - I am very much burnt out on any kind of Olympics-related prompt and also don't like geography prompts, so not that interested. I might leave it neutral just because it is doable.

14. A book on one of Obama’s reading lists - I'd have to look and see how many options I actually have that I'm actively interested in, but likely a downvote.

15. A biography, memoir, or autofiction - Definite downvote. We already have a nonfiction prompt on the list, so I don't want another one.