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[2019] Voting for the 9th mini poll



Right now, my favorites are 1) sense of place and 2) owned for at least a year. I feel like these are the most versatile, especially since I usually know what I want to read first (what I already own, library availability, book club picks), and generally pick the prompt after I read the book.
I don't think I will vote for 1) by/about a journalist and 2) a drink in the title. For me, both of these are too similar to prompts that have already been chosen for 2019. I was already planning to use a book about a journalist in the reading/writing prompt. And the drink one I would propose we just group with the food prompt... Or can we at least expand the drink prompt to include cover/plot/content, to be parallel with the food prompt? The wording would be "A book related to a drink (i.e. title, cover, plot, etc.)"

I did narrow it down to a top four pretty easily, but I would really be okay with most of the options. I thought there were a lot of good choices this time!
My tops were two books - high/low, Millions' Most Anticipated list, two books - female/male protagonist in same profession, and immortality. I know I voted for two two-book choices, but I really like them both. I'm sure they won't both make it, but if I can help push at least one of them to the top, I'll be happy.
My two bottoms were 20th century classic and circus/carnival/amusement park setting. I am not really interested in the 20th century classics list, and I have never found a book set in a circus or similar setting that I have liked.

I really love the experimental fiction prompt but I wonder if people will think it's too much like the "unusual format" prompt we have this year so I don't know if I want to put it in my tops.
I like the extreme weather one but neither "climate/climate change" or "weather phenomena" have been voted in so, again, I don't know if I want to put it in my tops.
I love three of the prompts that are re-noms (different gender/same occupation, bildungsroman, immortality) but I hate to waste my vote if people are just gonna not choose them again.
The Millions Anticipated list is almost too easy. There are - literally - like a million books to choose from. But it might be nice to have a category I can just throw anything at and it'll (probably) stick.
I'm torn about the "book you owned 1+ year" one. I get about 90% of my books from the library so I don't really have anything that qualifies. But...an excuse to book shop? I've been on a book buying ban for quite awhile so. Hrm.
I am definitely gonna have to let this vote stew in my brain for awhile, methinks.
Posting this here for the people who don't follow the suggestions thread! (The more I look, the more I love the Bildungsroman prompt!)
For the Bildungsroman prompt, here are some interesting links that were sent in the Poll 7 Voting Thread:
AP Question 3 (for Classics)
6 Coming-Of-Age Novels for Grownups
10 Coming-of-Age Novels for Adults
7 Amazing Coming-of-Age Novels
10 Coming-Of-Age Novels for Summer
Coming of Age During Wartime
And for those of you who like Listopia
Coming of Age for Adult Readers
Best Bildungsroman Books
Female Bildungsroman Books
Bildungsroman: Ultimate Coming of Age Books
For the Bildungsroman prompt, here are some interesting links that were sent in the Poll 7 Voting Thread:
AP Question 3 (for Classics)
6 Coming-Of-Age Novels for Grownups
10 Coming-of-Age Novels for Adults
7 Amazing Coming-of-Age Novels
10 Coming-Of-Age Novels for Summer
Coming of Age During Wartime
And for those of you who like Listopia
Coming of Age for Adult Readers
Best Bildungsroman Books
Female Bildungsroman Books
Bildungsroman: Ultimate Coming of Age Books


https://www.thebooktrail.com/books-wi...
https://www.bustle.com/p/9-young-adul...
http://www.washingtonindependentrevie...
https://www.theguardian.com/books/top...
https://www.tor.com/2015/10/12/five-f...
http://www.downthewriterspath.com/201...


Neo-Victorian shelf
Victorian shelf
Nonfiction Books on the Victorian Era
Famous Victorians
Victorian (& Regency) Mystery Novels
Gothic Novels

My tops were Sense of Place because I love a book where the setting is a character; a book by/about a journalist because I have a few books in this category already and I love in-depth investigations by journalists (plus journalists need a bit of love right now); a book from The Millions list because a year without reading a new release would be a disappointing year of reading for me; and the last top choice was a Bildungsroman because I love this genre.
I'm not going to list my bottom choices because most were not strong negatives for me. I'd be able to find books for anything submitted for this poll.
So. Many. Choices.
My top choices and why (and maybe writing about them will help me narrow them down):
A book you've owned for a least a year: My owned-but-not-read pile is out of hand at the moment, so one of my personal goals next year will be to either read or donate all of the books on my shelf... so this prompt is perfect for that!
A book with a strong sense of place: I'm generally a plot reader (and skim the descriptions... not on purpose, but because I'm excited about the plot), but I read The Night Circus this year and I was enthralled. So, I'd like to read more books like it!
Two books inspired by high and low: I just love the options for this one... I'd probably end up using "high literature" and "low literature" (a take on the heavy/light prompt that didn't make it in), or I would use it for high page count book, since we don't have one of those prompts yet, and a low page count book.
A 20th century classic: *looks at 40 Before 40 list...*
Two books with protagonists of opposite genders in the same job: I actually downvoted this one a few polls ago, but I've gotten a lot more ideas since then, and would probably use it to read about the Elizabethan era (kings and queens)... or maybe not? I do think this would be an easier one to fill, especially if you go the detective route.
A book from the Million's Most Anticipated List: I haven't looked through the list extensively, but I noticed that a lot on the Early 2018 list were also Book of the Month Club picks, and I tend to read a lot of new releases... so this would be a fun one. And I love picking from lists (unlike so many of you haha!). We only have one list, so this one would be a good balance
A book about royalty: See two books with same profession. I love Philippa Gregory and I'd like to read more from her.
A book about immortality: I voted for this one last poll, and I really just like the prompt. I also think it fills a hole we have in the list with character-based prompts.
A Bildungsroman: I seconded this one, and I have so many from these lists that I'd like to read! This is one of my favorite types of books...
What a mess. How will I choose?
My top choices and why (and maybe writing about them will help me narrow them down):
A book you've owned for a least a year: My owned-but-not-read pile is out of hand at the moment, so one of my personal goals next year will be to either read or donate all of the books on my shelf... so this prompt is perfect for that!
A book with a strong sense of place: I'm generally a plot reader (and skim the descriptions... not on purpose, but because I'm excited about the plot), but I read The Night Circus this year and I was enthralled. So, I'd like to read more books like it!
Two books inspired by high and low: I just love the options for this one... I'd probably end up using "high literature" and "low literature" (a take on the heavy/light prompt that didn't make it in), or I would use it for high page count book, since we don't have one of those prompts yet, and a low page count book.
A 20th century classic: *looks at 40 Before 40 list...*
Two books with protagonists of opposite genders in the same job: I actually downvoted this one a few polls ago, but I've gotten a lot more ideas since then, and would probably use it to read about the Elizabethan era (kings and queens)... or maybe not? I do think this would be an easier one to fill, especially if you go the detective route.
A book from the Million's Most Anticipated List: I haven't looked through the list extensively, but I noticed that a lot on the Early 2018 list were also Book of the Month Club picks, and I tend to read a lot of new releases... so this would be a fun one. And I love picking from lists (unlike so many of you haha!). We only have one list, so this one would be a good balance
A book about royalty: See two books with same profession. I love Philippa Gregory and I'd like to read more from her.
A book about immortality: I voted for this one last poll, and I really just like the prompt. I also think it fills a hole we have in the list with character-based prompts.
A Bildungsroman: I seconded this one, and I have so many from these lists that I'd like to read! This is one of my favorite types of books...
What a mess. How will I choose?
Is neo-Victorian similar to Gothic literature? Most of the books I'm seeing were books I was considering for gothic lit this year, so I was just wondering if there was a lot of overlap there.

Oh and to whomever suggested The Million's most anticipated, thank you for helping me fill a couple of hours of time I should have been working today and for the rapid expansion of my TBR list!

I downvoted the circus setting and the Millions list - it’s so hard to get new releases on Overdrive in a timely fashion, so for me having a second prompt about reading a new release would make it hard if I decided to read in order again.

Neo-Victorian just means a modern book set during the Victorian era as opposed to Victorian which means a book written during the Victorian era.
Some neo-Victorian and Victorian books are gothic, but not all gothic books are neo-Victorian or Victorian.
dalex wrote: "Emily wrote: "Is neo-Victorian similar to Gothic literature? Most of the books I'm seeing were books I was considering for gothic lit this year, so I was just wondering if there was a lot of overla..."
Ah! Thanks for the clarification dalex!
Kelsey, I love your high/low interpretation!
Ah! Thanks for the clarification dalex!
Kelsey, I love your high/low interpretation!

Gaslamp fantasy
Steampunk
There is a bit of overlap between the two and the distinctions can be a bit murky but those lists at least give you sort of an idea of the types of genre books that could fit this prompt.


I love the high/low one, it has so many possible interpretations and I love that someone suggested high/low fantasy for it or elevation (maybe one underground or at sea, the other in a mountainous region).
Whilst I have a lot of options for books I've owned more than a year, I realise a lot of people are library users so it may not be do-able for everyone, so I might down vote on that basis. I also don't particularly like experimental fiction, seems too much style over substance most the time.


Even doing a biography or historical fiction about people who lived during that time - Florence Nightingale, William Wilberforce, Millicent Fawcett, Queen Victoria (obviously). . . .
There are the subjects of feminism, abolition of slavery, railways, industrialization, evolution, women's right to vote, social reform (the poor, orphans, urban middle-class). . .
Ok! I've voted. I have been waiting a few days to vote in the previous polls, but I feel like I know these prompts well enough and I'm going to go with my gut this week.
In my top, I put:
- A 20th century classic
- A book related to immortality
- A book with a strong sense of place
- Two books inspired by high and low
In my bottom, I put:
- A book with a criminal character (I read Six of Crows this year, and I just couldn't sympathize with the criminal characters!)
- A book set in extreme weather (That's just anxiety for me -- I like a more internal conflict)
- An experimental book (I cheated this year on a book with a unique structure, and I'd probably end up cheating on this one too lol)
- A book set in a circus/etc. (I read The Night Circus this year and nothing will ever live up to it.)
I was really, really torn between my tops, but my bottom votes were pretty easy. Apparently I don't like setting prompts? Except for the "strong sense of place" lolol. I guess strong sense of place is more open to interpretation than the specifics of a circus or a hurricane.
I also ended up going for the 20th century classic over the list (even though the list was SO TEMPTING) because I feel like I read from that list often... almost all of my TBR is on the list from one of the years haha. And, since I plan on reading my entire physical bookshelf next year, I don't need that prompt either. So I ended up with the extra push to read a classic.
In my top, I put:
- A 20th century classic
- A book related to immortality
- A book with a strong sense of place
- Two books inspired by high and low
In my bottom, I put:
- A book with a criminal character (I read Six of Crows this year, and I just couldn't sympathize with the criminal characters!)
- A book set in extreme weather (That's just anxiety for me -- I like a more internal conflict)
- An experimental book (I cheated this year on a book with a unique structure, and I'd probably end up cheating on this one too lol)
- A book set in a circus/etc. (I read The Night Circus this year and nothing will ever live up to it.)
I was really, really torn between my tops, but my bottom votes were pretty easy. Apparently I don't like setting prompts? Except for the "strong sense of place" lolol. I guess strong sense of place is more open to interpretation than the specifics of a circus or a hurricane.
I also ended up going for the 20th century classic over the list (even though the list was SO TEMPTING) because I feel like I read from that list often... almost all of my TBR is on the list from one of the years haha. And, since I plan on reading my entire physical bookshelf next year, I don't need that prompt either. So I ended up with the extra push to read a classic.

Same!! I vote for topics that I think will nudge me a bit, but not too far.

- The carnival setting, because I've already read Nights at the Circus and know I don't have anything else that would fit.
- Drink in title, because we have enough title-based topics, and it's too similar to the food one.
- About/by a journalist, because it seems like a narrower version of the writer prompt, and I can't think of anything already on my TBR for it.
For my top, I went with:
- Sense of place. I like that this encompasses detailed landscape descriptions, a city playing a role in a plot, haunted houses, SF/F worldbuilding, etc.
- Criminal character. I like noir, but I could also be pushed to try more fantasy with this.
- High/low. So many ways to interpret it with a fun challenge of finding a pair of opposites.
- Male/female profession. Again, the right balance between open and challenging.

*A book you have owned for at least a year but haven't read - my kindle is full of books I've owned for years...good chance to read one!
*two books - one inspired by the word high and one inspired by the word low - plenty of flexibility here but I thought it would give me a chance to get back to my Robin Hobb books and count this as a book with high page count and then read a short book to counter it.
*a book about royalty (fiction or non-fiction) - I have had Red Queen on my TBR list for some time so would like the push to read it!
*a book about or related to immortality - I seconded this and voted for it last time so figured I should vote for it again. Lots of options!
Ohhhh Bec! The Red Queen series is one of my favorite YA series that I’ve read in the past couple of years!


I would be happy with a lot of them, though. Good list of prompts!

My bottoms: the drink, experimental ( I think) and i also think maybe criminals and the professions.
I'm definitely going to have to try for a rejects challenge for 2019.
Probably will drop PopSugar and Book Riot since I never seem to finish them anyways.
I say that now, but in reality I know I'll end up planning the lists for them because its therapy for me :-)
Really tough round.... I almost didn't want to vote at all...

I know that Book Riot's is meant to be hard, but I get grumpy about reading things I don't really feel excited about and don't finish the challenge. I'm pretty much decided that I'll do ATY instead of Read Harder next year.
For my tops I went for:
High/Low
Portal
Extreme weather
Immortality
And in the bottom:
A book you have owned for at least a year, but have not read yet
A book that is “good for you”
20th century classic
Experimental book


I fit my books across challenges where I can, I think most of the Read Harder ones I've managed to tick off this year have been because I read the book for PS. I usually read 100-120 books a year so I wouldn't want everything I read to be challenge related.

I just went through my lists and figured out where I can fit my PopSugar and Bookriot reads into ATY prompts if need be, because that is my priority challenge. If I run behind I know I'll be able to finish even though its not my original plan. I did the same thing last year.
I know at least a couple of people here will use the same book for multiple prompts. I consider it, but then I just end up adding what I don't finish to my infinity list.
My dream is to one day finish all three without any crossover, but really I just enjoy planning the lists ( I'm planning a rejects list for 2019 as we speak) and as long as I complete ATY I'm happy. I am hoping to pull off all 3 of my ATY challenges this year though.

Oh well I´ll figure it out... Or just go along and see how it goes.

This is the first year I’ve read more than 60 books (or even come close to that!). I’m doing all of ATY and I took 15 prompts from PopSugar that I thought would challenge me but wouldn't be too hard, so I have ATY and that mini-PS without overlap. If I were doing the whole PS, I’d probably have to overlap some.
That’s an option if you feel like overlapping is cheating! Just shrink one of them!
That’s an option if you feel like overlapping is cheating! Just shrink one of them!


For me, it's one category in a challenge per book BUT if a book can fit categories in both challenges, I do it. (I've found that my personal maximum is TWO challenges per year! Three or more challenges make me crazy so I dont try that any more.) Often there is overlap (this years examples include: anti-hero, takes place on water, based on real events/person, to name a few), and I don't always want to read two if the same kind of book, so I'll count that one book towards both challenges.

For me, it's one category in a challenge per book BUT if a book can f..."
Yes, the outburst was me making a decision for myself (which can sometimes feel like a heureca moment, it happens so rarely ;)).
I´m also quite strict (with myself) on the one book pr challenge prompt, but I like the idea of using them across challenges. And it doesn´t have to be a similar-looking prompt: I looked at the AtY prompts this year, and for example, my "ugly cover" prompt from PS is written in first-person, so that fits AtY as well.

I'm about to start Beneath a Scarlet Sky which I'm using for the air prompt here and also for the favorite color prompt on Popsugar.


Senior editor
Analyst
Contributor
Regular commentator on TV news
Columnist
Do people like Stephen Colbert, Nicholas Kristof, Norm Eisen, Anne-Marie Slaughter, Nada Bakos, Rebecca Skloot, Truman Capote, Chuck Palahniuk qualify as "journalists"?

Senior editor
Analyst
Contributor
Regular commentator on TV news
Columnist
Do people like ..."
The Office of National Statistics (UK) recognises the following as journalists:
art editor, broadcast journalist, columnist, commentator, communications officer, copy editor, court reporter, critic, diarist, editorial director, editor, editorial manager, feature writer, freelance writer, journalist, listings editor, leader writer, foreign correspondent, newspaper correspondent, newspaper editor, news editor, news writer, picture editor, political correspondent, production editor, press representative, publications officer, radio journalist, reporter, sub-editor, sports writer, technical
correspondent, turf correspondent, writer
So... yes.
Nadine wrote: "For the journalist category, what exactly is a journalist? Do any of the following count as a journalist:
Senior editor
Analyst
Contributor
Regular commentator on TV news
Columnist
Do people like ..."
I would probably end up counting those as journalists. Definitely Stephen Colbert, Rebecca Skloot, anyone who does investigative reporting. Maybe commentators, not so much? They are the sources that journalists use, but they aren't really journalists themselves.
Senior editor
Analyst
Contributor
Regular commentator on TV news
Columnist
Do people like ..."
I would probably end up counting those as journalists. Definitely Stephen Colbert, Rebecca Skloot, anyone who does investigative reporting. Maybe commentators, not so much? They are the sources that journalists use, but they aren't really journalists themselves.

My bottom 4, a book I have owned for at least a year and haven't read.... too many !!! but I am sure that eventually I will read them; a book that is good for me ... not a fan of self help books and can't think what other kind of book to fit here; a book about royalty , just because we had it recently and there was nothing that appealed to me, I finished reading a graphic novel for that category :P and finally, an experimental book, just because it scares me hahaha

But to clarify, "good for you" isn't just self-help, it can be educational like a book about something you'd like to know more about, spiritual, must-reads, a book someone's been telling you is life-changing, etc. It's unlikely this will reach the top, but there are so many other good choices that I find that don't mind at all.
---
For the Millions Most Anticipated list, we don't have to choose a new release do we? It can be from a list of their previous years, right?

I liked your good for you prompt very much! I voted for it!
Books mentioned in this topic
The Night Circus (other topics)A Son of the Circus (other topics)
A Son of the Circus (other topics)
FantasticLand (other topics)
The Life She Was Given (other topics)
More...
The entire Around the Year challenge list is generated by the group members. We enjoyed the process so much in the past three years that we are creating another list for 2019.
The Process:
The topics for the 2019 RC list will be determined through around 13 mini-polls. Each user will vote for their favorite 4 topics in each mini-poll, which will then add up to the 52 topics (13 polls x 4 topics/poll=52 weekly topics). Suggestions for each poll will be opened until 15-20 suggestions are received+seconded. Then a poll will be opened for voting for one week so you can select your 4 favorite suggestions. This timeframe allows for a completed list in October-November.
The Rules:
- Vote for your TOP 4 and BOTTOM 4 - You are allowed to vote for less than 4
- Voting ends August 28
- One vote per poll per user
- see the suggestions thread for more details on some entries.
Poll entries:
1. a book you have owned for at least a year, but have not read yet
2. a book with a strong sense of place or where the author brings the location/setting to life.
3. two books - one inspired by the word high and one inspired by the word low (eg title, author, setting, # of pages, highbrow/lowbrow)
4. a portal fiction
5. a book that is “good for you”
6. a book with a criminal character (i.e. assassin, pirate, thief, robber, scoundrel etc)
7. a 20th century classic
8. a book from The Millions' Most Anticipated lists
9. two books: A book with a female protagonist & a book with a male protagonist who are in the same profession
10. a book with a circus/carnival/amusement park setting
11. a book that names a drink in its title
12. a book related to social justice
13. a book set in extreme weather (cold, heat, rain, drought, etc.)
14. a a book about royalty (fiction or non-fiction)
15. a book about or related to immortality
16. an experimental book
17. a book set in or written by an author from a country with a red, white and blue flag other than US and UK
18. a book by, or about, a current or former journalist
19. a Bildungsroman
20. a Victorian or neo-Victorian related book
Survey link