Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Big week of voting, and we are down to just 3 spots left on our 2023 list!

Top:
A second book that fits your favorite prompt
A book with an unusual or surprising title
A book by an author you read in 2022

Bottom:
A book related to a poem

Listopias:
No listopia for "A second book that fits your favorite prompt"
A book with an unusual or surprising title
A book by an author you read in 2022

The next round of suggestions will open Wednesday, October 5 around 11:30 am CST.

I little disappointed in this selection but at least they will be easy to fill.

I’m happy with all the ones that got in. I’m am however sad that the poem got bottomed. So we have three left so either the next poll will be it or we go to an interesting situation with two or even one prompt left

And thanks for posting so early

Happy :) I upvoted the first 2, am okay with the 3rd.

I'm really intrigued by the second book for your favorite prompt. I like how fillable it is, while also being unique to our challenge. Bravo to whoever came up with that suggestion.

I really loved this round of prompts so I'm disappointed that so many of what I considered great prompts didn't make the list.

I'm glad the "interesting title" prompt made it this time. Yay!

I'll be so sad when the voting is finished. It's definitely the most active and interesting time for this group!

I really like 'A second book that fits your favorite prompt'. I read first and plug books into the challenge later. Near the end of the challenge, I end up with a few books that don't fit anywhere. I'm going to hold off on this prompt until I find myself in that position. Very helpful!

A book with an unusual or surprising title, I mean I have to read I'm Glad My Mom Died. I can't think of any book title ever that has caused as must shock as this one has.

The author I read in 2022 is a great opportunity to continue with one of the series I started this year. There are at least two that have sequels coming out next year. Perfect!

I see what you mean Dalex we need to find a way to stay active as we move to planning.

I love these results and am excited that the list is almost complete! Not that I don’t like voting, but my favorite part is the pre-planning (even though most of it goes out the window by the time I actually start reading).

Thanks for such early results again, Emily!

Excited by all three prompts that got in! Especially a second book for my favourite prompt. That's the kind of fun flexibility I really love.

Can't believe the voting is almost over! It's been a lot of fun. :)

Yay I'm very relieved to see romance didn't make it. I'm fine with all of these

dalex wrote: "I really loved this round of prompts so I'm disappointed that so many of what I considered great prompts didn't make the list.

I'm glad the "interesting title" prompt made it this time. Yay!

I'l..."

I hope some of the interest carries over into the threads for each additional prompt, where we can always use ideas. I will also miss the excitement of the voting period!

If anyone has ideas for other threads/conversations we don't currently have, feel free to suggest them.

Robin P wrote: "dalex wrote: "I really loved this round of prompts so I'm disappointed that so many of what I considered great prompts didn't make the list.

I'm glad the "interesting title" prompt made it this t..."
for me it's not what we have that cuts talking it's how they are used. We need more people to discuss the books they add in the prompt threads rather than jsut treat them like an extra listopia

Thomas wrote: "Robin P wrote: "dalex wrote: "I really loved this round of prompts so I'm disappointed that so many of what I considered great prompts didn't make the list.

I'm glad the "interesting title" promp..."

I agree with you Thomas and to be honest that is something I need to get better at myself. I often wonder if a book I see someone read is one they enjoyed but don't want to post on their personal tracking thread in case they dislike that.

RachelG. wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Robin P wrote: "dalex wrote: "I really loved this round of prompts so I'm disappointed that so many of what I considered great prompts didn't make the list.

I'm glad the "interesti..."

If someone doesn’t like comments in their personal thread, maybe they should say so? I think that’s the best place to ask, because you can get a feel for what that person reads (edit: to compare reading preference overlap), and they’re sure to at least see it. I rarely scroll through long threads to see if anyone has replied to my comment, because all the cross conversations get overwhelming.

Yea I agree... once I have all my posts set up (like the 5 or 6 I start my thread with), I love when people comment on my planning thread. Makes me feel more connected.

I wish there was more participation in the seasonal thread. There are some good discussions rather than when members make a post but there is no interaction between posts. (I think GR thread set up is the main problem. It is clunky to respond to individuals and gets confusing).

I think, the planning threads are great but they are too overwhelming for me. I just use them to quickly find the listopias when I’m stuck. I’m burnt out on updating challenges in general so it feels like one more spot to update after already updating my thread, and spreadsheet.

Can someone offer up an example or two of “a second book that fits your favorite prompt”? Does the first book have to be one taken from the 2023 ATY GR challenge, or can it be from any other GR (or otherwise) challenge? I’m a bit confused by this. Thanks.

Stacey wrote: "Can someone offer up an example or two of “a second book that fits your favorite prompt”? Does the first book have to be one taken from the 2023 ATY GR challenge, or can it be from any other GR (or..."

I think the base line was this year but I'm sure naother year could be a KIS option

I'm sad villain's perspective or fish out of water didn't get in, but unusual title did and the other two and definitely easy to fill.

I will probably actually pick my favorite prompt to do twice in advance so that it's not too open-ended.

Stacey wrote: "Can someone offer up an example or two of “a second book that fits your favorite prompt”? Does the first book have to be one taken from the 2023 ATY GR challenge, or can it be from any other GR (or..."

Let's say you love the prompt "A book where books are important" and you have two book choices that fit the prompt.

You would read your first book choice for the prompt itself.
Then you would read your second book choice for "a second book that fits your favorite prompt."

ETA The way the prompt is worded, you aren't necessarily limited to the 2023 list of prompts, or even the ATY challenge for that matter! But that is what is intended by the prompt.

AETA Do the mods think this prompt needs to be edited a bit for a clarity? It seems weird that you aren't even necessarily limited to choosing an ATY prompt to fulfill this prompt.

Stacey, for example, my favorite prompt on the list is the Spice Girls prompt. So I would read one book that fills that prompt, and then a second book that fills that same prompt, but I'd get to use it for the "second book that fits your favorite prompt" rather than it just being a "wasted" book that doesn't fit anywhere else in the challenge.

(For those who read in order, that prompt will be very late on the list lol)

I think I will use the "second book" prompt to add in another "prompt that didn't make the list." There were so many good ones!

Clever — I didn’t think of using it that way!

T. wrote: "I think I will use the "second book" prompt to add in another "prompt that didn't make the list." There were so many good ones!"

That's a great idea!

T. wrote: "I think I will use the "second book" prompt to add in another "prompt that didn't make the list." There were so many good ones!"

This is a great idea. I might use it.

I am happy with the results.

T. wrote: "I think I will use the "second book" prompt to add in another "prompt that didn't make the list." There were so many good ones!"

Excellent suggestion.

dalex, I'd say the "spirit" of the prompt to use a 2023 ATY prompt would be the baseline, and everything else would be a KIS option, so I'll leave it worded as is. I'm personally looking forward to seeing how everyone takes this one.

I'm thrilled by the results. I proposed one of them and voted for another. They will all be easy to fill.

WRT having more discussion after the list is finalized, I like the seasonal discussion thread (not the challenge). I don’t think a lot of people participate in it but I find it interesting and a way for me to think about what I’m planning to read in the next few months.

I agree w others comments that more discussion throughout the year would be good! I know that Dalex mentioned she has reading themes each year. I do that also. Next year will be classic Latin American authors. That could be a possible discussion thread - Trends or themes in your reading. The topic could encourage others to read thematically and provide an opportunity to give and receive suggestions. Another idea - New releases you are excited about.

Pam wrote: "I agree w others comments that more discussion throughout the year would be good! I know that Dalex mentioned she has reading themes each year. I do that also. Next year will be classic Latin American authors. That could be a possible discussion thread - Trends or themes in your reading. The topic could encourage others to read thematically and provide an opportunity to give and receive suggestions. Another idea - New releases you are excited about."

These are both excellent ideas! I think the threads need to have a narrower focus and this would be a way to do that.

Robin P wrote: "dalex wrote: "I really loved this round of prompts so I'm disappointed that so many of what I considered great prompts didn't make the list.

I'm glad the "interesting title" prompt made it this t..."

My thing is I'm not going to go into a book thread I have no interest about. I run the book club in another system (Ravelry, the website for knitters) and we have a What Are You Reading Now thread where people pop in and mention books they're reading but things frequently go off topic so much more is discussed. Having one thread for general chat is always good for people too busy to check too many threads. Like right now, I know the Wild Thread is where people are chatting.

I never look at people's planning threads! It seems a lot to keep up with! I do comment on people's books in the prompt thread sometimes.

Stacey wrote: "Can someone offer up an example or two of “a second book that fits your favorite prompt”? Does the first book have to be one taken from the 2023 ATY GR challenge, or can it be from any other GR (or..."

The way I organize is I put the list into a word document and add ideas to that. Sometimes I have multiple ideas for a prompt that I like so I'll use one of them.

There were so many good prompts this round, I'm sad these are the ones that made it. I need more defining prompts that'll stretch me! I really liked the 23 top rated books and poetry ones. And I was hoping for the genre that inspired you- I was obsessed with Landmark biographies as a kid and was looking forward to being "forced" to read a biography again- I rarely read them anymore!

Jillian wrote: (I think GR thread set up is the main problem. It is clunky to respond to individuals and gets confusing).."

Amen! I always cut and paste to show what I'm responding to, but the whole set-up is arcane and would have been a better use of GR update budget than the "new" book pages.

No close calls this time? That's interesting... :)

Pamela wrote: "Jillian wrote: (I think GR thread set up is the main problem. It is clunky to respond to individuals and gets confusing).."

Amen! I always cut and paste to show what I'm responding to, but the who..."

I'm able to reply now because I'm on my computer, but I hate that that functionality isn't available on the mobile app. I like to check in when I'm out and about waiting for something, but it's hard to stay on-topic in a huge thread when all I can do is @[insertname]

Jillian wrote: "I wish there was more participation in the seasonal thread. There are some good discussions rather than when members make a post but there is no interaction between posts. (I think GR thread set up..."



what are these "seasonal" threads that some of you are referring to? Do you mean like the Fall Readathon Discussion?

Nadine in NY - the seasonal thread I was referring to, e.g., is the Fall 2022 Discussion. It’s not the seasonal challenge thread.

There have been various few close calls throughout the year.

I really like the second book that fits your favourite prompt, I'm glad that one made it. Not so excited for the unusual title as we've had similar in the past and I'm not sure I have many options for it. Author your read last year will be easy but that's ok with me.

Stacey wrote: "Can someone offer up an example or two of “a second book that fits your favorite prompt”? Does the first book have to be one taken from the 2023 ATY GR challenge, or can it be from any other GR (or..."

Yes, you would read two books that fit the same prompt, from the 2023 (52 week) challenge. So you might read two books on the NPR list. Or read two books that won a W-award - e.g. I might want to read one book that won the Women’s Prize, and one book that won the world fantasy award.

Pamela wrote: "There were so many good prompts this round, I'm sad these are the ones that made it. I need more defining prompts that'll stretch me! I really liked the 23 top rated books and poetry ones. And I wa..."

I was hoping that at least one of the genres or new concepts would get in. We’re still light on diversity too.

Is it possible that our only genre prompt is western? Am I forgetting some others?

NancyJ wrote: "Pamela wrote: "There were so many good prompts this round, I'm sad these are the ones that made it. I need more defining prompts that'll stretch me! I really liked the 23 top rated books and poetry..."

We only have one genre prompt (the western). I was hoping one of these would get in!

I like these 3 winners. I already know the author I’m choosing (at least I think I do!) 😂 For a second book that fits your favorite prompt, I might go with “prompt that didn’t make it”. It feels like cheating but it’s really not and it’s a way to pick 2 “reject” prompts! Unusual title appeals to me as an opportunity to go to the library and find a book that looks interesting and likely is new to me!

BTW, I’m planning to have my 5 year old grandson do the challenge! I asked him today if he was interested and he said yes! When I post his thread, it will probably be called Bryan’s Kids Books, please feel free to give me suggestions! I’m so excited for him to start reading.

Lynn wrote: "No close calls this time? That's interesting... :)"

By interesting, do you mean disappointing? A close call would give someone the confidence to resubmit a suggestion, or give us an idea of which topics have a chance.

Pamela wrote: "....the whole set-up is arcane and would have been a better use of GR update budget than the "new" book pages."

Yes!

I hate the group discussion format and I hate the new book pages.

Honestly, I rarely participate in the group outside of this voting phase. It's somewhat simple to follow - there's a thread for what we are voting on, there's a thread for what we did vote on, and there's a discussion about prompt ideas.

Everything else .... it's just messy and complicated. I much prefer to hang out on the facebook pages for Popsugar and other challenges.

Nadine in NY wrote: "what are these "seasonal" threads that some of you are referring to? Do you mean like the Fall Readathon Discussion?


Yes

The poll this week was... interesting... and there was a wide discrepancy between the winners and everyone else. The trend is that everyone liked a lot of the prompts, but not many people liked the same prompts, so many of the prompts had high numbers of upvotes and high downvotes.