Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Time for our multiweek results, and they were all so close! The mods have been watching the poll results closely and we've had so many rotate through the top.

As a reminder, we will NOT have bottom votes this round. All prompts that didn't make it to the list can be reworded to a single week prompt.

Top:
3 Weeks: Three books where each one is related to land, sea, or air
On the final list these will be worded:
A book related to land
A book related to sea
A book related to air
2 Weeks: Two books with similar covers
On the final list, these will be worded:
Two books with similar covers: Book 1
Two books with similar covers: Book 2

Close Call:
2 Weeks: A work of fiction and nonfiction that are related
2 Weeks: Two books that are part of a series
3 Weeks: Three books related to the lines in a Roses Are Red poem

Polarizing:
3 Weeks: Three books whose titles create a sentence or short poem

Listopias:
A book related to land
A book related to sea
A book related to air
Two books with similar covers

The next round of suggestions will open around 6 pm CST on Tuesday, July 25.

Disappointed the Roses are Red suggestion didn't make it. I hope it will get in as a single week prompt. I don't mind the land, sea, air winner, although we have got 'body of water' this year. Cover prompt is ok but not thrilling.

I think this an interesting mix of prompts. I love books by set by the ocean. I think people who wanted mountains or farming could use the land prompt for that. I really look forward to seeing what people come up with for air.

Similar covers will be really fun to see. I hope people take advantage of the discussion section below the listopia to post groups of similar covers. I’m not very good at cover scavenger hunts but I might be able to find some for this one.

I didn’t vote for either of the winners but they weren’t in my list of 6 bottoms so I’m happy. I’ll be able to make it work.
I might even do a duology for similar cover - I’m sure a duology would have similar covers.

Well, huh. Not what I expected at all. I was hoping for one or two of the more unusual ones but these certainly do the job of filling up 5 weeks.

Bec wrote: "I didn’t vote for either of the winners but they weren’t in my list of 6 bottoms so I’m happy. I’ll be able to make it work.
I might even do a duology for similar cover - I’m sure a duology would ..."

That’s a great idea!. I feel bad that I didn’t vote for the two series books, because I know many people like series book (even though I don’t read many). I thought it would get in anyway.

Hmmmmm .... is there any way to get the Roses are Red and Spine Poem prompts resubmitted as single-week prompts ...? I really liked those. And the three forms of water prompt, too!

Happy with land/sea/air, OK with the cover prompt – it doesn't feel very special either way.

@NancyJ: I am a series reader and have multiple series going at any one time. As a result, I am usually able to fit series books into other prompts. So..although I voted for one of the two series prompts...I will still find ways to include them in the regular prompts.

@Bec: A really great idea!

I wasn't thrilled with the prompts that came out on top, but I can work with both. The close calls were more to my liking for a challenge...especially the Roses are Red one. Oh, well. On to planning.

Bea wrote: "@NancyJ: I am a series reader and have multiple series going at any one time. As a result, I am usually able to fit series books into other prompts. So..although I voted for one of the two series p..."

I think most of them could work for single prompts. I’d like to see one on music especially. I think roses are red could work as a single too. I have a lot of books with life or death in the title, and some with both.

“Life or death” could mean a life or death situation, or a book with life in the title, or a book with death in the title.

Surprised but happy at the winners :)

The similar covers Listopia is confusing to me. The instructions say to "leave a note" about how each book cover is connected to another - in the comments? There are four books on the list but no commentary on how they connect to other book covers. This is going to be a challenging one for me so good Listopia guidance would be very helpful.

Happy with those that got in, even though I didn't vote for them. I didn't downvote either. Sorry the Roses are Red didn't make it, but pleased the create short poem didn't get in. Much too hard for me to bother with.

If you click on the number of votes for each book, it will pop up with a little box that shows the notes left. I put Yellowface and The Guest on there with a note that says "solid color and one body part showing".

I don't know if that works on the app, but you can do that on the desktop version.

To add a note, when you vote for a book, on the right side of the screen, a box shows below your vote where you can leave notes.

This listopia won't be perfect, but hopefully it at least provides some inspiration.

°~Amy~° wrote: "Well, huh. Not what I expected at all. I was hoping for one or two of the more unusual ones but these certainly do the job of filling up 5 weeks."

Agree. I was totally fine with any of the suggested prompts, but some of them just felt like a freebie based on my usual reading habits.

For the first time, I'm considering dropping some of of my other challenges in favour of a rejects one here. There have been so many fun ideas so far!!

I loved the fiction and related non-fiction prompt so much I might just make my challenge out of 54 😂😂

Bec wrote: "I didn’t vote for either of the winners but they weren’t in my list of 6 bottoms so I’m happy. I’ll be able to make it work.
I might even do a duology for similar cover - I’m sure a duology would ..."

I like your duology idea. I just finished Cormac McCarthy's last two books. They were a duology, The Passenger, and Stella Maris. Dark, Dark, Dark.

I'm not keen on the two that made it, but I can usually make anything work. I like Bec's idea of a duology for two books with similar covers. You could probably use a couple of books in a series as well. Some series have something common on their covers. I never thought about that when we previously had similar covers prompts.

Dixie wrote: "The similar covers Listopia is confusing to me. The instructions say to "leave a note" about how each book cover is connected to another - in the comments? There are four books on the list but no c..."

I think it would be most helpful if people could post the covers in the discussions posts below the lists. That way we could see them next to each other. Just like the people posted examples to convince us to vote for the prompt.

Could those who created the Similar COVER examples post them with the listopia? I posted one pair in the discussion comments of the listopia

Emily wrote: "If you click on the number of votes for each book, it will pop up with a little box that shows the notes left. I put Yellowface and The Guest on there with a note that says "solid color and one bod..."

I had no idea, after almost two decades of using Goodreads, that clicking on the number of votes on a list would open up a notes option. Might it be worth mentioning that in that Listopia description? I doubt I'm the only person who had no clue where to look for "notes".

Dixie wrote: "Emily wrote: "If you click on the number of votes for each book, it will pop up with a little box that shows the notes left. I put Yellowface and The Guest on there with a note that says "solid col..."

You are not! I have never been able to find the notes!

NancyJ wrote: "Could those who created the Similar COVER examples post them with the listopia?"

Great idea. Done :)

I mean, I'm fine with the winners, they are good choices.

But I REALLY wanted the Roses are Red and the three phases of water to win. Maybe it's better this way. When a category wins, it brings out lots of criticism too, and that can be upsetting.

Still, picking books for roses & violets & sugar would have been SO FUN!!!

Surprised and disappointed Roses are Red didn't make it. I voted for land, sea, air but it wasn't my favorite. Not thrilled about the cover prompt, I think it's going to be harder than it seems. I do like the idea of using books from a series though, and that's probably the direction I'll go in.

I’m happy about the similar covers prompt. It’s a fun scavenger hunt. Also voted for land, sea, and air.

Hope the Roses are Red prompt comes back as a single week.

With land, sea, and air, I may use modes of transportation to narrow it down. I like the idea of using books from a series to fill similar book covers.

I'm surprised at the ones voted in. I don't feel like I heard much talk about them through the voting process. (or I'm oblivious- wouldn't be the first time) They're not my favorites suggested, but I can make them work.
I do have a duology that I've been meaning to read for years (I went to college with the author) that would work for covers:



I imagine once I start looking, I'll find lots of covers that have similar vibes to each other.

Nancy wrote: "Surprised and disappointed Roses are Red didn't make it. I voted for land, sea, air but it wasn't my favorite. Not thrilled about the cover prompt, I think it's going to be harder than it seems. I ..."

I voted for the cover prompt but it's definitely harder than it looks.

I don't hate these, I voted for the cover prompt and none of my down votes is a top so I can't complain.

I really hoped Three books whose titles create a sentence or short poem would win because it seems like it would be difficult to make a one week prompt.

Anastasia wrote: "With land, sea, and air, I may use modes of transportation to narrow it down. I like the idea of using books from a series to fill similar book covers."


AIR - I might use a climate change book for the Air prompt because of the link to air pollution and the ozone layer. I think you're right that an airplane book could be good too.

LAND - I might use a book set in a plains area or the mountains (unless mountains still has a chance to get in).

SEA - I always have books set on boats or near the ocean. I'm not sure if an Island setting would count for sea or land - I guess it will depend on the book. I might have to double check that I didn't click on books set on rivers or lakes.

For any romance readers, I think the cover one will be fairly easy. There's this trend of a one or two color background and the two people on opposite sides lol



and many many many more

love these picks! I agree with others that I'd like to see some of these other picks come back in single week prompts.

Gemma wrote: "I loved the fiction and related non-fiction prompt so much I might just make my challenge out of 54 😂😂"

I like the related fiction and non-fiction as well, so I'll probably do as you say and make it 54 prompts. Or, you could select a related fiction and non-fiction that also fit two of the other prompts...make it a BIO.

It's your reading challenge, so there is no reason that you can't substitute it for two of the other prompts that weren't at the top of your favorites list.

NancyJ wrote: "Dixie wrote: "The similar covers Listopia is confusing to me. The instructions say to "leave a note" about how each book cover is connected to another - in the comments? There are four books on the..."

We will have a weekly thread once voting is over and everyone will be able to post their covers there. That will probably be more helpful than the listopia when it comes to planning and choosing books.

For the fiction/nonfiction, it could be made into a single week prompt by just saying, "A nonfiction book related to a fiction book you read in 2024".

I think I voted for similar covers, I probably won't be much help on the listopia as I use UK covers for cover prompts and I'd probably confuse people even more! I think similar covers only needs to be a similar vibe for a KIS. Like how most commercial thrillers look the same to me.

Land, sea and air is fine, I hope I can find another terrifying mermaid book for sea, but I've also been enjoying reading about octopuses lately.

I'm happy with the results. And Emily, I appreciate you pointing out how prompts we might have liked (related fiction/non-fiction) can still be accomplished — either through a new prompt like your example, or just by reading two related books that also fit other prompts.

Emily - Good idea! You could also include “or vice versa”, fiction that relates to a non-fiction that you read.

Emily wrote: "For the fiction/nonfiction, it could be made into a single week prompt by just saying, "A nonfiction book related to a fiction book you read in 2024"."

Yes, that’s an excellent suggestion!

I like to connect the books I use for a multiweek prompt so it'll be fun coming up with a connection - maybe three mysteries set on land, sea, and air? Maybe three nonfiction? Don't know but excited to look for unlikely groupings.

Jackie wrote: "I like to connect the books I use for a multiweek prompt so it'll be fun coming up with a connection - maybe three mysteries set on land, sea, and air? Maybe three nonfiction? Don't know but excite..."

Same Jackie! We'll have to share ideas. For this year's century prompt I did it based on royalty. But land, sea, air will require more thought.

Alicia wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I like to connect the books I use for a multiweek prompt so it'll be fun coming up with a connection - maybe three mysteries set on land, sea, and air? Maybe three nonfiction? Don't ..."

That's a good idea. I was already thinking I wanted the land prompt to be related to a volcano or earthquake (don't know why, that's just what popped in my head first), I could easily do a tornado book for air and a hurricane book for sea. Or something along those lines.

Not thrilled with either of the winners, but then I never am with multiweeks so I guess it could be worse. These seem manageable enough at least.

I always find the multiweek results the most surprising. Year after year it seems that the prompts that make it are not the ones that were heavily discussed/seemed to have the most enthusiasm. I know not everyone who votes participates in the discussion though.

Emily wrote: "Time for our multiweek results, and they were all so close! The mods have been watching the poll results closely and we've had so many rotate through the top.

As a reminder, we will NOT have botto..."

I'm not at all surprised, even though I know that I downvoted at least one of the ones that made it. I'm disappointed, but it's majority rules and I'm sure I'll be able to find things to read. As much as I love the mental challenge of making a poem or sentence from titles it was clear from the Wild discussion that not everyone feels the same.

I'm not surprised that the poetry/sentence one was so very polarizing (and of course I upvoted that one :) ).

Robin P wrote: "Emily wrote: "For the fiction/nonfiction, it could be made into a single week prompt by just saying, "A nonfiction book related to a fiction book you read in 2024"."

Yes, that’s an excellent sugge..."

I like it. I would upvote that.

Emily wrote: "For the fiction/nonfiction, it could be made into a single week prompt by just saying, "A nonfiction book related to a fiction book you read in 2024"."

I would prefer it just be a nonfiction book, no qualifiers. I don’t read a lot of nonfiction and what few I have in Mount TBR would not relate to anything I’ve read so far this year.

Heather L wrote: "Emily wrote: "For the fiction/nonfiction, it could be made into a single week prompt by just saying, "A nonfiction book related to a fiction book you read in 2024"."

I would prefer it just be a no..."

Almost anything can be linked to at least one fiction book you have read. You will also have all the fiction books you read the rest of this year. For instance, the nonfiction book is about something historical, the fiction book was set in the same era. The nonfiction book is about medicine, psychology, current events. There will be some fiction book where that was a concern or occupation. Of course, I tend to take a “creative “ view of all the prompts, rather than always a literal one. You may be more precise in your interpretation.

I'm really thrilled with the winners. I love the idea of land, air, and sea, and obviously I'm on board with the cover hunt. We had a lot of really creative and fun prompts to choose from, and it's natural to be sorry for the ones that didn't make it, but maybe some fun single prompts can come out of that.

Jackie wrote: "I like to connect the books I use for a multiweek prompt so it'll be fun coming up with a connection - maybe three mysteries set on land, sea, and air? Maybe three nonfiction? Don't know but excite..."

I enjoy approaching those the same way; my first thought for this prompt was three Jules Verne books, 10,000 Leagues Under the Sea for sea, Journey to the Center of the Earth for land, and The Mysterious Island for air. Would just depend on if I decide to use rereads or not next year (I typically don't, and I've read 2/3 of these already, but I like my lil trio idea too much, haha).

I like land, sea, and air. (I'd proposed the 4 elements before someone told me it had already been done. This is just the elements minus fire.)

The covers is going to be super easy for me. I'm a series reader and most books in a series have similar covers. That's the KIS version of the prompt.

Robin P wrote: "Heather L wrote: "Emily wrote: "For the fiction/nonfiction, it could be made into a single week prompt by just saying, "A nonfiction book related to a fiction book you read in 2024"."

I would pref..."

Condescending much? I understood the wording just fine. I also think I know better than anyone else what I have read this year, what I have planned the rest of the year, and what is on my shelf and whether it connects to anything read or planned for the rest of this year. I have no objection to a nonfiction prompt, but if it remains so limiting, I will downvote it.