Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Time for another round of results, and this one was a nailbiter!

Top:
A book related to Boats, Beaches, Bars, Ballads, or Jimmy Buffett
A book by an author known by their initials
A book by an author from an African country

Bottom:
A book with a poem in it
A book with 'guide' in the title

Close Call:
A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2023 or 2024

Polarizing:
A book connected to Anne of Green Gables

And the winner of our Summer Reading Challenge drawing, Kristin, chose the following prompt:
A book by an Edgar Award-winning author

Listopias:
A book related to Boats, Beaches, Bars, Ballads, or Jimmy Buffett
A book by an author known by their initials
A book by an author from an African country
A book by an Edgar Award-winning author

The next round of suggestions will open around 7:30 am CST on Monday, September 11.

Relevant links for the Edgar Award winning author:

https://edgarawards.com/all-winners/
https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/...

Note that the prompt is a book by an award winning author, so you don't have to read the book that won the award.

Some of the winning authors write in multiple genres, so you don't necessarily have to read a mystery.

And I salute the Jimmy Buffett creators - my theory about pop culture not getting in has been disproved! I'm sure it helped to have the various options of Boats, Beaches, etc. We are getting a good number of "fun" prompts this year.

In my opinion, this is the best set of results yet! I love all 4 of them. I was surprised to see Stephen King on the list of Edgar Award winners. He’s my first choice for that prompt but lots of new-to-me authors to consider.

Yes, I was really surprised Jimmy Buffett got in given the number of people in Wild Discussion who had absolutely no idea who he was - as opposed to other pop culture prompts where people had heard of the reference, but just weren’t interested. I think you are right Robin about the ballads, bars, beaches, and boats really helping.

I had no idea who Jimmy Buffett was, but I liked the sound of him and his prompt, so I voted for him!

I picked up People We Meet on Vacation from a tiny library. That's being penciled in for the Buffett prompt to be read on summer vacation next year.

I am one of those people who has no idea who Jimmy Buffet is but still I voted for the prompt because Boats, Beaches, Bars, Ballads sounds really interesting.

I am glad that A book by an author from an African country made it. I am happy with these results. I only wish that Mushroom prompt had made it in as well. I really like the prompt and all the possibilities it has.

It didn’t get bottomed so it can be voted on again.

I'm thrilled about Jimmy Buffett, but disappointed about Anne.

At the moment, for the Jimmy Buffett prompt, I think I’ll read “Three Women and a Boat”, which is about a narrowboat trip through the canals of England. I’m picking this because I’ve wanted to take a trip like this for about 20-25 years, so even if I never get to do that, maybe I’ll at least see what it’s like.

I’m really happy about African Authors, and also really disappointed about Mushrooms. I never really thought of mushrooms as being an autumn thing, but I was out shopping today, and all the Halloween and Autumn decor was out - mushrooms everywhere!

Happy with these results. I think I upvoted all of them.

Just realized the initial prompt says “known for” which makes me think authors like George RR Martin or Taylor Jenkins Reid would count, because people shorten their names to GRRM and TJR.

Yay 4 more prompts and I like them all.

I was a bit worried about the Edgar Awards when I went through the novels list and barely recognised anyone. I've now gone through the other categories and they broaden it out quite a bit. Anthony Horowitz won for TV show and Rick Riordan won for short story. I also tell myself every year that I will start reading more Stephen King and never do so 2024 might be the year.

I also have no idea who Jimmy Buffett is but the prompt made me think of beach or summer reads which should be easy to find something. I'm also a sucker for alliteration.

Yay, early results (and yep, Sunday afternoon here for me :))
It's nice to have 3 (plus summer reading challenge winner) winners.

Meh, not really a fan of the winners this time around. The Jimmy Buffet one has absolutely zero appeal to me personally (I have no clue who he is), but it should be easy enough to fulfill at least. I prefer prompts where I can easily know on my own whether the book I have in mind fits, so I'd go for the beaches or boats angle rather than related to him. Although having said that, it feels a bit similar to the "related to sea" prompt we already have so I might need to rethink.

I wasn't that excited for African author, but then I saw that Namina Forna is from Sierre Leone, and the third book in her series should be coming. I'm intending to read the first two this year, but might save the third to read it early next year, or push off the entire series.

Pleasantly surprised by the Edgar Award winning authors. I was expecting not to have many that I was interested in, but then I saw Angie Kim on the list and I really want to read Happiness Falls (if I can wait until next year), as well as Anthony Horowitz and a few others.

Yay! Thought I had to wait until tonight for results! Very happy with the results :)

Glad someone with understanding won the summer one ( after last years I was quite sceptical of the ones we don’t vote on)
Initials great, Jimmy Buffett okay and well will cope with Africa

I'm a bit disappointed but not surprised over mushrooms/Anne, but otherwise for me, the results are fine. I liked the Buffet prompt, without knowing much about him. Thanks to Kristin for the Edgar Prompt, which has enabled me to use a book I've been waiting to fit in for some time.

LeahS wrote: "I'm a bit disappointed but not surprised over mushrooms/Anne, but otherwise for me, the results are fine. I liked the Buffet prompt, without knowing much about him. Thanks to Kristin for the Edgar ..."

Leah- thank you for endorsing Anne.
Admins- given how many there have been will you be reinstituting the Close Call prompt this year

I like the Jimmy Buffet prompt. We did need author prompts, and these two will be easy to fill.

But we ended up with an American centric award. Ugh. With so many people who participate in the group from around the world, I would like to have awards that are open to those other than Americans.

We've only had 8 non-repeat, non-multi week Close Calls, so no, we probably won't have a Close Calls poll. We only have 12 more prompts to vote in, so I'd say if you liked a Close Call, now is the time to resubmit it.

A very exciting week for results! Two of my upvotes (including one I helped workshop/suggest) got in, so I'm pleased with that.

I don't care too much about the Jimmy Buffett prompt, but I already have a book idea for it (a navy romance) so it should be easy enough to fill.

And I am fascinated by the Edgar prompt; it's one I never would've voted for I think, but there are so many interesting authors on there that I'm sure I can find something. I mean, I already see Alyssa Cole on there...

Anastasia wrote:
" But we ended up with an American centric award. Ugh. With so many people who participate in the gro..."

I'm using an Irish author (Adrian McKinty) for the Edgar prompt. The 2021 winner is Indian (Deepa Annapara); Martin Edwards, Kate Summerscale and Elly Griffiths are all British winners.

So, the award is certainly open to non-USA writers. I suspect though winners will be writing in English.

The mods were very excited to see an award list (though since the book doesn't technically have to be an award winning book, I consider it an author prompt, not an award prompt) AND a prompt with so many options.

Alyssa Cole, Angeline Boulley, Anthony Horowitz, Angie Kim, Courtney Summers... lots of contemporary authors who are still publishing on there!

@LeahS on the awards page, it says they have to have an American citizenship.

The author must be an active member to submit for the award. Here are the rules to be an active member
https://mysterywriters.org/how-to-bec...

The only award that requires a US citizenship is the Best First Novel. It says, "This is the sole Edgar® Awards category that excludes those who are not American citizens."

So all of the other awards (including Best Novel) are open to non-US citizens.

Found here: https://mysterywriters.org/edgars/edg...

The rules you posted say that you qualify IF, so if they meet one of the criteria, they qualify, but they don't have to reach all of the criteria. If a book is published in the US, it qualifies, even if it's not written by a US citizen.

It is a bit US-centric because it has to be a book that is published in the US, but the authors do not have to be US citizens, and, as LeahS pointed out, there have been quite a few winners that aren't from the US!

Though I'd love to see another awards prompt get in that isn't focused on US books. I know there was talk about the Booker in the Wild Discussion and I do hope that gets suggested.

LeahS wrote: "Anastasia wrote:
" But we ended up with an American centric award. Ugh. With so many people who participate in the gro..."

I'm using an Irish author (Adrian McKinty) for the Edgar ..."

No, I actually found - to my big surprise because I thought the winners had to be from the US - that there are Swedish winners. So obviously even books translated into English are able to win the prize.

Anastasia wrote: "The author must be an active member to submit for the award. Here are the rules to be an active member
https://mysterywriters.org/how-to-bec..."

I found two Swedish winners though.

I’m really happy about all the prompts, including the Edgar Award.

Congratulations Kristin, and good job!

If we’re going to try for another award prompt, I would like it to be broader than the Booker prize (which is for books published in Britain. I do like Tracy’s idea to add in the international prize. I like the Dublin international prize too. Australia has good awards, and Nobel prize is international. Pulitzer has several different awards,

I love these results!! I am so glad we do the thing where a member "wins" and gets to choose one category. It feels fresh and new each time.

I am, however, mourning the absence of MUSHROOMS. In fact, I think I might replace "author known by initials" with mushrooms on my challenge.

I was too distracted with the readathon to notice the results were posted early! I don't recognise a lot of the Edgar winners but I liked Miracle Creek so I might read Happiness Falls even though it's not my usual sort of thing.

I love Africanfuturism so looking forward to the African author prompt, maybe Womb City which is out next year. I also like the Jimmy Buffett prompt even though I don't know his songs. I downvoted initials because it's a bit boring but I can just read T. Kingfisher so it's fine.

I don't like the Jimmy Buffett prompt at all. I didn't know who he was and when I watched the video someone linked to I was made aware the he's s country artist and I so dislike country music (and it's a very US-centric music style). I apologize to those of you who likes it, I don't want to offend anyone.
Boats and beaches are to similar to the At Sea-prompt.
I'm not at all interested in reading something that takes place in a bar and even though I wouldn't mind reading something that has to do with a ballad I don't think I will find something in my shelves that fits. For now I have "The Book of Pi" as a suggestion for both At Sea and this prompt.

I love the African author prompt - it will be one of my favourites.

I'm neither for or against the initials prompt. It will help me to pursue my attempt though to finally start reading (or continue to read the series if I manage to start this year) Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.

The Edgar Allan Poe Award was first a no, since I believed it only contained American authors. After reading the list of winners and nominees I discovered to my surprise that Swedish authors were represented (as well as Danish) so even though I find it to be a too narrowing prompt since most of the authors are American I do know what to read for it.

I miss my mushrooms but will try again. 🍄

Nadine in NY wrote: "I love these results!! I am so glad we do the thing where a member "wins" and gets to choose one category. It feels fresh and new each time.

I am, however, mourning the absence of MUSHROOMS. In fa..."

🍄💜🙂

Thomas wrote: "LeahS wrote: "I'm a bit disappointed but not surprised over mushrooms/Anne, but otherwise for me, the results are fine. I liked the Buffet prompt, without knowing much about him. Thanks to Kristin ..."

LeahS wrote: "I'm a bit disappointed but not surprised over mushrooms/Anne, but otherwise for me, the results are fine. I liked the Buffet prompt, without knowing much about him. Thanks to Kristin for the Edgar ..."

I'm sorry about Anne, too, and I would love to see the Close Calls prompt this year!

Nike wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "I love these results!! I am so glad we do the thing where a member "wins" and gets to choose one category. It feels fresh and new each time.

I am, however, mourning the absenc..."

I hope mushrooms get suggested again. Such a great idea.

Leah and Dixie- thank you I had been considering a book by an author from Australia, New Zealand or Canada.

Dixie wrote: "Nike wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "I love these results!! I am so glad we do the thing where a member "wins" and gets to choose one category. It feels fresh and new each time.

I am, however, mourni..."

Me too and some of the other wilder prompts.

For those adding books to our Listopia of African authors, please double-check that the author is actually African. We already have several on the list who are not, and other "African authors" Listopias are riddled with them. African-American is not African, having lived in Africa does not (necessarily) make a person African, and if a book takes place in Africa, that does not mean its author is African. It only takes a moment to look up the author and be sure before adding. Many thanks!

If an author was born in an African country but then moved to the US, I feel like they would still qualify? Or do y'all think no? For example, Yaa Gyasi was born in Ghana but was raised in the US.

Or what about Abraham Verghese who is of Indian descent but was born and raised in Ethiopia? Would he be considered "from an African country"?

Nike wrote: I'm not at all interested in reading something that takes place in a bar and even though I wouldn't mind reading something that has to do with a ballad I don't think I will find something in my shelves that fits."

I read Swansong by Kerry Andrew a few years ago. It's based on the old ballad 'Molly Bawn', and the writer is herself a folk singer. It was an interesting book, not a five star, but worth a look.

There are also books inspired by the ballad 'Tam Lin', and a graphic novel as well, I think.

Emily wrote: "If an author was born in an African country but then moved to the US, I feel like they would still qualify? Or do y'all think no? For example, Yaa Gyasi was born in Ghana but was ..."

Emily- isn’t the rule meant to be “ if you say it fits, it fits” but IMO anyone born in or took citizenship of an African country should count

Yea, I'm just trying to see what the group thinks. This is one of the few prompts that I don't own any books that fit, so I'm trying to figure out where to draw the line for myself.

Emily wrote: "Yea, I'm just trying to see what the group thinks. This is one of the few prompts that I don't own any books that fit, so I'm trying to figure out where to draw the line for myself."

I remember struggling with this during the Pacific Islander prompt. Some islands were so small that to go to university, they moved to New Zealand and then got jobs there. One trick I used for that prompt is whether they still wrote books set on the island.

I'd say that if they still write books set in their birth country, it should count.

Fair enough Emily. At the moment it’s my WC anyway but if something comedy along I like even less I will have to give it more thought

Emily wrote: "If an author was born in an African country but then moved to the US, I feel like they would still qualify? Or do y'all think no? For example, Yaa Gyasi was born in Ghana but was ..."

Yes I think if they were born there they should count. Yaa Ghasi wrote about going back for visits, and I’m presuming she was raised by African parents. Many of these authors went to college in England or the US, and some stayed, but as long as they’re originally “from” an African country they should count imo.

I’d be willing to stretch it further, e.g, if a writer was born in London, but raised by immigrant parents, they can’t help but learn all about the culture. I also agree with Dubease, and I would pick a book set in Africa.

Nnedi Okorafor and Lauren Wilkinson appear to be American.

I think it depends on what you view as the spirit of the prompt.

My author Yewande Omotoso is half Barbadian, half Nigerian. She was born in Barbados, but grew up in Nigeria. She is now based in South Africa. On her Wiki page she is quoted as saying:

Identity is complex. I love being a Nigerian, I love belonging to that identity even if my belonging is complex, due to my multiple identities and migratory life experience.

I think that, and the fact that she writes books set in Africa are good enough to fit her into this category.

I did consider a book I want to read by Amen Alonge. He's Nigerian but has lived in Britain for twenty years, and his books are set in London. Arguably he fits this prompt because of his birth nationality, but I decided he wasn't really in the spirit of the prompt. I don't know what he would think!

Yea I'll probably KIS and go with an author who has a strong connection to an African country (like Yaa Gaysi who didn't grow up there but has a connection there) AND writes books set there or featuring the folklore of the area, if I decide to go a fantasy route.