Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

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 Friday, October 6 and results will be posted in the morning of Tuesday, October 10 (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.

Possible Prompts:
1. A book known to have a great last line
2. A book that is an Audie award winner or nominee (read in any format)
3. A book involving a wild animal or endangered species, in the content, title, or on the cover
4. A book that helps you reflect or recharge
5. A book that features at least three generations of a family
6. A hot book, or a book with a hot topic
7. A book title that seemingly refers to one or more characters in the book
8. A book connected to one of the 24 letters of the Greek alphabet
9. A book you can read in 24 hours
10. A book suggested by the phrase “Summertime Blues”
11. A book involving travel
12. A book featured on a list for a media or celebrity book club
13. A book with a trial or with a legal term in the title
14. A book that takes place in two centuries
15. A cultural book

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

VOTE HERE: https://forms.gle/agJFTNRskP3VmvFU9
As we only have two spaces left on the final list, the top two prompts will make it in, and anything else will be a close call. If only one prompt makes it to the top, we will have one more round of voting.

THOUGHTS AND IDEAS FROM THE SUGGESTIONS THREAD

1. A book known to have a great last line
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.stylist.co.uk/books/the-b...
https://www.tckpublishing.com/best-bo...

2. A book that is an Audie award winner or nominee (read in any format)
Awards recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken word entertainment sponsored by the Audio Publishers Association (APA). This prompt could be inclusive of many audiobook readers, but still open to all to read in any book format that they prefer. https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/...

3. A book involving a wild animal or endangered species, in the content, title, or on the cover
Note: Endangered species can be plants, animals, and other forms of life. Endangered means that they are in danger of total extinction. More than 50000 different species go extinct every year now, and the pace is accelerating. Since 1970, 69% of all species have gone extinct. That means we have only 1/3 of the variety of living things that we had in 1970. Where will we be in 2050?

Feel free to define wild animal however you like. I define it as anything but common pets. l I would count animals in sci-fi-fantasy books as well. In fact, some of the best fiction on environmental topics can be found in the sci-fi genre

https://www.theguardian.com/environme...
Animals: https://www.goodreads.com/genres/animals
In Decline: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
Before It's Too Late: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...

4. A book that helps you reflect or recharge
The prompt was inspired by this list: https://ideas.ted.com/teds-winter-rea...

5. A book that features at least three generations of a family
This could encompass both fictional and non-fictional books
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/th...
https://bookriot.com/100-must-read-ge...
https://tolstoytherapy.com/multi-gene...
https://offtheshelf.com/2020/05/multi...

6. A hot book, or a book with a hot topic
A hot book =
- a very popular book trending on all the lists, great buzz, best seller, etc.
- a sexy book e.g. Fourth Wing works for both of these, and the sequel is coming out soon.

a book with a hot topic =
- Global warming, climate change
- Wild fires, extreme storms
- Heat waves, record temperatures. ""Heat wave"" is in a large number of titles and book descriptions.
- A hot topic in the news, a trending topic. (Think about the Me-too movement a few years back, BLM, the Jan 6 attacks, the extinction story this year.)
- Current events, wars, politics, attacks, big changes in the world
- A hot scandal

7. A book title that seemingly refers to one or more characters in the book
Examples -no spoilers just information about characters taken from the book summary.

The Only Girl in Town - sounds like the main character ends up literally being the only girl in town.
The Golem of Brooklyn - the golem
The Burnout - referring to main character
The Heiress - sounds like this would be the main character
Jane Eyre - name of main character
Mister Magic - Who is the former TV Host
I'm Not Done with You Yet - probably referring to main characters and her former friend.

8. A book connected to one of the 24 letters of the Greek alphabet
It could include:
- A Greek letter in the title (Life of Pi, Delta of Venus)
- Book titles or character names with homophones of Greek letters, like “sigh” (psi), “new” or “knew” (nu), “pie” (pi), “row” (rho), etc. Examples: Brave New World and Life As We Knew It. Another example is a book with a character named Kai, which is a homophone of the Greek letter chi (X).
- The shape of the letter appearing on the cover (a triangle for delta Δ, a trident because it resembles psi ψ, any shapes resembling gamma Γ, lambda Λ, pi Π, omicron O)
- A connection to the meaning of the Greek letter (an alpha male, a kappa is a Japanese mythological creature, gamma radiation, delta means change or can refer to a river delta like the Nile river)
- Any book with a Greek word/name in the title, or by an author with a Greek name. Examples include Atlas Shrugged, The Song of Achilles, Ariadne, Of Poseidon. Common names of Greek origin include Maria, Anna, Sophia, Anastasia, Christina, Alexandra, Sebastian, Lucas, and Nicholas

9. A book you can read in 24 hours

10. A book suggested by the phrase “Summertime Blues”
This could be:
a book about summer
a book with the word “blue” or “blues” in the title
a book with a blue cover, or the color blue on the cover
a book about mental health (“the blues”)
a book about music/musicians (“the Blues” is a type of music)
and for fans of the song “Summertime Blues”, it could be a book related in any way to the lyrics of the song: https://genius.com/Eddie-cochran-summ...

11. A book involving travel
Any travel from commuting to exploring far galaxies

12. A book featured on a list for a media or celebrity book club
Almost all genres are covered by one or more clubs - historical fiction, world lit, classic lit, literary fiction, popular fiction, romance, mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, and nonfiction.

Several - but certainly not all - options are included on this Goodreads list: https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...

One book club that I know of that is omitted from the Goodreads list is Richard & Judy

13. A book with a trial or with a legal term in the title
The Fraud
Snow Falling on Cedars
A Body in question
Many John Grisham books
Will and testament
Miracle creek
Midwives

14. A book that takes place in two centuries
Could be a time-travel book, a saga (like Michener or Rutherfurd), non-fiction, a book that takes place at the turn of a century...

15. A cultural book
- about another culture
- about arts and culture
- about popular culture
- about changing values, norms and beliefs
https://www.goodreads.com/genres/cult...
https://www.goodreads.com/genres/arts

While this is likely our last poll, I encourage you not to try to "game" the system. Upvote only prompts you'd like to see in the final list, and downvote the prompts you wouldn't like to see. We are more likely to have less prompts if everyone upvotes everything in the name of wanting to get at least two prompts in... use those downvotes!

I like a lot of these prompts and wish we could have more than 2!!!!

Fine Emily celebrity book club is now a definite down vote for me

Thomas wrote: "Fine Emily celebrity book club is now a definite down vote for me"

Lol. I feel our reading preferences don’t overlap much, but I agree with you on this one!

Overall I’m disappointed at all the recycled prompts from previous rounds.

A book involving a wild animal or endangered species, in the content, title, or on the cover.
Note: Endangered species can be plants, animals, and other forms of life.
Article summarizing extinction reports:
https://www.theguardian.com/environme...

Please vote on these lists if you're interested.
In Decline
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
Before it’s too late
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...

ADDED: Recently Extinct animals
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...

So I will try the 4 and 4 I’m often told people like to do
Up:
Two centuries
Travel
Read in a day
Person alluded to in title
Down
Greek
Celebrity book club
Summertime blues
Great last line (don’t want spoilers)

I will most definitely upvote the Greek letters and the 24 hour book for the 2024 connection, but I am all over the place (though generally positive) on several of the other prompts. Looking forward to the discussion in this thread to help me make up my mind. (I do have a couple of downvotes, but that's not of interest.)

Hi, thank you to whoever suggested the Greek letter prompt, but I'm not sure why the wording was changed and some of my examples were removed. (Was this a decision made by the mods to modify it or did the suggester decide to suggest a modified version?) Can someone please add back in the examples I gave and change the wording back? I do not want "one of the 24 letters" to be in the prompt because I want it to be an option for the book to be related to the alphabet as a whole rather than individual letters. The original prompt was "a book connected to the greek alphabet" or "a book connected to (a letter of) the greek alphabet". Thank you!

Here is one of my bullet points that was taken out:
Any book with a Greek word/name in the title, or by an author with a Greek name. Examples include Atlas Shrugged, The Song of Achilles, Ariadne, Of Poseidon. Common names of Greek origin include Maria, Anna, Sophia, Anastasia, Christina, Alexandra, Sebastian, Lucas, and Nicholas.

Irene wrote: "Hi, thank you to whoever suggested the Greek letter prompt, but I'm not sure why the wording was changed and some of my examples were removed. (Was this a decision made by the mods to modify it or ..."

That was me. I changed the wording to make the connection to 24 clearer.

Irene wrote: "Hi, thank you to whoever suggested the Greek letter prompt, but I'm not sure why the wording was changed and some of my examples were removed. (Was this a decision made by the mods to modify it or ..."

Sorry Irene, now that it has been suggested and seconded, we can't edit the wording. But I'll add your example in there.

Ah ok, I guess it doesn't matter. Thank you for suggesting it! :)

Edit: Thanks Emily!! <3

Emily wrote: "While this is likely our last poll, I encourage you not to try to "game" the system. Upvote only prompts you'd like to see in the final list, and downvote the prompts you wouldn't like to see. We a..."

I thought we got more winners when people gave upvotes to all the ones they really liked. I think it's counterproductive gaming to downvote the popular prompts in order to give your favorite a better chance. You might end up with nothing you like.

The most I ever gave was 6 upvotes because I liked them all.

My initial reaction to the "legal term in the title" prompt was meh but I actually have some great options on my list of potential reads for 2024.

The Reckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greenwood
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
The Trials of Koli by M.R. Carey
Trust by Hernan Diaz
The Dragon's Promise by Elizabeth Lim
Transcription by Kate Atkinson

At first & 2nd glance, I have 6 upvotes. The rest are neutral. I wish MJ’s suggestion would’ve got in. I would’ve voted for that one, too!

@Emily...typo correction

14. A book that takes place in two centuries
...a sage (should be saga)

KP wrote: "Emily wrote: "While this is likely our last poll, I encourage you not to try to "game" the system. Upvote only prompts you'd like to see in the final list, and downvote the prompts you wouldn't lik..."

What I meant was some people were talking about only including upvotes and no downvotes so that we can get our final two prompts in this round. It's important to have a healthy mix of upvotes and downvotes in the polling process. Obviously if you like all of the prompts, use only upvotes! But knowing that only two prompts will make it in often tempts people to manipulate their voting, and I was just trying to discourage that.

Pam wrote: "At first & 2nd glance, I have 6 upvotes. The rest are neutral. I wish MJ’s suggestion would’ve got in. I would’ve voted for that one, too!"

Thanks Pam, I’m keeping it for next time! I was waffling between suggesting that one and a cover prompt and waited too long!

KP wrote: "
I thought we got more winners when people gave upvotes to all the ones they really liked. I think it's counterproductive gaming to downvote the popular prompts in order to give your favorite a better chance. You might end up with nothing you like.

The most I ever gave was 6 upvotes because I liked them all.
"

I think, it also makes it hard to have a clear winner, when there are many prompts with a high percentage of up votes but not really a clear winner.

I vote 4/4 so if I have 5 possible up votes and there are 2 I like equally I up vote the one I think has a better chance. Just like if I have 5 possible down votes and there are 2 that I'm equally less interested in I will down vote the one I think is more popular. (Sometimes I guess right and sometimes I'm surprised).

Emily wrote: "While this is likely our last poll, I encourage you not to try to "game" the system. Upvote only prompts you'd like to see in the final list, and downvote the prompts you wouldn't like to see. We a..."

Oh, I'm using my downvotes, don't worry!

I copy/paste the prompts into a google doc. I first sort them by initial reaction (yes, no, maybe). Then I do some research - checking what options I have on my TBR List that might work, considering different angles to the prompt, etc. Based on the research, I might rearrange a few prompts.

I think most of my votes this year have been 2 up, 6 down. I'm pretty sure there have been a few weeks that I had 8 downvotes.

I have not loved the prompt options this year. I've felt more strongly about downvoting than I did about upvoting.

I really like Audie Award, I read a lot of audiobooks. Also excited about great last line. I think it’s a fantastic alternative to first line. I’m never really pulled towards first likes of books, and I feel the list of options is always the same. But there are definitely times I’ve finished a book and gone WTF! I just had that reaction last night finishing up The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin.

I’ll also upvote celebrity book club.

There are a few I’ll downvote because I feel we see a version of them every year. Then don’t know what to do with the rest of my votes.

Thomas wrote: "Fine Emily celebrity book club is now a definite down vote for me"

I haven't thought through my votes yet (other than loving the two with the 24 connection), but I'm downvoting this. We had talked in the Wild discussion about in-person book clubs and some prompt that covered those as well as the celebrity ones. While I could find a book on a celebrity book club, I'm just annoyed at the wording. Why are books picked by a rom-com actress or the daughter of a former president more important or worthy of a prompt than the ones my book club picks for itself? Don't get me wrong, I watch a lot of Reece's movies, but how does that make her an authority on books?

My favorite suggestion this go-round is a book that makes you reflect or recharge. This could be a good choice for those people who want to read books with serious issues such as immigration, politics, mental heath/grieving/loss, social justice, current events, etc. It’s been hard to get those types of topics voted in. Any book that causes you to reflect on a topic would work. It could also be something positive - inspirational and motivating! That’s how I interpret it at least. I would also use it for philosophical or spiritual books. For the recharging piece, that would include for me travel books with beautiful photos, cookbooks, health/exercise topics, or a novel that is uplifting, hopeful or funny. Nothing to do with dystopian societies or pandemics!

Dubhease wrote: "We had talked in the Wild discussion about in-person book clubs and some prompt that covered those as well as the celebrity ones. While I could find a book on a celebrity book club, I'm just annoyed at the wording. Why are books picked by a rom-com actress or the daughter of a former president more important or worthy of a prompt than the ones my book club picks for itself? "

Celebrity and media book clubs are popular for a reason, whether you agree with the concept or not.

And I saw no need to broaden the prompt when there are literally hundreds of book club choices with millions of options for books.

I don't feel strongly about it one way or another. But I do think the prompts for next year are very lacking in lists and awards so I suggested this prompt.

I'm a bit baffled by the prompt "A book title that seemingly refers to one or more characters in the book."

If the title seemingly refers to a character then something like The Firekeeper’s Daughter would work but something like Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine would not work, since the character is directly referred to, correct?

Or would it be more accurately worded "a book with a title that refers to a character, either directly or indirectly"?

I have to agree with Dubhease on the celebrity book club selections. In fact, I used to avoid any book with The Oprah book club emblem on it! I felt like the book had received plenty of attention because of her promotion of it. And, I’m not usually interested in bestsellers. I am glad, though, that people may be reading more because of these celebrity groups. I prefer selections from podcasts, literary prizes, my library’s book club and group reads in other GR groups. I probably will stay neutral on this suggestion. I could make it work.

Dalex - I wondered the same thing with the “seemingly” wording. To me, Eleanor Oliphant would not work because there is no question about who the title refers to.

dalex wrote: "I'm a bit baffled by the prompt "A book title that seemingly refers to one or more characters in the book."

If the title seemingly refers to a character then something like."

I think both those books would work, since Jane Eyre is included in ideas part of the prompt. I think how you wrote it with a character either directly or indirectly named is the intention of the prompt.

I personally find the list is already title heavy, so I’m not interested in more title prompts. Though, title prompts are other’s favorites so they might feel like we actually need more.

Jillian wrote: "I think both those books would work, since Jane Eyre is included in ideas part of the prompt."

Jane Eyre being on the example list is part of why I'm confused. She's directly referred to, not seemingly.

What are some examples of a media book club? Does it mean a book club where there is an online aspect? I’m just not familiar with the phrase. When I query it, some clubs that pop up are The Doof Book club, Evening Book club, and Lemonada Book club. They actually have some selections I like. If that’s what media refers to, I will vote for the prompt.

dalex wrote: "Jillian wrote: "I think both those books would work, since Jane Eyre is included in ideas part of the prompt."

Jane Eyre being on the example list is part of why I'm confused. She's directly refer..."

Here is some clarification from the suggestion thread (I copied and pasted it):

message 82: by Samantha (last edited 2 hours, 49 min ago) 2 hours, 50 min ago
Samantha | 1253 commentsNike wrote: "By the way - after seconding it - I wonder what I seconded .. why seemingly? Does that mean that it doesn't refers to anyone in the book. I don't get that but I have seconded it so I can't withdraw..."

I am open to changing it but the intention was that if you pick a book with the belief that it refers to a character and for some reason it doesn't that's ok.

I sometimes struggle with character prompts because it is hard to know about the characters prior to reading the book. I think there are some people who like to know as little as possible about a book prior to getting started.

If it would be clearer I am fine with - A book title that refers to one or more characters in the book.

Pam wrote: "What are some examples of a media book club?"

The Goodreads list uses the term.
https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...

It's things like Good Morning America and Good Housekeeping.

Media - mass communication - broadcasting, publishing, and the internet (by definition)

The word “seemingly” makes me think that there is more to the story, some uncertainty or question as to the person’s identity.

Thank you Dalex! Somehow I missed that link. I will upvote it. I see some books I loved and others I still want to read! I have to let go of my Oprah Book Club bias since two of my favorites this year are on her list.

I take the "seemingly" as just being there to protect you if it turns out not to be the case, and to help out those people who wouldn't want the spoilers of knowing i.e. that The Innkeeper's Apprentice is in fact, a character in the book and not the name of the painting that all the characters decide to steal (made-up example).

I think it's just like a broader version of this year's full name in title, which I am totally fine with because that was my favorite prompt. For some reason, if I see a full name in a title, I want to read that book!

Joanna, you nailed my intention in the use of seemingly.

I often struggle with character prompts because I don't want to know to much before diving into a book so was trying to be clever but seem to have been confusing instead.

I am ok with removing the seemingly if that helps.

Thank you Joanna for your explanation. That makes sense. I was reading more into it than was necessary. That’s a possible upvote for me. I’m up to 8 upvotes now. I’ll see if that holds until tomorrow morning. 😂 Probably not.

Alrighty. If the "seemingly" prompt gets voted in I'll do a title that is indirect rather than direct. But I'm not upvoting it simply because I don't like how it's worded. (Sorry.)

dalex wrote: "Pam wrote: "What are some examples of a media book club?"

The Goodreads list uses the term.
https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2......"

Amazon's book club would fit as well

Pam wrote: "Thank you Dalex! Somehow I missed that link. I will upvote it. I see some books I loved and others I still want to read! I have to let go of my Oprah Book Club bias since two of my favorites this y..."

You're welcome! The Oprah book club got me back into reading so I have a soft spot in my heart for it. In my late teens and college years I read mostly fantasy and some sci-fi. After college I wasn't reading much of anything. And then the library had a display of the Oprah books so I grabbed one out of curiosity. (I think it was The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton) I fell in love with reading all over again and her book choices had me branching out and trying new genres.

I don't dislike any of the suggestions but I haven't got a clue about which novels are having great last lines and I won't vote for it.

My favourites are 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 14 and 15. I love prompt nr 4, don't recall that from our wild discussions but really find it to be a beautiful prompt.

I have to think carefully about my eighth vote.

For me, a book you can read in 24 hours means a book under ~250 pages, a mid-grade, or a graphic novel. I’m ok with all 3 of those, especially if one is a prize nominee or winner! 🏆 In my younger days, I could power through a book like Stephen King’s It in 24 hours! Can’t do it now.

Emily wrote: "While this is likely our last poll, I encourage you not to try to "game" the system. Upvote only prompts you'd like to see in the final list, and downvote the prompts you wouldn't like to see. We a..."

Hm, but if one is an upvoter by habit? I almost never downvote, must I start now? I have seven upvotes already but that's how it usually turns out for me.

and I'm the opposite I always do a majority of downvotes and will do so again on this poll

Nike - Absolutely not! No reason to change your habits now. Vote for what you like.

Pam wrote: "For me, a book you can read in 24 hours means a book under ~250 pages, a mid-grade, or a graphic novel."

If you can read 50 pages per hour and you read for 24 hours that would equal a 1,200 page book.

The prompt doesn't say what it means so that's a downvote for me.

My issue with prompts like a book you can read in 24 hours is the "can". I'm an overthinker and there are a lot of books I CAN read in 24 hours, but do I actually have to read it in 24 hours for it to count? Then I get all anxious and confused and feel like I'm cheating.

Probably not a downvote, just a crazy tick

Nike wrote: "I haven't got a clue about which novels are having great last lines..."

I'm guessing you would have to find a list somewhere online of classic novels that are known for having great last lines.

Or you'd have to hope you stumble across a book during the year that has one. But technically that's inaccurate because the prompt is "a book KNOWN to have a great last line." You kind of have to know in advance that it fits.

Not a big fan of this prompt (nor it's opposite - a great first line.)