Into the Forest discussion

Every year we create a challenge based on suggestions by group members.
We usually suggest 12 categories.
This year we did an Around the World themed Challenge. Another year we did Magical Creatures. Other years members selected different themes.
If you have not participated before you can have a look here to see what we have done in the past.
https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...

Members are invited to suggest themes. This thread will remain open for one week and then a poll will be set up to select the themes. We will have one week to vote then the challenge will be created and start January 2023!

So suggestions please!

I like the one about mythical creatures!

Another proposal: prompts based on fairytales but with multiple options, like:
-Red riding hood -> a red riding hood retelling or a story that involves a grandma or a story that involves meeting a wolf
-Snow white -> a snow white retelling or a story with an evil stepmother or a story that involves poisoning

Andy wrote: "I like the one about mythical creatures!

Another proposal: prompts based on fairytales but with multiple options, like:
-Red riding hood -> a red riding hood retelling or a story that involves a g..."

Great idea! Perhaps we could have each theme based on a different fairy or folktale or myth and members can choose if they want to read the original tale, retelling or a novel inspired by or influenced by fairy/folk tales or myths.

Jalilah wrote: "Great idea! Perhaps we could have each theme based on a different fairy or folktale or myth and members can choose if they want to read the original tale, retelling or a novel inspired by or influenced by fairy/folk tales or myths."

That could work!

I love fairy tales, so another thumbs up from me.

It works for me too :)

Jalilah wrote: "Andy wrote: "I like the one about mythical creatures!

Another proposal: prompts based on fairytales but with multiple options, like:
-Red riding hood -> a red riding hood retelling or a story that..."

Love it! We might have to help each other to find books though! ;)
I would also maybe try to leave it a bit broad in terms of fit, so if people don't like some myth or fairy tale they can still fit a book that has a theme that fits with it?

I just thought, to be more inclusive maybe include folktales? Anansi the Spider, for example is an African folktale.

Ozsaur wrote: "I just thought, to be more inclusive maybe include folktales? Anansi the Spider, for example is an African folktale."

For sure! I was thinking the same thing! I was going to suggest the Trickster mythology and we can have Anansi mythology too!

Ozsaur wrote: "I just thought, to be more inclusive maybe include folktales? Anansi the Spider, for example is an African folktale."

Yeah, myths/fairytales/folktales should all be included.

I'm already excited for next years challenge!

So far we have:
1. African Anansi mythology
2. Native American Trickster
3 Snow White
4. Little Red Riding hood

Everyone has a choice to either read an original tale, a retelling of the original tale, a book inspired or influenced by the tale or a nonfiction book about

What else?

Jalilah wrote: "So far we have:
1. Anansi mythology
2. Trickster
3 Snow White
4. Little Red Riding hood

Everyone has a choice to either read an original tale, a retelling of the original tale, a book inspire..."

I will need details on what some of these are! :P

Isn't Anansi same as trickster? (Do correct me, I just looked at wikipedia!)

I suggest The Little Mermaid and some Greek mythology / Norse mythology / Indian mythology?

Andy wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "So far we have:
1. Anansi mythology
2. Trickster
3 Snow White
4. Little Red Riding hood

Everyone has a choice to either read an original tale, a retelling of the original tale..."

Need details on what?
When I suggested trickster I mean Native American. I will edit my post to make it clear!

Andy wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "So far we have:
1. Anansi mythology
2. Trickster
3 Snow White
4. Little Red Riding hood

Everyone has a choice to either read an original tale, a retelling of the original tale..."

Also I understood Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood were your suggestions. Is this the case?

Jalilah wrote: "Andy wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "So far we have:
1. Anansi mythology
2. Trickster
3 Snow White
4. Little Red Riding hood

Everyone has a choice to either read an original tale, a retelling of the ..."

Jalilah wrote: "Andy wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "So far we have:
1. Anansi mythology
2. Trickster
3 Snow White
4. Little Red Riding hood

Everyone has a choice to either read an original tale, a retelling of the ..."

Yes, they were my suggestions! Sorry, I looked at wikipedia after and did not amend the all thread! Didn't mean I didn't like it! Just I didn't know of it! ;) I really didn't mean it in a disparaging way, sorry if it sounded like it! I love to learn new things!

If you prefer others to contribute I won't make any more suggestions! ;)

Baba Yaga? She's become very popular in the past couple of years, there are a lot of books featuring her that have come out.

I'm enthusiastic about fairy tales/folklore/mythology, but I don't want to discourage other themes. I'd be very interested in seeing what y'all come up with!

Ozsaur wrote: "Baba Yaga? She's become very popular in the past couple of years, there are a lot of books featuring her that have come out."

I second it! Or maybe we should broaden it to witches/old women/crones?

I am thinking about "Beauty and the Beast" (mostly for some easy, cozy reads or horrors ;-) ) What do you think?

I've got also an idea for "Descent into the Underworld" but it's much more specific than this year's propositions so far and we had portal fantasy in the past.

I like witches/old women/crones. Already got some ideas.

Andy wrote: "Yes, they were my suggestions! Sorry, I looked at wikipedia after and did not amend the all thread! Didn't mean I didn't like it! Just I didn't know of it! ;) I really didn't mean it in a disparaging way, sorry if it sounded like it!."

Oh no worries! I didn’t take it that way at all :)
I just wanted to confirm if those were your suggestions!


Thus far I love everyone’s suggestions!
Baba Yaga, witches/crones, descent into the underworld and Beauty and the Beast are great themes too and I’m sure we will be able to find lots of books to read!

I like the descent into the underworld theme!

Can I nominate jewish folklore? I've read quite a few good ones this year, and I'd like to carry that theme into next year.

Descent into underworld could be Inanna/ Persephone retelling or descent into underworld

Completely left field suggestion (so feel free to ignore it!) but we could have "folklore themes or thropes" and then we could have categories like:

-witchcraft (for Baba Yaga/witches)
-descent into the underworld
-abduction for Beauty and the Beast?

I love all the suggestions, I would love to get to a Baba Yaga next year!

I like abduction for Beauty and the Beast. That would also include such things as Goblin Market, Scheherazade, and Persephone.

Abandonment could be for Hansel and Gretel, Oedipus and Rapunzel.

(Rapunzel was abandoned by her parents to a witch, who also abandoned her when Rapunzel fell in love. Abduction and abandonment are pretty flexible.)

So I guess the question is, do we want to go with specific tales or themes?

We started with tales, now we're veering towards themes. Themes are definitely broader and will be easier to fulfill.

Margaret wrote: "So I guess the question is, do we want to go with specific tales or themes?

We started with tales, now we're veering towards themes. Themes are definitely broader and will be easier to fulfill."

I'd be happy with both (but would possibly have an easier time with themes, I guess, just because I'm very much a mood reader). The suggestion of "descent into Underworld" made me think of themes, because it felt broader than others I guess... ;)

I will participate either way! :) I would love to retain a sort of "international" feel to it, whether I do it with my choices of books or we explicitly build it into the challenge.

Margaret wrote: "So I guess the question is, do we want to go with specific tales or themes?

We started with tales, now we're veering towards themes. Themes are definitely broader and will be easier to fulfill."


Personally I prefer themes but both are good!

Themes would be my preference, but I haven't been real active lately, so whatever the group votes.

Hmmm, I'd like the challenge to relate to the original idea of fairy tales/folklore - so mostly themes, but a couple of tales thrown in.

Going with this idea of themes rather than tales, we would use the themes of some of the fairy tales that have been suggested
For example:
Snow White=The danger of vanity or true beauty comes from with in
Little Red Riding Hood= never trust strangers or the fight between good and evil

Oh and I’d like to keep the international too so I’d like to see Anansi and Trickser and other world mythology still included

So, I looked up what some of the themes or ideas behind some of the tales that were suggested here and here are some.
Descent into underworld
Abduction
The Danger of vanity
True beauty comes from with in
The fight between good and evil
The consequences of making bad choices
Better to be smart than to be strong.
Creating order out of chaos


How does this look so far?
I think this would give people a lot of flexibility as what to choose, but we need more ideas please!

Not sure these are themes, but maybe they could be adapted as themes?

Witchcraft
Deal with the devil
Poisoning
Disguise
Friends are the family you choose
Seclusion

Trickster (Anansi, Native American Coyote, Greek Eris, Norse Loki, etc.)
Crone (Native American Spider Grandmother, Diamonds and Toads, Black Annis, etc.)
Quest (Puss in Boots, The Boy Who Went Forth in Search of Fear, The Odyssey, etc.)
Shape Changing (The Frog Prince, The Wild Swans, Japanese Kitsune, etc.)

Maybe a theme on the moon, or celestial objects?

Descent into underworld
Abduction
The Danger of vanity
True beauty comes from with in
The fight between good and evil
The consequences of making bad choices
Better to be smart than to be strong.
Creating order out of chaos
Witchcraft
Deal with the devil
Poisoning
Disguise
Friends are the family you choose
Seclusion
Tricksters
Crone
Quest
Shape Changing
celestial objects

I will create a survey on Saturday for us to vote on for the top 10, and we'll keep the 2 freebies. :) So if anyone wants to add themes, you have until Saturday.

I like what we have so far! Seconding shape changing; I always love books like that.

Katy wrote: "Maybe a theme on the moon, or celestial objects?"

Or maybe it would be better as Starlore?

Some other possibilities:
Tales about Food or plants
Rites of Passage

Katy wrote: "Katy wrote: "Maybe a theme on the moon, or celestial objects?"

Or maybe it would be better as Starlore?

Some other possibilities:
Tales about Food or plants
Rites of Passage"

I'll add those.

Anyone interested in a book of fairy tales? Anthology.

I've created a poll! https://take.supersurvey.com/poll4589...

Choose up to 10. The 10 themes with the most votes will win. Ends at midnight next Saturday.

Andy, I decided against including an anthology because everything else is theme based, though I actually did consider at one point having a format-based challenge vs. a themed challenge. For instance, a fairytale in verse, an anthology, a picture book, a nonfiction about fairytales, etc. Maybe next year?

However, we can choose 2 freebies on our own. And there are many fairytale anthologies with themes on the list.

I notice a type, "choice" should be "choices." It sadly won't let me edit and now it's going to bother me, lol.

I was trying to think of myths with descent to the underworld.

 Orpheus and Eurydice
Hades abducting Persephone
The Descent of Ishtar to the Underworld
Hercules fetching Cerberus
Charon the ferryman of the Dead

Michele wrote: "I was trying to think of myths with descent to the underworld.

 Orpheus and Eurydice
Hades abducting Persephone
The Descent of Ishtar to the Underworld
Hercules fetching Cerberus
Charon the ferry..."
Japanese tale about Izanagi and Izanami too :)

Michele wrote: "I was trying to think of myths with descent to the underworld.

 Orpheus and Eurydice
Hades abducting Persephone
The Descent of Ishtar to the Underworld
Hercules fetching Cerberus
Charon the ferry..."

Once themes are chosen, Jalilah and I will start threads for each winning theme for book recs.

Great, the poll isn't letting me see the results! Guess I'll have to wait until it's over. Let me know if it's not working for people!

It's giving results once you participate, but if you click again you are asked your choices again! I was curious to see the results! :P

Margaret wrote: "Great, the poll isn't letting me see the results! Guess I'll have to wait until it's over. Let me know if it's not working for people!"

Thank you for setting this up Margaret! I wasn’t even sure how to set up this type of poll let alone know how it works!

Andy wrote: "It's giving results once you participate, but if you click again you are asked your choices again! I was curious to see the results! :P"

Yep, it did that for me too. :) It will be a surprise for us all, lol. It's weird because when I go to my dashboard, it doesn't list this quiz, but it lists one from 2019 that I made.