Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Our next prompt for our Anniversary List is:

4. A book whose title doesn't contain the letter "E"

The 2018 poll will go live on Sunday!

Another surprise win! Will be a fun search though :)

Another surprise is how many books I own that fit!

I downvoted this as my TBR has an abundance of Es, but I've found a few 2025 releases that fit if I do decide to do the extra prompts.

This isn’t my favorite type of prompt, but it’s easy enough.

Will the Anniversary List be another challenge or will it be part of the 2025 ATY challenge?

It will be an additional 10 prompts on the challenge. Optional! We will still have our regular 52 prompts for the year.

Going through my TBR list I learned two things: it becomes hard to see the letter "e" after looking carefully down a long list for awhile, and the word "the" ruins a lot of possibilities! Same for subtitles, geez.

I added all I had on my list to the Listopia. This isn't an easy prompt but I had more options than I expected.

Yay! I voted for that! I don't have the slightest idea what I'll read for it.

You could really BIO and read A Void, the entire book doesn't have a single "e" in it! More impressive, it was originally written in French with no e's and then translated with no e's!

Jennifer W wrote: "You could really BIO and read A Void, the entire book doesn't have a single "e" in it! More impressive, it was originally written in French with no e's and then translated with no e's!"

Yes! I love Georges Perec!

I’m surprised once more. Emily, are there about the same amount of people voting in both the anniversary polls and the regular polls?

I downvoted this one so, again, surprised at the results! But, I can certainly find something. It will likely be a short title, 1 or 2 words.

I was neutral on this one. It's the most bland of all the choices, so I shouldn't be shocked that it got in.

Dubhease wrote: "I was neutral on this one. It's the most bland of all the choices, so I shouldn't be shocked that it got in."

We seem to be voting bland... I hope some eccentric ones get in!

Pamela wrote: "Dubhease wrote: "I was neutral on this one. It's the most bland of all the choices, so I shouldn't be shocked that it got in."

We seem to be voting bland... I hope some eccentric ones get in!"

The Wild Discussion also seems to be a little tamer than normal.

Jette wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Dubhease wrote: "I was neutral on this one. It's the most bland of all the choices, so I shouldn't be shocked that it got in."

We seem to be voting bland... I hope some eccentric on..."

Maybe we need to change the name to "Domesticated Discussion"? haha

No, there were about 50 less votes on this poll than on our normal polls. I'm not surprised, as this is an extra challenge and we may have people who are not voting because they won't be doing it.

I'm voting but I am still not certain that I will be able to do it. Hope I will or at least get some of it done, but who knows what next year will bring!

I like this one! If I remember correctly, I voted for it last time and I voted for it again this time. I like this kind of scavenger hunt sometimes.

It's interesting to me, how many people will say they downvoted a prompt because they didn't have a selection of options of to choose from. I feel like finding the books is half the fun! If you'd asked me at this time last year, "Do you think you'll read any books in 2024 that feature people making shadow puppets on the cover?" I would have said, "Okay, that is weirdly specific, how would I even go about looking for such a thing?" & yet here we are, & I have read several. I appreciate the hardcore planners out there, but it would be nice to get off the beaten path. (Though I personally like the "title with no E" idea.)

I'm in Ciara's boat. I tend to vote for prompts that trigger a treasure hunt instead of those that have a lot of instant options pop into my head.

Angela wrote: "I'm in Ciara's boat. I tend to vote for prompts that trigger a treasure hunt instead of those that have a lot of instant options pop into my head."

Same here. To me, this is the whole point of challenges and prompts. Otherwise I would just work through my TBR in no particular order. The treasure hunt aspect is what makes it fun., both within my (vast) TBR list and when I need to go outside it.

Emily wrote: "No, there were about 50 less votes on this poll than on our normal polls. I'm not surprised, as this is an extra challenge and we may have people who are not voting because they won't be doing it."

Wow - approximately how many votes do we usually have, then? With the regular challenge prompts?

I don't necessarily only read books already on my TBR, but I have a lot of owned, unread books, so if a prompt isn't catered for by my TBR, it makes me think it's going to be a harder prompt. If it's not on my TBR or a new release I can get a review copy of, I'm probably going to have to buy it, because the library service isn't great where I live.

The point of a reading challenge for me personally is it's fun to tick things off a list, and it helps me choose what to read next, from books I actually want to read. I don't want to be forced to read books I have no interest in just to fit a prompt (looking at you, Popsugar 2024).

I do use my TBR, though I've whittled it down a lot, but when I've been doing a theme for the challenge - round the world, books from Europe, multi-choice, then I just search for books that will fit that and look interesting. That's why I like the prompts to be entertaining but not too specific (PopSugar this year was difficult, and I didn't even have a theme for that). A few of the books I've found from those random searches have been duds, but mostly they've been at least ok, so it doesn't worry me if there's nothing on my TBR that's right for a prompt.

We've been averaging over 200 votes for regular polls and this poll had 162 votes.

Emily wrote: "We've been averaging over 200 votes for regular polls and this poll had 162 votes."

Wow! You mods weren't kidding when you said most of the votes come from people who aren't involved in the Wild Discussion. I had no idea it was that many. No wonder we often skew moderate (or "bland", as someone said).

I voted for this one so I'm happy (I did upvote 5 though). I don't think it's bland at all. Good chance for a hunt through my TBR to find books that fit.
For me the challenge is about helping me choose what to read next from my TBR (which keeps getting bigger). And ususlly it's books I own, so I would rather read books I already have than have to purchase or source more. Not to say I don't read outside my TBR, I've started one today for the going for gold prompt which is a memoir from a gold prospector. Wouldn't have picked this up otherwise (only 1 chapter in so not sure if I like it yet). But if I don't have a book available on my TBR for a prompt I'm highly unlikely to vote for it.

Dixie wrote: "Wow! You mods weren't kidding when you said most of the votes come from people who aren't involved in the Wild Discussion."

Just a note, doesn't participate in (involved in) the Wild Discussion does not mean doesn't follow or read that thread. Sometimes the discussion moves so fast that a slower person with more to do than read the thread gets left behind.

I am one that reads...but doesn't frequently comment due to the fact that the discussion has moved on from the point I would have made. And I vote. Be careful about putting down those who do not express their view in the Wild Discussion, please. We are reading.

Bea I agree. I read the wild discussion but sometimes don’t feel comfortable commenting when everyone seems to be all for an idea I don’t like. I just stay quiet rather than be negative and go against the discussion.

I don't think Dixie was being negative about people who don't participate in the discussion. It's more that, with so many people voting, the more generic prompts rise to the top because those are the ones that are more likely to be thrown in someone's poll as a "well I have a few more votes to cast, might as well put it on this one", while the more unique ones are more polarizing.

Emily wrote: "I don't think Dixie was being negative about people who don't participate in the discussion. It's more that, with so many people voting, the more generic prompts rise to the top because those are t..."

I certainly wasn't saying or thinking anything negative at all about those who don't participate - I anxiously reread my post to be sure I hadn't said something that could be misconstrued that way and I don't see it, thankfully. I was simply expressing my surprise that we have so many "quiet" members. The more people who are involved in anything, not just voting here, the more moderate things tend to skew - assuming those people come from a variety of different preferences and points of view, as this group clearly does. And there's nothing inherently bad about that either. I haven't complained about it. You can always BIO anything.

For me the challenges helps me to choose from my own bookshelves. I think I might have 800 still unread books in my shelves and I find it really difficult to choose because I always want to read so many at the same time. The challenges on Goodreads really help me determine a good reading routine and I manage to read through my own books. I do scavenger hunt but in my own book cases!

And then there's always the odd prompt -or a few - where I do need to go to the library (or find the audiobook version). Since I've built my own library during so many years it's actually very exciting to search through my book cases. Now when both my sons are adults and my youngest son (who's on the spectrum) has gotten help to start his adult life I finally relax and have started reading the way I did while I was a child and in my late teens. (Not that same amount of reading in my early teens).
And when I was studying at the university there were no time for reading anything but the ... (What do you call the literature that you read when you study? We call it the equivalent of "course literature" but that sounds a bit off in English ...,)!

So I'm happy diving into my treasure vault of books 🤩 and it's such a fun way to use this challenge for that. (I actually don't have but one book - that I know of - for my beloved mushroom prompt. And I can't tell why I"m so passionate about it.)

Wow Nike - you must have MANY shelves! And now that I know you have just one mushroom book in mind, I have to know what it is…

Nike wrote: "For me the challenges helps me to choose from my own bookshelves. I think I might have 800 still unread books in my shelves and I find it really difficult to choose because I always want to read so..."

I feel much the same way, challenges and games help me choose from my TBR. I also studied literature in a university and it almost ruined my love of reading. I would call the course literature “required reading” or “assigned reading “.

Nike wrote: "(What do you call the literature that you read when you study? We call it the equivalent of "course literature" but that sounds a bit off in English ...,)!"

Yeah, that's right. Or sometimes: 'assigned material'.

Tracy wrote: "Wow Nike - you must have MANY shelves! And now that I know you have just one mushroom book in mind, I have to know what it is…"

No I have several mushroom books on my mind, I just don't own them. (Yet ... ) Maybe that's one of the reasons why I'm so passionate about that prompt. It will allow me (I forbid myself to get new books over and over again I just never seem to obey me) to get new books!

The one I've got is Puffball by Fay Weldon but the one I think most of for the prompt is Ghost Music by An Yu which will be released in Swedish today! (I've got to look that up, hope it's on time).

I've "only" got four book cases but they are lovely deep which allow for a double row of books on each shelf.

Robin P wrote: "Nike wrote: "For me the challenges helps me to choose from my own bookshelves. I think I might have 800 still unread books in my shelves and I find it really difficult to choose because I always wa..."

Thanks, yes I do recognize Assigned literature now when you mention it. 😊

J wrote: "Nike wrote: "(What do you call the literature that you read when you study? We call it the equivalent of "course literature" but that sounds a bit off in English ...,)!"

Yeah, that's right. Or som..."

Thank you!

Nike wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Wow Nike - you must have MANY shelves! And now that I know you have just one mushroom book in mind, I have to know what it is…"

No I have several mushroom books on my mind, I just do..."

Oh, sorry, I misinterpreted your phrasing. Still happy to know what is on your Mushroom Shelf!

I think Ghost Music is most tempting to me based on the cover (beautiful) and the synopsis. A little mysterious, a little magical. And I love when the mother-in-law is not the villain of the family (same goes for a stepmom — mine is wonderful and I've known her for 56 years!)

Emily wrote: "It will be an additional 10 prompts on the challenge. Optional! We will still have our regular 52 prompts for the year."

I love this!

Tracy wrote: "Nike wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Wow Nike - you must have MANY shelves! And now that I know you have just one mushroom book in mind, I have to know what it is…"

No I have several mushroom books on my mi..."

I might have used the wrong word, I see that now 🙂. I've only got one unread mushroom book or I only own one would have been better. And I might have more books that could fit without me knowing it!

Wonderful to hear about your stepmother! 💕