Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Happy results day!

Top
A book set in Africa, Asia, or Australia
A second book for your favorite prompt

Bottom
A medical memoir
A book that starts and ends in different settings
A book with a character who does a necessary, but menial job in your country
A book with a sitcom character's name in the title

Close Call
A book with a character who appears in more than one book

The next round of suggestions will open around 11 am CST on Monday, August 18.

I like geographical prompts, so I'm happy about this one, I'll be adding to the Listopia later today. And a second book for your favorite prompt will be easy and enjoyable to fill.

So many bottoms!

I hope "A book with a character who appears in more than one book" gets suggested again, that's one of my favorites so far this year.

I voted for one of the winners - second book for your favourite prompt is one of my all time favourite prompts. I usually pair it with your favourite prompt that didn't get in (which I don't think we've had this year.)

I'm personally over geography prompts although this one isn't hard.

Definitely the year of nice easy prompts getting in! Super happy with both of these. I don't think I voted for the geo prompt but that's just because it's such a gimme prompt (at least for me).

I am disappointed the Sitcom character didn't get in. We haven't had any "creative" prompts this year. And we haven't had any character prompts.

Very happy with these prompts.

Dixie wrote: "I like geographical prompts, so I'm happy about this one, I'll be adding to the Listopia later today. And a second book for your favorite prompt will be easy and enjoyable to fill.

So many bottom..."

I am so happy that the geography one got in. Now I don’t have to execute my threatened plan to suggest a geography prompt every week for the rest of the summer.

I voted for the close call this time. I almost didn’t because at first I viewed it as a complicated way to say “read a book in a series.” It didn’t help that there were two series prompts on the ballot. I liked all the examples. They really helped. I’d wait a few weeks, add some examples or a list and try again.

There were a lot of comments about the medical topic that suggested it would work if it wasn’t just a memoir. I would love to see
a book related to medical health.
With varied suggestions from different POVs, NF, etc,

Always happy with a geographic prompt, but I am sorry 'sitcom character' and 'menial job' bottomed out.

LeahS wrote: "Always happy with a geographic prompt, but I am sorry 'sitcom character' and 'menial job' bottomed out."

Off the top of my head: I wonder if it might be possible to widen "menial job" into something like, "a book about someone who is undervalued in their society". (Or "A character who is undervalued in their society.") That would include all in "menial jobs" but also individuals whose contributions were not appreciated in their lifetimes, and probably people in a number of other groups as well.

I like the tops, I had a lot of bottoms this time but might have voted for these otherwise.

I like geography prompts like this. Australia and Asia are pretty easy but I feel like books written by African authors and set in Africa are still a bit challenging so gives a lot of options to make it as easy or hard as I want.

There is always a prompt or 2 that I love so the second of a favorite is always a nice palate cleanser.

LeahS wrote: "Always happy with a geographic prompt, but I am sorry 'sitcom character' and 'menial job' bottomed out."

I think the phrase "menial" bothered people.

I wish sitcom had made it. I like one or two weeks with a hunting prompt and this was a good one cause it had restrictions

Dixie wrote: "LeahS wrote: "Always happy with a geographic prompt, but I am sorry 'sitcom character' and 'menial job' bottomed out."

Off the top of my head: I wonder if it might be possible to widen "menial job..."

I like undervalued or under appreciated. Or unnoticed.* An undervalued character isn’t the same as an undervalued job though. A person could be undervalued because of their behavior, appearance, gender, etc. not the job itself. Or a character might feel undervalued or unappreciated and blame it on their job, or gender, or race.

There are also unsung heroes who get things done in a seemingly effortless way (often while others get the credit). I’ve read books like this - or books with characters who see themselves this way. (Most of us remember our own contributions better than those of others.)

* characters in a server’s uniform often go unrecognized by people who know them in a different context. Spies often use custodian, or driver uniforms to blend in and go unnoticed.

NancyJ wrote: "I voted for the close call this time. I almost didn’t because at first I viewed it as a complicated way to say “read a book in a series.” It didn’t help that there were two series prompts on the ballot. I liked all the examples. They really helped. I’d wait a few weeks, add some examples or a list and try again.."

I admit I voted against the close call because I also immediately thought of series and we already have that prompt. I wish I had voted after people shared further examples on the thread, then I probably would have voted for it of left it neutral. The prompt could have applied to some retellings too. I hope it gets suggested again.

Dubhease wrote: "I voted for one of the winners - second book for your favourite prompt is one of my all time favourite prompts.
"

Mine too. That one and "a suggested prompt that didn't make it". There are always a few good prompts that I want to read a couple books for.

I see some people do the whole list twice, which is fun. That might make this one unnecessary. But if you did this one twice, you could have done two good prompts three times!

Could “A book with a sitcom character's name in the title” be reworked to “A book with a character that shares a name with a character from a sitcom” or would that be too similar? I know the mods allow for bottomed prompts to be reworked and resubmitted.

I bottomed sitcoms because I don’t watch sitcoms. If it had been a TV show character I would have considered it.

I've posted that suggestions will open tomorrow around 11 am CST!

Emily wrote: "I've posted that suggestions will open tomorrow around 11 am CST!"

Thanks Emily.

NancyJ wrote: "Dixie wrote: "LeahS wrote: "Always happy with a geographic prompt, but I am sorry 'sitcom character' and 'menial job' bottomed out."

A person could be undervalued because of their behavior, appearance, gender, etc. not the job itself. Or a character might feel undervalued or unappreciated and blame it on their job, or gender, or race..."

Exactly. That would widen the prompt (without making it a "read any book") and make it different enough, I believe, to be able to offer it again even though it was bottomed.

This isn't my prompt, but I liked what the author was going for, and the idea of "undervalued" came into my head during the weekend as a possible alternative way to offer this suggestion.

Well, these are unexpected results for me. I UP voted "2nd book for favorite prompt". I thought there was NO way that the "Africa Asia or Australia" prompt would get in due to the number of people who say they don't like geographical prompts (proving once again, that the silent voters can really surprise us).

AND I also UP voted 3 of the BOTTOM'd prompts. Of course we had more Bottoms than normal, so I guess this shouldn't be a surprise.

NOTE: for anyone who didn't vote for the Dublin Literary Awards just because I only included the Shortlist (I could not find the Longlist) — great news! I finally found the Longlist! The problem is that their website doesn't call it that. You have to use the menu Library > Books... So some week in the future I will probably try again, but change it to "nominated book" and provide both the Longlist and Shortlist so you can choose how much browsing you want to do.

Dubhease wrote: "I am disappointed the Sitcom character didn't get in. We haven't had any "creative" prompts this year. And we haven't had any character prompts."

I am disappointed by this too. What a fun prompt.

Maggie wrote: " If it had been a TV show character I would have considered it."

Maybe someone can suggest this tomorrow - a prompt using a TV show character, not just a sitcom one??

Isn't a book with a character that shares a name of a TV show character essentially "read a book"?

Dubhease wrote: "Isn't a book with a character that shares a name of a TV show character essentially "read a book"?"

That would be my concern, too, unless it was narrowed by adding something like "a favorite TV show" or "one of your top 5 TV shows".

Dixie wrote: "Dubhease wrote: "Isn't a book with a character that shares a name of a TV show character essentially "read a book"?"

That would be my concern, too, unless it was narrowed by adding something like ..."

Oh yes, didn't think of that. Never mind.

Disappointing round for me. I'm not a fan of geography prompts, but at least this one will be very easy for me to fulfill. I theoretically like the "second book" prompt, but I'd prefer something a little more unique instead of essentially repeating a prompt. This will be easy to fill at least, but there were so many others here that I wanted a lot more.

Forgot to mention earlier, that the two prompts that didn't make it in, that I was particularly disappointed about were:

A book with a setting that provokes the question, "Why did you go there?"

and

A book connected to one of The Complete Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales.

I thought both of these would have been particularly fun. Maybe try again another time?

Tracy wrote: "Forgot to mention earlier, that the two prompts that didn't make it in, that I was particularly disappointed about were:
A book with a setting that provokes the question, "Why did you go there?" a..."

Any ideas on how we could make Why did you go there? more appealling, especially to people who don't read these threads?

Deborah wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Forgot to mention earlier, that the two prompts that didn't make it in, that I was particularly disappointed about were:
A book with a setting that provokes the question, "Why did yo..."

I was neutral on the prompt and will probably stay neutral even with wordsmithing the prompt. For what it is worth, the word “you” felt off since I’m not actually the one who went there. (This year, I’m less picky on the wording as long as I understand the intent, but I have been in the past).

Jillian wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Forgot to mention earlier, that the two prompts that didn't make it in, that I was particularly disappointed about were:
A book with a setting that provokes the quest..."

@Jillian: that's so funny! I totally read the prompt as the reader asking the character the question "Why did you go there?"

@Deborah: re: how to make this prompt more appealing to those who don't read the threads (or who do, but weren't attracted to this), I'm not entirely sure, as I thought it was VERY appealing. The only thing I can think of, because many people seem not to be drawn to Setting Prompts, is to leave that bit out of the prompt? As in:
A book that provokes the question, "Why did you go there?"
It could still totally be used for settings (where I think it naturally would), but also could be used as the kind of slang phrase "going there", meaning doing or saying something controversial, risky, potentially offensive, or delving into a topic that's best avoided or is particularly dramatic, impling a willingness to cross boundaries or engage in behavior that others might shy away from.
E.g.:
"Don't even get me started on that, I could go there, but I won't." This indicates a strong feeling about a topic and the potential to say something harsh or controversial.

Maybe this could be used for books where someone confronts their boss, an ex-love-interest's new-love-interest, or a difficult neighbor. Or it could be about an amateur sleuth getting involved in a serious police case. Does this make sense?

I'm someone who generally dislikes geographic prompts but I think I voted for this one because I prefer it to the other ones we've had suggested (I have an especially hard time when it's specific to cities). It's definitely doable and as Samantha said, it can be made easier for somewhere like Asia and more difficult by choosing Africa.

Also, I love the second book for your favorite prompt and am so glad it got in!

Tracy wrote: "Forgot to mention earlier, that the two prompts that didn't make it in, that I was particularly disappointed about were:
A book with a setting that provokes the question, "Why did you go there?" a..."

I voted for both of these. I don't know how to fix them to make them better for people who don't read the explanations.

I'm concerned that if we don't pick up the pace in only voting in 1 or 2 prompts a week that we'll be at this for another 14 weeks.

Tracy wrote: "Forgot to mention earlier, that the two prompts that didn't make it in, that I was particularly disappointed about were:
A book with a setting that provokes the question, "Why did you go there?" a..."

Yes, please re-submit both of these after a few weeks.

Tracy wrote: "The only thing I can think of, because many people seem not to be drawn to Setting Prompts, is to leave that bit out of the prompt? As in:
A book that provokes the question, "Why did you go there?"..."

I was thinking there was no way to improve this but I love this idea.

I really wanted the "Why did you go there?" prompt to get in.

But I do like the ones who won. I always love geographical prompts.

Deborah wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Forgot to mention earlier, that the two prompts that didn't make it in, that I was particularly disappointed about were:
A book with a setting that provokes the question, "Why did yo..."

I would suggest removing the phrase "with a setting". I was neutral but planned on ignoring that phrase and using it as a plot prompt.
If it is suggested again with that modification, I would definitely up vote it. I wouldn't encourage suggesting it until much later in the process.

I really dislike geographic prompts. At least this one encompasses three continents. I'm sure that I can find a Mrs. Pollifax novel to fit. Since she travels for her work as a spy, it is my go-to for these prompts.

Nike wrote: "I really wanted the "Why did you go there?" prompt to get in.

But I do like the ones who won. I always love geographical prompts."

Thanks! I'll try suggesting it again later.

Jette wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Forgot to mention earlier, that the two prompts that didn't make it in, that I was particularly disappointed about were:
A book with a setting that provokes the quest..."

Thanks!
At the time people were complaining that we hadn't had any setting prompts, so I had thought it would help,

Deborah wrote: "At the time people were complaining that we hadn't had any setting prompts, so I had thought it would help,

You just can’t please everyone…might as well please yourself. lol

Emily wrote: "Happy results day!

Top
A book set in Africa, Asia, or Australia
A second book for your favorite prompt

Bottom
A medical memoir
A book that starts and ends in different settings
A book with a char..."

I'm happy--I upvoted one of the top two and am fine with the other one. I downvoted two of the four on the bottom