Robin P’s Comments (group member since Feb 17, 2020)

Robin P’s comments from the Around the Year in 52 Books group.

Nominating is on now and there aren't many suggestions yet.

I sneaked in before you, Dee! you can second or propose something else.

Maevis wrote: "A "cozy" book. Could be a cozy subgenre (cozy fantasy, cozy mystery), about an activity you consider cozy (eg crafting) or in a cozy setting."

I'll second this before heading out for the day.

needabook 📚𓆑 wrote: "I’m planning to catch up on some classics I haven’t read yet, and I’m open to suggestions since my picks so far haven’t really hit the mark. I’m still figuring out what kind of “classic feel” actua..."

Room of One's Own and The Stepford Wives are very different from each other, though they are both about the roles of women. I don't know if you've looked at this list of fiction on GR:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

Amy (Other Amy) wrote: "Robin P wrote: "Yes, I think we went with non-controversial choices."

I think that when there are a lot of popular good choices in the same poll, the vote tends to splinter out across the field in..."

Very good point, Amy, multiple good choices do tend to split the vote.

Nike wrote: "Surprised. Boring result. There were more exciting alternatives, for example the astronaut who ended up in the bottom(?)!"

Yes, I think we went with non-controversial choices.

Personally, I think of astronaut as narrow, even though I read a fair amount of sci-fi and could certainly find something. I know there were a lot of options discussed but for the voters who don't follow all the threads, they might think of a couple of books and not go any farther. Or dismiss it as sci-fi only, which it doesn't have to be.

I liked the totality path which would give a lot of options, but I know some people said they were tired of setting prompts.

Misty wrote: "Robin P wrote: "I'm sorry for your loss, Misty. Since this happened in my family, I've found that almost everyone has lost someone close this way."

You're correct, and it's a particularly crappy c..."

Wow, that's so great that she decided to pursue that career out of the loss, and the breakthroughs. Not to get political but I read recently that a lot of the cancer research championed by Biden (who of course lost his on to it) was now threatened.

Come From Away is terrific!

I have been a season subscriber for the musicals for a while. But last year, they did a lot of jukebox musicals which didn't really interest me. This year is a lot better so I rejoined. I think I got my usual seat back which is right in the middle of the first row of the balcony.

This year I am looking forward to all the shows - Some Like It Hot, Kimberly Akimbo, Back to the Future, Beauty and the Beast, Water for Elephants, The Great Gatsby, and for my 4th time, Hamilton.

Interesting, urban fantasy tends to be my least favorite as it is often very dark.

Tracy wrote: "Maybe for the multi-week prompt “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow” place those in the last full week of June, the week that straddles June and July, and the first full week of July. This placement is..."

I think that's a brilliant idea! And the books could be so different that it wouldn't seem like 3 of the same in a row.

Thanks!

This is the only challengeI know of where members are required to make it work, there would be no ATY without you!

Tracy wrote: "Thanks for explaining the history Emily.

I also think some people don’t realize how challenging it is to come up with a “good” prompt. For one thing “good” means different things to different peop..."

Excellent summary, Tracy!

Wow, great research, Charlsa!

Maybe Z in the author/title should go at the end
Of course Santa's reindeer could go in December, though that would make it challenging for Dixie and others to get all the reindeer in. Maybe "Christmas in July" would work for it.

November is Native American/indigenous month in the US.

Emily wrote: "I don't think the nature/environment prompt needs to be nonfiction! Specifically thinking of Charlotte McConaghy's books"

Yes, I avoid nonfiction on this but love her books.

I would bet almost anything that astronauts won't win - too narrow. - although personally I'd be fine with it. Same for sci-fi from last 20 years. some people just refuse to read certain genres.

A number of mysteries have women over 40 - Miss Marple, Mrs. Polifax, Judith Potts from the Marlow Mystery Club, the women in The Thursday Murder Club series.

- Title - Sandwich
- Author - Catherine Newman
- Rating - 4.5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - n/a
- Brief reason why it was the best - a short book much in the vein of Anne Tyler but it contains a lot of family issues depicted with nuance. I just learned a sequel is coming out.

- Title - The Hallmarked Man
- Author - Robert Galbraith
- Rating - 5*
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - Audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - n./a
- Brief reason why it was the best - This is a terrific detective series with complex characters and plots. The audio is excellent. You have to read them in order. They have become longer and longer but I don't mind a bit. I'm not happy about how the author (who is really JK Rowling) uses her money and clout for negative purposes, but I will never give up on this series.

Nike wrote: "Dubhease wrote: "I admit that I don't completely get the "Women who crosses borders and boundaries" prompt. Other than non-fiction, I don't see what kinds of books someone could read under it."

I ..."

Yes, those are some great suggestions!

I am ok with high fantasy, if the series is finished! I got disgusted with George RR Martin, Scott Lynch & Patrick Rothfuss for abandoning series. No way I would go back and start over if they ever continue. Also if there is a wait of a year or so between books - I started the Sanderson series with The Way of Kings and read the 2nd book, assuming it is a trilogy. No, it's going to be at least 7 books, each 1000 pages +. Life is too short and it's too much to remember between books.

I really like the fantasy books by Michael J. Sullivan. He writes a whole series before he releases it so that you aren't stuck waiting so long. Also, even though some bad things can happen, his general tone is positive, with misfit characters coming together to accomplish good things.

Magical realism is ok, it really depends on the book. I read several mystery series with totally rational lead characters who keep having somewhat mystical experiences - the Walt Longmire series by Craig Johnson, The Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths, and the Dr. Siri Paiboun series by Colin Cotterill.

I agree with Ciara that romances with vampires, werewolves, etc. don't interest me.

As a kid, my favorite books were those with magic by E. Nesbit, Edward Eager, and C.S. Lewis - and later Tolkien. I would have loved Harry Potter if it had existed in my time.

A wonderful writer of alternate history with just a little magic is Guy Gavriel Kay.