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Another great round of results!

Top:
A book about witches, goddesses, or nuns
A book with an animal, vegetable (plant), or mineral in the title

Bottom:
A book related to a Stephen King book
A party book
A book involving twins

Close Call:
A microhistory

Polarizing:
A short story collection

The next round of suggestions will open at noon CDT on Friday, August 30.

AWESOME!

Sad that Stephen king was bottomed. There were fun things to read about from his books.

Vampires
Dragons
Aliens
Planes
Dystopian
Prison breaks
Wilderness retreat


And those were off the top of my head without magic bean juice.

Excellent.

Great winners, sorry the microhistory didn't make it, but there are so many microhistory subjects, one can read them for a lot of the prompts.

I voted for the witches, goddesses, and nuns. There are several on my TBR that fit this prompt. I will probably read Blessed Water by Margot Douaihy, the second novel in the Sister Holiday cozy mystery series.

I will now spend all of next year hoping I stumble upon a book with witches, goddesses AND nuns in.

EDIT: Yes I know the prompt says OR.

Personally I find the “witches, goddesses, nuns�� prompt offensive and I’m very disappointed that it made the list. Nuns are affiliated with the religion that tortured witches (and women in general) so they are really should not be categorized together. And goddesses are mythic creatures so how do they even fit this list? I can fill the prompt but I hate it.

I was not happy with the results initially. However, when my Diet Coke kicked in, I realize one was a title prompt (easy to fill and titles draw me in more than book covers) and the other had me stumped until I remembered...DiscWorld! (The answer to all my most difficult prompts). I'm ready for the 3rd in the Witches series.

I'm sad about the Stephen King prompt since there were so many paths to take.

Ellie wrote: "I will now spend all of next year hoping I stumble upon a book with witches, goddesses AND nuns in."

Read again...not and. It's OR. Unless you were going for the gold in the Bring It On option.

That made it easier for me.

Jette wrote: "Read again...not and. It's OR...."

Yes I know. It would just make me happy if I found one.

dalex wrote: "Personally I find the “witches, goddesses, nuns�� prompt offensive and I’m very disappointed that it made the list. Nuns are affiliated with the religion that tortured witches (and women in general)..."

Nike explained that her witches were the historical ones. The apothecaries, midwives, herbalists etc.

her explanation is more eloquent. Message 14 in 10 voting.

Mandy wrote: "AWESOME!

Sad that Stephen king was bottomed. There were fun things to read about from his books.

Vampires
Dragons
Aliens
Planes
Dystopian
Prison breaks
Wilderness retreat

Hmm, I only knew I don't care for Stephen King (except 11/22/63) but that list makes me less likely to want it in the future!

2 of my upvotes got in, but 2 of my upvotes also got bottomed! What a mixed bag. XD

Personally I'm excited about the top 2 prompts, and think they're both quite inventive. I think A book about witches, goddesses, or nuns is going to be especially fun. I really like the feminism angle there.

Like I said thats only a few of them from kings masssive titles.

There’s also pets and fairy tales too. And I’m not a fan of him either, after pet cemetery and Carrie I was done.

Salems lot
Eyes of the dragon
It
Langoliers
The stand
Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank redemption (also historical)
Gerald’s game

Wow! I didn't expect this, my suggestion got in! First time for me, how incredibly fun!

I'm surprised that Stephen King hit the bottom, never would have thought that.

Ellie wrote: "I will now spend all of next year hoping I stumble upon a book with witches, goddesses AND nuns in.

EDIT: Yes I know the prompt says OR."

Lol! Let me know as soon as you find it!

dalex wrote: "Personally I find the “witches, goddesses, nuns�� prompt offensive and I’m very disappointed that it made the list. Nuns are affiliated with the religion that tortured witches (and women in general)..."

I guess you haven't read the explanations I've given twice? If you did you would easily understand why. It has to do with how women has been able to gather knowledge in times when schooling was closed to them/us. I can search for and link my earlier explanations and if you read them I find it hard to believe you would find it offensive.

Mandy wrote: "dalex wrote: "Personally I find the “witches, goddesses, nuns�� prompt offensive and I’m very disappointed that it made the list. Nuns are affiliated with the religion that tortured witches (and wom..."

Ah, thank you!

re Stephen King .... he is also a voracious reader and I believe there are lists of books he has recommended.

Very sorry this prompt didn't make it. Maybe we should drop the "book" part of the prompt and try again. I.e. Book related to Stephen King.

Other possibilities related to Stephen King:
He's written a memoir: so a memoir / biography about a writer
He lives in Maine: a book set in Maine or by an author from Maine
He's written under a pseudonym: a book written by an author who uses a pseudonym
He was seriously injured when he was struck by a van while walking: a book involving an accident where a someone is seriously injured

Also really hate the "witches, goddesses or nuns" prompt.

dalex wrote: "Personally I find the “witches, goddesses, nuns�� prompt offensive and I’m very disappointed that it made the list. Nuns are affiliated with the religion that tortured witches (and women in general)..."

Hear is my explanations I made (besides, as you will see - nuns is not only connected to christianity). And you are welcome to continue hating it but I don't want you to do that because of misunderstanding the premise of the prompt.

"How about Witches, Goddesses and Nuns? To celebrate, recognise, dwell deep into female wisdom and power. Witches (medicine women, healers and midwives - there is an old Scandinavian word for midwife that translates into earth-mother) have always had the knowledge and wisdom of bodies, pregnancies, nature and so on. Becoming a nun was a way for many women to scientifically educate themselves. And there are the Goddesses, rendered more or less prominent in different mythologies. "


"Since I've encountered one misunderstanding about my suggested prompt already I would like again to point out that the starting point was women's knowledge and wisdom. Whereas witches can allow for fantasy reading it certainly doesn't have to be. I was thinking of history, how women has been the ones with the knowledge of medicine, pregnancies, child births, healing herbs and how many other women had chosen to become nuns to be able to study and immerse themselves into science - and still being the ones who healed, helped women in child labour and made decoctions.

The Goddesses symbolised female power, wisdom and strength in many areas. So to just dismiss this prompt as being a fantasy prompt is just very far from my intentions. It's about three female archetypes for wisdom and knowledge. And one can choose to read feminist books, fantasy, history, mythology, religious works, medieval scientific scripts by nuns - or contemporary for that matter! - and really choose among so different genres. I will myself - if it gets in - probably read Dakini Power: Twelve Extraordinary Women Shaping the Transmission of Tibetan Buddhism in the West about strong buddhist nuns or I might read one of a few anthropological/historical books that I 've got about the Norse goddesses, their archetypes and their function for society 1000 years ago."

I’m glad to see witches, goddesses, and nuns were in the top. I up voted Stephen King, but didn’t expect it to be a top. I think, part of it was that it was too broad or there is so much association with horror.

I’m pretty indifferent to the title prompt. Hopefully, I can find an unusual or interesting title to work here.

Nike wrote: "dalex wrote: "Personally I find the “witches, goddesses, nuns�� prompt offensive and I’m very disappointed that it made the list. Nuns are affiliated with the religion that tortured witches (and wom..."

This is a lovely explanation and I can understand why this topic is so attractive to you. I certainly don't "hate" it, but it doesn't appeal to me. Unfortunately I just happened to read a book with a very cool nun in it (her presence was unbeknownst to me when I picked the book up) which I would love to have used for this prompt. I'm sure somewhere in 2025 I will happen to read a book that will fit, one way or another.

Pleased with these as both were my up votes

Book Concierge wrote: "Also really hate the "witches, goddesses or nuns" prompt."

I'm sorry to hear that but I wonder if you like dalex have misunderstood the premise behind the prompt? If that's so please read my explanations I copied and pasted in message 21. If you still hate it that's another thing but it's a pity if it's due to misunderstanding.

We already have, I believe, ten close calls. Any possibility of a close calls poll?

I don’t like these tops. I think I downvoted one and was neutral on the other.
I down voted both the close call and polarising prompts but funnily enough not those that were bottomed.
I wasn’t that fond of this round though, think I only upvoted 3.

delighted that witches, goddesses, nuns made it. Just my cup of tea and there are lots of diverse options

I did 8 upvotes, so I'm happy to see witches, goddesses, and nuns - it is creative.

The animal, vegetable, or mineral isn't a bad prompt, just a little broad and boring.

Buddhism also has nuns. Probably other religions too. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet has some non-Catholic nuns in it.

Nike, I have read your explanation but I simply cannot see this prompt from your viewpoint. As a practicing witch, there is nothing about what I do or who I am that can connect in any way with nuns and goddesses. And to say that I have anything in common with the institution that tortured and murdered my ancestors is offensive.

Don't many witches believe in goddesses?

Nike wrote: "I guess you haven't read the explanations I've given twice? If you did you would easily understand why. It has to do with how women has been able to gather knowledge in times when schooling was closed to them/us. I can search for and link my earlier explanations and if you read them I find it hard to believe you would find it offensiv."

But what I think Dalek is saying is it is nuns and the organization they are a part of which prosecuted, killed, and demonized the spirit of your prompt

I’m loving the list so far this year. Two more great prompts.

Really happy with both results. I was hoping for the microhistory and short story prompts to get in too!

I like reading about assassin nuns. What are my options? (Anything but Mark Lawrence, I don't like the way he writes women)

I think there's one more book in Robin LaFevers;s Assassin series that I haven't read, they are sort of like nuns.

Dixie wrote: "We already have, I believe, ten close calls. Any possibility of a close calls poll?"

The mods haven't discussed it. We will likely wait a few more polls to see how many things get resubmitted and what the voting looks like for those close calls (what is a close call in some polls might not be a close call for others, just depending on how the numbers fall).

I wouldn't hesitate to resubmit a prompt you like because you're hoping for a close calls poll, is what I'm saying lol

there are also Jain nuns from India and Taoist nuns.

dealx, I understand your point of view, and it's a valid one. Taken at face value, I totally see where you're coming from.

Nike, I appreciate your explanation of the prompt, and will include it in the weekly thread for this prompt when they get posted. We know you had good intentions when proposing the prompt, and I'd urge you to make sure you are not taking criticism of the prompt you suggested as criticism of who you are. Once out in the wild, prompts are subject to interpretation, even the types of interpretation you didn't necessarily mean.

We love a lively debate around here, especially when they are focused on the prompts and their meanings.

These are my favorite types of prompts because there are the books that fit the prompt perfectly and are what I am penciling in now. Then there are the books that I have really want to read that could be forced into them if needed in November.

In Defense of Witches: The Legacy of the Witch Hunts and Why Women Are Still on Trial and Doctor Who: The Legends of River Song

How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi: Collected Quirks of Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math from Nerd Nite and The Rage of Dragons

I didn't vote for either of the winners. I have 100s of books on my TBR with animals (lots of dogs, cats, and horses) in the title so that one is easy. The other one is more challenging. I like Nike's suggestion of Dakini Power or another non-fiction related to Buddhist nuns. On the fiction side, I'm interested in the 2nd book of the Sister Pelagia mystery series and Priestess of Avalon, which I bought over 20 years ago, back when I was interested in The Mists of Avalon series.

Emily wrote: "The mods haven't discussed it. We will likely wait a few more polls to see how many things get resubmitted and what the voting looks like for those close calls (what is a close call in some polls might not be a close call for others, just depending on how the numbers fall)."

Please!!! We have plenty of weeks to pick so could wait till there's more close calls. But it's a fun one!

dalex wrote: "Nike, I have read your explanation but I simply cannot see this prompt from your viewpoint. As a practicing witch, there is nothing about what I do or who I am that can connect in any way with nuns..."

I'd like to send you a private message. Please read it 🙏

dalex wrote: "Nike, I have read your explanation but I simply cannot see this prompt from your viewpoint. As a practicing witch, there is nothing about what I do or who I am that can connect in any way with nuns..."

I'm sorry to see that you are not accepting messages because I didn't want to write what I am going to write in public. It's private. But I will because I find this very important.

I'm a practicing witch. That is one of the very reasons why I suggested this prompt. There are witches in my families in both the maternal and paternal lineages. It astonishes me that you can't see the feminist approach here. It amazes me that you perceive of nuns as synonymous with the church and the inquisition.

It was a part of Men's oppression of Women. It was a part of Men's oppression of Women's wisdom and power. Do you believe that nuns were behind that? Nuns were also abused. Nuns were raped and oppressed by munks and priests. I would never ever view nuns as synonymous to the church's organisation.

When it comes to goddesses I am slightly bewildered over the fact that you don't see the connection between them and witches. Goddesses are archetypes of female wisdom. The Triple Goddess for example is one of the most important goddesses of Wiccan and it's not something new. Mother Earth herself can be viewed as a Goddess. Goddesses in all mythologies are very important archetypes of female powers. In the Nordic countries the cult of Goddesses have always been an important part of witchdom. Witches and Goddesses are forever connected.

We are sisters and shall protect and support each other. Sisterhood includes witches aswell as nuns and by the way - there are Buddhist nuns. Have you not heard of the Daikini Power? Please, don't perceive of nuns the way you do, you have misunderstood their historical role. They are not part of our enemies, they worked within to change. 🙏🌺♀��

Emily wrote: "dealx, I understand your point of view, and it's a valid one. Taken at face value, I totally see where you're coming from.

Nike, I appreciate your explanation of the prompt, and will include it in..."

No, I don't take it personally at all. But I do think that issues concerning sisterhood and feminism should be perceived of as important themes and I just didn't want anyone to start "hate" something based on misconceptions. That's all. They can hate - I would prefer dislike - as much as they want too but based on what she said I understood that she had totally misinterpreted the meaning. After reading my explanation they can continue disliking it as much as they want to but based on facts instead of prejudices.

I did not intend to start an argumentation, I just wanted to make clear what my intentions were. I don't bear any grudge at all, I'm sorry if I made you think that. 🙏🌺

Mandy wrote: "there are also Jain nuns from India and Taoist nuns."

Yes, exactly. Very important point! 🙂

Pamela wrote: "Nike wrote: "I guess you haven't read the explanations I've given twice? If you did you would easily understand why. It has to do with how women has been able to gather knowledge in times when scho..."

The nuns were not behind the inquisition. That was mens's war against women. No nun was behind that.

Book Concierge wrote: "re Stephen King .... he is also a voracious reader and I believe there are lists of books he has recommended.

Very sorry this prompt didn't make it. Maybe we should drop the "book" part of the pr..."

I like that idea. He has recommended a lot of recent books. Kristin Hannah's The Women was one so that's how diverse he is in his own reading.

I think now would be a good time to agree to disagree and understand that you both have valid and personal arguments. No need to discuss any further - your points have been made clearly, and it's ok if other people do not see the same side of things as you do, particularly in something as fraught as history and religion.

I'm sad about the Stephen King prompt since I suggested and I agree it was probably too broad but I knew a lot of people would only relate him to horror. My idea was that you could even relate another author with some of the titles of his books. Or even relate a character name to a book you pick. Carrie, Rose Madder, Billy Summers, Gerald's Game, Holly, Mr. Mercedes. Or even a genre like Fairy Tale which was one of his recent books. He has also written fantasy and murder mystery type books. But he's only known for horror.

But I didn't expect the prompt to get through just because it was Stephen King. I do like the idea of maybe relating it to a book he recommended because there are a bunch but not sure how to come up with that list.

I'm fine with the prompts that got in. I have been reading a couple of fun witch books this year and Goddesses. I'll probably go the mineral route with the other prompt because I still have to read Iron Gold which fits perfectly.