There is so much hard work in this Robert. I hope you know we appreciate you and the dedication you’ve shown in growing the Booktube Prize. I’ve been lucky to have been called to judge every single round. First Translated Fiction, then Non-Fiction and now Fiction 😊. I’ve read so many more books this year than I expected. I’m reading more widely, I’m learning more, and not just about my reading preferences. This is an education in itself. The sheer breadth and variation in style in each category is incredibly interesting and life-enhancing. I can’t tell you how much this has meant to me this year x
I'm so happy to hear that it's been a good experience for you. I feel the same way about being pushed in directions I might otherwise not have followed. And as a result, I've read wonderful books that are now among my favorites. Thanks for your very kind words.
It's mostly a great excuse to read lots of new books, many of which we might have overlooked on our own. Every year I'm delighted by surprises that I never would have read otherwise. This year for me, Claire Keegan's short novel, Small Things Like These, even though it just got eliminated, was one such surprise.
Exactly. Every round you can pick any book at random and at least one judge will rate it first and another will rate it last. Always a range of reactions.
That’s actually something I’ve considered. In reality, only a handful of translated novels would be likely to make it into the field in a given year. (Next year, for example, Olga Tokarczuk’s The Books if Jacob would be a likely inclusion.)
@@illustratorsam Yes, accessibility has been an issue for some people and also as we've grown, our percentage of judges who sign up and just go AWOL has increased, especially in that division.
Couldn't watch live, but just caught up... Man, how did ZORRIE get eliminated? I loved that one so much! (And was dreading a bit that it wasn't "big" enough to make it to the next round... but still!) But I'm really glad that THE ART OF LOSING moved on, had that in the octofinals and it was my absolute favorite there. Thank you so much Robert for consistantly putting in all the work and effort into this wonderful bookish event! 🙌🙌🙌 (And I can't log into my account at the moment from work, so I know I'll be judging the next round - but I don't know which group 😳😄)
Looking forward to the next round. Always interesting to see what makes it through, I’m surprised what strange paradise and the black church didn’t...and sad that small things like these also didn’t move on. Curious to see what happens next 👀
Hey, I noticed you said you struggled with judge numbers and might not keep translated fiction next year. Can I suggest you try staggering the rounds to reduce the number of judges needed at one time.
I've considered that in the past, but with each division taking 8 months, there's no real way to do that without all three divisions still overlapping. (And I look forward to October-December to read books that aren't tied to the prize in any way.)
Just the luck of the draw. The pairings in round 1 are randomized, and then in each subsequent round, the software seeds the entries based on their scores in the previous round. It doesn't take into account any demographic information.
I hear you. That's how I feel after every round when some of my favorites get dropped and some of my not-so-favorites advance. But it's all good. One-person's opinion in isolation isn't as interesting overall.
There is so much hard work in this Robert. I hope you know we appreciate you and the dedication you’ve shown in growing the Booktube Prize.
I’ve been lucky to have been called to judge every single round. First Translated Fiction, then Non-Fiction and now Fiction 😊. I’ve read so many more books this year than I expected. I’m reading more widely, I’m learning more, and not just about my reading preferences. This is an education in itself. The sheer breadth and variation in style in each category is incredibly interesting and life-enhancing. I can’t tell you how much this has meant to me this year x
I'm so happy to hear that it's been a good experience for you. I feel the same way about being pushed in directions I might otherwise not have followed. And as a result, I've read wonderful books that are now among my favorites. Thanks for your very kind words.
An urgent work call meant I missed most of the live event. Thank heavens for the option to watch later!
Glad you were able to see it, even if not live.
These are great picks for the semifinal lists. I’m excited to see what ends up in the final. Thanks Robert and judges for putting this together!
I always mourn my favorites that get dropped, but overall, the semis lists are pretty strong.
So excited to get started!Thanks for doing this. Really enjoyed my translated group. Stay safe.
I'm happy to hear it, Cheryl. I hope the Semifinals are just as promising.
You are doing a great job, Robert! Looking forward to reading my nonfiction Group A books for the semifinals round 🙂
Awesome! Thank you!
This is such a fascinating process!
It's mostly a great excuse to read lots of new books, many of which we might have overlooked on our own. Every year I'm delighted by surprises that I never would have read otherwise. This year for me, Claire Keegan's short novel, Small Things Like These, even though it just got eliminated, was one such surprise.
Mmmm, a combination of hits and misses - The beauty of a large group from different countries and different walks of life reading and rating😊
Exactly. Every round you can pick any book at random and at least one judge will rate it first and another will rate it last. Always a range of reactions.
Really please ‘Unsettled Ground’ got through - surprised that ‘Small things like these’ and ‘Cloud Cuckoo Land’ didn’t
Agreed on all three fronts.
Some I'm surprised that didn't get through. Looking forward to the next round. 😊💙
Us too! Every round.
Maybe the translated fiction & fiction-fiction can be combined next year?
That’s actually something I’ve considered. In reality, only a handful of translated novels would be likely to make it into the field in a given year. (Next year, for example, Olga Tokarczuk’s The Books if Jacob would be a likely inclusion.)
@@BookTubePrize are you finding the most problems with judging translated fiction? I can see accessibility being a significant issue. I’ll email you…
@@illustratorsam Yes, accessibility has been an issue for some people and also as we've grown, our percentage of judges who sign up and just go AWOL has increased, especially in that division.
So sad Cloud Cuckoo Land didn’t make it, it’s such a great book!
I liked it even more than his last one.
@@BookTubePrize I’ve not read that one yet but I’m definitely going to.
Couldn't watch live, but just caught up... Man, how did ZORRIE get eliminated? I loved that one so much! (And was dreading a bit that it wasn't "big" enough to make it to the next round... but still!)
But I'm really glad that THE ART OF LOSING moved on, had that in the octofinals and it was my absolute favorite there.
Thank you so much Robert for consistantly putting in all the work and effort into this wonderful bookish event! 🙌🙌🙌
(And I can't log into my account at the moment from work, so I know I'll be judging the next round - but I don't know which group 😳😄)
I haven't read either of those yet. Adding the third division has blown up my old plan of reading all the entries. 😂
I’m just so sad Civilizations didn’t go further in the Translated Fiction! 😩
I haven't read that one yet.
Looking forward to the next round. Always interesting to see what makes it through, I’m surprised what strange paradise and the black church didn’t...and sad that small things like these also didn’t move on. Curious to see what happens next 👀
That 50% cut each round gets tougher and tougher.
Hey, I noticed you said you struggled with judge numbers and might not keep translated fiction next year. Can I suggest you try staggering the rounds to reduce the number of judges needed at one time.
I've considered that in the past, but with each division taking 8 months, there's no real way to do that without all three divisions still overlapping. (And I look forward to October-December to read books that aren't tied to the prize in any way.)
Why are all of the black books in nonfiction in the same group?😑
Just the luck of the draw. The pairings in round 1 are randomized, and then in each subsequent round, the software seeds the entries based on their scores in the previous round. It doesn't take into account any demographic information.
I have mixed feelings 😂
I hear you. That's how I feel after every round when some of my favorites get dropped and some of my not-so-favorites advance. But it's all good. One-person's opinion in isolation isn't as interesting overall.
@@BookTubePrize Yeah, ALSO I LOVE Fiction SEMIFINAL GROUP A! Such a tough group