Emily’s Comments (group member since Jan 04, 2017)

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

I'm doing the first 26 prompts, then the second (only because I like to post my books on my instagram template and it's divided that way lol). After reading in order, this seems super easy.

First print book I have up for 2025 is a buddy read with some friends who all got approved for an ARC of Fredrik Backman's My Friends! I'm using it for the arts prompt.

Then I just realized I'm about to go for a run and I have no audio in progress, so I grabbed Colored Television. It will likely go in the TOB longlist prompt, since I have a book slotted in to all the other prompts it fits (I seem to be reading a lot of arts books this year...)

Jillian, here's what I saw for Colored Television (could be more, and I limited it to the first 26 prompts):
2. A prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list
5. A book with a weird or intriguing title
9. A book that has been long-listed for the Tournament of Books in any year
15. A book of secrets, lies, or deception
16. A book that fits a prompt from the 2016 ATY list
23. A book that involves art, music, dancing or acting
24. A book with a main character who is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal

Colored Television

2. A prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list
5. A book with a weird or intriguing title
9. A book that has been long-listed for the Tournament of Books in any year
15. A book of secrets, lies, or deception
16. A book that fits a prompt from the 2016 ATY list
23. A book that involves art, music, dancing or acting
24. A book with a main character who is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal

For those of you who have been around for the voting portion of our year, you know we have a beloved Wild Discussion thread that gets thousands of comments over the course of voting.

This is your 2025 year-round Wild Discussion! It can be prompt brainstorming, chatting about life, and catching up with other group members. Use this as a space to hang out.

As always, please be respectful of all group members, and assume good intent.

Hello, and welcome to the new year at ATY!

A refresher: This thread is for you to talk about the books you're reading, the books you're planning on reading, and the books you have finished reading! Give recommendations, lay out your plans for the month, and chat with other book lovers about books.

Title: The History of Sound
Author: Ben Shattuck
Rating: 5 Stars
Format: Audio
ATY Prompt you used it for: Published in 2024
Brief reason why it was the best:
I had very low expectations for this book... not great cover, short story anthology. But it surpassed all expectations. There were ZERO SKIPS. Every story was rich with depth and meaning, and the audio really transported me.

(I've added it to the listopia)

I read Liars yesterday in one day. It was... emotional. Stream of consciousness, heartbreaking and infuriating. TW for emotional abuse because WHEW. It's all about the insidious ways a relationship can turn bad without being outwardly BAD. But it also had some really great insights on motherhood and wifehood and... really good. I'll be thinking about it for a while, and I hope it wins the play-in tournament.

Hello all you overachievers! Use this thread to discuss what you're reading and your progress, and give motivation to others who are reading in order.

I had a long run this morning and listened to The Mistletoe Mystery in its entirety!

I'm now two books away from beating last year's number, and I'm 75% through my current print book. So close!

Good Material was just fine for me too, and I also thought it moved slowly. I did audio and found myself zoning out a bit.

Yes! You can find it just under the list here:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

How fun, Jillian. I've read all of the ones you've read, with the exception of Rejection. I agree - I like Margo the best, though The History of Sound is a close second.

I'm almost done with The Book of Love. I did audio and ended up going to 1.6x speed (very high for me - I'm usually at 1.25x). Many people in the main ToB group have commented that it's too long, and I'm tending to agree, though the audio was pretty good and held my attention better than I was expecting, given the reviews. I haven't hit any DNF's (or even 3 star books) yet, but I feel like it's coming haha.

I'm going to read a quick cozy mystery to finish the year on audio once I'm done with Book of Love, and I'm currently reading a print ARC that's due January 7. When I'm done with the ARC, I think I'm picking up Liars, since I have it in print and it's one of the shorter ones.

The Book of Love has been good on audio, and it will give you a bang for your buck (23.5 hours long lol). I also loved The History of Sound on audio.

(sorry, I don't remember what you've already read!)

I need to finish 4 books to beat last year's numbers. I'm finishing The Book of Love today or tomorrow, and I have The Mistletoe Mystery lined up for audio after.

I also started A Sea of Unspoken Things, and then hope to follow that with a short TOB book (one of them that's under 250 pages) to round out my four books left!

Book Club Options

All Fours --
Bellies --
Idlewild --
Greta & Valdin
We Were the Universe --
Cinema Love
Small Joys
The Skin and Its Girl
Body Grammar --

Beautyland

3. A book connected to something mentioned in the Do Re Mi song
5. A book with a weird or intriguing title
9. A book that has been long-listed for the Tournament of Books in any year
14. A science fiction or fantasy novel written by a woman
15. A book of secrets, lies, or deception
23. A book that involves art, music, dancing or acting
24. A book with a main character who is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal

Headshot

3. A book connected to something mentioned in the Do Re Mi song
9. A book that has been long-listed for the Tournament of Books in any year
13. A book involving a "group" with at least 4 members that's not a family
24. A book with a main character who is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal
26. A book by an author with a common noun in their name

The Extinction of Irena Rey

1. A book with a cover that has an image of something that starts with A, T, or Y
9. A book that has been long-listed for the Tournament of Books in any year
13. A book involving a "group" with at least 4 members that's not a family
26. A book by an author with a common noun in their name

The Book of George

9. A book that has been long-listed for the Tournament of Books in any year
26. A book by an author with a common noun in their name

The Book Censor's Library

3. A book connected to something mentioned in the Do Re Mi song
9. A book that has been long-listed for the Tournament of Books in any year
11. A book set in a fictional location
14. A science fiction or fantasy novel written by a woman
15. A book of secrets, lies, or deception

Wild Dark Shore

5. A book with a weird or intriguing title
11. A book set in a fictional location
15. A book of secrets, lies, or deception
18. A book set primarily in nature
21. A book connected in some way to any collective noun for animals
24. A book with a main character who is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal
25. A book with waves on the cover