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

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

NancyJ, I'm going to start a thread for it!

I am shocked at how few of these books I've actually read. Because I'm a Book of the Month Club member, I tend to read a lot of new releases throughout the year, so there's some I've seen, but there's a lot of BOTM books that didn't make the first round, which is surprising, given how prevalent those books are.

The good news is that I'll have lots of options for my "prompt that didn't make it in" category since I'm using the GR Choice Awards for that prompt.

Hey y'all!

The first round of voting is open for the GR Choice Awards. I know this award has its downsides, but which picks are you hoping make it through to the next round? What are you voting for? Have you even read most of these books (I haven't, surprisingly!)

Use this space to discuss your picks!

Congrats Bana! What an excellent way to end the challenge! My favorite of the series was The Winners, so you're in for a treat.

No, we haven't posted the new 2024 completion tabs yet. I usually post those 1-2 weeks before the new year for people to grab their spots, and the 2024 Plans tab will be going away at the end of the month to make room.

What do you mean, Shari? We will keep the spreadsheet and plans open until the first week of January, but we may post a Google form to collect stats before the end of the year so that we can compile it. But you have until midnight of December 31, 2023 to finish the challenge!

Welcome Keli! You'll find good company with the genres you mentioned here. Let us know if you have questions!

Listopia updated through here!

My entire Goodreads feed was Iron Flame yesterday lol. I haven't jumped on the bandwagon yet, but I have a few friends that I trust that assure me I will love it, so I think that will be a 2024 read for me (mostly because the library holds are LONG).

Listopia updated through here!

I just finished my first book of November (it's been a doozy of a month already!) and I don't know how any book will top it. Yerba Buena was so surprising and wonderful!

Welcome Sarah!

We are a very laid back group -- everything is optional, but we love participation. Don't stress yourself out about any of it, but if you have any questions, we are happy to answer them.

Listopia updated through here!

I used a book that made me thankful for my life (because I would have never wanted to live in the conditions the characters were facing). Does that help?

Tracy wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Me either. I’ve only just recently heard of Tournament of Books, and coming in after it’s over makes it hard to figure out. Emily, is there a good source for understand..."

Sort of, Tracy, except for the Tournament, they have a guest judge who reads the two books facing off that day and choose the one that will progress. They write a commentary, then all the judges weigh in as well. Each day, two books face off. It's really fun if you've read all of the books and have your own opinions on it.

Listopia updated through here!

Thanks for that link, NancyJ. Last year was the first year I was super intentional about reading (most of) the list. They always have a few curveballs -- last year there were two books with only a couple hundred reviews and they weren't available at my library.

These books I listed are books that I found on a GR listopia as possibilities for the list, and others said they were worth reading.

We have a thread here that followed the 2023 list, and I'll start a thread for 2024 when we have the longlist posted! https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I grabbed Again and Again, so I'll let you know how it is, Michelle. I also went with What the River Knows, even though it's first in a series. I may end up waiting to read it until the second book is at least announced, but the reviews of it were promising and I love a duology.

My Murder was so good! If you've read The Echo Wife, it felt very similar... I enjoyed it.

I feel very loosey goosey with my reading plans, and it's frankly annoying me to have to decide what to read now that I'm done with the ATY challenge lol.

Some definite reads for November:
BOTM: Again and Again by Jonathan Evison
Book Club: The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah
Currently Reading: The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer
12 Friends Rec: Still Life by Sarah Winman
12 Friends Rec: The Days of Afrekete by Asali Solomon

Additionally, I have these checked out from the library, in anticipation of the Tournament of Books list:
The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin
The Unfortunates by J.K. Chukwu
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself by Marisa Crane

I certainly won't read all of these, especially because my print reading has been SO SLOW. But we will see...