D.L.’s Comments (group member since Oct 23, 2021)

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

I am really not a fan of the prompts that require one to read from a particular list. That includes "the best of" type lists. I always downvote those. I am trying to clear off my big TBR pile, and sometimes there are no books on it that match, or if there are, I am not ready to read them at that time.

Wildcarding. These topics don't leave a lot of wiggle room for interpretation, and that means checking out or buying new books. And I prefer to whittle down my TBR.

Oh, this is a tough list for me. Much more downvotes than up TBH.

NancyJ wrote: "Jillian wrote: "Nancy, I can also add books with windows from your shelves. If there are any shelves/types of books you’d like me to focus on."

Amy (Other Amy) wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "But I’m sure ..."

I took a random quick look through your WTR list and found these covers with windows on them-

Letters From the Olive Tree
The Imagined Life
Copenhagen
Company by Shannon Sanders
One in Four by Lucinda Berry
Interesting Facts About Space by Emily R. Austin

The other members who volunteered can probably find lots more :)

Those who voted for the prompt a book with a trial (like me) can use a courthouse for the public building prompt, just a thought.

I am pretty okay with the results.

4 up votes and 4 down :)

I have to admit I struggle with this one every year:

-A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads

I try to step outside my reading comfort zone with it, but there are
never a lot of books on the list that I already have on my TBR. And I really need to whittle that thing down!

Charlsa wrote: "Here is a link for a GR list of popular books with mistaken identities to go with prompt #2.

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/..."

Thank you so much. I edited my post above.

A book with twins, doppelgängers, or mistaken identity.


Some Listopias/Shelves:
*Best Books About Twins
*Twins and Doppelgangers
*Mistaken Identity Books

My entry: Entry:

D.L. (Daph)

Chips and Dip -100 points
1a. A book in a series: Blood Is Thicker by Paul Langan - 100
1b. A book with water on the cover: The Shore Road Mystery by Franklin W. Dixon - 100

1d. A book by a new to you author: Trip the Light Phantasmic by Judith Sterling - 100
1e. A humorous book: Sabrina the Teenage Witch by Bobbi J.G. Weiss - 100

Drinks Station - 200 points
Author's initials are in:
2a. FRESH-SQUEEZED LEMONADE: Don't Forget Me! by R.L. Stine - 200
2b. UNSWEETENED ICED TEA: The Sheriff of Willow Creek by Casey Dawes - 200
2c. ROOT BEER SODA: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead - 200
2d. FRUIT PUNCH: April Fools by Richie Tankersley Cusick - 200
2e. SPARKLING WATER: Summer of Secrets by Paul Langan - 200

Burger and Hotdog Toppings - 300 points
3a. Ketchup: A book with red on the cover: The Christmas Clock by Kat Martin - 300

3b. Relish: A book by a favorite author: Killer Blonde by Laura Levine - 300
3c. Mustard: A book with a military character (serving, retired, or adjacent): No Way Out by Peggy Kern - 300
(The MC's neighbor and caretaker, Mr. Harris, is a retired Marine)

Desserts - 400 points
4a. A book with a child main character: Best Friends and Drama Queens by Meg Cabot - 400
4b. A book with a wedding: A New Fear by R.L. Stine - 400
4c. A book that has been nominated for an award: The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer - 400

The Sides - 500 points
5a. Potato salad - A book with more than one point of view: The Secret of Terror Castle by Robert Arthur - 500
5b. Mac n' cheese - A book by an author with 10 or more books: Beware the Shopping Mall by Betsy Haynes - 500
5d. Deviled eggs - A book with challenging subject matter: Dawn by V.C. Andrews - 500
(Contains incest & sexual assault)

Total Points: 5,000

Entry:

D.L.

Chips and Dip -100 points
1a. A book in a series: Blood Is Thicker by Paul Langan - 100
1b. A book with water on the cover: The Shore Road Mystery by Franklin W. Dixon - 100

1d. A book by a new to you author: Trip the Light Phantasmic by Judith Sterling - 100
1e. A humorous book: Sabrina the Teenage Witch by Bobbi J.G. Weiss - 100

Drinks Station - 200 points
Author's initials are in:
2a. FRESH-SQUEEZED LEMONADE: Don't Forget Me! by R.L. Stine - 200
2b. UNSWEETENED ICED TEA: The Sheriff of Willow Creek by Casey Dawes - 200
2c. ROOT BEER SODA: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead - 200
2d. FRUIT PUNCH: April Fools by Richie Tankersley Cusick - 200
2e. SPARKLING WATER: Summer of Secrets by Paul Langan - 200

Burger and Hotdog Toppings - 300 points
3a. Ketchup: A book with red on the cover: The Christmas Clock by Kat Martin - 300

3b. Relish: A book by a favorite author: Killer Blonde by Laura Levine - 300
3c. Mustard: A book with a military character (serving, retired, or adjacent): No Way Out by Peggy Kern - 300
(The MC's neighbor and caretaker, Mr. Harris, is a retired Marine)

Desserts - 400 points
4a. A book with a child main character: Best Friends and Drama Queens by Meg Cabot - 400
4b. A book with a wedding: A New Fear by R.L. Stine - 400
4c. A book that has been nominated for an award: The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer - 400

The Sides - 500 points
5a. Potato salad - A book with more than one point of view: The Secret of Terror Castle by Robert Arthur - 500
5b. Mac n' cheese - A book by an author with 10 or more books: Beware the Shopping Mall by Betsy Haynes - 500
5d. Deviled eggs - A book with challenging subject matter: Dawn by V.C. Andrews - 500

Total Points: 5,000

+400 points
4b. A book with a wedding: A New Fear by R.L. Stine
How It Fits: There is a particularly eerie wedding scene near the end of the book.
Completed: 8/28/25

Current Total: 4,800

+300 points
3c. Mustard: A book with a military character (serving, retired, or adjacent): No Way Out by Peggy Kern
How It Fits: Mr. Harris is a retired Marine.
Completed: 8/25/25

Current Total: 4,600

+200 points
2b. UNSWEETENED ICED TEA: The Sheriff of Willow Creek by Casey Dawes (8/24/25)
How it Fits: Casey Dawes
Completed: 6/8/25

Current Total: 4,300

There are some good ones here. Not a fan of Literary fiction or Non-fiction. Too general, you can plug those in anywhere. And 2026 debut author is a downvote from me too. I have too many books on my TBR already.

Dixie wrote: "Dubhease wrote: "Isn't a book with a character that shares a name of a TV show character essentially "read a book"?"

That would be my concern, too, unless it was narrowed by adding something like ..."

Oh yes, didn't think of that. Never mind.

Maggie wrote: " If it had been a TV show character I would have considered it."

Maybe someone can suggest this tomorrow - a prompt using a TV show character, not just a sitcom one??

Dubhease wrote: "I am disappointed the Sitcom character didn't get in. We haven't had any "creative" prompts this year. And we haven't had any character prompts."

I am disappointed by this too. What a fun prompt.

+300 points
3b. Relish: A book by a favorite author: Killer Blonde by Laura Levine (8/16/25)
How It Fits: One of my favorite cozy mystery authors
Completed: 8/16/25

Current Total: 4,100

+400 points
4c. A book that has been nominated for an award: The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer
How It Fits: Nominated for Edgar (Best Juvenile, 2007)
Completed: 8/13/25

Current Total: 3,800

+500 points

5a. Potato salad - A book with more than one point of view: The Secret of Terror Castle by Robert Arthur
How It Fits: Multiple POVs
Completed: 8/15/25

Current Total: 3,400