Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
2017 Plans
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2017- here I go again
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For #47 - A book with less than 1000 ratings on Goodreads
Finished week 1- chose #10 - dual timeline. Book read - In light of what we see- set in Brighton in 1938 and modern times. Had 2 female perspectives-Grace Kemp for 1938 and Mina Morgan for modern times. So this could have been used for dual perspective novel.
Working on #18 - a really long book - The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. Hopefully I can finish this one by the end of the month.
I loved it too and am planning to listening to the second one on audiobook soon (I tend to prefer this method for doorstops).
11. A book from another challenge - SRC task 15. - Feminist novel - The House of MirthNot quite sure why this is seen as a feminist work as Lily is not what I would consider a strong female character per se. She has a poor sense of self-worth. But I really enjoyed this one. Edith Wharton is really good at writing about high society. The pen is mighty at eviscerating this lifestyle. Not an easy read but worthy cautionary tale for those who pine after the lifestyle of the rich and/famous.
Behind on this challenge but have 2 categories in progress but they are big books.
Still slowly going through the way of kings. Thanks guys for the encouragement but I'm faltering a bit. Had a game plan but that is shot to pieces right now. My problem isn't the book, I'm enjoying Kaladin the most right now.
49 A book from someone's else bookshelfPurified got this from Amazon back in August 2014 and the blurb seemed great. This was on Amber (in another group )bookshelf which I had decided to read in January. She gave it 5⭐️ which increased my desire to read this one. So picked this one up for this category. A disappointing read for me, had potential but just couldn't hold my interest. Found it hard to understand what was going on at times.
21. A book which is a continuation of a book you've already readJungle Calls this is book 3 of the Rani Adventures in Peru. It read book 2 - Life is a Jungle. This is a memoir of Ron Snell who grew up among the Matses Indians and the escapades he finds himself involved. There is lots of mishaps and bizarre foods but I enjoyed it.
37. A book you chose randomly - The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for FreedomPicked this up from the library on a whim. Intrigued about Cuba and it is on my bucket list. But don't know anything about its history or culture. And it is a book written in verse which is a new experience for me.
29. A book outside the 4 major publishing houses: Trouble in Store - published by Bethany Publishers. Not an imprint for any of the big four.
This was a challenging search for this category. Learnt that they are many of my books which come from the Big Four and need to check the imprints as well.
2. A book with at least 2 perspectives-HomegoingI really "enjoyed" this novel despite the emotional difficulty of some chapters. Can't wait to read this again later this year and next year. Highly recommended.
46. A time travel novel-Kindred This book is a wonderfully complex narrative .
6. A book that is being released as a movie in 2017
Due to be released in June/July which initially intrigued as someone who has watched westerns growing up along with the opening sentence. But in the end I couldn't understand the deep love I've seen for this series. Undecided on trying up to book 3.
15. A book set in Scandinavia:
Intriguing mystery novel and my first time reading this author. I thought it was a decent read being more intrigued with the characters and their backstory. And I am not sure if it is me but Scandinavia people seem to be messed up despite the beauty of the maternity and paternity leave and the landscape. Think all that raw beauty and long winter may be partially to blame. Think I'll read more novels set here and see but maybe not crime fiction.
22. The Shape of Water by Andrea CamilleriApparently a big hit in Europe. Never heard about this series until it was recommended by a GR friend from Italy.
A thriller set in Sicily with a morally grey character - Inspector Montalban. If you love food and intrigued about Sicily and able to forgo presumption about the Mafia, try this one.
20. I have had The Moonstone on my tbr for over 10 years and read in March and thoroughly enjoyed. Long-winded writing but I enjoyed Gabriel Betteredge. An elderly character who swears by Robinson Crusoe.
4. A book that doesn't contain the letter EDogwood- slow and confusing start. But the ending made up for it. Well not sure how I feel about the epilogue though.
3. A book you meant to read in 2016I have many of those but I chose When Mountains Move- the writing about the 1930s was great in my opinion. It deals with marriage and wraps up the first book. I hadn't read the first book but that didn't matter. It was easy to follow this storyline as if it was a standalone. Really enjoyed the characters.
7. An animal in title or cover:
fits all two requirements. I tried reading this in 2016 but didn't get very far. It has a dual timeline narrative but I was more interested in the historical fiction that the contemporary side.
24. A book written by at least two authors
by Davis Bunn and Janette OkeI think the authors wrote the equivalent gender protagonist. It was seamless to me. No jarring of the writing for me. Not as easy as they made it. This is a novel of a Gaul centurion who ends up marrying Pilate's niece who is half Jewish. It wasn't what I was expecting but it was a solid read.
1. Morning Star- the conclusion of the Red Rising Trilogy and winner of the Science fiction GR category.I am ambivalent about this one. Part of me was happy for the more introspective aspect of this one. And the end was satisfactory. However, it was not that easy a read for me, I took a while. I enjoyed while I read, but didn't rush to pick it up. Not sure if the year in between the second book and this one and not remembering all the nuances from Golden Son. Or if the slower pace and my mood were also to blame.
18. A really long book
I have never watched the TV series and have heard glowing reports on this family epic. And since I had to shelf The Way of Kings, decided to hunt for the Easter eggs in Cosmere and need a month where I can give it my full attention, I opted for this book.
I was surprised by the amount of Catholicism in this book. My favourite character is Australia, yes you are seeing correctly. Meg is probably the one I most wanted to feel connected but some of her actions with Ralph still annoying me. And as for that romance, it is a little creepy to me.
35. A character is royaltyI seem to be trying to learn more about Catherine the Great
- this was a more factual account than a YA version
. And I could understand why she seems to be such a controversial figure. But I still want to learn more about this minor Austrian princess who ended up ruling Russia.
12. A book based on a myth
- I seem to have a love/hate relationship with Gaiman writing. But this one, all the love for the adaption of a African/Caribbean mythical character.
36. A Hugo Award Nominee-
Would also work for an unreliable narrator.
44.
I enjoy the podcast-What Should I Read Next. Based on reading and enjoying C.S. Lewis I got this recommendation. And it was great- think it is in the running for favorite book of the year.
45. One word title
Narrative on what it means to be a slave.
47. Ratings less than 1000
This restored my faith in contemporary novels. I was about to give up on this genre. I'm too old for gratuitous sex or violence or swearing.
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming (other topics)All She Ever Wanted (other topics)
Powers (other topics)
Peony: A Novel of China (other topics)
The Cost of Discipleship (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Davis Bunn (other topics)Janette Oke (other topics)
Andrea Camilleri (other topics)
✔️1. A book from the Goodreads Choice Awards 2016
✔️2. A book with at least 2 perspectives (multiple points of view)
✔️3. A book you meant to read in 2016
✔️4. A title that doesn't contain the letter "E"
✔️5. A historical fiction
✔️6. A book being released as a movie in 2017
✔️7. A book with an animal on the cover or in the title
8. A book written by a person of color
9. A book in the middle of your To Be Read list
✔️10. A dual-timeline novel
✔️11. A category from another challenge
✔️12. A book based on a myth
13. A book recommended by one of your favorite authors
14. A book with a strong female character
✔️15. A book written or set in Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland)
✔️16. A mystery
17. A book with illustrations
✔️18. A really long book (600+ pages)
19. A New York Times best-seller
✔️20. A book that you've owned for a while but haven't gotten around to reading
✔️21. A book that is a continuation of a book you've already read
✔️22. A book by an author you haven't read before
23. A book from the BBC "The Big Read" list (link)
✔️24. A book written by at least two authors
25. A book about a famous historical figure
26. An adventure book
27. A book by one of your favorite authors
✔️28. A non-fiction
✔️29. A book published outside the 4 major publishing houses (Simon & Schuster; HarperCollins; Penguin Random House; Hachette Livre) - check all the editions
30. A book from Goodreads Top 100 YA Books (link)
31. A book from a sub-genre of your favorite genre
32. A book with a long title (5+ words, excluding subtitle)
33. A magical realism novel
✔️34. A book set in or by an author from the Southern Hemisphere
✔️35. A book where one of the main characters is royalty
✔️36. A Hugo Award winner or nominee (link)
✔️37. A book you choose randomly
38. A novel inspired by a work of classic literature
39. An epistolary fiction
40. A book published in 2017
41. A book with an unreliable narrator
42. A best book of the 21st century (so far)
43. A book with a chilling atmosphere (scary, unsettling, cold)
44. A recommendation from "What Should I Read Next" (link)
✔️45. A book with a one-word title
✔️46.. A time travel novel
✔️47. A past suggestion that didn't win (link)
48. A banned book
✔️49. A book from someone else's bookshelf
50. A Penguin Modern Classic - any edition
51. A collection (e.g. essays, short stories, poetry, plays)
52. A book set in a fictional location