Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
Weekly Topics 2018
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42. A book that takes place on, in, or underwater
The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of ConsciousnessI bought this at the local aquarium the day the challenge posted, so it fit perfect. I thought the idea of learning about octopi was interesting. I've always been fascinated by marine biology and love underwater creatures.
For this I'll be reading:The North Water
I've been wanting to read this book for a long time and was happy to see such a perfect category to fit it in
Octopi are fascinating, I'm looking forward to your thoughts on this book!
Tracy wrote: "The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness..."
Sounds great, thanks! Just added it to my TBR. I may read it for this challenge, but I've been planning on reading I, Columbus: My Journal 1492-1493, the diary Christopher Columbus kept as he crossed the Atlantic. I recently read a shocking quote from it and it made me feel like I should read the whole thing.
I am thinking that I'll read Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania for this prompt since it's been on my TBR list for two years.
I have several choices for this, but I am leaning toward The Hunt for Red October or Moby-Dick or, The Whale.
I love a mermaid, pirate or ocean themed book, but I’m going with one of theseLorali
Water and Blood
Mermaid
Siren's Secret
I read The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway and I chose it because it has been on my shelf for a while now.This book was so short (my copy clocked in at 127 pages) but it is so moving and thought provoking.
I've decided to read Moby-Dick or, The Whale for this one. I'm reading it as a buddy read in another group and am using the Serial Reader app to make it less daunting.
Brianna wrote: "I've decided to read Moby-Dick or, The Whale for this one. I'm reading it as a buddy read in another group and am using the Serial Reader app to make it less daunting."When are you starting? I want to read this using Serial App too, and was thinking of starting during week 30 so I'd finish during the correct week. I'd love to join a buddy read!
If someone is looking for pirates, I really liked Cinnamon and Gunpowder!Also, although I liked Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania well enough, I thought Thunderstruck was even better, and it also takes place on an ocean crossing.
Chrissy wrote: "Brianna wrote: "I've decided to read Moby-Dick or, The Whale for this one. I'm reading it as a buddy read in another group and am using the Serial Reader app to make it less daunting...."I already started, unfortunately. The buddy read I'm in for it started this month so it'll be one that is read out of order for me. I'll still discuss it with you if you'd like!
What are you reading for this category?I, Columbus: My Journal, 1492–1493 ed. by Peter Roop
Why did you pick this book?
Not long ago I read some very upsetting excerpts from this so I decided to read the whole thing. Almost all of it takes place on a boat/boats in the ocean; even when they reach the Americas they often bring the native Americans on board.
I'm reading Treasure Island for the Popsugar "childhood classic" category, and to my surprise, it's mostly set on the ocean, travelling on the Hispaniola, so I'm using it for this category too. I thought it would be a fast, fun read, but it's ... well, it's boring. I'm not interested in ships and I never know where the port or the stern or the forecastle or anything else is, so I don't understand half of the book.
Nadine wrote: "I'm reading Treasure Island for the Popsugar "childhood classic" category, and to my surprise, it's mostly set on the ocean, travelling on the Hispaniola, so I'm using it for this catego..."Heh- I put it on my ATY childrens book challenge for "earth" - great to know that its mostly water and also that its boring. I'm using the children classics version though so.....maybe that will help.
Carol wrote: "Ruth Ware – 
"That's my plan for this one as well!
Ooh! I bought this book as soon as it came out, but haven't had the nerve to read it as yet:Into the Drowning Deep
- What are you reading for this category? Ship of Destiny
- Why did you pick this book?
It was the third book in the series and I had been dying to get back to the series. Read book 1 for a long book for the 2017 challenge, then went onto book 2 after I finished the 2017 challenge - finished that one on 31 Dec, so went straight into this one...
I've decided on Moby-Dick or, The Whale. I've been wanting to read the book for a long time. I've put it off for a long while, but this seems like a good time to pick it up.
I just finished In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex. It is a non-fiction account of the events that inspired Melville's Moby-Dick or, The Whale. It would also be a great book to read for the topic on surviving a hardship. I highly recommend it.
I've just read Alone on a Wide Wide Sea by Michael Morpurgo. This novel is in two parts, the first is the story of the father, Arthur Hobhouse, who is sent from postwar England to Australia at the age of 6 while the second part is about his daughter Allie who sails a yacht designed by her father from Hobart, Tasmania round Cape Horn and up through the Atlantic Ocean to the Isles of Scilly. Morpurgo is a great story teller and this is a real emotional roller coaster.
I've just started Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers, Oceanographers, Environmentalists, and Fools, Including the Author, Who Went in Search of ThemI'm a big fan of non-fiction and came across this book on a list last year. Stoked to finally get to it.
I picked The Woman in Cabin 10 based on the reviews. It wasn't a bad read but I didn't love it either.
Serendipity wrote: "I picked The Woman in Cabin 10 based on the reviews. It wasn't a bad read but I didn't love it either."It's your challenge, count it for whatever you want. If you want to be a stickler, I don't think it would... the "ocean" is more of an idea in that story, less of a setting. But seriously, sticklers are no fun, and regardless, read The Ocean... it is excellent.
What are you reading for this category?I just finished The Seafarer's Kiss, which is a retelling of The Little Mermaid blended with Norse mythology.
Why did you pick this book?
Honestly, I was glad to have a book already in mind when this prompt came up since I generally don't like books set at sea. I chose this one because I saw quite a bit of hype around it last year from some of the channels I follow.
Creature From The CrevasseBy:Michael Cole
Because of the cover it shows a boat on the water but there's something under the water as well.
- What are you reading for this category?I am reading Haweswater by Sarah Hall.
- Why did you pick this book?
I am interested in cli-fi and Romanticism, and this story has an interesting perspective on progress, nature, politics, and the flooding of a Northern Valley.
- What are you reading for this category?Pirates!
- Why did you pick this book?
It's a book about women pirates, which I found interesting. The women were too restricted by their society so turned to a life of piracy as an escape. It did take a little while to get to the ocean part, but the first part of the book did relate to ships and shipping and sailing.
- What are you reading for this category?Moby-Dick or, The Whale
- Why did you pick this book?
It was a buddy read book in another Goodreads group so I figured why not
Mod
It was one of my English class's summer reading books. I guess technically I'm cheating, since all of the book takes place in Caden's mind and not actually on the water, but there was enough sea and boat language to make up for it. Half of the book is real, present time, and the other half is in the midst of Caden's schizophrenia, where he truly believes he is on a boat heading for the Marina Trench.
It was amazing. Highly recommend for those struggling with this prompt.
Tracy wrote: "The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of ConsciousnessI bought this at the local aquarium the day the challenge posted, so it fit perfect. I thought the..."
Thanks to your suggestion, I am also using this book for this prompt. It's fascinating, and especially compelling as an audiobook, read by the author.
I read The Deep by Nick Cutter. It’s a horror, set on a research station at the bottom of the Marianas Trench. Pretty scary!
What are you reading for this category?I read The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers
Why did you pick this book?
It is a very well known book and noted as being one of the first spy stories. I did like it but feel if I knew more about boats and sailing , I would have got more from it.
Sheri wrote: "- What are you reading for this category?Pirates!
- Why did you pick this book?
It's a book about women pirates, which I found interesting. The women were too restricted by their..."
I picked this up on audio CD from the library years ago while I was browsing in the children section with my daughters.... I loved it!!!!!
Shannan wrote: "Tracy wrote: "The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of ConsciousnessI bought this at the local aquarium the day the challenge posted, so it fit perfect...."
So glad you're enjoying it!! I had started it the day I brought it home but then set it aside for the challenge and haven't worked on this prompt yet, but I'm excited to read it because the one chapter I read was so good :-)
- What are you reading for this category?Ghost Ship
- Why did you pick this book?
It sounded interesting and would fit for this category. Some parts of the book took place on land, but a lot of the important stuff happened on the water and it mainly took place around it.
What are you reading for this category?I read Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
Why did you pick this book?
This was an "after reading pick". Water, the river, the lake, were so important to the Mae and all the children, throughout the entire book that it seemed a good fit.
For this category I have read 20000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne.I picked it up because I wanted to push myself ouside of my comfort zone and science fiction classic is not something I usually read. I have to say I enjoyed the experience.
What are you reading for this category? Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik LarsonWhy did you pick this book? I read and enjoyed The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America and so had this on my TBR.
- What are you reading for this category?I read The Tilted World
- Why did you pick this book?
The book was set during the 1927 Great Flood on the Mississippi. By the end of the book, everything was underwater, so it was a great fit for the prompt.
- What are you reading for this category?Overboard by Dawn Lee McKenna
- Why did you pick this book?
It is a new book in a series I enjoy reading and a good amount of the book setting takes place in and on the water.
I read A Bridge Across the Ocean. It would also work for a ghost story for those of you who still need one and don’t want something scary.
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Other Miss Bridgerton (other topics)Lake Success (other topics)
The Tide: The Science and Stories Behind the Greatest Force on Earth (other topics)
The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue (other topics)
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Gavin Maxwell (other topics)Mira Grant (other topics)
Dawn Lee McKenna (other topics)
Erik Larson (other topics)
Jules Verne (other topics)
More...
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Suggestions:
Top 10 underwater science fiction books
Sea monster books (listopia)
Seafaring for middle graders (listopia)
Best seafaring history books (listopia)
Wreckers (listopia)
Books about mermaids (listopia)
Nautical middle grade (listopia)
Best marine fiction (listopia)
Science and fiction at sea (listopia)
Oceanic/Marine science fiction (listopia)
Picture books about fish (listopia)
Gr shelf Pirates
Gr shelf Swimming
Best books about swimming (listopia)
Little mermaid retellings (listopia)
Best mermaid books (listopia)
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Optional questions:
- What are you reading for this category?
- Why did you pick this book?