Donna's Around the Year Plans

[Donna]

1. A book with the letters A, T & Y in the title
2. A book from the first 10 books added to your To Be Read list
3. A book from the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards (link)
4. 4 books linked by the 4 elements: Book #1 Earth (in title, cover, content, setting, author...)
5. A book about or inspired by real events
**6. A book originally written in a language other than English**
**7. A gothic novel
8. An "own voices" book
9. A book with a body part in the title (heart, bones, teeth, skin, blood, etc)
10. An author's debut book (their first book to be published)
11. A literary fiction
12. A book set in Africa or South America
13. A book with a plot centered around a secret (forbidden love, spies, secret societies, etc)
14. 4 books linked by the 4 elements: Book #2 Fire
15. A book with an unique format/writing structure
16. A narrative nonfiction
17. A book you expect to make you laugh
18. A book with a location in the title
19. A book nominated for the Edgar Award or by a Grand master author (books & authors)
20. A book rated 5 stars by at least one of your friends
21. A book written in first person perspective
22. A book you have high expectations or hope for
23. A medical or legal thriller
24. A book with a map
25. A book with an antagonist/villain point of view
26. A book with a text only cover

27. A book about surviving a hardship (war, famine, major disasters, serious illness, etc)
28. 4 books linked by the 4 elements: Book #3 Water
29. A book with a "Clue" weapon on the cover or title (lead pipe, revolver, rope, candlestick, dagger, wrench)
30. A short book
31. A book set in a country you'd like to visit but have never been to
32. An alternate history book
33. A book connected (title, cover, content) to a word "born" in the same year as you (link)
34. A suggestion from the AtY 2018 polls, that didn't win but was polarizing or a close-call (link)
35. A book featuring a murder
36. A book published in the last 3 years (2016, 2017, 2018) by an author you haven't read before
37. A Women's Prize for Fiction winner or nominee (link1, link2)
38. A science book or a science fiction book
39. A book with a form of punctuation in the title
40. A book from Amazon's 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime list (link)
41. A book by an author with the same first and last initials
42. A book that takes place on, in, or underwater
43. A book with a title that is a whole sentence
44. A ghost story
45. A book that intimidates/ scares you
46. 4 books linked by the 4 elements: Book #4 Air
47. A book where the main character (or author) is of a different ethnic origin, religion, or sexual identity than your own
48. A book related to one of the 7 deadly sins (pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, sloth)
49. A book from one of the Goodreads Best Books of the Month lists (link)
50. A book with a warm atmosphere (centered on family, friendship, love or summer)
51. An award-winning short story or short story collection
52. A book published in 2018

[Donna]

January

This should cover weeks 1-5

30. A short book
The Man in the Picture

31. A book set in a country you'd like to visit but have never been to
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

36. A book published in the last 3 years (2016, 2017, 2018) by an author you haven't read before
Darkroom

40. A book from Amazon's 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime list
Slaughterhouse-Five

41. A book by an author with the same first and last initials
Missing, Presumed

[Donna]

Week 1
Category 31
A book set in a country you'd like to visit but have never been to



Re-reading this series for the Harry Potter challenge with my CBBs. It's been YEARS since I've first read the series but there is somewhat of a comforting feeling as I'm re-reading. Experiencing the magical world with Harry, valuing the new friendships, and learning about his past are all things I loved initially and all things I've come to love once again.

[Donna]

Week 2
Category 40
A book from Amazon's 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime list
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7... (#16)



We are taken journey as Billy Pilgrim jumps through moments of his life (i.e. war, alien abduction, life as a father and husband) via time travel. All in all, I think this is a classic book everyone should read. However, I've rated it 3 stars because I found it difficult to come to terms with the jumping around and I did not agree with the suggestion that changing your life is pointless.

[Donna]

Week 3
Category 36
A book published in the last 3 years (2016, 2017, 2018) by an author you haven't read before
[Published 2016]



It took a chapter or two for me to used to Mary’s writing style. I kept finding myself having to go back and re-read to figure out who’s POV I was reading. Once I got the hang of it, I really connected. Mary does a great job with building the characters and setting the scene. The book has some great plot twists, some I figured out and some I didn’t. It was suspenseful enough to keep me engaged and reading; however, I was left feeling like I wanted a little more.

[Tammy]

Looks like you are off to a great start. Sad that Slaughterhouse 5 didn't quite do it for you. I hope it won't stop you from reading more Vonnegut. Cat's Cradle is my favorite of his.

[Donna]

Tammy wrote: "Looks like you are off to a great start. Sad that Slaughterhouse 5 didn't quite do it for you. I hope it won't stop you from reading more Vonnegut. Cat's Cradle is my favorite of his."

I don't think it will, I would like to read more of Vonnegut. I'll for sure check out Cat's Cradle, thanks for the recommendation!

[Donna]

Week 4
Category 41
A book by an author with the same first and last initials
[Susie Steiner]



The main character and detective in the story, Manon Bradshaw, was a fantastic character. I really enjoyed how she progresses through the story. However, she was really one of the only characters I liked. The "mystery" itself was a bit disappointing but what can I expect from a literary thriller.

[Donna]

Week 5
Category 30
A short book
[145 pages]



This is my second Susan Hill book and damn she knows how to write a creepy book! Her description of the Venetian carnival scene gave me chills, the feeling it portrays to its bystander along with the creepiness of the scene itself, this is why I love Susan Hill. However, I wish I could say the same for the rest of the book. The ending fell a bit short for me, and knowing Susan Hill, I expected more horror throughout. I didn't really feel connected with any of the characters, despite the book in first person POV.

[Donna]

February

This will cover weeks 6-8

6. A book originally written in a language other than English
Block 11

28. A book linked by the 4 elements: Book #3 Water
The Water Knife

43. A book with a title that is a whole sentence
The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag

[Donna]

Week 6
Category 28
A book linked by the 4 elements: Book #3 Water



I have mixed feelings about this book. Dystopian novel set in the near future of the great Southwest dessert over feuding states; Nevada, Arizona, and California where water is power. Paolo did a fantastic job building the dystopian world and each character felt and dealt with it differently which made it even more believable. In a world where water is scarce, I can understand how easily people turn to greed and fear. However, the romance between two of the characters felt very awkward and most of the characters didn't really develop by the end of the book. The storyline just seemed to fizzle at the end, I didn't really feel any closure...

[Donna]

Week 7
Category 43
A book with a title that is a whole sentence



I absolutely adore the Flavia De Luce series, this is only the second book in the series but I would love to read them all!

[Donna]

I failed at getting to Week 8 (category 6) :(

[Donna]

March

This will cover weeks 9-13

2. A book from the first 10 books added to your To Be Read list
The Good Girl

7. A gothic novel
The Picture of Dorian Gray

27. A book about surviving a hardship
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption

39. A book with a form of punctuation in the title
The Smell of Other People's Houses

46. A book linked by the 4 elements: Book #4 Air
Beneath the Sugar Sky

[Donna]

I failed at getting to Week 12 (category 7) :(

That makes me two books behind schedule - boo!!

[Donna]

April

This will cover weeks 14-17

4. 4 books linked by the 4 elements: Book #1 Earth
Beware the Wild

10. An author's debut book
The Hazel Wood

20. A book rated 5 stars by at least one of your friends
The Fourth Monkey

44. A ghost story
The Night Sister