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ATY 2020 Prompts1. A book with a title that doesn't contain the letters A, T or Y
2. A book by an author whose last name is one syllable
3. A book that you are prompted to read because of something you read in 2019
✔️4. A book set in a place or time that you wouldn't want to live A Gentleman in Moscow
5. The first book in a series that you have not started
6. A book with a mode of transportation on the cover
✔️ 7. A book set in the southern hemisphere It Sounded Better in My Head
8. A book with a two-word title where the first word is "The"
✔️9. A book that can be read in a day The Perks of Being a Wallflower
✔️10. A book that is between 400-600 pages If I Never Met You
11. A book originally published in a year that is a prime number
12. A book that is a collaboration between 2 or more people
13. A prompt from a previous Around the Year in 52 Books challenge (Link)
✔️14. A book by an author on the Abe List of 100 Essential Female Writers (link) Pride and Prejudice
15. A book set in a global city
✔️16. A book set in a rural or sparsely populated area The Devil All the Time
17. A book with a neurodiverse character
18. A book by an author you've only read once before
19. A fantasy book
20. The 20th book [on your TBR, in a series, by an author, on a list, etc.]
✔️21. A book related to Maximilian Hell, the noted astronomer and Jesuit Priest who was born in 1720 Hidden Figures
✔️22. A book with the major theme of survival Know My Name: A Memoir
23. A book featuring an LGBTQIA+ character or by an LGBTQIA+ author
✔️24. A book with an emotion in the title Princess in Love
✔️25. A book related to the arts On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
26. A book from the 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards
✔️27. A history or historical fiction The Paris Hours
28. A book by an Australian, Canadian or New Zealand author
✔️29. An underrated book, a hidden gem or a lesser known book My Oxford Year
✔️30. A book from the New York Times '100 Notable Books' list for any year Normal People
31. A book inspired by a leading news story
✔️32. A book related to the 2020 Olympic Summer Games in Japan They Called Us Enemy
✔️33. A book about a non-traditional family Little Fires Everywhere
34. A book from a genre or sub genre that starts with a letter in your name
35. A book with a geometric pattern or element on the cover
36. A book from your TBR/wishlist that you don't recognize, recall putting there, or put there on a whim
✔️37. Two books that are related to each other as a pair of binary opposites (short/long): Book #1 The Princess Diaries
✔️38. Two books that are related to each other as a pair of binary opposites: Book #2 1Q84
39. A book by an author whose real name(s) you're not quite sure how to pronounce
✔️40. A book with a place name in the title Beach Read
✔️41. A mystery Mimi Lee Gets a Clue
42. A book that was nominated for one of the ‘10 Most Coveted Literary Prizes in the World’ (link)
43. A book related to one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse
44. A book related to witches
45. A book by the same author who wrote one of your best reads in 2019 or 2018
46. A book about an event or era in history taken from the Billy Joel song "We Didn't Start the Fire"
✔️ 47. A classic book you've always meant to read Little Women
✔️48. A book published in 2020 A Good Neighborhood
✔️49. A book that fits a prompt from the list of suggestions that didn't win (nostalgia) Princess in the Spotlight
50. A book with a silhouette on the cover
✔️51. A book with an "-ing" word in the title Becoming
52. A book related to time
PopSugar 2020 - Regular Prompts✔️1. A book that's published in 2020 A Good Neighborhood
2. A book by a trans or nonbinary author
3. A book with a great first line
✔️4. A book about a book club The Bromance Book Club
5. A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics
6. A bildungsroman
7. The first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed
8. A book with an upside-down image on the cover
✔️9. A book with a map A Gentleman in Moscow
✔️10. A book recommended by your favorite blog, vlog, podcast, or online book club Know My Name: A Memoir
11. An anthology
✔️ 12. A book that passes the Bechdel test Little Women
✔️13. A book with the same title as a movie or TV show but is unrelated to it Becoming
14. A book by an author with flora or fauna in their name
✔️15. A book about or involving social media If I Never Met You
✔️16. A book that has a book on the cover
17. A medical thriller
18. A book with a made-up language
19. A book set in a country beginning with "C"
✔️20. A book you picked because the title caught your attention Little Fires Everywhere
✔️21. A book published the month of your birthday Normal People
✔️22. A book about or by a woman in STEM Hidden Figures
✔️23. A book that won an award in 2019 They Called Us Enemy
✔️24. A book on a subject you know nothing about (writing fiction) On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
25. A book with only words on the cover, no images or graphics
26. A book with a pun in the title
✔️27. A book featuring one of the seven deadly sins The Devil All the Time
28. A book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character
29. A book with a bird on the cover
✔️30. A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader Princess in the Spotlight
31. A book with "gold," "silver," or "bronze" in the title
✔️32. A book by a WOC Mimi Lee Gets a Clue
33. A book with at least a four-star rating on Goodreads
34. A book you meant to read in 2019
✔️35. A book with a three-word title Princess in Love
✔️36. A book with a pink cover
37. A Western
✔️38. A book by or about a journalist The Paris Hours
39. Read a banned book during Banned Books Week
✔️40. Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge (female author) You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth
2020 Challenge - Advanced Prompts
1. A book written by an author in their 20s
2. A book with "20" or "twenty" in the title
3. A book with a character with a vision impairment or enhancement (a nod to 20/20 vision)
4. A book set in the 1920s
✔️5. A book set in Japan, host of the 2020 Olympics 1Q84
6. A book by an author who has written more than 20 books
✔️7. A book with more than 20 letters in its title The Perks of Being a Wallflower
8. A book published in the 20th century
9. A book from a series with more than 20 books
10. A book with a main character in their 20s
ATY Summer Challenge PromptsJUNE
1. Pride Month
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.
a. Read a book with at least 5 different colors of the rainbow on the cover.
b. Read a book featuring an LGBTQIA+ protagonist (not side character).
c. Read a book that was nominated for or won the Lambda Award.
2. June Birthdays: Anne Frank
Annelies Marie "Anne" Frank was born on June 12, 1929 in Frankfurt, Germany. With the rise of WWII, Anne's family moved to Amsterdam when she was 4, and eventually went into hiding as the Nazis overtook the Netherlands. While in hiding, she wrote a series of diaries documenting her experience, which were eventually published by her father, the only survivor of WWII in the Frank family.
a. Read a book set during WWII. They Called Us Enemy
b. Read a book that was published in sometime between 1900 and 1950.
c. Read The Diary of Anne Frank.
3. Father's Day
In 1972, Woodrow Wilson made Father's Day a national holiday in the United States, and it occurs on the third Sunday of June. While other countries choose to celebrate dads at different times of the year, many countries have adopted the third Sunday in June as their Father's Day as well.
a. Read a book that starts with a letter in FATHERS DAY.
b. Read a book that features someone's relationship with their father. 1Q84
c. Read a book featured on one of these lists about fathers:
☀️11 Unforgettable Books about Fatherhood
☀️28 Books to Give Dad on Father's Day
☀️Top 10 Books about Fathers
4. Hit the Beach
For the northern hemisphere, the first day of summer is marked by the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Many people use summertime as a chance to get some sunlight on the beach!
a. Read a book with a yellow or blue cover.
b. Read a book where someone goes to the beach.
c. Read a book found on this list of best beach reads.
JULY
1. Halfway There!
July 1st marks the halfway point of the year. And while it seems like 2020 has lasted 1700 years, we are only halfway to 2021.
a. Read a book with a page number that ends in 2. A Gentleman in Moscow
b. Read a book that is divided into multiple parts (rather than, or in addition to, chapters).
c. Read a book that features twins.
2. July Birthdays: Pablo Neruda
Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto (also known by his pen name, and later, his legal name of Pablo Neruda) was born on July 12, 1904 in Chile. At only 13, he published his first work of poetry. He went on to become a diplomat and poet, and he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971, two years before his death.
a. Read a book set in South America.
b. Read a book published between 1904 and 1973.
c. Read a book written in verse (must still meet the 100 page requirement).
3. It's Winter Down South
While those of us in the northern hemisphere are enjoying the warm temperatures and the sunshine, our neighbors in the southern hemisphere are cozying up around the fire and drinking hot cocoa.
a. Read a book set in the southern hemisphere.
b. Read a book where the first letter of each title word can be found in the phrase LET IT SNOW. (Title must be at least two words long.)
c. Read a book found on TED's Winter Reading List.
4. Summer Reading
Summer means the best reading months for so many of us. New releases have bright and shiny colors, and the warm weather makes for great picnics and reading in the sun.
a. Read a happy book. Pride and Prejudice
b. Read a book published in June, July, or August.
c. Read a book from one of the following lists:
☀️ A New Season of Reading
☀️ Authors Offer Summer Reading Recommendations
☀️ Goodreads Employees Share Their Summer Reading Plans
AUGUST
1. Read Good Books
Some of us like to overload our reading with multiple challenges, while others of us are content with just trying to finish ATY. Whatever your stance on challenges is, it's nice when you have a book that you can slot in anywhere.
a. Read a book by a favorite author.
b. Read the next book in a series you've already started.
c. Read a book published in 2020 that you've been looking forward to.
2. Back to School
Many students and teachers are heading back to the classrooms this month. Celebrate that back-to-school feeling with a bit of smart summer reading.
a. Read a book by an author that is new-to-you.
b. Read a YA book.
c. Read a book often tested on the AP Literature exam, as found on this list. Little Women
3. August Birthdays: Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury was born on August 22, 1920 in Illinois. Known most prominently for Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury was the author of many science fiction, horror, and fantasy novels and short stories. He is also well known in the film community and has an award named after him for achievement in screenwriting.
a. Read a book in which the initials author's name can be found in RAY BRADBURY.
b. Read a sci-fi or horror book.
c. Read a collection of short stories (must still meet the 100 page requirement).
4. Go for a Drive
With the warm air and a nice breeze, now is the perfect time to roll down your windows and go for a drive... whether it's to the beach, to the mountains, or to your best friend's house.
a. Read a book with a car on the cover.
b. Read a book that starts with a letter in the phrase WINDOWS DOWN, BREEZE BLOWING.
c. Read a book where a character visits multiple countries.
Normal People
The 2020 Popsugar Summer Reading ChallengeA book with "summer" in the title
A book with a summer drink or cocktail on the cover
A book that takes place in your favorite (or dream) summer destination
A book about a vacation
A book with an LGBTQ+ protagonist
A book with an item you'd find at the beach in the title
A book with a body of water or pool on the cover
✔️A book set at a resort or hotel A Gentleman in Moscow
A book with a release date in June, July, or August of any year
A summer-set thriller
A book involving a summer romance
✔️A book about Black history in America Hidden Figures
A scary book you'd read around a campfire
A book that takes place during the summer before high school or college
A book that takes place in a beach town
A book with "sun," "sand," or "waves" in the title
A book with sunglasses on the cover
A book about camping or summer camp
✔️A book classified as a "beach read" Beach Read
A book that makes you nostalgic for summer (rereads welcome)
Books Read in JanuaryYou Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth ⭐️⭐️
Little Fires Everywhere ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Princess Diaries ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Princess in the Spotlight ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Books Read in AprilMy Oxford Year ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Good Neighborhood ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It Sounded Better in My Head ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Books Read in JuneOn Writing: A Memoir of the Craft ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Paris Hours ⭐️⭐️
Normal People ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hidden Figures ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Books Read in AugustA Gentleman in Moscow ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
They Called Us Enemy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1Q84⭐️⭐️⭐️
Beach Read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Books Read in SeptemberMimi Lee Gets a Clue ⭐️
The Bromance Book Club ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Devil All the Time ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spoiler alert: didn't end up doing this but I still plan on reading all of these books! Wanting to participate in this readathon showed me some books I never would have heard of if it weren't for these prompts.I'm participating in a readathon from 8/1-8/14 and I currently have 12 books on my TBR for it I think... Will I be able to get it done? Who knows, come along for the ride.
Here is some information about the readathon and the prompts (it's Avatar: The Last Airbender themed).
Currently my TBR is:
Water:
-Read a blue book Truthwitch
-Read a book with water on the cover The Wanderer
-Read a book with and about Indigenous Characters by an Indigenous author The Night Watchman
Earth:
-Read a Green/Brown book The Voting Booth
-Read a book with Nature on the cover The Bromance Book Club
-Read a book with Black Characters by a Black author The Voting Booth
Fire:
-Read a Red book/Orange book Bloodwitch
-Read a book with fire on the cover Nothing to See Here
-Read a Book with Latinx Characters by a Latinx Author This Train Is Being Held
Air: Bin
-Read a White book Always and Forever, Lara Jean
-Read a book with Air (wings, flying creatures, etc) on the cover Windwitch
-Read a book with Asian characters by an Asian Author Always and Forever, Lara Jean
Group reading will be the: Avatar State
-Read a book/books that showcases multiple colours on the cover (that feature Red, blue, white and green) The Night Watchman
-A with a diverse set of characters POC by AOC The Fifth Season
-Read a book with the chosen one trope The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The immediate focus will be to read the books by authors of color as that is the point of the readathon. I was only made aware of the readathon a couple of days ago so I had to scramble to throw together books that I had on hand. As long as I finish one prompt per category I'll be happy.
omg I just found a Disney Readathon for next month so I guess I'm doing that too. This one at least spans the whole month and I'm not as overwhelmed with prompts lol.Here is information about the readathon.
I'm on Team Princess and the Frog and my TBR is:
Tiana: The Voting Booth
Prince Naveen: Princess in Waiting
Dr. Faciliar: Truthwitch
Ray: Red, White & Royal Blue
Charlotte: An Ember in the Ashes
I overlapped books between readathons so I don't completely lose my mind, but I'm very pleased with the way this one looks. Seems rather doable.
Cover Dump :)
I finally finished the monster that is 1Q84. 149 days. ugh. At first I really enjoyed it. It's the first time I've dealt with speculative fiction since high school and I enjoyed Murakami's writing style. Towards the end some things felt a little weird to me (like Tengo and Fuka-Eri that really rubbed me the wrong way idk). I didn't have a problem with any of the unanswered questions. Seeing as the main characters had a lot of unanswered questions, it didn't feel strange to also be left in the dark. Some situations were just too big to ignore.All that being said, this book felt like a movie. It could be easily adapted into either a movie or a limited series and I hope it does. While Murakami's prose is almost embellished, it paints the scene very well. I ended up giving it a 3.5 rounded down to 3 stars.
Now moving on to Beach Read before I have to give it back to Overdrive.
SEPTEMBER1. First Day of Fall
September 22nd marks the first official day of the fall season! This is marked by the autumnal equinox. After the autumnal equinox, the sun is rising later and nightfall comes sooner, and it stays this way until winter begins.
a. Read a book that contains a 2 in the page number.
b. Read a book published in September, October, or November. The Bromance Book Club
c. Read a book in which a significant even takes place at night.
2. National Read a Book Day
Our favorite holiday!
a. Read a book by a new-to-you author.
b. Read a book that is the next in a series you've already started.
c. Read a book that can be read in one day.
3. Fall or Autumn?
Do you call this season fall or autumn? According to Merriam-Webster, the word autumn is the older of the two, but many poets used the term "the fall of the leaves", which was eventually shortened to "fall". Whatever you call it, it is upon us! (You can read more about the differences between fall and autumn here.)
a. Read a book whose title starts with a letter in FALL or AUTUMN.
b. Read a book by an author whose first or last name starts with A or F.
c. Read a book that shows leaves on the cover.
4. September Birthday: Shel Silverstein
Famous poet Shel Silverstein was born on September 25, 1930. While most know him for his silly poetry in Where the Sidewalk Ends, few people know that he is also a Grammy winner. He wrote Johnny Cash's famous hit song "A Boy Named Sue", and earned a Grammy for this songwriting.
a. Read a humorous book.
b. Read a book written between 1930 and 1999.
c. Read a book by an author named Sue or with a character named Sue (reasonable variations like Susan, Susanne, or Suzette are allowed.)
OCTOBER
1. Pumpkin Spice Everything
Pumpkin Spice is an American spice blend that is used in baking pumpkin pie. It is generally a blend of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and sometimes allspice. When Starbucks introduced the Pumpkin Spice Latte, the use of pumpkin spice in fall drinks and food rose to popularity.
a. Read a book that has orange on the cover.
b. Read a book whose title starts with a letter in SPICE.
c. Read a book in which food plays a role in the book.
2. October Birthday: R.L. Stine
R.L. Stine was born on October 8, 1943 in Ohio. He's best known for his Goosebumps series, which have frightened and delighted kids since 1992. He's also written for TV shows and has published humorous books, and his favorite thriller is Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury.
a. Read a children's or YA book.
b. Read a book in which the title starts with a letter in GOOSEBUMPS.
c. Read a book by R.L. Stine or Ray Bradbury.
3. World Mental Health Day
In 1992, the World Federation of Mental Health created World Mental Health Day, celebrated on October 10 each year. The primary objective of this day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilize efforts in support of mental health.
a. Read a book where one of the author's initials is found in MENTAL HEALTH.
b. Read a book featuring a healthcare worker.
c. Read a book featuring a character who struggles with their mental health.
4. Halloween
Halloween, or All Hallow's Eve, is celebrated the night before the Christian holiday of All Souls Day. Traditions for Halloween vary, but often include a mixture of fall and fantastical activities.
a. Read a horror book.
b. Read a book in which the main character has a disguise.
c. Read a book that won or was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award or the Shirley Jackson Award.
NOVEMBER
1. National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day
Why is this a holiday? We aren't sure. But we will celebrate with a bar of our favorite chocolate, if only because now we have a great excuse.
a. Read a book that has brown on the cover.
b. Read a book featuring a main character whose name starts with a letter in HERSEYS.
c. Read a book featuring an eccentric ("nutty") character.
2. November for Beginners
In her poem "November for Beginners", Rita Dove describes the gloominess and in-between feeling of the month of November, and looks forward to spring. To read more about Rita Dove, click here.
a. Read a book whose title features at least one word that is mentioned in the poem (word must be 4 letters or longer).
b. Read a collection of poetry or a book written in verse.
c. Read a book by an author who won or was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, National Book Critics Award, NAACP Image Award, or a National Book Award.
3. But it's spring?
It's only autumn in the northern hemisphere. While we descend into the cold winter days, our southern friends are welcoming the sunshine and springtime. "In spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." - Margaret Atwood
a. Read a book with a green or yellow cover.
b. Read a book whose author's initials can be found in the phrase SMELL LIKE DIRT.
c. Read a book found on one of these lists:
- Goodread's 2020 Big Books of Spring
- Modern Mrs. Darcy's Springtime Reading List
- InspireMe's Books to Read in the Spring
- Quartz's Perfect Books for the Season
4. November Birthday: C.S. Lewis and Madeleine L'Engle
Two novelists most well known for their ability to transport children to new worlds were born on the same day - November 29! Lewis, born in 1898, is best known for his Narnia series and Christian writings. L'Engle, born in 1918, is best known for her Time Quintet series, which many believe have Christian underpinnings.
a. Read a fantasy novel.
b. Read a book with religious themes.
c. Read a book written by either C.S. Lewis or Madeleine L'Engle.
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race (other topics)The Wanderer (other topics)
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (other topics)
Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald (other topics)
A Wrinkle in Time (other topics)
More...
I've been keeping track of all of my completed prompts in an Excel spreadsheet but now I feel like sharing my accomplishments more ~publicly~ so here we are. I'm attempting both the ATY and the Popsugar 2020 challenges as well as the summer challenges so I'll list out the prompts and everything below!