Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
2021 Plans
>
LZD's 2021 ATY Challenge
1. A book related to βIn the Beginning...βA Curious Beginning, Deanna Raybourn β β β
"I took a sip of the tea, pleased to find it scalding hot and properly strong. I abhorred weakness of any kind but most particularly in my tea."
And that's Veronica Speedwell, a modern woman in Victorian times. Fun little read. I enjoyed how very British Veronica's banter was. There was just no way to read it without hearing her very, very plummy British accent. And while the mystery (and action) were wholly improbable, the characters were fairly well developed and the slow-burn romance between Veronica and Stoker was intriguing. I don't feel compelled to continue the series, but I won't rule it out either.
2. A book by an author whose name doesn't contain the letters A, T or YThe City We Became, N. K. Jemisin β β β β
"Great cities are like any other living things, being born and maturing and wearying and dying in their turn."
What a weird, weird book! Full of ideas and action. Really captures the identities of New York City's boroughs. I'm looking forward to the next weird, wild installment. N. K. Jemisin is such an original writer.
3. A book related to the lyrics for the song "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of MusicA Sting in the Tale: My Adventures with Bumblebees, Dave Goulson β β β β
"We owe these little creatures for all that they give us."
Goulson presents a tremendous amount of information about bees, and does it in a deft, yet humorous manner. Yes, Dave Goulson is funny! His side comments are hilarious and yet don't detract from the scientific information being presented. I enjoyed the literary and historic quotes about bees that headed each chapter.
"Perhaps if we learn to save a bee today we can save the world tomorrow?"
4. A book with a monochromatic coverAn Unkindness of Magicians, Kat Howard β β β
"Fortuneβs Wheel has begun its Turning. When it ceases rotation, all will be made new."
This one got off to a rocky start. I really thought I was going to give up... I didn't understand how these characters knew each other and only Sydney was given a vivid physical description (we know that Laurent is black and that Lara has "bright" hair, but that's about it). I had a hard time keeping everyone straight. A family tree or cast or characters might have been helpful. BUT the story got better and better, and finally I was hooked. I see that a second volume is available, and now that I understand their world and their relationships I might just check it out.
5. A book by an author on USA Today's list of '100 Black Novelists You Should Read'The Vanishing Half, Brit Bennett β β β β
"She had rung the bell, and all her life, the note would hang in the air."
"'I love shopping,' she'd said, almost to herself. 'It's like trying on all the other people you could be.'"
"You could drown in two inches of water. Maybe grief was the same."
Beautiful examination of identity, race, and motherhood. And the title is brilliant... the twins, racial identity, sexual identity. There's a lot to be explored here, and Bennett writes a compelling story.
6. A love storyThe Duke Who Didn't, Courtney Milan β β β
"Please never kiss a man who doesnβt think you deserve his effort."
I don't know... I just expected more. This was a '2020 New York Times Notable Book', and the best part was the author's notes at the end. The story was sweet but not special; it felt like a short story that was expanded into a full length novel.
7. A book that fits a prompt suggestion that didn't make the final list
8. A book set in a state, province, or country you have never visited
9. A book you associate with a specific season or time of year
10. A book with a female villain or criminal
11. A book to celebrate the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum
12. A book eligible for the 'Warwick Prize for Women in Translation'
13. A book written by an author of one of your best reads of 2020
15. A book that features siblings as the main characters
16. A book with a building in the title
17. A book with a Muslim character or author
18. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 1
19. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 2
20. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 3
21. A book whose title and author both contain the letter "U"
22. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads
24. A book about racism or race relations
26. A short book (<210 pages) by a new-to-you author
27. A book with a character who can be found in a deck of cards
29. A book that you consider comfort reading
31. A book by an author whose career spanned more than 21 years
32. A book whose cover shows more than two people
33. A collection of short stories, essays, or poetry
35. A book set in a country on or below the Tropic of Cancer
36. A book with six or more words in the title
37. A book from the "Are You Well Read in World Literature?" list
38. A book related to a word given by a random word generator
40. A book with flowers or greenery on the cover
41. A book by a new-to-you BIPOC author
44. A book whose title contains a negative
45. A book related to a codeword from the NATO Phonetic Alphabet
46. A winner or nominee from the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards
47. A non-fiction book other than biography, autobiography or memoir
48. A book that might cause someone to react βYou read what?!?β
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Duke Who Didn't (other topics)The Duke Who Didn't (other topics)
The Vanishing Half (other topics)
The Vanishing Half (other topics)
The Robber Bride (other topics)
More...
π 1. A book related to βIn the Beginning...β: A Curious Beginning β β β
π 2. A book by an author whose name doesn't contain the letters A, T or Y: The City We Became (N. K. Jemisin) β β β β
π 3. A book related to the lyrics for the song "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music: A Sting in the Tale: My Adventures with Bumblebees β β β β
π 4. A book with a monochromatic cover: An Unkindness of Magicians β β β
π 5. A book by an author on USA Today's list of 100 Black Novelists You Should Read: The Vanishing Half β β β β
π 6. A love story: The Duke Who Didn't β β β
7. A book that fits a prompt suggestion that didn't make the final list (a book related to alcohol): Wine Girl: The Obstacles, Humiliations, and Triumphs of America's Youngest Sommelier
8. A book set in a state, province, or country you have never visited (Iceland): The Glass Woman
9. A book you associate with a specific season or time of year: The High Season
10. A book with a female villain or criminal: The Robber Bride
11. A book to celebrate The Grand Egyptian Museum: Cleopatra's Shadows
12. A book eligible for the Warwick Prize for Women in Translation: Hurricane Season; Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982; Real Life; The Aosawa Murders
13. A book written by an author of one of your best reads of 2020: A Deadly Education
14. A book set in a made-up place: The Magicians
15. A book that features siblings as the main characters: The Grammarians
16. A book with a building in the title: The Girl in the Tower; The Stationery Shop; The Midnight Library
17. A book with a Muslim character or author: The Bird King; Hana Khan Carries on
18. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 1: The Past Is Never
19. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 2: Radicalized: Four Tales of Our Present Moment; How to Stop Time
20. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 3:
FICTION:Hiddensee: A Tale of the Once and Future Nutcracker
NONFICTION: No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality
21. A book whose title and author both contain the letter "U": The Hunger; Bringing Down the Duke
22. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads:
23. A cross genre novel: Mexican Gothic
24. A book about racism or race relations: Such a Fun Age
25. A book set on an island: Wilder Girls
26. A short book (<210 pages) by a new-to-you author: News of the World
27. A book with a character who can be found in a deck of cards: The Magician King; The Renegade Queen Jack? Joker? Ace?
28. A book connected to ice:
FICTION: The Winter of the Witch
NONFICTION: The Little Ice Age: How Climate Made History 1300-1850
29. A book that you consider comfort reading:
FICTION: First Frost; One to Watch; A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
NONFICTION: A Promised Land
30. A long book:
31. A book by an author whose career spanned more than 21 years:
32. A book whose cover shows more than two people:
33. A collection of short stories, essays, or poetry: Norse Mythology
34. A book with a travel theme:
FICTION: Less
NONFICTION: The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey
35. A book set in a country on or below the Tropic of Cancer:
36. A book with six or more words in the title:
37. A book from the "Are You Well Read in World Literature?" list:
FICTION: Twenty Fragments of a Ravenous Youth
NONFICTION: I Remember Beirut
38. A book related to a word given by a random word generator:
39. A book involving an immigrant:
40. A book with flowers or greenery on the cover: The Book of Koli; Opium and Absinthe
41. A book by a new-to-you BIPOC author:
42. A mystery or thriller:
43. A book with elements of magic: The Magician's Land
44. A book whose title contains a negative:
45. A book related to a codeword from the NATO Phonetic Alphabet:
46. A winner or nominee from the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards:
47. A non-fiction book other than biography, autobiography or memoir:
48. A book that might cause someone to react βYou read what?!?β:
49. A book with an ensemble cast:
50. A book published in 2021:
51. A book whose title refers to a person or persons without giving their names: The Girls
52. A book related to "The End": A Beginning at the End; The End of Everything