LZD's 2020 ATY Challenge

[Laura Z]

Challenge Progress: 52/52

1. A book with a title that doesn't contain the letters A, T or Y:
FICTION: Ill Will ★
NONFICTION: In Pieces ★★★★
2. A book by an author whose last name is one syllable:
FICTION: And I Darken ★★★★
NONFICTION: The Corrosion of Conservatism: Why I Left the Right ★★★★
3. A book that you are prompted to read because of something you read in 2019: The Baby Thief: The Untold Story of Georgia Tann, the Baby Seller Who Corrupted Adoption ★★★★
4. A book set in a place or time that you wouldn't want to live:
FICTION: Star of the North ★★★★
NONFICTION: Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea ★★★★
5. The first book in a series that you have not started:
FICTION: The Fifth Season ★★★★
NONFICTION: Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics ★★★
6. A book with a mode of transportation on the cover:
FICTION: Witchmark ★★★
NONFICTION: Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder ★★★★
7. A book set in the southern hemisphere:
FICTION: A Madness of Sunshine ★★★★
NONFICTION: Antarctica: An Intimate Portrait of the World's Most Mysterious Continent ★★★★
8. A book with a two-word title where the first word is "The": The Obsoletes ★★★
9. A book that can be read in a day: This Is How You Lose the Time War ★★★★
10. A book that is between 400-600 pages:
FICTION:Spinning Silver ★★★★★
NONFICTION: American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee ★★
11. A book originally published in a year that is a prime number:
FICTION: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo ★★★★★
NONFICTION: Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire: A 500-Year History ★★
12. A book that is a collaboration between 2 or more people:
FICTION: Watch Us Rise ★★
NONFICTION: She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement ★★★★
13. A prompt from a previous Around the Year in 52 Books challenge:
FICTION: Mostly Void, Partially Stars ★★★★
NONFICTION: Scrappy Little Nobody ★★★★
14. A book by an author on the ABE List of 100 Essential Female Writers: The Goldfinch ★★★★
15. A book set in a global city:
FICTION: A Gentleman in Moscow ★★★★
NONFICTION: The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper ★★★★
16. A book set in a rural or sparsely populated area:
FICTION: Doc
NONFICTION: The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of a Donner Party Bride ★★★★
17. A book with a neurodiverse character: The Rosie Result ★★★★★
18. A book by an author you've only read once before:
FICTION: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires ★★★★★
NONFICTION: The Story of More: How We Got to Climate Change and Where to Go from Here ★★★★★
19. A fantasy book: Year One ★★★★
20. The 20th book [on your TBR, in a series, by an author, on a list, etc.]: Real Life ★★★
21. A book related to Maximilian Hell, the noted astronomer and Jesuit Priest who was born in 1720: The Sparrow ★★★★★
22. A book with the major theme of survival:
FICTION: Last Ones Left Alive ★★
NONFICTION: First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers ★★★★
23. A book featuring an LGBTQIA+ character or by an LGBTQIA+ author:
FICTION: What If It's Us ★★★
NONFICTION: Beautiful on the Outside ★★★★
24. A book with an emotion in the title:
FICTION: Gun Love ★★★
NONFICTION: Remain in Love: Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Tina ★
25. A book related to the arts: Fools and Mortals ★★★
26. A book from the 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards: Red, White & Royal Blue ★★★★★
27. A history or historical fiction:
FICTION: Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen ★★★★
NONFICTION: Cleopatra: A Life ★★
28. A book by an Australian, Canadian or New Zealand author: Hag-Seed ★★★★
29. An underrated book, a hidden gem or a lesser known book: Darkness at Noon ★★★
30. A book from the New York Times '100 Notable Books' list for any year:
FICTION: Full Throttle ★★★★
NONFICTION: How to Be an Antiracist ★★★★
31. A book inspired by a leading news story:
FICTION: Girl at War ★★★
NONFICTION: The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History ★★★★
32. A book related to the 2020 Olympic Summer Games in Japan:
FICTION: The Travelling Cat Chronicles ★★★★
NONFICTION: Start by Believing: Larry Nassar's Crimes, the Institutions that Enabled Him, and the Brave Women Who Stopped a Monster ★★★★
33. A book about a non-traditional family:
FICTION: The House in the Cerulean Sea ★★★★
NONFICTION: Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic ★★★★
34. A book from a genre or sub genre that starts with a letter in your name: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes ★★★
35. A book with a geometric pattern or element on the cover: Beautiful Geometry ★★★★
36. A book from your TBR/wishlist that you don't recognize, recall putting there, or put there on a whim: Idle Hands ★★★★
37. Two books that are related to each other as a pair of binary opposites: Book #1: Now I Rise ★★★★
38. Two books that are related to each other as a pair of binary opposites: Book #2: Before the Fall ★★★★
39. A book by an author whose real name(s) you're not quite sure how to pronounce: Mrs Mohr Goes Missing ★★★
40. A book with a place name in the title: The Girls at 17 Swann Street ★★★★
41. A mystery: The Cheerleaders ★★★★
42. A book that was nominated for one of the ‘10 Most Coveted Literary Prizes in the World’:
FICTION: Mislaid ★★
NONFICTION: The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo ★★★★
43. A book related to one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse: Scythe ★★★★
44. A book related to witches:
FICTION: The Mercies ★★★★
NONFICTION: The Witches: Salem, 1692 ★★★
45. A book by the same author who wrote one of your best reads in 2019 or 2018: The Once and Future Witches ★★★★
46. A book about an event or era in history taken from the Billy Joel song "We Didn't Start the Fire":
FICTION: Next Year in Havana ★★★★
NONFICTION: The Twelfth Victim: The Innocence of Caril Fugate in the Starkweather Murder Rampage ★★
47. A classic book you've always meant to read: Rebecca ★★
48. A book published in 2020:
FICTION: Secret Santa ★★★★
NONFICTION: Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man ★★★★
49. A book that fits a prompt from the list of suggestions that didn't win:
FICTION: The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein ★★★★
NONFICTION: Yes Please ★★★★
50. A book with a silhouette on the cover:
FICTION: The Calculating Stars ★★★★★
NONFICTION: Where Nobody Knows Your Name: Life In the Minor Leagues of Baseball ★★★★
51. A book with an "-ing" word in the title:
FICTION: The Binding ★★★★★
NONFICTION: The Book of Eating: Adventures in Professional Gluttony ★★★
52. A book related to time: Here and Now and Then ★★★★★

[Laura Z]

1. A book with a title that doesn't contain the letters A, T, or Y

FICTION - Ill Will, Dan Chaon: "I don’t believe in ghosts, but I believe in…? What? Malevolence?" Rambling, nonsensical prose. Often sentences didn't end; they simply trailed off. Yes, I know it was supposed to represent unfinished thoughts (and the fragility of the minds of the central characters), but honestly I thought there was something wrong with the text in my copy of the book! Occasionally I stumbled across an interesting phrase, but it was too mired down in the choppy, unappetizing writing that I just can't recommend this book. ★

NONFICTION - In Pieces, Sally Field: This is not a gossipy little book. It's emotionally raw and uncomfortable much of the time. Field confronts her childhood traumas and their aftermath in her adult life with honesty and strength. I saw a side of her I never knew existed. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

2. A book by an author whose last name is one syllable

FICTION - And I Darken (The Conqueror's Saga, #1), Kiersten White: "She hated the way roses smelled, their sweetness too fragile. She wanted a garden of evergreens. A garden of stones. A garden of swords." Great start to a series! Lada is vicious and wonderful. I appreciated how White uses the narrative to explore the paths a person can take to get to the point where they can justify doing terrible things in the name of good. ★★★★

NONFICTION - The Corrosion of Conservatism: Why I Left the Right, Max Boot: "[T]here is no doubt that there has always been a dark underside to conservatism and one that I chose for most of my life to ignore. It's amazing how little you can see when your eyes are closed!" I enjoy reading political books because they make me examine my own personal beliefs. I wish more people would. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

3. A book that you are prompted to read because of something you read in 2019

The Baby Thief: The Untold Story of Georgia Tann, the Baby Seller Who Corrupted Adoption, Barbara Bisantz Raymond: "An unknowable number of the children Georgia placed in new families had been kidnapped from their old ones—either directly, often literally from their mothers’ arms, or indirectly, by means of illegal court orders." Did you read Before We Were Yours? This is the true story, and it's even more appalling than Wingate's fictional take on Georgia Tann's monstrous legacy. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

4. A book set in a place or time that you wouldn't want to live

FICTION - Star of the North, D. B. John: So spy thrillers aren't usually my thing, and as I'm reading this I'm thinking, "No way! This is too outrageous! Even North Korea wouldn't engage in these types of activities." But I was WRONG. Too much (yes, too MUCH!) of this is based on real programs and strategies of North Korea. Crazy, crazy stuff. ★★★★

NONFICTION - Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea, Barbara Demick: Revealing and sometimes painful look at life in North Korea. Going beyond the propaganda and the worship of their leaders, Demick exposes the lies and the trauma of living in one of the strictest regimes on earth. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

5. The first book in a series that you have not started

FICTION - The Fifth Season (Broken Earth, #1), N. K. Jemisin: "Neither myths nor mysteries can hold a candle to the most infinitesimal spark of hope." Dystopian fantasy with incredible world-building! I was immediately sucked in. Jemisin was able to both build characters and an entirely new reality at the same time. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series. ★★★★

NONFICTION - Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics (Politics of Place, #1), Tim Marshall: A bit shallow. I don't believe it explains everything, but it was still somewhat interesting to look at conflicts in various regions around the world through the lens of geography. ★★

[Laura Z]

6. A book with a mode of transportation on the cover

FICTION - Witchmark (The Kingston Cycle, #1), C. L. Polk: Boy, this was a slow starter. Sure, there's a world to be built here, but it certainly took a long time to get to the point. But by the end of the story, I was really drawn in. I'll probably give the next volume in the series a try. ★★★

NONFICTION - Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Caroline Fraser: This isn't just a comprehensive biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder, but also that of her daughter Rose Wilder Lane (who's just plain awful) and the entire Little House series. Fraser maintains respect for the work that Wilder did, but she's also unflinching in her descriptions of these very real, complicated people. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

7. A book set in the southern hemisphere

FICTION - A Madness of Sunshine, Nalini Singh: "No one was born without the capacity for joy in the soul. Life leached it out of them, drop by drop." Nalini Singh is best know as a paranormal romance writer, but A Madness of Sunshine is a psychological thriller - not a hint of the supernatural - and it works. Singh's work is vividly written, and I look forward to reading more. (New Zealand) ★★★★

NONFICTION - Antarctica: An Intimate Portrait of the World's Most Mysterious Continent, Gabrielle Walker: "The most experienced Antarcticans talk not about conquering the continent but about surrendering to it. No matter how powerful you believe yourself to be—how good your technology, how rich your invention—Antarctica is always bigger." A brilliant combination of science and history. Walker writes beautifully about the climate and history of Antarctica as well as about the lives of the men and women who continue to explore this unique area of our planet. The only drawback was that, although Walker referred many times to her camera, there were no photographs in the book itself. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

8. A book with a two-word title where the first word is "The"

The Obsoletes, Simeon Mills: 1980s alternate history told from the viewpoint of two teenage robots... It most certainly kept my attention even when I wasn't sure I really liked what I was reading. The most interesting thing about the book was its examination of the robophobic prejudices of the human characters (especially when considered in relation to the racial fears and xenophobia we see playing out across many areas of the country right now), but the book was just really weird. Too weird? ★★★

[Laura Z]

9. A book that can be read in a day

This Is How You Lose the Time War, Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone: Time-traveling SF pen pals...with beautifully written romantic prose. Gorgeous and heartrending. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

10. A book that is between 400-600 pages

FICTION - Spinning Silver, Naomi Novik: “My mother had enough magic to give me three blessings before she died,” I said, and he instinctively bent in to hear it. 'The first was wit; the second beauty, and the third—that fools should recognize neither.'" A masterful work of interwoven fairy tales and folklore told from multiple viewpoints. (This is the book The Bear and the Nightingale wanted to be.) I loved it! ★★★★★

NONFICTION - American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee, Karen Abbott: “The quicker you forget what you used to be,” Tessie told her, “the better off you’ll be. Start thinkin’ about what you’re goin’ to be tomorrow—not what you were yesterday.” While parts of this were fascinating, I couldn't keep up with the shifting timelines. Even within a chapter, I'd be reading along and then... Wait. When are we? It was extremely dificult to keep the narrative straight. I would have enjoyed it much more if the story had been told in a more straightforward fashion. ★★

[Laura Z]

11. A book originally published in a year that is a prime number

FICTION - The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid: I avoided this book for the longest time. I kept confusing this one and The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. Such similar titles for two books released at nearly the same time! But I loved Daisy Jones & The Six, so I finally decided to take the chance. Why did I wait so long!? Reid is a fantastic writer. Her characters are imperfect, complicated, and entirely sympathetic. I loved it! (2017) ★★★★★

NONFICTION - Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire: A 500-Year History, Kurt Andersen: I think Andersen has important things to say about current events in the US and how our fantasy-driven, alternative-facts present came about, but, boy, this is a rant of a book - attacking religion, Disney and other fandoms, homeopathy, supernatural beliefs - without any sort of documentation or footnotes. If you agree with him, it's a fairly entertaining read; if you don't... well, don't bother. There's no attempt to persuade here. (2017) ★★

[Laura Z]

12. A book that is a collaboration between 2 or more people

FICTION - Watch Us Rise, Renee Watson and Ellen Hagan: Preachy and shallow. I don't think I needed Chelsea's perspective (or her poetry). A book about Jasmine? Yeah, maybe. She was a much more interesting character. ★★

NONFICTION - She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey: Trump, Kavanaugh, Weinstein. I thought I knew a lot about the sexual harassment scandals surrounding these three men, but Kantor and Twohey's account of their investigative journalism was so well done that it made fascinating reading. They shed so much light onto the subject and onto the lives of the many, many women affected. I'm still sorting out my anger over how nondisclosure agreements have been used to protect perpetrators (both the men and their organizations/institutions) and silence women. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

13. A prompt from a previous Around the Year in 52 Books challenge

FICTION - Mostly Void, Partially Stars (Welcome to Night Vale Episodes, Volume 1), Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor: Absurd... in the best way. I had a lot of fun listening along to the podcasts as I was reading, and the introductions to each episode were a nice touch that added a bit of insight into the workings behind the scenes. (Cecil Baldwin has an amazing voice!) (A book with the letters A, T, and Y in the title) ★★★★

NONFICTION - Scrappy Little Nobody, Anna Kendrick: "But here's the thing about crazy: It. Wants. Out." Funny and snarky, Anna Kendrick's memoir was exactly what I expected. I've loved her since she played Fritzi in "Camp" years and years ago, and I'm mildly obsessed with the "Pitch Perfect" movies, so it's really not surprising that I enjoyed this. (A book with the letters A, T, and Y in the title) ★★★★

[Laura Z]

14. A book by an author on the ABE List of 100 Essential Female Writers

The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt: Reads like a modern-day Dickens novel - homeless orphans, art thieves, unrequited love. Beautifully written, but also quite repetitive at times. Like Dickens, Tartt could have used a more heavy-handed editor. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

15. A book set in a global city

FICTION - A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles: "For what matters in life is not whether we receive a round of applause; what matters is whether we have the courage to venture forth despite the uncertainty of acclaim." Lovely (and sometimes sad) tale about a slice of history I really don't know much about. Alexander Rostov is a wonderful character. (Moscow) ★★★★

NONFICTION - The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper, Hallie Rubenhold: Everyone knows the story of Jack the Ripper, but the women he murdered have been nearly forgotten and much maligned. This is their story, and it's fascinating. The sheer amount of research that went into this book is mind-boggling. (London) ★★★★

[Laura Z]

16. A book set in a rural or sparsely populated area

FICTION - Doc (Doc Holliday, #1), Mary Doria Russell: I am not a western fan. I've actively avoided movies like "Tombstone," "The Magnificent Seven," and "Silverado" all my life (even if they're some of my husband's favorites), so reading a novel about Doc Holliday is not to be expected. But Russell's beautiful writing and attention to historical detail may have changed my mind about the genre just a little bit. I'm certainly looking forward to reading her follow-up book Epitaph. ★★★★

NONFICTION - The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of a Donner Party Bride, Daniel James Brown: Fascinating but emotionally exhausting read. Poor decisions, bad luck, snowblindness, hypothermia, starvation... Daniel James Brown made the members of the ill-fated Donner Party understandable as real people with hopes, dreams, and fears. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

17. A book with a neurodiverse character

The Rosie Result (Don Tillman, #3), Graeme Simsion: Superb conclusion to the series! As an autism parent, I love to read fiction featuring characters on the spectrum, especially when it's done as deftly, humorously, and honestly as in Graeme Simsion's Don Tillman trilogy. ★★★★★

[Laura Z]

18. A book by an author you've only read once before

FICTION - The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, Grady Hendrix: "Sometimes she craved a little danger. And that was why she had book club." Horrifying and incisive. I loved this book! It's like "The Stepford Wives" + "Salem's Lot." Absolutely amazing. ★★★★★

NONFICTION - The Story of More: How We Got to Climate Change and Where to Go from Here, Hope Jahren: Not only is Jahren's work well-researched, it is also beautifully written. She explains scientific principles in language that is easily understandable. Best of all, I appreciated that it wasn't simply a diatribe about climate change and how we've ruined the earth, but she also provided suggestions for steps that we, as individuals, can take to lessen our own impact. ★★★★★

[Laura Z]

19. A fantasy book

Year One (Chronicles of the One, #1), Nora Roberts: Really enjoyable urban fantasy - somewhat reminiscent of The Stand. I'm looking forward to continuing the series. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

20. The 20th book [on your TBR, in a series, by an author, on a list, etc.]

Real Life, Brandon Taylor (https://www.elle.com/culture/books/g2... "Perhaps friendship is really nothing but controlled cruelty. Maybe that’s all they’re doing, lacerating each other and expecting kindness back." Wallace is misunderstood, alienated at work and even among his friends. "Real Life" is a brutal examination of intimacy and violence, and while beautifully polished, it's hopelessly depressing. ★★

[Laura Z]

21. A book related to Maximilian Hell, the noted astronomer and Jesuit Priest who was born in 1720

The Sparrow (The Sparrow, #1), Mary Doria Russell: "They went for the reason Jesuits have always gone to the farthest frontiers of human exploration. They went ad majorem Dei gloriam: for the greater glory of God. They meant no harm." I'm not a religious person, but Emilio's struggle with God is so heart-wrenching. Russell's characterizations are genius. Gorgeous, gorgeous book. ★★★★★

[Laura Z]

22. A book with the major theme of survival

FICTION - Last Ones Left Alive, Sarah Davis-Goff: It just felt so incomplete. Like it's the pitch or the first episode for a new Netflix show. Sure, we learn Orpen's backstory with Mam and Maeve, but nothing else. What is the origin of the skrake? The banshees? Why did Cillian, Nic, and Aodh leave the city? Just as it might have gotten interesting it all ended. If you can call that an ending... it just stopped. ★★

NONFICTION - First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers, Loung Ung: Absolutely riveting. Loung Ung is a childhood survivor of the Cambodian genocide under the regime of Pol Pot, and her story is agonizingly heartbreaking. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

23. A book featuring an LGBTQIA+ character or by an LGBTQIA+ author

FICTION - What If It's Us (What If It's Us, #1), Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera: "I guess that’s any relationship. You start with nothing and maybe end with everything." I wanted to love this book... but I didn't get the chemistry between Arthur and Ben, and their voices were so similar (even though they were penned by different authors) that I had to keep flipping back to the beginning of the chapter to see whose story it was. It's also problematic when the secondary characters are more compelling than the leads (Dylan is the real star here), but if Albertalli and Silvera release a second volume I'll probably read it. ★★★

NONFICTION - Beautiful on the Outside, Adam Rippon: Chatty, gossipy, and fun! I loved watching Adam Rippon in the 2018 Olympics (and on Dancing With the Stars), so I guess you could call me a fan. He's smart(er than you think) and witty... when he said that Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir dressed like they were hosting the Hunger Games, I chortled gleefully. Really enjoyable read. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

24. A book with an emotion in the title

FICTION - Gun Love, Jennifer Clement: "My mother called anyone or anything that seemed alone, or ended up in the wrong place, a stray. There were stray people, stray dogs, stray bullets, and stray butterflies." Odd but poetically, gorgeously written. Jennifer Clement introduces us to Pearl, a young girl raised in the shadow of Florida trailer park, and gives us a glimpse into the lives of its residents and the gun culture so many of them tragically seem to embrace. ★★★

NONFICTION - Remain in Love: Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Tina, Chris Frantz: This was the most disappointing celebrity memoir I've ever listened to. Besides lacking any personal insight or growth, Frantz reads his book to us like we're small children listening to a bedtime story. ★

[Laura Z]

25. A book related to the arts

Fools and Mortals, Bernard Cornwell: This fictional treatment of Shakespeare's acting company and A Midsummer's Night Dream was obviously well researched, but the storytelling was very uneven. Some parts were thoroughly entertaining... some parts dragged. ★★★

[Laura Z]

26. A book from the 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards

Red, White & Royal Blue, Casey McQuiston (2019 Goodreads Winner - Best Debut and Best Romance): This book should have been ridiculous. I've had it sitting on my TBR pile forever, just avoiding it... too much hype, too much praise. It can't be that good. I was wrong. It was silly and romantic, and I rooted for Alex and Henry. ★★★★★

[Laura Z]

27. A history or historical fiction

FICTION - Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen, Sarah Bird: Compelling account of Cathy Williams (aka William Cathay), a former slave who hid her sex and served with the Buffalo Soldiers after the Civil War. As with all historical fiction, this is a mix of truth and fiction... I'd love to read a nonfiction account of Williams's life. ★★★★

NONFICTION - Cleopatra: A Life, Stacy Schiff: Well, that was dull. I think I've become spoiled by narrative nonfiction. Although "Cleopatra: A Life" is well-researched and apparently highly regarded, what should have been a fascinating subject was treated in a stultifyingly dry manner. I don't think I'll be reading any more of Schiff's work. ★★

[Laura Z]

28. A book by an Australian, Canadian or New Zealand author

Hag-Seed, Margaret Atwood (Canada): The tempest within The Tempest... "The rest of his life. How long that time had once felt to him. How quickly it has sped by. How much of it has been wasted. How soon it will be over." Atwood's retelling of Shakespeare's The Tempest with a prison standing in for the island and a deposed theater director as Prospero is incredibly inventive. It was interesting to note the parallels between her contemporary novel and the classic play. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

29. An underrated book, a hidden gem or a lesser known book

Darkness at Noon, Arthur Koestler: This is considered as one of the classics of anti-totalitarian literature (like Brave New World or 1984). In fact, Ray Bradbury credits this novel as the inspiration behind Fahrenheit 451. But Koestler's work feels much more real, bleak and grim... This is Soviet Russia in the 1930s. ★★★

[Laura Z]

30. A book from the New York Times '100 Notable Books' list for any year

FICTION - Full Throttle, Joe Hill (2019): "I loved the subhumans in Bring On the Bad Guys: demented creatures who shrieked unreasonable demands, raged when they didn’t get their way, ate with their hands, and yearned to bite their enemies. Of course I loved them. I was six. We had a lot in common." This collection of thirteen short stories is yet another solid outing by Joe Hill. I want more! ★★★★

NONFICTION - How to Be an Antiracist, Ibram X. Kendi (2019): "Like fighting an addiction, being an antiracist requires persistent self-awareness, constant self-criticism, and regular self-examination." Very helpful definitions and lots to think about... and act on. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

31. A book inspired by a leading news story

FICTION - Girl at War, Sara Novic (Croatian War of Independence, 1991-1995): While I appreciated the vignettes of Ana's experiences as a child during the Croatian War of Independence, I never felt fully immersed in the story. The story was being told to me instead of letting me experience it along with her. A little bit flat. ★★★

NONFICTION - The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History, John M. Barry (Spanish Flu Epidemic, 1918-1920): "It was influenza. Just influenza." Don't we hear the same thing today? It's just a virus? So, yes, this is a big, bloated book encompassing not just the (misnamed) Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 but the history of medical care and research in the United States. There's a lot here that could have been condensed, but the parallels between today's reactions to COVID-19 and the historical lies, protests, and conspiracy theories are uncanny. Worth reading. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

32. A book related to the 2020 Olympic Summer Games in Japan

FICTION - The Travelling Cat Chronicles, Hiro Arikawa (Japan): Lovely, poignant story. I'm not really a pet lover and I generally rail against melodrama, but this story hit me harder than I ever expected. Yes, those were real tears rolling down my cheeks. ★★★★

NONFICTION - Start by Believing: Larry Nassar's Crimes, the Institutions that Enabled Him, and the Brave Women Who Stopped a Monster, John Barr (Olympic Gymnastics): Fascinating story. This was more than a scandal. Nassar's sexual abuse of dozens of young girls was perpetuated by systems that routinely ignored, dismissed, or covered up information. It's time we paid attention. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

33. A book about a non-traditional family

FICTION - The House in the Cerulean Sea, T. J. Klune: Really sweet. I liked it more and more as I read. A little bit "Miss Peregrine"... a little bit Jasper Fforde. ★★★★

NONFICTION - Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, Alison Bechdel: Some of the literary allusions went over my head, but Alison's story of her fraught relationship with her father, her (and her father's) sexual identity, and her parents' own dysfunctional relationship is memorable and engaging. Amazingly intimate for a graphic novel. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

34. A book from a genre or sub genre that starts with a letter in your name

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games, #0), Suzanne Collins (Dystopia - Davidson): Sometimes this book was compelling, sometimes plodding, sometimes gruesome, but overall it was really... unnecessary. I don't think it really added anything of value to the Hunger Games universe, and I still don't care about Coriolanus Snow. ★★★

[Laura Z]

35. A book with a geometric pattern or element on the cover

Beautiful Geometry, Eli Maor and Eugen Jost: As a former high school geometry teacher, I thoroughly enjoyed exploring these geometric ideas and theorems visually and artistically. Elegant. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

36. A book from your TBR/wishlist that you don't recognize, recall putting there, or put there on a whim

Idle Hands, Cassondra Windwalker: "You can call me Ella. You generally assign me a whole host of other preposterous monikers. I think the least imaginative name I’ve heard is 'the devil', but I’ll answer to it if I must." Ah, the choices we make! What if they're all wrong? ★★★★

[Laura Z]

37. Two books that are related to each other as a pair of binary opposites - Book #1

Now I Rise (The Conqueror's Saga, #2), Kiersten White ('Rise and Fall'): The story continues... Lada is still determined, vicious, and wonderful. I'm looking forward to reading the final installment in the trilogy. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

38. Two books that are related to each other as a pair of binary opposites - Book #2

Before the Fall, Noah Hawley ('Rise and Fall'): This would make a great movie... fast-paced, exciting, full of twists and turns. I loved Scott Burroughs, the tortured artist and reluctant hero(?). ★★★★

[Laura Z]

39. A book by an author whose real name(s) you're not quite sure how to pronounce

Mrs Mohr Goes Missing (Profesorowa Szczupaczyńska, #1), Maryla Szymiczkowa: A little bland, a little slow. But Zofia Turbotynska is kind of a hoot. She's desperately bored, socially grasping, but charming all the same. This would make a great Netflix series (even if it's not a great book). ★★★

[Laura Z]

40. A book with a place name in the title

The Girls at 17 Swann Street, Zara Gheib: Devastating look at one woman's battle with anorexia. Compulsively readable. (Why 4 stars instead of 5? Well, it was set in St. Louis, but nothing about it felt St. Louis-y. It could have been any city.) ★★★★

[Laura Z]

41. A mystery

The Cheerleaders, Kara Thomas: Compulsively readable. A slick mystery that tackles issues faced by teens in a realistic (sometimes uncomfortable) yet sympathetic manner. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

42. A book that was nominated for one of the ‘10 Most Coveted Literary Prizes in the World’

FICTION - Mislaid, Nell Zink (Nominated for the 2015 National Book Award): I'll just echo my favorite review I've read for this book: "If you told me this author has literally never interacted with an actual human being in her entire life, I would believe you." I can't believe this was nominated for a prestigious literary prize. ★★

NONFICTION - The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo, Tom Reiss (Winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Biography): Everyone knows Alexander Dumas, author of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, but what about his father, Alex Dumas? You know... He's the biracial general who led France in multiple military victories in the late 1700s and was the inspiration for many of the exploits in his son's novels. Alex Dumas's life was remarkable, and he deserves to be remembered. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

43. A book related to one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse

Scythe (Arc of a Scythe, #1), Neal Shusterman: In a world where humans have conquered death, disease, and conflict, "Scythes" are called on to cull the excess population. If you're missing The Hunger Games, you should try this. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

44. A book related to witches

FICTION - The Mercies, Kiran Millwood Hargrave: "[S]he knows she was foolish to believe that evil existed only out there. It was here, among them, walking on two legs, passing judgement with a human tongue." Atmospheric and gorgeously written. Hargrave reveals the arrogance of men and the church amid the witchcraft hysteria of the 1600s in stark, unflinching terms. Maren and Ursa, two women with vastly different upbringings, are beautifully sympathetic and strong characters. ★★★★

NONFICTION - The Witches - Salem, 1692, Stacy Schiff: Extensively researched... and extensive in length. Oh my, this was a long one! Parts of it were fascinating, but I think I prefer my nonfiction to be a little more narrative. ★★★

[Laura Z]

45. A book by the same author who wrote one of your best reads in 2019 or 2018

The Once and Future Witches, Alix E. Harrow: "Witching and women's rights. Suffrage and spells... They're both a kind of power, aren't they? The kind we aren't allowed to have." Harrow writes beautifully, and I will read any of it. I didn't love "The Once and Future Witches" the way I did "The Ten Thousand Doors of January"; the sisters are prickly and hard to love... although isn't that how witches should be? I'm going to let this sit for awhile. I have a feeling I'll be coming back. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

46. A book about an event or era in history taken from the Billy Joel song "We Didn't Start the Fire"

FICTION: Next Year in Havana, Chanel Cleeton: I debated whether to give 3 or 4 stars, but ultimately decided to render the benefit of the doubt. I enjoyed the parallel timelines (and stories) of Elisa and Marisol as well as the depictions of life in Cuba, but I really don't believe in love at first sight. That's lust. Sure, it can grow into love, but that takes time. Overall an enjoyable read. ("Hula hoops, Castro, Edsel is a no-go") ★★★★

NONFICTION: The Twelfth Victim: The Innocence of Caril Fugate in the Starkweather Murder Rampage, Linda M. Battisti and John Stevens Berry: Poorly written. It's too bad that what could have been a compelling account was handled in such an amateurish manner. ("Starkweather, homicide, children of thalidomide") ★★

[Laura Z]

47. A classic book you've always meant to read

Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier: I'm sorry. I just don't get the hype. Yes, the prose is beautiful, almost hypnotic, but the unnamed main character is so naive, so nondescript, so passive that it was a chore to sympathize with her. ★★

[Laura Z]

48. A book published in 2020

FICTION: Secret Santa, Andrew Shaffer: Fun homage to '80s horror. ★★★★

NONFICTION: Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man, Mary L. Trump: Fascinating account of the Trump family. I've enjoyed Mary Trump's television commentary about DJT's narcissism, pettiness, and criminality (I could go on...). With this book you can really begin to understand how he became the "man" he is. ★★★★

[Laura Z]

49. A book that fits a prompt from the list of suggestions that didn't win

FICTION: The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, Kiersten White: "They had stripped us of everything we were taught made us women, and then told us we were mad." I really enjoyed this retelling of "Frankenstein" from Elizabeth's point of view. It was interesting to view Victor's transformation through her eyes. (A book with the main character's name in the title) ★★★★


NONFICTION: Yes Please, Amy Poehler: I love celebrity audiobooks, and Amy Poehler does not disappoint! I really enjoyed her special guests, especially Michael Shur and Seth Meyers. (A book with neon lights on the cover) ★★★★