Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
2022 Plans
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Jacque's 2022 ATY--still reducing TBR
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ATY Cover Collage:
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Non-challenge reads:
Five Star Reads
#2: Related to a Book read in 2021: The Virgin Suicides I preferred Middlesex which I read last year, but the lyrical and descriptive tone of Eugenides' work captures my interest#4: Didn't Make the List (Book about Books): The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend Sweet, somewhat predictable but thoroughly enjoyable
#1 Character with name starting ATY: Stay with Me (with main characters Akin and Yejide) Beautiful writing set in Nigeria conquering polygamy and infertility and the lengths someone will go to have a family. Twists that were surprising, but also foreseeable. I loved this book, it almost made 5 stars for me.
#5 Author with two sets of double letters in name: Commonwealth At times heartbreaking at times funny saga of blended family told with Ann Patchett's impecable use of language. I loved and hated this book, cheered for and against the characters. It gets 5 stars because I cannot stop thinking about it. #7 About psychology, neuroscience or brain: The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma Challenging, fascinating look at how trauma affects the brain told through both stories and scientific research. Had come highly recommended by two different trauma survivors who said that it helped them understand themselves and why their coping techniques worked for them. I just found it fascinating and encouraging in what we now know to help those who have faced trauma.
#3 Title contains 22+ letters: All the Light We Cannot See World War 2 novel set in France. Gorgeous poetic writing capturing the emotions of the time. Sad, as expected, but lingers with me. I loved it.
#8 Book one of set on 3 different continents: Exile Music Set first in Austria and then in Bolivia, story of Austrian Jewish musicians who fled to Bolivia as Germany took over Austria. Reflective and sad and hopeful it is the story of loss and finding a future. I loved every word. It felt like listening to a piece of music as it built to crescendo and then quieted.
#9 Book two of set on 3 different continents: Women of Algiers in Their Apartment Set in Algiers, Algeria, work in translation. Short stories or essays. I found it difficult at times to catch the symbolism or emotion from both a country I know little about and then the translation. Some of the stories really resonated with me, but in general this work fell flat for me.
#6 Light Source on Cover: The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row Biography of his 30 years on death row in Alabama for a crime he did not commit. Harrowing at times, inspiring throughout.#10 Book three of set on 3 different continents: Pachinko Set in Asia. Sweeping saga of Korean family living in Japan over several decades. The writing and story line is captivating. Learned some about the culture. Enjoyed and would recommend
#11 Historical Fiction: Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule Supposedly about the relationship of Mrs US Grant and the slave she kept even while her husband was leading the Union forces. But it was more about the relationship between the Grants with a little about Madame Jule. I found it one-dimensional and would have like more of what was promised. Gave a depiction of following a military husband at the time and a brief overview of many of the battles.
#12 Related to Glass: The Green Glass Sea YA historical fiction set in New Mexico focusing on the children of the scientists working to create nuclear bomb. Interestingly told with some of the conflict that the scientists themselves felt over what they were doing.
#13 Woman in Stem: Lab Girl Interesting memoir about life and lab and coping with mental illness and friendship. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.#14 Less than 5000 GR ratings: Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History Evaluation of how history is recorded and made, especially by women. At times too academic, but overall informative and enjoyable.
#15 No Person on Cover: Invisible Man Classic book on race and identity and the idea of being invisible to others. This was a challenging book that made me think. With Spark notes would have probably missed some of the symbolism. #18: An author from Pacific Islands or Asia: When You Trap a Tiger Newbery winner about Korean folk tales and identity and grief from Asian author born and raised in Hawaii. Loved this book. Ugly cried through end of this book. Solid five stars.
#19 Alternate reality: The Burning Page Third in the Invisible Library Series. Time and reality hopping, librarians, dragons, mystery. I love this series. It is nuanced and the character development is excellent.#20 1900-1951: Lady Clementine The story of Clementine Churchill from her wedding through WWII as she stands beside, disagrees with and supports husband Winston Churchill. Thoroughly enjoyable historical fiction.
#22 Jewish Character: Irena's Children: The Extraordinary Story of the Woman Who Saved 2,500 Children from the Warsaw Ghetto Irena was a Polish social worker with Jewish friends and eventually lover who worked with a whole network of Jewish, Polish and Catholic heroes (they didn't use that word, I do) to smuggle Jewish children and sometimes families out of ghetto into safe keeping. Terribly sad book, as you would expect. But also full of hope that there are people who remain decent and courageous in the face of ultimate evil.#23 Loving LGBTQIA+ relationship: Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World The sweet romance between Aristotle and Dante continues in this book as they face how to be gay in late 80s, love there very supportive families and recognize that their lives may diverge as they graduate from high school. I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the first book. Ironically it felt too lovey and happy (every single friend is totally accepting in 1987) even while making me sob my heart out when the tragedy happens. I liked it, I wanted to love it and was disappointed.
#25 >440 pages: The Hidden Palace Follow up to the The Golem and the Jinni. This was a slow burn, and took me a while to get into. If I had not loved the characters in the first book, I might have abandoned in first third. But ultimately it was a satisfying read and I still love the characters.
#24 Inclement Weather: Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History About the 1900 hurricane that devastated Galveston. Well researched and well told (I love how Erik Larson nonfiction books read almost like a novel) but I never connected with anyone in the book to feel the devastation. #28 Powell's List: The Great Believers This is a beautifully told story. Both timelines are equally interesting. I found this book harrowing in how much it made me remember the days when friends died of "cancer" at such a young age and families tried to keep the cause of their deaths quiet. Thirty+ years after the fact, still mourning their losses. Makkai captured the emotions well. But this was not only a sad book. There were laugh aloud moments, there was mystery and questions left unanswered and I left the book wanting to know the characters more and longer.
#26 Common Word (Daughter): Firekeeper's Daughter Exquisite thriller/mystery set in Michigan and told by Obijiwa teen. Explores a lot of tough issues, in the real but contained manner of YA lit, touching on sexual assault, opiate use, being an outsider/insider, a little romance. This was an eye-opening book and a page turner. Read 300+ pages in one setting because I had to know how it was going to end.#29 Set on water: Journey to the River Sea Sweet book of an orphan girl sent to live with cousins in Brazil and her adventures with another orphan in his boat on the Amazon River. Ibbotson is an amazing author for capturing the essence of place and this book was no exception.
#21 Monopoly Token on Cover: Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion Interesting look at how fast fashion affects quality of clothing and wages of workers. It confirmed much of what we know. Written in 2012, I would like an update.
#27 Common Word ( Daughter): The Memory Keeper's Daughter Told in two voices about twins, one raised by parents and one raised by the nurse who refused to leave her at an institution. Moments of brilliant writing. Heartbreaking and infuriating at times. Worthy read.#30 Mythology: Salvage the Bones Told in the days before and during Katrina of poverty stricken black family preparing, trying to be family and trying to survive. Beautifully written. Great sense of place.
#44 Gothic elements: The Thirteenth Tale Another book of twins, many references to Jane Eyre, spooky and mysterious. Totally satisfying read.
#31 Written more than 10 years ago: The Handmaid's Tale Dystopian but totally relevant. Great world building, but I was left wanting something more substantial in the end.#34 Academic setting: Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High Eye-opening, anger fueling memoir about what it took to try to integrate Central High in 1954. More of the story than I've ever been taught. Worth reading!
#33 Next Book in Series: The Case of the Counterfeit Criminals Cute children's series supposing that Ada Lovelace and Mary Godwin Shelly could be friends and amateur detectives alongside their friend Charles Dickens. Great literary drop-ins. It is a fun series, but this was my least favorite of the three I've read.#46 Non-human main characters: The Last Battle The last in the Narnia series, and by far my least favorite, I can now say I read the series (only took 5 years). Trite and offensive.
#32 Female detective/police officer/etc: The Alice Network Historical fiction inspired by leader of ring of female spies during WWII. Good story, interesting characters in both storylines. Another solid offering by Kate Quinn.#35 Flora: Harry's Trees Truly magical piece about grief, and friendship, and making amends. Even the characters who made huge mistakes but sought redemption were characters I cheered for. I don't give many 5 stars, only for books that I believe will stay with me for a long time. This book deserves everyone of its 5 stars.
#39 TIME best YA books: Darius the Great Is Not Okay Brought to life the struggles of living with depression and with family that has depression, and brought a real sense of the country of Iran and what it was like to visit family that were both close and culturally separate. I enjoyed the book, but I did not love the book. I found the voice of the main character irritating rather than inviting. Perhaps, if I had read on the page rather than with audio book to not have an actual narrator I would have found a voice that was engaging.
#40 Related to Tarot Cards: Writers & Lovers Thoroughly enjoyed this book about the creative process and life and finding the time to write and the people that help and hinder.#42 Nationality in Title|: The Irish Cottage: Finding Elizabeth Cute romance as main character tries to come to terms with her aunt's death in her native Ireland. Invested enough in characters to read the next book.
#41 Theme of Food or Drink: Heat: An Amateur's Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany Interesting, at times self-congratulatory, look at a former magazine editor's foray into learning Italian cooking by working in New York restaurant and in Italian kitchens. I learned a little, and I enjoyed the look behind the kitchen curtain, but sometimes too much detail.#43 Rural Setting: Angle of Repose Set in Idaho, as a grandson made sense of his grandmother's letters and life in pioneer Idaho mining communities. The prose of this book is stunning and captures time and place.
#48 ATY Best of month: The Sentence Set in Minneapolis bookstore during pandemic. Loved the book talk, enjoyed the ghost story, but I wasn’t ready for the current events. #50 Aging character: The Switch Cute romance featuring granddaughter and grandmother trading physical places for two months. Predictable but enjoyable. HEA.
#47 Handwriting on Cover: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore Cute fantasy
#49 Here Be Dragons: Throne of Jade Second installment of the Temeraire series. Not as high action as previous book, but more intentional in culture and relationship study. Still enjoying this series.#51 Published in 2022: Start with Hello: Published in October. Accessible, easy to incorporate ways to be intentional in knowing and loving the people around us. I love everything Shannan Martin writes whether it is book (this is the third), instagram or blog.
#52 Time Word in Title: The Year of Magical Thinking Book about grief, but not a book that makes you cry. More a book of nodding my head in recognition that this was how I coped (or didn't cope). Like a hug that says you are not alone. Plus classic Joan Didion usage of words which is beautiful.
#45 Related to a game: The Egypt Game Cute Newbery honor book about diverse group of kids playing a make-believe game around myths of Egypt.
Challenge completed 15 November 2022
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Egypt Game (other topics)Gods of Jade and Shadow (other topics)
Gods of Jade and Shadow (other topics)
The Egypt Game (other topics)
The Egypt Game (other topics)
More...
1. A book with a main character whose name starts with A, T, or Y-Stay with Me (Akin & Yejide)
2. A book connected to a book you read in 2021-The Virgin Suicides
3. A book with 22 or more letters in the title All the Light We Cannot See
4. A book that fits your favorite prompt that did not make the list-The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend
5. A book by an author with two sets of double letters in their nameCommonwealth
6. A book with an image of a source of light on the cover The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row
7. A book related to psychology, neuroscience or the mind The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
8. 3 books set on three different continents - Book 1 South America & Europe: Exile Music
9. 3 books set on three different continents - Book 2 Africa Women of Algiers in Their Apartment
10. 3 books set on three different continents - Book 3 Asia: Pachinko
11. A book from historical fiction genre Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule
12. A book related to glass The Green Glass Sea
13. A book about a woman in STEM Lab Girl
14. A book with fewer than 5000 ratings on Goodreads Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History
15. A book without a person on the cover Invisible Man
16. A book related to Earth DayBraiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants
17. A book from NPR's Book Concierge Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism
18. A book by an Asian or Pacific Islander author When You Trap a Tiger
19. A book that involves alternate reality, alternate worlds, or alternate history The Burning Page
20. A fiction or nonfiction book that is set during 1900 -1951 Lady Clementine
21. A book with one of the Monopoly tokens on the cover Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion
22. A book with a Jewish character or author Irena's Children: The Extraordinary Story of the Woman Who Saved 2,500 Children from the Warsaw Ghetto
23. A book that features loving LGBTQIA+ relationship Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World
24. A book related to inclement weather Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History
25. A book less than 220 pages OR more than 440 pages The Hidden Palace
26. 2 books with the same word in the title - Book 1--Firekeeper's Daughter
27. 2 books with the same word in the title - Book 2--The Memory Keeper's Daughter
28. A book that won an award from Powell's list of book awards The Great Believers
29. A book set on or near a body of water--Journey to the River Sea
30. A book related to mythology--Salvage the Bones
31. A book published at least 10 years ago The Handmaid's Tale
32. A book where the main character is a female detective/private eye/police officer The Alice Network
33. The next book in a series The Case of the Counterfeit Criminals
34. A book with an academic setting or with a teacher that plays an important role Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High
35. 2 books related to flora and fauna - Book 1 Harry's Trees
36. 2 books related to flora and fauna - Book 2 Water for Elephants
37. A book that uses all five vowels in the title and/or author's name The Invention of Hugo Cabret
38. A book by a Latin American author The Last Train to Key West
39. A book from the TIME list of 100 Best YA Books of All Time Darius the Great Is Not Okay
40. A book related to one of the 22 Tarot Major Arcana cards Writers & Lovers
41. A book with a theme of food or drink Heat: An Amateur's Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany
42. A book with a language or nationality in the title The Irish Cottage: Finding Elizabeth
43. A book set in a small town or rural area Angle of Repose
44. A book with gothic elements--The Thirteenth Tale
45. A book related to a game The Egypt Game
46. A book with a non-human as one of the main characters The Last Battle
47. A book with handwriting on the cover Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
48. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2021 or 2022 The Sentence
49. A book connected to the phrase "Here (There) Be Dragons"Throne of Jade
50. A book that involves aging, or a character in their golden years The Switch
51. A book published in 2022 Start with Hello:
52. A book with a time-related word in the title The Year of Magical Thinking