Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
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2022 Reading In Order
I’ve done this challenge (without going in order) for a few years now, but I typically finish pretty early in the year, so I wanted to make it more of a challenge by reading in order this time. (Also might add myself other restrictions like no rereads, I’m not sure yet.) I haven’t quite made up my mind if I’m going to try to limit myself to one prompt-fulfillment per week or if going in order will be restrictive enough for me, though.
I'm going to continue to work on the challenge one month at a time. It really keeps me from being overwhelmed by too many choices while giving me freedom to rearrange my books.
Mod
Last time I read in order (2019, my second year of doing the challenge), I still finished really early, so I'm hoping this helps me pace myself a bit.
I read in order this year and read as many books as I wanted that met the prompt before moving onto the next. This worked great until about half way through and I really wanted to read a book I considered comfort reading. Then I kind of rushed through a bunch of prompts to get to that prompt. This year I don't know how if I will be reading in order or not.
I'm aiming to read in order, one book a week towards the challenge. The main issue is going to be availability from the library, so I'll try to plan ahead by a couple of months
Here's my target dates for weekly reading if it is helpful for anyone. I'm not sticking to strict timelines but trying to go as close as possible.1. A book with a main character whose name starts with A, T, or Y 9/1/2022
2. A book connected to a book you read in 2021 16/1/2022
3. A book with 22 or more letters in the title 23/1/2022
4. A book that fits your favorite prompt that did not make the list 30/1/2022
5. A book by an author with two sets of double letters in their name 6/2/2022
6. A book with an image of a source of light on the cover 13/2/2022
7. A book related to psychology, neuroscience or the mind 20/2/2022
8. 3 books set on three different continents - Book 1 27/2/2022
9. 3 books set on three different continents - Book 2 6/3/2022
10. 3 books set on three different continents - Book 3 13/3/2022
11. A book from historical fiction genre 20/3/2022
12. A book related to glass 27/3/2022
13. A book about a woman in STEM 3/4/2022
14. A book with fewer than 5000 ratings on Goodreads 10/4/2022
15. A book without a person on the cover 17/4/2022
16. A book related to Earth Day 24/4/2022
17. A book from NPR's Book Concierge 1/5/2022
18. A book by an Asian or Pacific Islander author 8/5/2022
19. A book that involves alternate reality, alternate worlds, or alternate history 15/5/2022
20. A fiction or nonfiction book that is set during 1900 -1951 22/5/2022
21. A book with one of the Monopoly tokens on the cover 29/5/2022
22. A book with a Jewish character or author 5/6/2022
23. A book that features loving LGBTQIA+ relationship 12/6/2022
24. A book related to inclement weather 19/6/2022
25. A book less than 220 pages OR more than 440 pages 26/6/2022
26. 2 books with the same word in the title - Book 1 3/7/2022
27. 2 books with the same word in the title - Book 2 10/7/2022
28. A book that won an award from Powell's list of book awards 17/7/2022
29. A book set on or near a body of water 24/7/2022
30. A book related to mythology 31/7/2022
31. A book published at least 10 years ago 7/8/2022
32. A book where the main character is a female detective/private eye/police officer 14/8/2022
33. The next book in a series 21/8/2022
34. A book with an academic setting or with a teacher that plays an important role 28/8/2022
35. 2 books related to flora and fauna - Book 1 4/9/2022
36. 2 books related to flora and fauna - Book 2 11/9/2022
37. A book that uses all five vowels in the title and/or author's name 18/9/2022
38. A book by a Latin American author 25/9/2022
39. A book from the TIME list of 100 Best YA Books of All Time 2/10/2022
40. A book related to one of the 22 Tarot Major Arcana cards 9/10/2022
41. A book with a theme of food or drink 16/10/2022
42. A book with a language or nationality in the title 23/10/2022
43. A book set in a small town or rural area 30/10/2022
44. A book with gothic elements 6/11/2022
45. A book related to a game 13/11/2022
46. A book with a non-human as one of the main characters 20/11/2022
47. A book with handwriting on the cover 27/11/2022
48. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2021 or 2022 4/12/2022
49. A book connected to the phrase "Here (There) Be Dragons" 11/12/2022
50. A book that involves aging, or a character in their golden years 18/12/2022
51. A book published in 2022 25/12/2022
52. A book with a time-related word in the title 1/1/2023
This is my first year attempting the full AYT. I have to stick to reading four books a month or five in five week months. Basically, a book a week.I am going to try to hit 2-3 of the prompts for each month. But I'm reading a lot of series, so those will get me out of sync with the monthly prompts.
And I'm making some seasonal adjustments. I'm reading MLK on his birthday in January, I'm reading spooky books in October, and lighter books in December (when I usually have too much to do.)
I guess I'm reading in order-ish.
Hi - I’m new to this group, so I’ve just been wondering what the purpose even IS to reading in a particular order. The only thing I can think of is not putting off prompts you may not like until the very end. Anyone know?
Tracy wrote: "Hi - I’m new to this group, so I’ve just been wondering what the purpose even IS to reading in a particular order. The only thing I can think of is not putting off prompts you may not like until th..."It helps me narrow down what to read. I can look at whatever month I'm on and narrow down my up-next shelf to the ones that fit those particular prompts to help me choose my next few books to read. Otherwise I have trouble deciding what to read next and then I guess I would have to scroll the entire list of prompts to see where a particular book fits. That seems like more work to me. And then the prompts that are harder to fill would get left until the end.
Tracy wrote: "Hi - I’m new to this group, so I’ve just been wondering what the purpose even IS to reading in a particular order. The only thing I can think of is not putting off prompts you may not like until th..."I just thought it would be a fun extra challenge to try. I do a lot of challenges so always looking to do different things
I think I will try to read in order the coming year. One way of not postponing the prompts that I am not fond of. We will see how it goes. I aim to manage the prompts for each month within that month and keep a steady pace.
Tracy wrote: "Hi - I’m new to this group, so I’ve just been wondering what the purpose even IS to reading in a particular order. The only thing I can think of is not putting off prompts you may not like until th..."For me, I just want to add an extra challenge layer to it. I do several different reading challenges throughout the year, I read a lot of books that don't end up on this list anyway, and I nearly always finish ATY (sometimes all except for one especially tough one) kind of early in the year, when I have done the prompts in any order I want. So I'm just trying to make it more of a challenge and add a little extra twist to the game, while hopefully letting it feel like more of a year-long thing, rather than something I complete in a few months.
Mod
Tracy, it's definitely personal preference... for people who only read 52 books a year, I can see the appeal of reading out of order, but I'll be supplementing my ATY with side reads so I like that it adds a bit extra challenge.
Tracy wrote: "Hi - I’m new to this group, so I’ve just been wondering what the purpose even IS to reading in a particular order. The only thing I can think of is not putting off prompts you may not like until th..."As others have said, reading in strict order gives them an extra challenge.
However, everyone's life is different. Some people don't work and their reading availability doesn't change. Other people have months where they are more busy or less busy. If people pre-plan a book for each prompt, they may want to move thicker books to less busy months and smaller books to busier ones. It all depends on your life and whether you are pre-planning or not.
I generally stick to the order, because that's how my brain works - "this book is number 1, why wouldn't I read it first?". I really enjoy planning my list, but once that's done I like that I can concentrate on reading without having to figure out what comes next. I also find it motivates me through the slower/more difficult reads that I can see something easy or fun on the horizon. Having said that, I have a few library books in the plan for 2022 so I'll read them as soon as possible, in case they aren't available when I would get to them in plan order, and then go back to reading in order for the books I own.
I'll be setting my own pace, not sticking to one a week or four/five a month. I'm doubling up on a few prompts next year so I've got 58 to get through and that's quite a lot for me, so the quicker I can read them and build up a little lead, the more relaxed I'll feel.
I read in order this year and really enjoyed doing that. I finished early, but not as early as when I would just read and then fit the book to whatever prompt seemed best. For 2022 I was originally thinking I would do like Emily and keep the tasks within their months so I couldn't finish early (I would have to read for December tasks in December). But now I seem to have taken on a whole lot of other challenges (how did that happen? LOL) so I think I will go back to the easy way for 2022 (fitting books read to any prompt).
But still in a future year I would like to try keeping to the months. And then maybe to the actual week. That would be hardest if you are also reading for other dated challenges!
Tracy wrote: "Hi - I’m new to this group, so I’ve just been wondering what the purpose even IS to reading in a particular order. The only thing I can think of is not putting off prompts you may not like until th..."Thank you to Joanne, Meg, Anna, Roxana, Emily, Dubhease, Marie, and Rosemary for giving me your varied and personal takes on "reading in order". Some of these I hadn't even considered. Maybe I'll try doing that this year, should my library availability allow. A couple of years ago I would have thought just reading 52 books in a year was challenge enough, but this year I'm on track to read 66 (or maybe a bit more)!
Mod
I will be reading in whatever order my library holds come through.
Mod
LOL, that does change up my plans fairly often!
I have read in order for several years now, and in the correct week, only varying by a few days usually. This definitely encourages me to get to books that I would otherwise put off for some reason. I mostly read from my physical TBR, and read a lot of books, so fill in with books from other challenges, which are not in order (this way I can balance my reading - whether by length and/or content). It has meant I have finally got to many classics, most of which I have enjoyed immensely. I really enjoy planning the books, though it is so time-consuming! I usually read more than 100 books each year, and this year have read 146! (my first year of retirement)
I’m planning on going in order at my own pace. It lets me read more when I have time and read less during busy periods (like exams and work heavy times). My goal is to read the first 30 and then maybe continue on next year if need be. ]
Mod
Will your first book of the year be the book you chose for ATY Prompt 1?
Wish everyone a happy 2022 reading year!Yes, starting with prompt 1, Tess of the D'Urbervilles
I'm attempting to read in order as well, using primarily books that I already own. Let's face it, I own a lot of books and haven't read most of them. I'll be reading at my own pace, but I suspect there are weeks I'll fly through a book and start the next prompt early, and other weeks that I'll struggle to get through a book. I also suspect this will help me weed out books I don't like as much as I thought I would, and then I'll put those in my Little Free Library.
I'm planning to read in order too, but as a library reader that will add some challenge so may read mostly in order. I also do NetGalley reviews so have had to do some planning to make sure I read books close to release date (of course this assumes I actually write the review, which I am admittedly bad about doing). Since I'm also doing PopSugar I moved some books to that challenge instead.I haven't decided if I'm going to stick to the one book a week or just read in order regardless of week/month. I like to read spooky books in October and Christmas/winter books in December, so typically like to be done or almost done before then to allow me to free read.
My first up from prompt 1 is Such a Fun Age, one of the main characters is named Alix (I'm listening to the audio and thought the other MC is Amaya but it's actually Emaya, but since the prompt is "one of the main characters" it still works).
Mod
I had a bit of a false start - began with Alexander's Path which is all about tracing the path of Alexander the Great through back-country Turkey, but it involved too much assumed knowledge and I was finding it such hard work that I abandoned it, and am now readingThe Survivor, whose main character is Alec.
I also want to keep reading in order, and one book per week. My challenge is to read regularly and not 5 books a week and none for 2 months. I hope it will help :) I read Kukum for the first prompt. Almanda and Thomas are the main characters! I highly suggest it for anyone interest by the first nation (Innu) in Canada/Quebec.
I haven't committed to reading in order but I will try & see if it takes. I finished #1 with People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry. I'm reading Razorblade Tears by S.A.Cosby for #2. I loved Blacktop Wasteland which I read in 2021.
Mod
Emily wrote, Sherri, I have Razorblade Tears slotted in for week 4 (GR choice award)! Looking forward to hear what you think.I liked it as much as Blacktop Wasteland. It was hard to put down.
Mod
This is my 3rd year doing AtY and for the first time I'm going to read in order. I was really lucky that this year I've managed to fit in books I already own from all but 4 prompts, so I won't be at the mercy of library hold lists, and I thought it would be fun to try it. It's nice to take the pressure off from deciding what I'm going to read next, although I'm going away next week and only taking my kindle for space reasons, so I might have to factor in lots of side-reads if I don't want to end up skipping ahead.
Mod
Emily wrote: "Aimee, that's why I went back to reading in order this year... the decision fatigue and not knowing what to read next! Now I can either decide "next ATY' or "side read" and then pick a book randoml..."Yep I can totally see why, I'm definitely going to stick with it!
Sherri wrote: "I haven't committed to reading in order but I will try & see if it takes..."I'm totally with you on this...and actually have already read out of order. my first read was #15 and today I read #1. Both of these were not the books I had planned to read for those weeks.
I am trying to read in order this year and thinking I'll read one prompt a week. So far so good, two for two.
We're on week 3, and I finished book 3 yesterday. I loved Last Summer at the Golden Hotel, I listened to the audio in one day while doing a puzzle (gotta love days off from work with nothing to do). I could listen to Julia Whelan read the phone book.My original plan for this was either The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August or The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba but neither was available on audio and I'm reading something else on Kindle. I do still want to read both of those so need to figure out if I can put them somewhere else, either for ATY or PopSugar.
Mod
What prompt is everyone using for week 4? Have y'all decided, or will you go the route of picking a book and fitting it in with a prompt?
I was such a big proponent of "a book about books" so I had to go that route! I currently have The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections planned, as I have that from NetGalley. I have to finish my other NG book first though.
For week 4 I went with a book with a competition as a major plot element. I read Sprinting Through No Man’s Land: Endurance,Tragedy & Rebirth in the 1919 Tour de France by Adin Dobkin. The book wasn’t as good as I hoped for. 3 stars. I did like the prompt. I’m also trying to use books I own whenever possible.
Mod
I always pick a prompt I suggested that didn't make it. This year I'm doing a book related to Titanium by reading a book set in Cornwall where it was discovered. My plan this year seems to have a lot of non-fiction in the first few weeks but I am doing my best to stay in order. I'm enjoying the added challenge and it is nice to only think about 1 prompt at a time. I don't feel as guilty for having side reads either.
The GR Choice Award would be my second choice for this, I definitely agree it's a great way to fit in a popular book. I was pretty bummed that prompt didn't make it but I understand why people didn't want it again. At least it was a Close Call in case I decided to do that as a side challenge.
Mod
Mod
Yes, that book fits the trope of a single woman always finding a desirable, employed single man available in a small town when she (a) goes back to her old hometown or (b) goes to someplace she's never been to learn about someone from the past, or (c) inherits a house/business from a relative unexpectedly. I did like the fact that I learned about the Channel Islands during the WWII, I had no idea they were involved and the children sent away.
Nancy wrote: "I was such a big proponent of "a book about books" so I had to go that route! I currently have The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections planned, as I have that from NetG..."We're going to have to get that prompt on the list next year. I read quite a few newer Books-about-books recently, and there are still many more I want to read. I especially liked The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. It was partially set in a bookstore but it didn't have that cutesy vibe some of them have. Main character is named "Tookie."
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
A Man Called Ove (other topics)The Reading List (other topics)
The Year of the Flood (other topics)
The Book of Cold Cases (other topics)
Greenwich Park (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Jandy Nelson (other topics)Louise Erdrich (other topics)
Are you setting any parameters for yourself? One book a week, only reading the prompts within the month, or just allowing yourself to go at your own pace? I'd love to see your ideas!