Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
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Winter Reading Challenge
(Dec 1 - Feb 28)DECEMBER
1. Winter
Brrrr. Time to break out the hats, scarves and gloves as the coldest time of the year approaches (in the northern hemisphere at least). On the other hand, cold weather is the perfect excuse to curl up under a blanket with your latest book. And, however cold you are, at least you can be glad your home town is warmer then Antarctica, where the lowest temperature on Earth was recorded: an icy −89.2°C (−128.6 °F).
a. Read a book with a title beginning with a letter in WINTER (you can use or ignore a, an or the)
b. Read a book with snow, snowflakes or a snowman on the cover OR a book with a person wearing winter clothing (scarf, hat, warm coat etc) on the cover.
c. Read a book that is between 89 and 128 pages long (you can ignore the 100 page requirement for this task). A Psalm for the Wild-Built
2. December birthdays: Jane Austen
Jane Austen was born on December 16th.
a. Read a book written by a female author.
b. Read a novel set in the 19th century.
c. Read a romance novel.
3. The Holidays
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Whether you celebrate Christmas or would prefer to indulge in National Cookie Day, December is packed full of end-of-the-year holidays.
a. Read a book related to a holiday that happens in December. (Some examples: Rosa Parks Day, National Cookie Day, Dewey Decimal System Day, Nobel Prize Day, Kwanzaa, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, Hanukkah, etc.)
b. Read a book that has one of the gifts referred to in The Twelve Days of Christmas shown on its cover (ignore the numbers - eg a book with a gold ring works, you don’t need a book with five gold rings!)
c. Read a book that features a family gathering.
4. Winter sports: yukigassen
Imagine if someone turned snowball fighting into an official sport with rules, a referee, a court and a snowball making machine. That’s yukigassen! Created in Japan in 1988, there are now competitions all over the world. Teams of seven players battle to capture each other’s flag, while trying to avoid being hit by a snowball and eliminated from the game. Preparation for a match involves making 270 snowballs, no wonder they invented a snowball making machine!
a. Read a book by an author whose first and last initials appear in YUKIGASSEN.
b. Read a book in a series that is at least 7 books long
c. Read a book set in a country where yukigassen is played (Japan, Armenia, Canada, China, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, or Slovakia).
JANUARY
1. Happy New Year!
Happy 2020! Here’s to a great year of reading. Around the world people will be welcoming the new year while watching fireworks displays, drinking champagne and singing Auld Lang Syne.
a. Read a book by an author who is new to you.
b. Read a book from a genre that is new to you (you can use a sub-genre, eg urban fantasy, historical romance, etc if you already read books from most genres).
c. Read a book in which all the words in the title have the same number of letters (eg The Bat, Ninth House, The Old Man and the Sea). Pope Joan
2. January birthdays: Haruki Murakami
Haruki Murakami was born on January 12th.
a. Read a book set in Japan.
b. Read a book that features a cat in some way. I Am a Cat
c. Read a magical realism novel.
3. New Year Resolutions
Millions of people see January 1st as an opportunity to set goals for the year ahead and the practice of making new year resolutions has a long history. In Babylonia new year was a time to promise the repayment of debts and return of borrowed items. And Romans are believed to have made sacrifices and promises to the god Janus, who is depicted as having two faces - one looking to the past and one to the future. Given that history, whether you keep or break your own resolutions this year, you’re probably in good company!
a. Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title can be found in NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS (the title must be at leat three words long for this option)
b. Read a book that looks into the past (historical fiction, history, etc) or a book that looks into the future (science fiction, fantasy, etc).
c. Read a book that will help you keep one of your New Year resolutions OR if you don’t make resolutions then read a book related to one of the top ten New Years resolutions. Tell us what your resolution is when recording this task as completed.
4. Winter sports: bobsleigh
Bobsleighing originated in the Swiss town of St Moritz in the 19th century. Holidaymakers looking for entertainment in the cold winters hit on a plan to adapt delivery sleds into racing sleds and compete in races down the steep roads of the town. While undoubtedly entertaining for holidaymakers, the high speed sled races became immensely unpopular with residents of the town who, not unreasonably, objected to being mown down on their own streets by out of control sleds. In order to restore calm, a local hotel owner constructed an ice half-pipe track outside the town where the sled races could continue, and the sport of bobsleighing was born.
a. Read a book set mostly in a location that begins with a letter in SWITZERLAND.
(location: Wilmington, NC)b. Read a book in which a conflict between characters is a major part of the plot. Tell us what the conflict was (using spoiler tags if necessary) when recording the task as completed.
c. Read a book that is fast-paced.
FEBRUARY
1. Valentine’s Day
February 14th is celebrated around the world as Valentine’s Day. It was originally a feast day honouring an early Christian saint and only became associated with love and romance in the 14th century. Fun fact: Cadbury first began producing heart-shaped boxes of chocolates for Valentine’s Day in 1868. Buying overpriced novelty chocolates as a token of love has a long history!
a. Read a book with Romance listed as one of the top five genres on its Goodreads page.
b. Read a book by an author whose first and last initials appear in VALENTINE’S DAY.
c. Read a book written in or set in the Medieval period (usually defined as the 5th to 15th centuries).
2. February birthdays: Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura Ingalls Wilder was born on February 7th.
a. Read a book set in the American midwest.
b. Read a novel that features the wilderness.
c. Read a coming of age story.
3. Winter sports: Ski jumping
Ski jumping has featured in every Winter Olympics since 1924. Athletes ski down a specially designed ramp and compete against each other to see who can make the longest jump. The current world record is over 253 metres. It was set by Austrian ski jumper, Stefan Kraft, who perhaps predictably is known by the nickname Air Kraft.
a. Read a book that is at least 253 pages long.
b. Read a book published in a year in which the Winter Olympics took place (1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018)
(2002)c. Read a book where the plot “jumps” about (a non-linear narrative as it’s normally called).
4. The Shortest Month of the Year
Take some time to explore a variety of genres and topics during the shortest month of the year!
a. Read a literary fiction novel.
b. Read a book that features a ghost.
c. Read a book that starts with a letter in the word SHORT
Spring Reading Challenge
(March 1-May 31, 2023)FINISHED
1. springtime
2. bloom
4. baby animals
5. eggs
6. tulips The Last Tale of the Flower Bride (title)
10. warming
11. spring break Sweet Bean Paste (title)
12. raincoat Cold-Hearted Rake (title)
UPCOMING
3. sun shining (Summer Fun)
7. jellybeans (My Man Jeeves)
8. rainstorm (A Man Lay Dead author: Ngaio Marsh)
9. sprout (The Cartographers author: Peng Shepherd)
How to Fill the Prompts:
1. Phrase contains BOTH letters of the author's name (ignore middle initial)
2. Phrase contains the first letter of the title (ignore or include A, An, and The)
3. Phrase is exemplified on the cover (your interpretation)
Example:
Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne
Using the author's initials it could be used for phrase 4, 8, or 10. Using the first letter of the title you could apply it to phrase 10. Based on the cover, you could use it for phrase 1, 2, 3, or 4. Or even phrase 10 if you want to consider it 'heart warming'. Creativity is encouraged!
Summer Reading Challenge
(June 1 - August 31)JUNE
111 countries around the world celebrate Father's Day, with the most common date being the third Sunday in June, which was started by Sonora Smart Dodd in Spokane, Washington in 1910.
a. Book whose main character is a father
b. Biography or history nonfiction book
c. Author's initials can be found in PATERNITY
For the Northern Hemisphere the summer solstice on June 21st is the day with the longest period of daylight and shortest night of the year
a. Book with a title that is 5 or more words
b. Cover has plants on the cover
c. Book is set in the Northern Hemisphere
For the Southern Hemisphere the winter solstice on June 22nd is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year.
a. Book that is at least 400 pages long
b. Book with fire on the cover
c. Book is set in the Southern Hemisphere
A month celebrating LGBT+ communities and their history which was started following the 1969 Stonewall Riots
a. Written by an author who identifies as LGBTQIA+
b. A banned or challenged book
c. A coming of age novel
JULY
Whether it's your summer or winter, it's always a good time to have some fun
a. First letter of the book's title is in HORSE AROUND
b. Includes a character who plays a sport
c. Published in a year ending with 3
Armchair traveling is definitely the cheapest, but exploring in real life is nice too!
a. Set in multiple countries
b. A book with a map
c. Cover has vehicle (car, plane, boat, train, hang glider, etc)
a. Book with an even number of pages
b. The next book in a series
c. An author's second book
Invented in the 1890s and probably much more fun now
a. Book featuring or about musicians
b. Set in the 19th century
c. Author's initials can be found in GUGLIELMO MARCONI
(author: Ngaio Marsh)AUGUST
It's on August 9th, celebrate accordingly.
a. Book written by your favorite author
b. Main character works in a book shop or library
c. First letter of the book's title appears in BIBLIOMANIA
2. Perseid Meteor Shower:
An annual meteor shower peaking around Aug 11-12. According to the American Meteor Society this year will be a particularly good year for viewing.
a. Science fiction book
b. Sun, moon, or stars on the cover
c. Inspired by or retelling myths
3. Make Waves:
Fun fact: about 2.5 million Americans are employed in ocean-based tourism and recreation (as of 2018).
a. Author's initials can be found in SURFBOARD
b. Set in a coastal town or city
c. A sea creature is on the cover
Fun fact: The American National Park Service employs approximately 20,000 people (full time, part time and seasonal).
a. A book connected to birds, bees, or bunnies
b. A ghost story
c. A book primarily set outdoors
Fall Reading Challenge
(September 1 - November 30)FINISHED
- Is in a fantasy genre
- Features family relationships
- Features a found family
- Features an athlete
- Is set in autumn
- Has a orange cover
- Is a book you'd read in English 101
CURRENTLY READING
The Prompts:
Find a book that...
- Fits the phrase "a falling out"
- Has a tree on the cover
- Feels cozy
- Makes you think of Thanksgiving (or giving thanks)
- Is one last summer read
- Is witchy
- Has a rural setting
- Was published in October
Winter Reading Challenge
(Dec 1 - Feb 29)How It Works
For this challenge, you will be trying to fulfill the letters in ONE of three phrases:
- WINTER WONDERLAND (16)
- DREAMING OF SNOW (14)
- HELLO NEW BEGINNINGS (18)
You can fulfill these letters by using the first letter of the title, the first letter of the author's first or last name, or the first letter of the main genre of the book.
D - Diaries of War: Two Visual Accounts from Ukraine and Russia A Graphic Novel History
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M - Magic Bleeds Dramatized Adaptation
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S - The Sandman: The Deluxe Edition, Book One
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W - Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons
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W - Willa Cather, Death Comes for the Archbishop
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N- Nora Krug, Belonging: A German Reckons with History and Home
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E - Erin T. Craig, House of Salt and Sorrows
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N - Nicola Griffith, Hild
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D
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Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons (other topics)The Devil You Know (other topics)
Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons (other topics)
Diaries of War: Two Visual Accounts from Ukraine and Russia (other topics)
Diaries of War: Two Visual Accounts from Ukraine and Russia (other topics)
More...
1. A book set in a location that begins with A, T, or Y
2. A book by an author you read in 2022
3. A book that fits a suggestion that didn’t make the 2023 list
4. A book with an interracial relationship
5. A book with 4 or more colors on the cover
6. A book where books are important
7. A book with ONE of the five "W" question words in the title
8. An author's debut book
9. A book nominated for an award beginning with W
10. A book related to one of the Spice Girls' "personalities"
11. A book about a person/character with a disability
12. A book connected to birds, bees, or bunnies
13. A book that has an object that is repeated on the cover
14. A book with a con, deception, or fake
15. Three books, each of which is set in a different century:
16. Three books, each of which is set in a different century:
17. Three books, each of which is set in a different century:
18. A book related to science
19. A book related to the arts
20. A book with a cover or title that includes a route of travel
21. A book by an Asian diaspora author
22. A book with a faceless person on the cover
23. A book with a body of water in the title
24. A character that might be called a Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, or Spy
25. A book with a tropical setting
26. A book related to pride
27. A book by an author from continental Europe
28. A book that is dark
29. A book that is light
30. A book related to a chess piece
31. A book found by inputting a favorite author on https://www.literature-map.com
32. A book set in a UNESCO City of Literature
33. A book by an author with a first name popular in 1923
34. A novella
35. A book with a school subject in the title
36. A book that has been translated from another language
37. A book with the theme of returning home
38. A book with the sun, moon, or stars on the cover
39. A western
40. A book with a full name in the title
41. A book from the NPR “Books We Love” lists
42. A book related to a ghost, spirit, phantom, or specter
43. A book that involves a murder
44. A book where the cover design includes text that is not completely horizontal
45. A book whose author has published more than 7 books
46. A title that contains a word often found in a recipe
47. A book related to a geometric shape
48. A book with an unusually large version of an animal in the story
49. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2022 or 2023
50. A second book that fits your favorite prompt
51. A book published in 2023
52. A book with an unusual or surprising title