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Weekly Topics 2024 > 20. A book with a single word title

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message 1: by Emily, Conterminous Mod (new)

Emily Bourque (emilyardoin) | 11183 comments Mod
Beyonce. Madonna. Selena.

Sometimes, all you need is one word to get the point across, and this week, you are looking for a book that does just that. Toss out "A", "An", and "The" - this book needs no extra words!

Note: For books with titles other than English, you should leave off any articles as well.

One Word Titles: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Top Ten Books with One Word Titles: https://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/2...
100 Must Read Books with One Word Titles: https://bookriot.com/must-read-one-wo...
Literary Fiction with One Word Titles: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/lists...

ATY Listopia: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

What are you reading for this prompt?


message 2: by Thomas (new)

Thomas I will read Freak
I’m also reading Creep for Canada author.


message 3: by Chrissy (new)

Chrissy | 1137 comments Possibilities include Maame, VenCo, Disorientation, Ceremony, and Yonder.

Of the books near the top of the Listopia, I recommend Circe, Yellowface, Migrations, and Horse!


message 4: by Nancy (new)

Nancy (fancynancyt) | 1832 comments Horse is the one I have down for this.


message 5: by LeahS (last edited Oct 11, 2023 09:15AM) (new)

LeahS | 1358 comments I'm reading Invisibles. to give me a book set in Rio de Janeiro and Meditations, which I was going to use if the rest/recharge prompt got in.

I had Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times on my TBR just as Wintering and was disappointed to find it had such a long sub-title (against my rules!)


message 6: by Jillian (new)

Jillian | 2871 comments As of right now, I have these as possible prompts, but I also have them planned for earlier prompts so who knows: Homecoming by Kate Morton
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy


message 7: by Dubhease (new)

Dubhease | 1150 comments I'm going to use it for either Brisingr or Inheritance


message 8: by Emily, Conterminous Mod (new)

Emily Bourque (emilyardoin) | 11183 comments Mod
I also have Migrations on my list, but there are harder prompts I have it slotted for (wild animal or air/sea, but probably wild animal).


message 9: by dalex (new)

dalex (912dalex) | 2646 comments Jillian wrote: "As of right now, I have these as possible prompts, but I also have them planned for earlier prompts so who knows: Homecoming by Kate Morton
[book:Migrations|42121525..."


These were both 5 Star reads for me!


message 10: by dalex (new)

dalex (912dalex) | 2646 comments I have 10-12 options for this on my list of possible reads for ‘24 so anything could happen! This is a super easy prompt for me.


message 11: by Jillian (new)

Jillian | 2871 comments dalex wrote: "Jillian wrote: "As of right now, I have these as possible prompts, but I also have them planned for earlier prompts so who knows: Homecoming by Kate Morton
[book:Mig..."


That is great to hear. They both are high priority reads, so I’m looking for multiple places where they will work.


message 12: by Dixie (last edited Dec 07, 2024 12:03PM) (new)

Dixie (dixietenny) | 1080 comments I plan to read Silverlock.

Reading through all of these topics makes me realize how many times I changed my mind from my original choice. I ended up reading Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal for this prompt.


message 13: by Pam (last edited Oct 17, 2023 09:55AM) (new)

Pam (bluegrasspam) | 3837 comments I have a lot of option for this one but I may go with an animal theme - Horse (finish it), Pony or Hoot.

Some non-animal choices - Oblomov, Violeta, and Transit by Anna Seghers


message 14: by Marie (new)

Marie | 1060 comments I have so many single word titles, I could probably do 52 weeks :) I've chosen Duckling by Eve Ainsworth.


message 15: by Joanna G (last edited Oct 17, 2023 09:09AM) (new)

Joanna G (joanna_g) | 351 comments I have recently read and enjoyed:

Witchmark (fantasy about a very stratified society where suspected witches in the lower classes are imprisoned, while the upper classes use it regularly to run the country),
Hotline (fiction about the immigrant experience in 1980s Montreal),
Wilding (non-fiction about a farm property that decided to rewild their land),
Fayne (historical fiction that would also be perfect for the touch of magic prompt about a child growing up in late nineteenth century Scotland),
Motherthing (horror? I guess about a woman being haunted by her mother-in-law),
Scarborough (literary fiction about several children in an impoverished neighbourhood),
Hench (fantasy about the cost of superheroing and why it might drive one to villainy,
Reproduction (an interestingly crafted book about familial and non-familial bonds),
and, for those willing to overlook the subtitle,
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands (graphic novel memoir about working in Northern Alberta's oil sands).

And some of my all time favorites include Stardust, Persuasion and Greenwood.


message 16: by Tracy (last edited Sep 02, 2024 10:10AM) (new)

Tracy | 2973 comments Another prompt I "should" fill from my physical TBR — Paris and London (both by Edward Rutherfurd) or I could finish the last 600 pages of Shōgun by James Clavell.

Most likely though I'll read Pageboy by Elliot Page

Edit - Update: Tried Pageboy by Elliot Page on audio. Did not like it at all. His delivery sounded like he was bored about his own story, which made me think that he wrote this because he thought he *should* write it, rather than really having something to say. DNF

Tried another book that I'd wanted to read for years, Tomorrow by Damian Dibben (about an immortal dog searching for his master, starting a few hundred years ago), but the dog just sounded like a person, so that fell flat for me.

In the end I read Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer. Even though it's not a genre I generally read (crime/thriller), I really enjoyed this one. The protagonist is a young man with Asperger's Syndrome who ends up discovering and solving a murder no one knew took place, while taking an anatomy/dissection class.



message 17: by Bea (new)

Bea | 430 comments From my TBR, I have chose these to consider:

Longbourn
Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War
Beartown

However, it turns out that I have a fair number of one word titles on my TBR, so this list might change.


message 18: by SadieReadsAgain (new)

SadieReadsAgain (sadiestartsagain) | 452 comments Waaaay too many to choose from on my physical shelves. But some possibles are:

- Pine by Francine Toon
- Honour by Elif Shafak
- SKIN by E.M. Reapy
- Melmoth by Sarah Perry
- Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi
- Motherwell by Deborah Orr
- Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh
- Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi
- Tenterhooks by Suzannah Dunn


message 19: by Jackie, Solstitial Mod (new)

Jackie | 2450 comments Mod
SadieReadsAgain wrote: "Waaaay too many to choose from on my physical shelves. But some possibles are:"

A recommendation for Melmoth! It gets kinda dark but it's also really good.


message 20: by SadieReadsAgain (new)

SadieReadsAgain (sadiestartsagain) | 452 comments Jackie wrote: "SadieReadsAgain wrote: "Waaaay too many to choose from on my physical shelves. But some possibles are:"

A recommendation for Melmoth! It gets kinda dark but it's also really good."


Ooh, god to hear - I loved The Essex Serpent


message 21: by Hayley (new)

Hayley | 99 comments I'm planning to read Kaikeyi for this prompt. I chose it because it is a retelling of a story from Hindu mythology and I'm on a bit of a kick for retellings in my plans for next year. One of the new Booktubers that I follow highly recommended this book, so I want to see how similar our tastes are.


message 22: by Kathy (new)

Kathy E | 3306 comments I read Horse by Geraldine Brooks. It is such a good story. 5 stars.


message 23: by Denise (new)

Denise | 523 comments I'm going to read Miami by Joan Didion


message 24: by Joy D (new)

Joy D | 711 comments For this prompt, I read:
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell - 4* - My Review


message 25: by Tania (new)

Tania | 75 comments I read Litani by Jess Lourey
my review is here


message 26: by Misty (new)

Misty | 1485 comments I read Smokescreen by Dick Francis. Francis was a jockey, then he was a journalist, then he retired and wrote crime fiction involving the horse racing world. I really enjoy his mysteries.


message 27: by Samantha (new)

Samantha | 1560 comments I read Yellowface. I was originally going to read Babel another book by R.F. Kuang but couldn't get into it. Overall really enjoyed Yellowface. The main character is terrible and at times it was exhausting to be in her head. The writing made me want to give Babel another go at some point.


message 28: by lexiskat (last edited Aug 26, 2024 11:13AM) (new)

lexiskat | 78 comments the book I chose for this prompt Snapped by Tracy Brown

sweet and short review: 5.0
This book had me all over the place. I like thinking the book would only be about Camilla's life. Adding the friend group was cool but to give Frankie B apart with Jillain was not my cup of tea. Nisa was just a confused soul. Toya needs to be NO ONE friend it's okay to be blunt but she was all out RUDE. And poor Dominque!! I didn't mention Gillian for a reason!!


message 29: by Kathy (new)

Kathy E | 3306 comments I read Haven by Emma Donoghue, which was slow in parts, but well-written and ultimately memorable.


message 30: by Guylian (new)

Guylian | 90 comments I read BUTTER by Asako Yuzuki by Asako Yuzuki.


message 31: by Robin H-R (new)

Robin H-R Holmes Richardson (acetax) | 956 comments I read:
Doc by Mary Doria Russell Doc by Mary Doria Russell

BIO: A book with a single syllable title
REJECT: A book with a musical instrument on the cover or in the title

Finished: 03/17/2024
Rating: 5 stars


message 32: by Severina (new)

Severina | 395 comments I read Contagion by Amanda Milo.


message 33: by Deborah (new)

Deborah | 339 comments I'm doing the challenge three times. Once with fiction, once with non-fiction, and once with picture books.
I've finished single word title for all three.

Sanctuary by Andi C. Buchanan Sanctuary by Andi C. Buchanan

Monsters A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer

Argus by Michelle Knudsen Argus by Michelle Knudsen


message 34: by Karin (new)

Karin | 746 comments I read Eve by Anna Carey


message 35: by LeahS (new)

LeahS | 1358 comments I read Invisibles. and Oxblood.

I picked up Oxblood in the library because of the rave quotes on the cover, and because it's set in Manchester, which I know quite well (albeit set in the 1960s to 1980s). This was quite a difficult book to get to grips with. The stream of consciousness/poetic language I felt tried too hard. When the author let the characters and plot speak without the literary trimmings, it worked well.

I did enjoy Invisibles and its move between its Rio and Brighton settings. The books were linked by missing fathers, crime and adultery but it was easy to be involved with the characters in this one.


message 36: by Hannah (new)

Hannah | 60 comments I picked and finished Violeta from Isabel Allende a journey through almost 100 years of Chilean history.


message 37: by Anne (new)

Anne | 307 comments I will be reading 'Suspects' by Lesley Pearse.


message 38: by Phil (last edited Apr 10, 2024 02:41PM) (new)

Phil | 126 comments I read March by Geraldine Brooks for this prompt. (Read 10th Apil; 4*)


message 39: by Book Concierge (new)

Book Concierge (tessabookconcierge) | 576 comments Self-explanatory ...


Nerve (Francis Thriller) by Dick Francis ✔ - 21Mar24
Nerve – Dick Francis – 3***
This mystery/thriller opens with a bang, as a jockey shoots “himself, loudly and messily, in the center of the parade ring…” Is someone sabotaging jockeys? Who? And Why? Francis crafts a compelling psychological mystery. Jockey Rob Finn is tenacious, determined and smart in the way he goes about ferreting out information to build the case against an unlikely perpetrator. I came late to the Dick Francis fan club, but I’m glad I finally arrived.
LINK to my full review


message 40: by Misty (new)

Misty | 1485 comments Book Concierge wrote: "Self-explanatory ...


Nerve (Francis Thriller) by Dick Francis ✔ - 21Mar24

Nerve
– Dick Francis – 3***
This mystery/thriller opens with a bang, as a jockey shoots “himself, loudly and messily, in the center..."


So fun to see another Dick Francis fan! I enjoy his books, and I used one of his books for this prompt as well.


message 41: by Sherri (new)

Sherri Harris | 1488 comments I read Independence. 5 stars. I really enjoyed it.


message 42: by ♞ Pat (new)

♞ Pat Gent | 402 comments TASK #20. A book with a single word title


~ ♞ ~

BOOK 1
Search by Michelle Huneven Search by Michelle Huneven
Read ~ 4.23.24
Pages ~ 393
Rationale ~ Clearing my TBR shelves

Review ~ ★★★★
Cute, funny little book, which, if you are involved in any church, is very true to life and personalities. I enjoyed this as a fun diversion from my more serious titles. I should read books like this more often!


~ ♞ ~

BOOK 2
Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate
ARC Read ~ 5.2.24
Pages ~ 368
Rationale ~ Advanced Reader Copy. Single word title. I like this author.

Review ~ ★★★★★
This book takes place during the early days of Oklahoma's statehood; the land runs have already happened, and the indigenous people have been relocated. Their homes have been stolen or swindled by opportunistic men who want the oil and gas underneath. In the process of relocation, adults have been killed and children have been left in the care of state guardians who are taking the money for themselves. These guardians often have as many as 50 orphan children who they are supposed to be supervising, but they simply don't bother to keep track of them. These children are left to fend for themselves. This is the story of some of those children, two girls in particular, Ollie and Nessa.


message 43: by Marie (UK) (new)

Marie (UK) (mazza1) | 484 comments I read Silence

This book has been on my TBR for a long time. I wouldn't rave over it but I do sort of want to find out what happens next and as the series is on KU i will probably read the next book in the series


message 44: by Denise (new)

Denise | 523 comments I read Erasure by Percival Everett


message 45: by Stacey (new)

Stacey D. | 1908 comments I love a creepy, psychological thriller and this one had it all. Author Ottessa Moshfegh always brings it. I read Eileen, a five-star read.


message 46: by Donna (new)

Donna (drspoon) | 55 comments Tombland (Matthew Shardlake, #7) by C.J. Sansom Tombland by C.J. Sansom - the final book in the Shardlake series.


message 47: by Jill (new)

Jill (dogbotsmum) | 1356 comments I read Reconstruction by Mick Herron A book of an insight into his later Slow Horses


message 48: by Robin H-R (new)

Robin H-R Holmes Richardson (acetax) | 956 comments 2nd time through I read:
Ella by Diane Richards Ella by Diane Richards

REJECT: A book where a character is a musician

Finished: 11/23/2024
Rating: 4+ stars

From Goodreads: A magnificent work of “biographical fiction” that reimagines the turbulent and triumphant early years of Ella Fitzgerald, arguably the greatest singer of the twentieth century.

Wow, what a story! An inspiration. A reaffirmation of the power of the human spirit, Never give up.


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