Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
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2024 Reading In Order
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I am so far behind! Working on my sea and air books, and going for the gold all at the same time. That will only get me to the end of July! I’m trusting that my reading mojo will kick in at some point and I’ll have a month of catching up.
Reading The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War has slowed me down. I enjoyed it. I feel like I'm getting close to finishing the challenge.43. A book by an Edgar Award-winning Author - The River We Remember
44. A book with a touch of magic - The Husbands
45. A book that is not a novel - The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War
For Week #33 (travel) I read A Year In Provence. Since then I have been waiting on the library book for Week #34 (related to 7 dwarves - bashful). Good news! It is in! Tomorrow I will pick up A Prayer for the Crown-Shy, which is a short book and should be a quick read. I will also start Week #35 (Science Fiction) Storm of Locusts, which is on my desk to start reading. And, that will finish out August.For Week #36 (Education), I will be reading A Deadly Education, which I hope to get from the library tomorrow also...that should get me current.
Bea wrote: "For Week #33 (travel) I read A Year In Provence. Since then I have been waiting on the library book for Week #34 (related to 7 dwarves - bashful). Good news! It is in! Tomorrow I will..."I had planned to read A Deadly Education, but I'm still #12 on my libraries ebook wait list so I found something else.
Finished 33. A book involving travel-
The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa 8/16/2024
Excellent book! I really enjoyed the story even though I knew early on how it was going to end. Definitely, have a box of tissue while reading.
34. A book related to the name of one of Snow White's seven dwarfs-
Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King 9/4/2024
I picked a terrible time to start this book ( I have too many 600+ pages books going some are even 1000+ pages) so what was one more I thought when I started this book. I also got a terrible cold and my anxiety has been really bad, but I finally finished today. It was an okay book. It was too long and the ending was predictable.
Almost finished
35. A science or science fiction book-
The Science of Sci-Fi: From Warp Speed to Interstellar Travel
I have not finished but I should tomorrow so, I'm going to write my review now.
I had planned a longish book but being behind I found this short around 4 hour audio book in my library. It is an interesting mix of science and how authors, tv shows and movies apply science to their work. She discusses what they have right and what they have applied creative liberty.
Started
36. A book featuring a character in education-
The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman
37. A book that is part of a series-
The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty (Originally planned for #31 but finished a different book first).
Finished: A Prayer for the Crown-Shy for week #34 (Related to one of seven dwarfs - Bashful). Starting: Week #35 (Science Fiction) Storm of Locusts, which is due at the library on the 7th. And, that will finish out August.
For Week #36 (Education), I will be reading A Deadly Education. I forgot to get this one from the library on Tuesday and so will pick it up today or find another one.
Week #37 (Series) should be easy as I read series all the time. Currently I have The Covenant on my desk to start, and it is book #1. And I have Siege and Storm #2, A Graveyard for Lunatics: Another Tale of Two Cities #2, The Game #7, and These Witches Don't Burn #1 all waiting to be started.
I will need to start planning for Weeks #38 on in the next few days.
I have decided on Week #38 and #39 (2 books with similar covers):
and
. Both are on hold at my local library and should be available next week.Now on to planning for October.
Update: I have 3 options planned for each of four of the five weeks of October and all are available through my local libraries. The middle week (Week #42 - sound related word in title) fits a book I own and have been wanting to read for a long time...James Earl Jones, Voices and Silences. So...done until November and December planning is needed.
I finally finished my July book, What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World's Most Enigmatic Birds, and am back on track! I’m more than halfway done with my last book for September, On Earth as It Is on Television, and have all my holds in place for next month. Feels good!
Mod
I have my last two for September (One Dark Window and sequel) hopefully to be completed this week, but whew if life isn't trying to derail my plans lol
I have lost the will to read in order I have books to fit prompts that i need to read now for other challenges so I got to week 43 reading in order but am giving up now
September was a struggle and then Helene hit. I was without power for 6 days and the local library, my source, was not open until yesterday. Still, I am trying. I am currently trying to read West with Giraffes for the first week of this month. It is an audio book. That puts me one week behind.October Plan:
Week 40: West with Giraffes
Week 41: Pray for Silence
Week 42: James Earl Jones, Voices and Silences
Week 43: Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line
Week 44: Midnight at the Blackbird Café
I currently have the first three weeks in my home.
I had finished posting through #45 last time I posted. # 46 A book related to night - Midnight at the Blackbird Café.
#47 A book with a two-word title beginning with The - The Celebrants.
# 48 A second book that fits your favorite prompt - Can't Spell Treason Without Tea.
# 49 A book with a senior citizen character - The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared.
#50 A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2023 or 2024 - Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
# 51 A book published in 2024 - Table for Two
# 52 A cozy mystery - Knit One, Kill Two
I'm thinking about not reading in order in 2025 but reading the prompts as they have been chosen. Has everyone done this before? What did you think?
I'm definitally behind but hope to get caught up by the end of October. I've slotted in several audio books. I have a few print side reads going which is partially why I'm behind ( waiting for library holds has also put me behind).Finished
36. A book featuring a character in education-
The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman 9/9/2024
This was an interesting book. It was a bit predictable. I plan on reading more books by this author.
37. A book that is part of a series-
Hot and Sour Suspects by Vivien Chien 9/15/2024
I like to read a book from A Noodle Shop Mystery series during read-a-thons. They always seem to fit several prompts. I enjoyed this cozy mystery.
38. Two books with similar covers: Book 1 (split covers)-
I Swear: Politics Is Messier Than My Minivan by Katie Porter 9/26/2024This was an interesting book on the challenges and success that Porter has had in Congress and her early life history.
39. Two books with similar covers: Book 2 (split covers)
Tales From The Cafe: A Novel byToshikazu Kawaguchi 10/13/2024This novel followed 4 characters as they time traveled either to the past or future in small Toyko cafe.
Currently reading:
40. A book involving a wild animal or endangered species, in the content, title, or on the cover-
The Wolf in the Whale by Jordanna Max Brodsky
Planned reads:
41. A book with a chilling atmosphere
Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen
42. A book with a sound-related word in the title-
A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor
43. A book by an Edgar Award-winning Author-
Trophy Hunt by C.J. Box
44. A book with a touch of magic-
Before Your Memory Fades by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Sherri, I'm planning on reading in order again next year. Reading in order of how prompts got voted in sounds interesting. I think, for me it would put several of the easier prompts at the beginning of the challenge and the harder ones near the end.
Mod
You could also look at the listopia thread for the list order as well, though I will likely be reordering it as well (it's not as high of a priority as the spreadsheet though).
Here is 2025 list in order of the polls.PRE-POLL
1. A science fiction or fantasy novel written by a woman
2. A book that involves art, music, dancing, or acting
POLL 1
3. A book with a cover that has an image of something that starts with A, T, or Y
4. A book with a serpentine element on the cover
5. A book published in 2025
POLL 2
6. A book whose title has ten or fewer letters
7. A book by an author with a common noun in their name
POLL 3
8. A book that fits a prompt from the 2016 ATY list
9. A mystery or true crime book
POLL 4 - MULTIWEEK
10-11. 2 Weeks: Two books with a connection from different genres
12-13. 2 Weeks: Two books with a pair of opposites in their titles
POLL 5
14. A book with waves on the cover
15. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2024 or 2025
16. A haunting book
POLL 6
17. A book that deals with time travel, alternate universes, or alternate timelines
18. A book by an author you enjoyed but haven't gotten around to reading again for some time
Poll 7
19. A book of secrets, lies, or deception
20. A book set in a fictional location
Poll 8
21. A book by an author that uses 3 names
22. A book involving a "group" with at least 4 members that's not a family
23. A book title that could be a country song
Poll 9
24. A book set in a manor, mansion, or estate
25. A book set primarily in nature
POLL 10
26. A book about witches, goddesses, or nuns
27. A book with an animal, vegetable (plant), or mineral in the title
POLL 11
28. A book with a coastal setting
29. A book with a sunset vibes on the cover
30. A book with a cover that has a building or cityscape
Poll 12
31. A book with a character dealing with death
32. A book connected in some way to any collective noun for animals
Summer Winner
33. A book featuring adult friendships
Poll 13
34. A book relating to fire
35. A book connected to something mentioned in the Do Re Mi song
36. A book from the NPR “Books We Love” lists
37. A translated novel from Asia
Poll 14
38. A book set in the winter
39. A book that involves digging up the past
40. A book by an Irish author
Poll 15
41. A book set underground, under sea or in an underworld
42. A book with a main character who is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal
43. A prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list
44. A collection of short stories or novellas, essays, poetry, or a mix of various brief writings
Read-a-Thon Winning Prompt
45. A book that has been long-listed for the Tournament of Books in any year
Poll 16
46. A book by an author whose publishing career spans at least ten years
47. A book with a weird or intriguing title
Poll 17
48. A book with a common household object on the cover
49. A book related to one of the traditional full moon names
50. A book you'd consider a comfort read
Poll 18
51.
52.
THE ANNIVERSARY LIST
2016: A book originally written in a language other than English
2017: A book whose title doesn't contain the letter "E"
2018: An author's debut book
2019: A book related to one of the elements on the periodic table of elements
2020: A book with an emotion in the title
2021: A book related to a codeword from the NATO Phonetic Alphabet
2022: A book that uses all five vowels in the title and/or author's name
2023: A book whose author has published more than 7 books
2024: A book that has been on your TBR for over a year
2025:
Mod
I wasn't going to read in order next year but I like this lol. It's even manageable since the 2025 prompt didn't get in until Poll 1 (instead of the pre-poll like usual) so you have a bit of wiggle room to get a January publication in.
I'm finally caught back up! I've done really well with not reading ahead. But with how busy November and December will be and that my planned books for weeks 44-46 are library books, I'm going to allow myself to finish the next few weeks early.40. A book involving a wild animal or endangered species, in the content, title, or on the cover-
The Wolf in the Whale by Jordanna Max Brodsky 10/19/2024
This book focused heavily on Inuit mythology with a mixture of Norse mythology. It was a interesting yet heavy read.
41. A book with a chilling atmosphere
Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen 10/19/2024
I'm not really the target audience for this book. It is a good middle school survival story.
42. A book with a sound-related word in the title-
A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor
10/22/2024
I didn't dislike this book, but I found it to be a bit disjointed. Granted, it is a time travel novel it just didn't seem as cohesive as the first book. I do plan on continuing the series.
October Plan:Week 40: West with Giraffes - Still working on the audio CD, should finish this week
Week 41: Pray for Silence - Finished
Week 42: James Earl Jones: Voices and Silences - starting
Week 43: Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line - starting
Week 44: Midnight at the Blackbird Café - on my desk
I am working hard at getting caught up. Helene put a damper on my reading for a few weeks.
Bea, I hope you are doing okay after Helene. Weather can be so destructive.
Jillian wrote: "Bra, I hope you are doing okay after Helene. Weather can be so destructive."Jillian, my property came through with little damage...and I only lost the frozen hamburger. The rest of the frozen meat was successfully cooked in the fire pit. However, the stress of it all took me by surprise and made it difficult for this elder to get back to normal, but I am there now. Thank you for asking.
Talk to me about reading in order! I read about 25 books a month, so I could finish 2025's entire challenge by March if I don't pace myself. I don't want to just blow through it like that! I'm thinking about reading in order, one prompt per week (well, two, because I want to do a simultaneous rejects challenge). I rely on the library almost exclusively, but I've gone ahead & made a tentative list of books to read (I'm adding a secondary challenge of trying to read mostly backlist) & a little schedule of when I should start seeking out copies to make sure I have them on hand for the weekly prompt. I feel good about this NOW, but how sustainable is it to keep it up for an entire year?
Yes! I finally finished October! That memoir that I chose on week 42 just didn't move along fast enough.November plan:
Week 45: A Walk on the Beach: Tales of Wisdom from an Unconventional Woman
Week 46: The Night Trilogy: Night, Dawn, and The Accident
Week 47: The Sunflower: on the possibilities and limits of forgiveness
Week 48: The Nun's Tale
The first three weeks are books that I own.
Mod
Mod
Ciara, from January-October I didn’t allow books to be finished earlier than their scheduled week. Being behind was okay. I made an exception for November because I had several library books and some long books I want to read as both side reads and planned books for the final prompts. This strategy has worked for me. I’m still debating what I want to do next year. I know some members read in order based on the months. This gives a bit more flexibility especially with library loans. It still helps not finishing the list really early.
I think your ability to read in order while relying on the library depends on your interest in newer book and your library’s limit on number of holds. I’ve done well, but I can have 21 electronic hold at once, plus hard copy.
I’m reading my second November book, but very slowly. I’ve been tired and it is good but not really a page turner,
@Ciara: I mostly read from the library, also. I have two libraries that I use and their time limit for book checkout is different (one does 2 weeks with 2 renewals, the other does 3 weeks with 1 renewal). Since most of the books I seek are older books, I seldom have trouble with renewals. I check online for availability and base my requesting on that. If the library itself has the book on shelf, I can get it closer to the week I need it. If it is checked out or coming from another library in the system, I have to allow more time.@Chrissy: My October book that I just finished was a memoir. I read them slower, but it was one that I have been wanting to read for several years. So I chose it...and though I just finished it, I also read the succeeding weeks books when they were scheduled. Now that it is done, I am back on schedule since I had read the others along with it.
I will probably do this again next year. Generally when planning, I list 3 books and then later finalize it down to one for each prompt. Since I am a mood reader, that works better for me. It gives me some ideas without boxing me into one book. And, sometimes, by the time the month has rolled around, I even find a different book than any of my suggestions!
I am on track to finish on time, though there have been a few wobbles and quite a bit of juggling, especially towards the end. I will definitely be reading in order again - I use the AtY list as the backbone of my reading year, and fit in all my Australian challenges, which include annual, seasonal and monthly challenges, around the AtY. Prompts complete for November are:44. A book with a touch of magic: The Magician of Lhasa
45. A book that is not a novel: I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death
46. A book related to night: Reading in Bed
Still to complete for the year:
47. A book with a two-word title beginning with THE: The Drowner
48. A second book that fits your favorite prompt (Aus, NZ, Canada author): Wimmera
49. A book with a senior citizen character: Plainsong
50. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2023 or 2024: Lessons in Chemistry
51. A book published in 2024: James
52. A cozy mystery: Trace Elements
I finished the challenge today! November was such a hard reading month, and it seems I've gotten really behind on updating my progress here. 43. A book by an Edgar Award-winning Author-
Trophy Hunt by C.J. Box 10/23/2024
This one started off a bit slow but I ended up liking this book in the series.
44. A book with a touch of magic-
Before Your Memory Fades by Toshikazu Kawaguchi 10/24/2024
So far this has been my favorite in the series.
45. A book that is not a novel-
Seven Empty Houses by Samanta Schweblin
I'm not a fan of short stories. I really liked Schweblin's writing. I just wish that the stories were longer.
46. A book related to night-
Night by Elie Wiesel 11/1/2024
It is difficult to really review a memoir of surviving the Holocaust. I'm glad to have finally read this book and I found George Guidall's narration well done.
47. A book with a two-word title beginning with THE-
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden 11/10/2024
This is a fast paced Mystery/Psychological Thriller which was what I needed. When I'm in a slump, I do better reading books outside of my general preference.
48. A second book that fits your favorite prompt- (prompt that didn't make the list)
Lies the Mushroom Pickers Told: A Novel by Tom PhelanTom Phelan 11/25/2024
I'm pretty sure the "mushroom" prompt is never going to make it in. I had a fantasy book planned, but my mind was not up to it. I borrowed this book a few years ago from Audible Plus catalog and decided to finally listen to it. Despite, the title's name it really has nothing to do with mushrooms (I even googled Mushroom Pickers to see if had some slang meaning). In one of the final chapters two boys were looking for mushrooms and only found two each. That is pretty much the extent mushrooms had in the book. It was a bit disappointing.
49. A book with a senior citizen character-
The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa 11/27/2024
I was dreading this prompt, fortunately in the weekly threads someone recommended this book. It was an enjoyable read. It was a good story about The Housekeeper, her son Root and the Professor.
50. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2023 or 2024-
The It Girl by Ruth Ware
I once more was not up to my planned fantasy book and figured I'd give this book a shot since the audio was available through Libby. I have mixed reviews of Ware's books fortunately, I really enjoyed this one. It was a solid mystery for me.
51. A book published in 2024-
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio 12/5/2024
The book started out really good and intriguing. Then about half way it got really boring, repetitive, and I started disliking the main character.
52. A cozy mystery-
I'll Be Home for Mischief by Jacqueline Frost 12/8/2024
This was a nice way to end the challenge. I enjoy the cozy-mystery series set in Mistletoe and look forward to reading the next in the series every December.
Mod
I've still got three to go, but I have two of them currently in progress!
I have all 4 for this month to go but am sure that I will finish as 3 are cozy mysteries!I have decided to not do this process next year. I will be reading at will for 2025.
Wow I haven't checked in here in a very long time! My reading in order kind of fell apart this year, I did stay mostly by the month but then I also shuffled some things around. Next year because the prompts don't lend themselves to reading in an order I prefer I'm going to loosely read in order but will be jumping around more. I've started week 17 right now because it's for one of my book clubs that meets early January. It's over 500 pages/17 hours so I won't finish before January so I feel safe doing that. So when I don't know what to read next, I'll try to go in order, but otherwise am not committing to doing so.
I doubled up some of the prompts (and more for a few) and ended up with almost more than I could read, so the order went out of the window as I read the shorter and quicker books to get caught up, which helped psychologically even if I still read the same books. I'm back in order for the last book of the year, I've got 65 pages of my cosy mystery left so I'll be finished with time to spare :)
I hope everyone one who was close to finishing in order is able to. It was great reading in order with you all this year. Hopefully, I’ll be back in 2026. Nancy, I going with a similar plan as you for 2025.
I will be finishing my list with my last book....#51 The Women, which was a 15h audiobook. I have 3h left and will complete it today. I finished #52 a day or so ago.I have decided to not do Reading in Order for next year but rather to wing it.
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Women (other topics)Seven Empty Houses (other topics)
Before Your Memory Fades (other topics)
The Housemaid (other topics)
Trophy Hunt (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Freida McFadden (other topics)Elie Wiesel (other topics)
Jacqueline Frost (other topics)
C.J. Box (other topics)
Samanta Schweblin (other topics)
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#30 - Joan: A Novel of Joan of Arc - a really interesting historical fiction about Joan of Arc
#31 - House of Kwa - a memoir by a woman whose father sued her for the family fortune left to her by an aunt
Planned for August:
#32 - The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida
#33 - Monsoon Rains & Icicle Drops
#34 - Bewilderment (Dopey is bewildered)
#35 - A Short History of Nearly Everything