Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
ATY 2026
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[2026] Poll 6 Voting
John wrote: "Overall, most of these prompts either elicit a "meh" or an absolute no from me. I voted three up and five down. Those voted down included the following:
1. A book with a horse as a character. I ..."
John , check out the links and libraries for more books related to soul. My Audible search came back with 1000+ titles. Lots of fantasy, crime, action, as well as nonfiction on every conceivable topic. And of course some fascinating spiritual topics. My favorite history book this year (on 1969) even has soul in the title.
I didn't vote for soul, but if it comes in I will get the soul of the octopus book.(I might get it anyway :))
Robin P wrote: "The list for Horse as Character includes a lot of books where people just ride horses, to me that’s not a character!"I read one in the past year where the horse it truly a character (the main character). I suppose it would be called Fantasy, or at least Magical Realism, as well as Adventure/Murder Mystery. The horse, and other animals, are anthropomorphized. It was a fun read. Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch.
Here are the books that were recommended on the June 13 Strong Sense of Place podcast for books set in US National Parks:Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
A Superior Death by Nevada Barr (Anna Pigeon series)
A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko
Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks
Robin P wrote: "The list for Horse as Character includes a lot of books where people just ride horses, to me that’s not a character!"I agree with this. If it wins, I will require a book with an actual horse as a perspective character.
Such as in The Horse and His Boy.
Another suggestion for the National Parks prompt is a mystery series that I plan to start this year by Claire Kells called (coincidentally) The National Parks Mystery. The first book in the series is Vanishing Edge.
For #2 occupations that didn’t exist before 1900, PhD student was listed. That didn’t sound right to me, so I checked. PhD’s began in the Middle Ages. Germany formalized the process in the 1800’s and their model spread through Europe and North America.
The PhD degree was first awarded in the United States in 1861 by Yale University. They awarded three PhD degrees at their commencement ceremony that year, marking the first time this degree was conferred in the country. This was patterned after the Berlin model.
The other issue is with calling it a job or occupation at all. The compensation (for research and teaching assistants, or fellowships) is often lower than one would earn elsewhere. When I was a PhD student, tuition was covered, but some students (depending on the field or school) still have to pay hefty tuition, and pay their own way to conferences. (My brother called me a professional student though) 😏
NancyJ wrote: "Charlsa wrote: "A book related to “soul”. This could be a book related to “the soul”, “a soul”, with the word soul in the title, books good for the soul, about our souls, soul music, soul food, or ..."Thanks for letting us know.
This is a link to free titles in Audible.com
https://www.audible.com/search?audibl...
This is a link to Free titles if you have access to the Plus catalog.
https://www.audible.com/search?audibl...
Ellie wrote: "The Wikipedia for the Orwell Prizes seems fairly complete if you want to see the shortlisted books. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orwell_..."
Thanks Ellie!
Sorry I don't have a list for the National Parks prompt; I am not a big list person. I watch Tic Tok when I exercise and many parks have been posting cheeky videos (some get a little raunchy) to raise money and awareness of their parks. In general I am amazed and inspired by the beauty I see. I also felt like with so many parks and ecosystems it was almost a choose any book prompt. So instead of list I will leave these links maybe the pictures will get help inspire.
https://skybirdtravel.com/top-10-nati...
https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/m...
https://www.jacadatravel.com/all/trav...
If the prompt isn't for you, the pictures are still amazing and I hope bring a little joy :)
NancyJ wrote: "For #2 occupations that didn’t exist before 1900, PhD student was listed. That didn’t sound right to me, so I checked. PhD’s began in the Middle Ages. Germany formalized the process in the 1800’s..."
Sorry, I googled it too quickly and it said 1917 but I guess that was the modern form of it. The people I know who have PhDs did get paid well for it though. Maybe it's different in the US. I can't correct the post now, so if it gets in we can ask not to include PhDs.
Ellie wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "For #2 occupations that didn’t exist before 1900, PhD student was listed. That didn’t sound right to me, so I checked. PhD’s began in the Middle Ages. Germany formalized the proces..."
Thanks Ellie. Maybe neither of the answers we got from google or AI were accurate, but it’s a quick tool.
In my program. Younger students were very happy with the pay, particularly if they added in the value of the tuition scholarship (which doesn’t pay for diapers or rent). Married students who gave up decent jobs had different comparison points, or opportunity costs.
Charlsa wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Charlsa wrote: "A book related to “soul”. This could be a book related to “the soul”, “a soul”, with the word soul in the title, books good for the soul, about our souls, soul music,..."Charlsa, the first link only shows podcasts. The second link is perfect. Thank you for posting it.
NancyJ wrote: "Ellie wrote: "The Wikipedia for the Orwell Prizes seems fairly complete if you want to see the shortlisted books..."I was able to get all the shortlisted books from 2015 through 2025 entered into the listopia today. So it's missing only shortlisted from 1994 to 2014. (Got a friend to help me!)
This is a fun group of suggestions to think about! I don't think it would be too hard to find books for most of these prompts. On the fence for:
- Royalty as main characters. Popsugar's challenge this year includes "a book where a main character is a politician" and since I'm using royalty to fill that prompt, it's basically a repeat prompt for me.
- Adult MC not in paid employment. I think it would be a little hard to know ahead of time since some of the books on my TBR don't specify the MC's jobs in the blurb. And are royals considered to be in paid employment?
- National park - love the idea but unsure how the books on my TBR would connect to this. If I read a fantasy book where characters pass through a desert, would I say the book is connected to, say, Joshua Tree National Park since that's also in a desert? I think my main issue with it is the wording of "a national park" rather than "national parks" since it implies that the book should be connected to a specific park.
First Impressions:1. A book with a horse as a character - This seems a bit too specific for me. I can't think of many books off the top of my head, other than a handful that I've already read. Probably a downvote just because I think it will be too difficult.
2. A book where the main character has an occupation that didn't exist before 1900 - I wasn't sure about this one at first, but once I saw podcasters and other social media-related jobs as suggestions of how to fulfill it, it caught my interest. Likely upvote.
3. A book where one of the characters is a ghost, a spirit, an angel, or an imaginary being - Love this! I've had a lot of fun with books that involve ghosts lately (both thriller/horror and romance), so it's a definite upvote.
4. A book by a Korean or Korean-diaspora author - I'm not necessarily opposed, but I'd have to see how many options I have on my TBR. Likely would just stay neutral.
5. A book nominated for an award that values peace, cultural understanding, and related social issues - Probably a downvote. I don't follow or care about any awards, and find it overwhelming to a go through all the websites. I glanced at a few of the listopias provided so far and didn't see much that interested me.
6. A book by the author who shows up most on your TBR but is so far unread by you - I love this since it fits my goal to prioritize authors who are piling up on my TBR. I can see myself getting locked into being too literal about "most" though.
7. A book related to a national park - I wouldn't even know how to approach this one. I don't know anything about national parks.
8. A book related to a lion, a witch, or a wardrobe - I was much more interested in this as a multiweek option, but I might vote for it and just treat it as a multiweek if it gets in.
9. A book with an adult main character who is NOT in paid employment - Love it! It's a character prompt that I don't think I've ever seen before
10. A book which features royalty as main characters - Love this one too, but I might leave it neutral if I don't have enough votes to go around. If I can, I'd upvote.
11. A book where all or part of the action takes place in a library, a courthouse, or another public building - Love this too! It's a bit more of a unique setting prompt.
12. A book related to “soul” - I wasn't interested in this when it first was suggested (last year, I think?) and I'm still not that interested now. I might leave it neutral since I probably could find a way to make it work if I have to, but it's not something I actively want.
13. A book from the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list - I've never been a huge fan of this list. I've already read the majority of the books that I have an active interest in reading. There are some on my TBR, but nothing I'm particularly drawn to.
14. A book whose title and author's first or last name start with the same letter - I'm indifferent to this. There are too many other prompts that are more interesting to me.
15. A book relating to television - I'd likely use this one to pick a book about a character taking part in some kind of reality show since I seem to have a surprising amount of those on my TBR. But, I'm not sure I want it strongly enough to vote for it.
Mod
Robin P wrote: "That's funny, I read it as a job that didn't exist after 1900. I voted for that. thinking of ancient jobs. The other is easy - anything with computers, TV, airplanes, space, etc."I initially read it the same way.
Angie wrote: "Robin P wrote: "That's funny, I read it as a job that didn't exist after 1900. I voted for that. thinking of ancient jobs. The other is easy - anything with computers, TV, airplanes, space, etc."..."
Same! Maybe because I think that was what came up in the Wild Discussion? Or maybe I misread it there, too. I was considering reading a book about the Pony Express...
Dixie wrote: "Angie wrote: "Robin P wrote: "That's funny, I read it as a job that didn't exist after 1900. I voted for that. thinking of ancient jobs. The other is easy - anything with computers, TV, airplanes, ..."An earlier suggestion that didn't make the final list was:
A book with a character who has an unusual, uncommon, or "extinct" occupation
The pony express was mentioned in that discussion.
Deborah wrote: "Dixie wrote: "Angie wrote: "Robin P wrote: "That's funny, I read it as a job that didn't exist after 1900. I voted for that. thinking of ancient jobs. The other is easy - anything with computers, T..."I did that too. I was thinking of jobs that became common surnames - Miller, (black)Smith, cooper, tailor, (stone) mason. A job that existed before 1900 would be easier than a job that didn’t exist after 1900. We still have carpenters, potters, mason, cowboys, (prostitutes).
The prompt on the ballot is much easier.
I read it the same as Robin. That makes sense that I got it confused with the Wild Discussion. I was neutral on it, but definitely like it better now that I have the correct prompt.
I think it is too easy the way it is worded. I'd be more in favor of "an extinct occupation" - basicallly the opposite of what was proposed.
I haven't been keeping up with the wild discussion, sorry to confuse people who were expecting a different prompt! Extinct professions doesn't appeal to me though.
I haven't been closely following the wild discussion, either. There are just way more occupations that have come into existence after 1900 than there were in the 1800s and prior, so it's much easier to fulfill IMO. I like prompts that are not too easy and not too hard. Of course, it won't be hard to find something if it gets in. I was not intended to be critical of the prompt. Sorry if it came across that way.
Robin P wrote: "The list for Horse as Character includes a lot of books where people just ride horses, to me that’s not a character!"Personally, I would agree with you. However, that's the listopia that exists. I think it depends upon each person's interpretation of the prompt, as usual.😊
Dixie wrote: "Robin P wrote: "The list for Horse as Character includes a lot of books where people just ride horses, to me that’s not a character!"I had the same thought. If this gets in, I'll probably read a childhood favorite by Marguerite Henry or Walter R. Brooks -- his "Freddy" books are a clever, funny series where a farmyard full of animals helps the pig, Freddy, solve mysteries and crimes. Two of the main characters are the laid-back plow horse, Hank, and the cowpony, Cy."
Oh, my! I had never heard of this series, but will definitely check it out! Cool!
L Y N N wrote: "Robin P wrote: "The list for Horse as Character includes a lot of books where people just ride horses, to me that’s not a character!"Personally, I would agree with you. However, that's the listopi..."
If "horse as a character" gets in, I'm considering using Horse Barbie: A Memoir in which the "horse" character isn't even a horse, but someone referred to by that name.
Mod
Robin P wrote: "If the occupations after 1900 doesn't get in, someone should suggest the opposite - extinct occupations."I was think that it would have made a great two week prompt
A book where the main character has an occupation that didn't exist before 1900
A book where the main character has an occupation that didn't exist after 1900
L Y N N wrote: "Dixie wrote: "Robin P wrote: "The list for Horse as Character includes a lot of books where people just ride horses, to me that’s not a character!"I had the same thought. If this gets in, I'll pr..."
Yay, another potential Freddy fan! Skip the first two (Freddy Goes to Florida and Freddy Goes to the North Pole); read those later if you like the others. It took a couple of books for the author to really hit his stride. I started with Freddy and the Perilous Adventure, but other good starters are Freddy and the Bean Home News and Freddy the Detective.
Dubhease wrote: "Robin P wrote: "If the occupations after 1900 doesn't get in, someone should suggest the opposite - extinct occupations."I was think that it would have made a great two week prompt
A book where ..."
This would be a great one to remember for next year!
I voted 7 UP and 1 DOWN.The ones I'm most interested in are:
"Korean author"
"Peace, etc., Awards"
"Author most on TBR but not read" (get started already!)
"Unemployed"
(need Characters, also 'what do you do?' shouldn't always be answered by a job title)
"Set in public building"
(need Settings and public settings have a lot of interesting things going on in them)
Robin P wrote: "If the occupations after 1900 doesn't get in, someone should suggest the opposite - extinct occupations."It could be reworded, but
A book with a character who has an unusual, uncommon, or "extinct" occupation
was in the 3rd poll.
Tracy wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "Robin P wrote: "The list for Horse as Character includes a lot of books where people just ride horses, to me that’s not a character!"Personally, I would agree with you. However, th...
If "horse as a character" gets in, I'm considering using Horse Barbie: A Memoir in which the "horse" character isn't even a horse, but someone referred to by that name."
Very clever!
Dixie wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "Dixie wrote: "Robin P wrote: "The list for Horse as Character includes a lot of books where people just ride horses, to me that’s not a character!"I had the same thought. If this ..."
Thanks!
Re: the Korean authors prompt - here's the hyperlinked version of the Korean authors I have on my shelves in case it's helpful to anyone. There are probably a lot more outside of these genres! - The Wrath & the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
- Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
- The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee
- Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo
- Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung
- Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering by Joanna Gaines
- The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
- The Vegetarian by Han Kang
- Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum
- The Girl with Seven Names: Escape from North Korea by Hyeonseo Lee
- Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
- Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee
- The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh
- A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
- Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
- Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
And here's a link to a Penguin post with books by Korean authors!
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/th...
Mod
It could be reworded, but
A book with a character who has an unusual, un..."
Oh, that must be what I was thinking of!
Irene wrote: "Re: the Korean authors prompt - here's the hyperlinked version of the Korean authors I have on my shelves in case it's helpful to anyone. There are probably a lot more outside of these genres! - ..."
There are several books from my TBR list here: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Irene - Thanks for the list of the Korean authors. I don’t think that Gabrielle Zevin should be on it, though. She was born in the US. Her mother was born in Korea but Gabrielle is American.
Pam wrote: "Irene - Thanks for the list of the Korean authors. I don’t think that Gabrielle Zevin should be on it, though. She was born in the US. Her mother was born in Korea but Gabrielle is American."The prompt also includes a Korean-diaspora author.
Pam wrote: "Irene - Thanks for the list of the Korean authors. I don’t think that Gabrielle Zevin should be on it, though. She was born in the US. Her mother was born in Korea but Gabrielle is American."Hi Pam! The wording of the prompt is "Korean or Korean-disapora authors" to be more inclusive so that authors like Gabrielle Zevin (who publicly identifies as "half-Jewish, half-Korean") could count! I guess an alternate wording could have been "author of Korean descent" to make that more clear, but the term "diaspora" includes descendants of emigrants from the Korean peninsula which would include Gabrielle and the other American-born authors on the list :)
Dixie wrote: "There are several books from my TBR list here..."Thanks Dixie, this is a great list!!
Thanks Irene for the explanation! I didn’t realize that diaspora includes descendants of emigrants. I did vote for the prompt since there are numerous Korean authors I’m interested in reading.
My favorite is the Korean author. If it doesn’t get enough votes, please try Asian diaspora6 up and 2 down
*2. A book where the main character has an occupation that didn't exist before 1900 - for women in STEM books
3. A book where one of the characters is a ghost, a spirit, an angel, or an imaginary being - for fantasy in general
4. A book by a Korean or Korean-diaspora author - several on my tbr
6. A book by the author who shows up most on your TBR but is so far unread by you - this is time consuming and doesn’t mean anything.
9. A book with an adult main character who is NOT in paid employment - not sure
11. A book where all or part of the action takes place in a library, a courthouse, or another public building - for books about books
12. A book related to “soul” - on my tbr
13. A book from the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list - several on my tbr
14. A book whose title and author's first or last name start with the same letter - this is time consuming and doesn’t mean anything
*Fwiw I wouldn’t vote for “extinct” occupations because jobs might have evolved into something else.
GailW wrote: "Another suggestion for the National Parks prompt is a mystery series that I plan to start this year by Claire Kells called (coincidentally) The National Parks Mystery. The first b..."Thank you for this recommendation! I am a mystery reader and enjoy visiting and reading about National Parks. I immediately added this to my TBR list!
Hi Honey, I'm Homo!: Sitcoms, Specials, and the Queering of American Culture - This book makes me more excited about the television prompt, I think it might answer questions I had for years. I long believed that movies and television helped change attitudes about gay rights and gay marriage, and I’d like to hear the background story.
The change in attitudes made a huge difference in my family when my son told us he was gay. I know it was helped others too.
Amy wrote: "GailW wrote: "Another suggestion for the National Parks prompt is a mystery series that I plan to start this year by Claire Kells called (coincidentally) The National Parks Myster..."This is another one that feel more excited about now. Tweaking the language from “a national park” to “national parks” might open it up a little more, but I would interpret it as parks anyway. I think Is a River Alive? talks about them in different countries.
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I really like the peace prize prompt, the people without paid employment (I have lots of books about retirees), new occupations, soul (many great options). I also like television and national parks.
#6 - author on your tbr… , basically duplicates a prompt we already voted in - “new to me author. “ I don’t think anyone mentioned that yet.
Pam wrote: "A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko"I'm currently reading this one! I don't really read travel related nonfiction even though I love traveling myself, but I am liking it so far.
For a fiction option, I know a lot of Peter Heller's books take place in national parks/nature. As I was reading A Walk in the Park, I was immediately reminded of his books.
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers (other topics)Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law (other topics)
Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife (other topics)
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers (other topics)
Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Peter Heller (other topics)Claire Kells (other topics)
Claire Kells (other topics)
Claire Kells (other topics)
Max Brooks (other topics)
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Yes, it seems to me to be one of those prompts which looks fun at first glance and then is going to be a pain in practice. I downvoted, but wouldn't mind a more general horse related prompt.