Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
ATY 2026
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[2026] Poll 14 Voting
Trish wrote: "THOUGHTS AND IDEAS FROM THE SUGGESTIONS THREADAlso see discussion below where more information on prompts can be offered.
For some of these, I've linked to the proposal message in the suggestions..."
@Trish, could you please update the second Portugal link in #2 to this one: https://traversejourneys.com/blog/15-... ? I could swear this is what I linked to yesterday, but somehow the current link just goes to the blog in general and not to the books page. Thanks, and sorry!
Marie wrote: "Rachel wrote: "3. A book with a main character who is a teacher, instructor, or professor - For some reason I was convinced we had something like this already, but I checked and we don't. I really ..."OK. We already have the professor for Clue. Thank you both. I can eliminate #3 from my choices. Can anyone help narrow down the list further? There are still too many. : )
NancyJ wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "Dubhease wrote: "One year we had Birds, Bees, and Bunnies as a prompt.And it was a fun prompt. Alliteration makes it catchy."
Yes, and I was jealous of whoever thought of it!"
Thank you! Back then we had someone who suggested a book about rabbits every year. Bees were popular and there were tons of books with birds in the cover. We had separate suggestions for them, but none could get in on their own. So I did what you did, changed rabbit to bunnies for the alliteration. (Some people noticed a reproduction theme.). I am partial to groups of three. I don’t know why.
I once had a children's lit professor who claimed "3" was a 'magic' number in most cultures...
Pamela, thank you for updating the listopia thread. Can you add the summer challenge prompt too?
Mod
Sigh!! My memory! Sorry!! Multi-tasking...
And the read-a-thon one will be announced with this thread!
Dixie wrote: "Martha wrote: "First Impressions:1. Pirates, puppies, parrots, penguins, pachyderms: Neutral for now. If this gets in I'll likely read about puppy development because I'm a puppy foster parent and..."
I could have used your professional advice before I went out walking with my big dog’s leash ALL the way out. I learned why the phrase “keep him on a short leash” was created, and got a lesson in elementary physics along the way. It was a glorious day and I was feeling strong after months of physical therapy. We were having fun and moving fast. Then she saw a new dog she wanted to meet down the street, and ran across the road, with me behind her - like a kite. (The cartoon picture in my head is funny until I land on my face and bounce.) I learned a painful lesson. It’s 3 weeks later and it still hurts to walk more than 2 blocks. My rheumatologist just shook her head and reminded me of all the reasons I need to be more careful.
While I was laying on the ground, I realized my hand was still inside the leash, and she sat calmly by, licking my arm. I’m no longer vain, but the red scar on my nose is starting to bother me.
NancyJ wrote: "Dixie wrote: "Martha wrote: "First Impressions:1. Pirates, puppies, parrots, penguins, pachyderms: Neutral for now. If this gets in I'll likely read about puppy development because I'm a puppy fos..."
Oh I am so sorry!! How painful - and how dangerous, for both of you, if she had gotten free and taken off. Polite leash-walking is probably the #1 hardest skill to teach, because the world is packed full of appealing people and animals to go after. And it's even harder to teach remotely - but the very best instructor I know is Emily Larlham of Kikopup. Her videos are here: www.youtube.com/@kikopup
She has a comprehensive online training course, too, at dogmantics.com, which I highly recommend. The trouble with teaching complex behaviors like walk-nicely-on-leash is that they are complex: you're doing a variety of things while your dog is doing a variety of things in a distracting environment. I hope you feel much better soon (at 3 weeks and still in that much pain, an x-ray sounds like it might be in order?).
NancyJ - I’m sorry to hear that you are still struggling to recover. I’m beginning to see the wisdom in having smaller dogs as we age. Another one of those “lifespan bell curves”.
When does voting open? I thought it was this morning... No link yet!(I need to vote before I leave town early tomorrow morning.)
😳 Sorry if that sounded selfish of me. I’ve gotten used to the voting thread being available when I wake up on the first day of voting. Just not sure if this is an adjusted schedule as we now have a wider range of start times for Suggestions (new time zones for mods - yea!) or just busy mods. Either way, I apologize.
Tracy wrote: "😳 Sorry if that sounded selfish of me. I’ve gotten used to the voting thread being available when I wake up on the first day of voting. Just not sure if this is an adjusted schedule as we now have ..."I’ve been lurking here all day. I’m sure many are wondering the same thing. I’ve been worried that some kind of emergency happened to call her away.
MJ wrote: "Tracy wrote: "😳 Sorry if that sounded selfish of me. I’ve gotten used to the voting thread being available when I wake up on the first day of voting. Just not sure if this is an adjusted schedule a..."Same here, both with the lurking and the concern.
Dixie wrote: "MJ wrote: "Tracy wrote: "😳 Sorry if that sounded selfish of me. I’ve gotten used to the voting thread being available when I wake up on the first day of voting. Just not sure if this is an adjusted..."Me too!
It sounds as if Pamela has been really busy with work today, so I hope that is the explanation.
I think only Trish can add the link. I’m not sure who has access to what. Or maybe that’s the issue…. they each think the other has it handled. These volunteer jobs have a lot of responsibility, on top of your regular life. It takes awhile to get in the rhythm. Suggestion days are so much work, it’s easy to think, ok that’s done, and forget about it for a few days. When I was consulting, I felt so good after a big job was done and I could relax. I’d sometimes forget to do the paperwork to get paid.
Dixie wrote: "Martha wrote: "First Impressions:1. Pirates, puppies, parrots, penguins, pachyderms: Neutral for now. If this gets in I'll likely read about puppy development because I'm a puppy foster parent and..."
Thank you for your generous offer, Dixie! My main concern is with the developmental needs of foster puppies since they often come from less than optimal beginnings. I have a short window of time to work with fosters and my hope is to get them adjusted to a household schedule, socialize with a variety of people, and to begin outside relieving. I have a few books on puppy development and one on puppies who come from traumatic backgrounds. Do you have any recommendations that might talk about foster puppy needs? I also have to say I usually have more than one puppy from a litter at a time. Life is much easier with two or more since they are still learning from one another when they are under 8 weeks of age.
Mod
https://forms.gle/qsAntPqHhpVJhVoUA
Martha wrote: "Dixie wrote: "Martha wrote: "First Impressions:1. Pirates, puppies, parrots, penguins, pachyderms: Neutral for now. If this gets in I'll likely read about puppy development because I'm a puppy fos..."
I would absolutely still start with Another Piece of the Puzzle: Puppy Development, because knowing what is happening with their physical and behavioral development week by week from birth is very important no matter what kind of start they have or at what stage you get them. -- I'm happy to talk more about this with you but we should probably do it privately, so we don't use too much of this prompt discussion space. Feel free to message me!
Thank you Emily! And so glad to hear that nothing is wrong and it’s just a time zone thing 🥰
So many good ideas, that I had to choose based solely on what gave me the most opportunities to read books already on my TBR. I'm trying not to add books to my TBR just because they fulfill a prompt. I'm sure that's why I'm seeing my current TBR full of books that make me wonder how those books got there! There were several suggestions that I LOVED in theory, but just weren't going to allow me to start clearing the decks.6 UP / 2 DOWN
I got excited about A book with a main character who is a teacher, instructor, or professor, thinking it could be used for dark academia.https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...
But most seem to be about students and not professors. So, I don't know what to read for the prompt.
Emily wrote: "Sorry y'all, I think Trish went to sleep before we got the link ready for her to post it (she's on UK time and the rest of us are US). Here's the voting link! The first post of the thread will be u..."Emily,
After I voted, I read Marie’s comment about prompt #3. She pointed out that one of the Clue/Cluedo characters was a professor. I voted for prompt #3, but I think it’s too similar, and I would like to change my vote. Can I submit a new ballot?
Emily wrote: "Sorry y'all, I think Trish went to sleep before we got the link ready for her to post it (she's on UK time and the rest of us are US). Here's the voting link! The first post of the thread will be u..."Thanks!
Eight upvotes, and I could have done 10 or 12. Great list!
7 down, 1 up.
I ended up with 5 up and 3 down, but wanted more votes
1. A book involving pirates, puppies, parrots, penguins, or pachyderms. Yes!!! (And I learned a new word in English - Pachyderms!) 2. A book that takes place in a country/place along the path of totality for the 2026 solar eclipse: Spain, Portugal, Greenland, Iceland, the Arctic, and the Atlantic Ocean. I don't know
3. A book with a main character who is a teacher, instructor, or professor. Maybe
4. A book related to iron or steel. Yes!
5. A book related to a park, such as a national, state, provincial, urban, castle, amusement or skate park. As much as I love parks I haven't got a clue what to read, don't find anything appealing so No
6. A book with a First Responder as a featured character. No, I haven't got a clue what to read, don't find anything appealing so No
7. An epistolary novel - a book primarily narrated though letters/diary or journal entries/emails/transcripts etc. Absolutely not. Don't like this at all and I will downvote it.
8. A book with a main character who has power(s). Don't know
9. A book that quotes or references another work in its title. No
10. A book where the main characters are siblings. Yes
11. A book featuring a party or festival. No
12. A book that includes a science topic. Yes!
13. A book from the NPR “Books We Love” lists. Yes!
14. A book with a character with one of the jobs in the song 40 Hour Week (for a livin') by Alabama. No. Don't know the song, way too US-centered. The lyrics didn't mention that many jobs to choose from.
15. A book about books. Yes! Absolutely
Six upvotes, one downvote and one I have to think about. I might upvote teachers or solar eclipse countries. The powers suggestion is too vague. I might not use my eighth vote. Or I might downvote the Alabama song.
6 up, 2 down, and I'm among those who wanted more votes!
Dubhease wrote: "I got excited about A book with a main character who is a teacher, instructor, or professor, thinking it could be used for dark academia.https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...-..."
Why not read a dark academia book now for the Goodreads bookmark challenge this quarter.
@Rachel, I also thought we already had a professor prompt but I think it's because we have the professor/Clue prompt and also the book that takes place in a school, library, etc. @Lynn, thanks for the explanation, I love the creativity!
My thoughts on this week's prompts, which are super polarizing for me: 1. A book involving pirates, puppies, parrots, penguins, or pachyderms.
- Definite upvote! I have no options for this but will find something!
2. A book that takes place in a country/place along the path of totality for the 2026 solar eclipse: Spain, Portugal, Greenland, Iceland, the Arctic, and the Atlantic Ocean.
- Another upvote. I dislike location-based prompts since they're similar to list prompts but I like the 2026 connection since this isn't a prompt we'd see again.
3. A book with a main character who is a teacher, instructor, or professor.
- Downvote. It already overlaps with at least 2 other prompts on the list (especially the book set in a school) and isn't very interesting to me.
4. A book related to iron or steel.
- Upvote. Again, love the 2026 connection since it makes the prompt specific to next year's list and I would read a fae book for this since iron is Fe (plus fae books have a thematic connection to iron as well).
5. A book related to a park, such as a national, state, provincial, urban, castle, amusement or skate park.
- I'm a little confused. Would a historical fiction novel set in a random castle count as being related to a park?
6. A book with a First Responder as a featured character.
- This is a little hard to research outside of the mystery/true crime genre, and I think there's too much overlap with that prompt.
7. An epistolary novel - a book primarily narrated though letters/diary or journal entries/emails/transcripts etc.
- Neutral. I've had this a few times in other reading challenges but don't hate the format.
8. A book with a main character who has power(s).
- Downvote. Hard to think of a book I've read where the main character didn't have SOME amount of power by the end, so it's too broad for me.
9. A book that quotes or references another work in its title.
- Neutral
10. A book where the main characters are siblings.
- This would mean the book would have at least 2 POVs, right? Neutral because I can only think of one book I've read with siblings as MCs.
11. A book featuring a party or festival.
- Not sure how I'd research this since there isn't really a way to look at a book on my shelf and know if there will be a party. Downvote.
12. A book that includes a science topic.
- Neutral.
13. A book from the NPR “Books We Love” lists.
- Downvote. This was my least favorite prompt this year and this is the exact same wording again. I'd really prefer if we could have at least a year gap before having the exact same prompt since my options for it will just be the same 2 books.
14. A book with a character with one of the jobs in the song 40 Hour Week (for a livin') by Alabama.
- Neutral
15. A book about books.
- Neutral or downvote. This is one I've done a lot in other challenges (including my summer bookstore bingo) and it's not one I have many options for.
Nike wrote: "1. A book involving pirates, puppies, parrots, penguins, or pachyderms. Yes!!! (And I learned a new word in English - Pachyderms!) 2. A book that takes place in a country/place along the path of t..."
My brother has a stuffed elephant named Packy (for Pachyderm). He carried it everywhere when he was little. He’s married now and it’s still on the table next to his bed. 😊
Judy wrote: "Nike wrote: "1. A book involving pirates, puppies, parrots, penguins, or pachyderms. Yes!!! (And I learned a new word in English - Pachyderms!) My brother has a stuffed elephant named Packy (for Pachyderm). He carried it everywhere when he was little. He’s married now and it’s still on the table next to his bed. 😊
Awwww...I love that story! When I was little I had ONE pillow that went everwhere I went--I called it "booey"! I have no idea where I got that name! LOL
As I was browsing through the 2024 NPR Books We Love list, I encountered Mina's Matchbox by Yōko Ogawa, translated by Stephan Snyder (Translator). Not only is there a hippopotamus on the cover, but according to the synopsis, there is a "pygmy hippopotamus" in the story! I never heard of a pygmy hippopotamus before, but they do exist! 🙂Just couldn't resist sharing...
Mod
Not me for once! Although I wasn't there to back her up yesterday so she had lots to do on her own! All caught up now- go vote!
L Y N N wrote: "As I was browsing through the 2024 NPR Books We Love list, I encountered Mina's Matchbox by Yōko Ogawa, translated by Stephan Snyder (Translator). ..."This sounds wonderful. I love the author's work, and have added this to my TBR list.
Re: pygmy hippos: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandst...
Emily wrote: "Sorry y'all, I think Trish went to sleep before we got the link ready for her to post it (she's on UK time and the rest of us are US). Here's the voting link! The first post of the thread will be u..."I left a message (52) for Trish early today; could you please see if that can be corrected, in case she hasn't seen it? Many thanks!
Bouncy Pork is the English translation name of a Pygmy Hippo baby that went viral. She’s super cute to google.
Erica wrote: "Bouncy Pork is the English translation name of a Pygmy Hippo baby that went viral. She’s super cute to google."Is that what Moo Deng's name means?? I loved when she was blowing up the internet
Pretty good list of prompts.I'm not going to comment on all of them, but a few observations:
A book involving pirates, puppies, parrots, penguins, or pachyderms
Not sure I understand this one. It's just a list of words that start with the same letter...?
A book related to iron or steel
I was going to downvote this one until I saw the rationale that it could be used for stories involving ghosts. It seems like a thin rationale, but it's enough for me!
A book related to a park, such as a national, state, provincial, urban, castle, amusement or skate park
Can someone explain what a castle park is? I saw the explanation in the Wild Discussion and still don't get it. It's a shame I read Joyland already. That would've been perfect for this.
An epistolary novel - a book primarily narrated though letters/diary or journal entries/emails/transcripts etc
I nearly always love these.
A book about books.
I've had this one in SO man challenges. I can easily do it, but it's so overdone. Having said that, I am nearly certain it'll be voted in. I'll probably do 84, Charing Cross Road or a The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society reread.
Mod
Yes. Even the mods can't edit other mods' posts.
Emily wrote: "Sorry y'all, I think Trish went to sleep before we got the link ready for her to post it (she's on UK time and the rest of us are US). Here's the voting link! The first post of the thread will be updated whenever Trish gets to it!"
Sorry all. It's now updated
Dixie wrote: "@Trish, could you please update the second Portugal link in #2 to this one: https://traversejourneys.com/blog/15-... ? I could swear this is what I linked to yesterday, but somehow the current link just goes to the blog in general and not to the books page. Thanks, and sorry!"
Also done.
Mod
"
GLaPPPS is definitely epistolary as well, although I may finally read Illuminae if epistolary gets through.
Trish wrote: "Angie wrote: "A book about books. I've had this one in SO man challenges. I can easily do it, but it's so overdone. Having said that, I am nearly certain it'll be voted in. I'll probably do 84, Cha..."Illuminae is another that's been on my radar. I almost bought it off the budget rack at our local BAM, but I didn't. I wonder if it's still there.
Angie wrote: "Pretty good list of prompts.Can someone explain what a castle park is? I saw the explanation in the Wild Discussion and still don't get it.
Angie, many castles/mansions in the UK were surrounded by land set aside for deer hunting - this would be a castle park. So basically grassland with space for riding with woods for the deer to live in. The parks were usually enclosed by fencing, but they could extend for miles. I live near an originally Tudor one (the remnants of it are now a public park) which at one time stretched for 9 miles.
Having said that, I can't think of books set in such a park, but they are featured in novels (see above) such as Mansfield Park
LeahS wrote: "Angie wrote: "Pretty good list of prompts.Can someone explain what a castle park is? I saw the explanation in the Wild Discussion and still don't get it.
Angie, many castles/mansions in the UK..."
That sounds like an awesome thing to live near. Thanks!
Interesting list this week. I stuck with 3 upvotes and 5 downvotes - it was harder for me to decide on the downvotes since many of them are not strong feelings either way and some are just wording issues for me.- A book involving pirates, puppies, parrots, penguins, or pachyderms - upvote - one of the most creative prompts of the year - love the alliteration and the throwing in of pirates (of course, it could be argued that they are animals also) I can make a Jimmy Buffett connection through Parrots.
- A book that takes place in a country/place along the path of totality for the 2026 solar eclipse: Spain, Portugal, Greenland, Iceland, the Arctic, and the Atlantic Ocean - down vote - I dislike geographic setting prompts
- A book with a main character who is a teacher, instructor, or professor - downvote - would have been neutral but we do have the Clue prompt so it feels repetitive
- A book related to a park, such as a national, state, provincial, urban, castle, amusement or skate park - downvote - we have a manor prompt this year and the inclusion of castle seems confusing and repetitive. Also the wild swing towards amusement and skate parks seem odd.
- A book with a First Responder as a featured character - neutral but could easily fill with another Stephanie Plum novel
- An epistolary novel - a book primarily narrated though letters/diary or journal entries/emails/transcripts etc - downvote - this became a trendy style for a while and now I'm over it. I'm fine with it if it occurs naturally, but don't want to search based on it.
- A book with a main character who has power(s) - neutral - it's a little wibbly wobbly - authority vs exceptionality - I would probably vote for it if it were reworked for one meaning or another
- A book where the main characters are siblings - would have left it neutral if the prompt had not specified main characters.
- A book featuring a party or festival - downvoted - not my scene and the ones featuring lead up to the event make me anxious.
- A book that includes a science topic - upvoted because I have a book on DNA that I would like to read next year.
- A book from the NPR “Books We Love” lists - originally an upvote, but then I asked if I really liked it that much - changed to neutral
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Terror (other topics)The North Water (other topics)
The North Water (other topics)
The Terror (other topics)
The North Water (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Yōko Ogawa (other topics)Stephan Snyder (Translator) (other topics)
Yōko Ogawa (other topics)
Stephan Snyder (Translator) (other topics)
I just said, "Is worm a job?" and my cat looked at me funny.