2026 Rejects Challenge: Science, Social Issues, and A Sense of Place

[Dixie]

The prompts included in this challenge are as follows. Complete as few or as many as you like, and feel free to add your own to your list!

1. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation, such as sex, money, religion, politics, or personal issues. (Poll 13)
2. A book featuring a feat of engineering (Poll 15)
3. 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 (Poll 14)
4. A book related to observation, experimentation, or inquiry (Poll 13)
5. A book that relates to a river (Poll 12)
6. A book about wildlife or nature conservation (Poll 9)
7. A book related to medical science or health, or a medical memoir (Polls 8 and 11)
8. A fiction or non-fiction book that could be considered a microhistory (Poll 10)
9. A book about women crossing borders, boundaries, or barriers (Poll 10)
10. A book related to psychology, mental health, or neuroscience (Poll 10)
11. A book set in a country bordering the Indian Ocean (Poll 7)
12. A book with a “green” topic or character (Poll 2)
13. A book connected to the Middle East in some way (Poll 2)
14. A book nominated for an award that values peace, cultural understanding, and related social issues (Poll 6)
15 A book related to a planet other than earth (Poll 7)
16. A book about perceptions of reality or alternate realities (Poll 12)

[Dixie]

0/16

What I will probably read for these prompts:

1. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation, such as sex, money, religion, politics, or personal issues. (Poll 13)
Predisposed: Liberals, Conservatives, and the Biology of Political Differences

2. A book featuring a feat of engineering (Poll 15)
How the Wonders of the World Were Built

3. 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 (Poll 14)
Atlantic Britain: The Story of the Sea a Man and a Ship (The path of the eclipse will only be about 90% in this region. I might change my choice or just go with 90%.)

4. A book related to observation, experimentation, or inquiry (Poll 13)
Measuring the World

5. A book that relates to a river (Poll 12)
Walking The Wharfe: An Ode to a Yorkshire River

6. A book about wildlife or nature conservation (Poll 9)
Elegy For a River: Whiskers, Claws and Conservation’s Last, Wild Hope

7. A book related to medical science or health, or a medical memoir (Polls 8 and 11)
The Lady's Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness

8. A fiction or non-fiction book that could be considered a microhistory (Poll 10)
A Fish Caught in Time: The Search for the Coelacanth

9. A book about women crossing borders, boundaries, or barriers (Poll 10)
Walking with the Great Apes: Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, Birute Galdikas

10. A book related to psychology, mental health, or neuroscience (Poll 10)
Adventures in Memory: Exploring the Science and Secrets of Human Memory

11. A book set in a country bordering the Indian Ocean (Poll 7)
The Cat's Table

12. A book with a “green” topic or character (Poll 2)
When the Earth Was Green: Plants, Animals, and Evolution's Greatest Romance

13. A book connected to the Middle East in some way (Poll 2)
An Unnecessary Woman

14. A book nominated for an award that values peace, cultural understanding, and related social issues (Poll 6)
Gods of the Upper Air: How a Circle of Renegade Anthropologists Reinvented Race, Sex, and Gender in the Twentieth Century (Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards),

15 A book related to a planet other than earth (Poll 7)
A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?

16. A book about perceptions of reality or alternate realities (Poll 12)
Island in the Sea of Time

Note: NancyJ added three more prompts to this list that I think are particularly relevant to the title topic(s). So I have added them here. Feel free to include them, skip them, or add your own prompt choices.

17. A book about nature, climate or the environment
Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid: The Fraught and Fascinating Biology of Climate Change

18. A book that deals with the 'fish out of water' trope (migrants and refugees)
On the Move: The Overheating Earth and the Uprooting of America

19. A book about a social, political or environmental issue you care about
Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?
The Insect Crisis: The Fall of the Tiny Empires That Run the World

[GailW]

2026 Rejects Challenge: Science, Social Issues, and A Sense of Place
link to my full rejects challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Progress: 0 / 10

*1. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation, such as sex, money, religion, politics, or personal issues: How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them OR Fascism: A Warning by Madeleine K. Albright

*3. 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: Iceland: History. A Mess. by Sigrún Pálsdóttir

*6. A book about wildlife or nature conservation: The World We Once Lived In by Wangari Maathai. Author was the founder of the Green Belt Movement in Africa and a Nobel Peace Prize winner

*7. A book related to medical science or health, or a medical memoir: The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight

*9. A book about women crossing borders, boundaries, or barriers

*10. A book related to psychology, mental health, or neuroscience: mental health: The Selfless Act of Breathing

*11. A book set in a country bordering the Indian Ocean: Kuwait: The Book Censor's Library

*12. A book with a “green” topic or character: Migrations OR Harry's Trees OR The Island of Missing Trees

*13. A book connected to the Middle East in some way: author and setting-Egypt: Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi

*14. A book nominated for an award that values peace, cultural understanding, and related social issues: Dayton Peace Prize: see Listopia

[Nadine in NY]

This is a nicely curated list!!! My "rejects" list is 48 categories long, a bit intimidating if I'm also doing other challenges!! I like yours a lot

[Dixie]

Nadine in NY wrote: "This is a nicely curated list!!! My "rejects" list is 48 categories long, a bit intimidating if I'm also doing other challenges!! I like yours a lot"

Thank you! I made a really long rejects list last year (well, for 2025) and ended up not doing it, so this year I'm trying to keep it to what I think is missing in the general challenge: serious topics. I do other challenges too, so we'll see how much of this I actually complete! :D

[Hélène]

Thank you Dixie for setting up this challenge! Here's my plan :

1. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation, such as sex, money, religion, politics, or personal issues:
Uncultured: A Memoir by Daniella Mestyanek Young
A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy by Tia Levings
La pensée perverse au pouvoir by Marc Joly

2. A book featuring a feat of engineering :
Birth of a Bridge by Maylis de Kerangal

3. 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 :
- Spain : Teresa l'après-midi by Juan Marsé
- Portugal : L'hiver à Lisbonne by Antonio Muñoz Molina
- Greenland : Last Night in Nuuk by Niviaq Korneliussen
- Iceland : The Blue Fox by Sjón
- the Arctic : Anta by Andreas Labba
- the Atlantic Ocean : Wavewalker: Breaking Free by Suzanne Heywood

4. A book related to observation, experimentation, or inquiry:
Becoming Salmon: Aquaculture and the Domestication of a Fish by Marianne Elisabeth Lien

5. A book that relates to a river:
The Secret River by Kate Grenville

6. A book about wildlife or nature conservation:
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy

7. A book related to medical science or health, or a medical memoir:
A Woman's Voice by Aude Mermilliod

8. A fiction or non-fiction book that could be considered a microhistory:
Blue: The History of a Color by Michel Pastoureau
The Merchant of Prato: Daily Life in a Medieval Italian City by Iris Origo

9. A book about women crossing borders, boundaries, or barriers:
L'Election interdite: Itinéraire de Joséphine Pencalet, ouvrière bretonne by Fanny Bugnon
Der Weg zur Grenze by Grete Weil
The Woman Who Split the Atom: The Life of Lise Meitner by Marissa Moss
Illégitimes by Nesrine Slaoui

10. A book related to psychology, mental health, or neuroscience:
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt
Les rêveurs by Isabelle Carré

11. A book set in a country bordering the Indian Ocean:
Mrs. Shaw by Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ - set in Kenya

12. A book with a “green” topic or character:
La nature à hauteur d'enfants - Socialisations écologiques et genèse des inégalités by Julien Vitores
Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach

13. A book connected to the Middle East in some way :
The Thinking Heart: Essays on Israel and Palestine by David Grossman
Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning by Peter Beinart
Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa

14. A book nominated for an award that values peace, cultural understanding, and related social issues - Dayton Litterary Peace Prize:
We Germans by Alexander Starritt
The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers

15 A book related to a planet other than earth - Alternate reject prompt : A book suggested by one of the song titles from Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon:
Dark Side of the Moon: Wernher von Braun, the Third Reich, and the Space Race by Wayne Biddle
16. A book about perceptions of reality or alternate realities - Alternate reject prompt : A book related to performance:
Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout by Cal Newport

[Dixie]

Hélène wrote: "Thank you Dixie for setting up this challenge! Here's my plan :

1. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation, such as sex, money, religion, politics, or personal issues:
[boo..."

Wow, you have some great-looking options here!

Did you realize you made two, slightly different lists (Messages 6 and 7)? That's fine with me, I just wanted to be sure you were aware of it.

Thanks for joining!

[Dixie]

GailW wrote: "2026 Rejects Challenge: Science, Social Issues, and A Sense of Place
Progress: 0 / 10

1. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation, such as sex, money, religion, politics, or..."

You have some interesting books listed -- I had to add History. A Mess. to my TBR list!

Thanks for joining!

[Hélène]

Dixie wrote: "Hélène wrote: "Thank you Dixie for setting up this challenge! Here's my plan :

1. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation, such as sex, money, religion, politics, or person..."

Thanks for pointing that up, I deleted one of the two lists!

[Robin H-R]

Robin H-R Reject Challenge 2026
0/16

1. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation, such as sex, money, religion, politics, or personal issues. (Poll 13)
2. A book featuring a feat of engineering (Poll 15)
3. 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 (Poll 14)
4. A book related to observation, experimentation, or inquiry (Poll 13)
5. A book that relates to a river (Poll 12)
6. A book about wildlife or nature conservation (Poll 9)
7. A book related to medical science or health, or a medical memoir (Polls 8 and 11)
8. A fiction or non-fiction book that could be considered a microhistory (Poll 10)
9. A book about women crossing borders, boundaries, or barriers (Poll 10)
10. A book related to psychology, mental health, or neuroscience (Poll 10)
11. A book set in a country bordering the Indian Ocean (Poll 7)
12. A book with a “green” topic or character (Poll 2)
13. A book connected to the Middle East in some way (Poll 2)
14. A book nominated for an award that values peace, cultural understanding, and related social issues (Poll 6)
15 A book related to a planet other than earth (Poll 7)
16. A book about perceptions of reality or alternate realities (Poll 12)

[Robin H-R]

RE: 3. 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 (Poll 14)

The route of the Titanic did not cross this path. I looked it up before voting on this prompt as I read a lot of Titanic books.

[Hélène]

Dixie wrote: "GailW wrote: "2026 Rejects Challenge: Science, Social Issues, and A Sense of Place
Progress: 0 / 10

1. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation, such as sex, money, religion..."

I added it too! :-)

[NancyJ]

Robin H-R wrote: "RE: 3. 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 (Poll 14)

The route..."
Thanks Robin. I’ve been reading more ocean related books lately, but the Atlantic is huge. Did you happen to notice if any key islands, wrecks or ship routes are in the path? I have books set in Iceland, so that will be my first choice. My husband loves maritime books so I might try to find one we can read together some cold weekend.

[Robin H-R]

NancyJ wrote: "Robin H-R wrote: "RE: 3. 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 (P..."

No, I didn't.

BTW, Sinkable: Obsession, the Deep Sea and the Shipwreck of the Titanic is really good.

You might also try In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors. It is outstanding and would fit several of the 2026 prompts.

[NancyJ]

Dixie I love this list! Thank you for including forbidden topics and the peace prize. I also made a list of award and list prompts which I’ll post sometime later. Or I’ll just pick a few to add - such as ATY or Obama. I will add a few more prompts- such as Performance (for music and the other 2 definitions), nature/environment/climate, and fish out of water - which was intended to be a book about migrants or immigrants.

Note - the peace prize prompt was intended for the Dayton Peace Prize, but the Orwell Prize fits really well. The Pulitzer might also fit, especially for nonfiction or reporting. It often goes to news stories that focus on important social issues.

[GailW]

NancyJ wrote: "...he peace prize prompt was intended for the Dayton Peace Prize, but the Orwell Prize fits really well. The Pulitzer might also fit, especially for nonfiction or reporting. It often goes to news stories that focus on important social issues."

A listopia was created last year for the Dayton Internaltional Peace Prize - link here: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

I've updated the comments for the 2024 and 2025 winners and finalists, unfortunately I can't add them into the list because I've reached my 100 inputs. (ahem - anybody have some time? ---- she asks, walking away, without looking anyone in the eye...)

[Nike]

1. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation, such as sex, money, religion, politics, or personal issues. (Poll 13)
2. A book featuring a feat of engineering (Poll 15): "Den konstruerade världen" av Pär Blomkvist & Arne Kaijser
3. 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 (Poll 14) Gretas resa av Alexandra Urisman Otto
4. A book related to observation, experimentation, or inquiry (Poll 13)Separate Reality: Conversations With Don Juan by Carlos Castaneda
5. A book that relates to a river (Poll 12)
6. A book about wildlife or nature conservation (Poll 9)
7. A book related to medical science or health, or a medical memoir (Polls 8 and 11) Kläda blodig skjorta: svenskt barnafödande under 150 år av Maja Larsson
8. A fiction or non-fiction book that could be considered a microhistory (Poll 10)Poison: The History of Potions, Powders and Murderous Practitioners by Ben Hubbard
9. A book about a woman crossing borders, boundaries, or barriers (Poll 10) : "Jag vill vara fri förstår du" av Malin Wahlstedt
10. A book related to psychology, mental health, or neuroscience (Poll 10) Mönstersökare av Simon Baron Cohen or vägen från väggen av Malin Roca Ahlgren
11. A book set in a country bordering the Indian Ocean (Poll 7)
12. A book with a “green” topic or character (Poll 2): The History of Bees by Maja Lunde
13. A book connected to the Middle East in some way (Poll 2) Törst av Nawal El Saadawi or The Arabs in History by Bernard Lewis
14. A book nominated for an award that values peace, cultural understanding, and related social issues (Poll 6)
15 A book related to a planet other than earth (Poll 7)
16. A book about perceptions of reality or alternate realities (Poll 12) Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel

[Nike]

GailW wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "...he peace prize prompt was intended for the Dayton Peace Prize, but the Orwell Prize fits really well. The Pulitzer might also fit, especially for nonfiction or reporting. It often..."

Lol😅! I can maybe add more sometime tomorrow. Now it's half past eleven in the night so I'm about to rest.

[GailW]

Nike wrote: "...Lol😅! I can maybe add more sometime tomorrow. Now it's half past eleven in the night so I'm about to rest."

Thank you!!!!! Whatever you can add in would be great!

[NancyJ]

Gail I’m almost done posting on the listopia.

[GailW]

NancyJ wrote: "Gail I’m almost done"

Awesome - thank you!

[Dixie]

Thank you, everyone, for showing up and for your interest!

Thanks also for the Titanic information.

NancyJ, I look forward to seeing your list!

[LeahS]

Thank you for collecting these interesting rejects together, Dixie, and to NancyJ for adding a few more. With the exception of engineering, I've been able to use books from my regular ATY, and its been nice to link them with prompts about these issues.

1 A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation, such as sex, money, religion, politics, or personal issues. (Poll 13)
Everything Must Go: The Stories We Tell About the End of the World

2. A book featuring a feat of engineering (Poll 15)
The Long-Lost Secret Diary Of The World's Worst Engineers

3. 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 (Poll 14)
Stolen

4. A book related to observation, experimentation, or inquiry (Poll 13)
On the Origin of Evolution: Tracing ‘Darwin’s Dangerous Idea’ from Aristotle to DNA

5. A book that relates to a river (Poll 12)
To the River: A Journey Beneath the Surface

6. A book about wildlife or nature conservation (Poll 9)
A Year with Gilbert White: The First Great Nature Writer

7. A book related to medical science or health, or a medical memoir (Polls 8 and 11)
Bellevue: Three Centuries of Medicine and Mayhem at America's Most Storied Hospital

8. A fiction or non-fiction book that could be considered a microhistory (Poll 10)
The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World

9. A book about women crossing borders, boundaries, or barriers (Poll 10)
The Stolen Crown: Treachery, Deceit, and the Death of the Tudor Dynasty

10. A book related to psychology, mental health, or neuroscience (Poll 10)
Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath

11. A book set in a country bordering the Indian Ocean (Poll 7)
The Shepherd's Hut

12. A book with a “green” topic or character (Poll 2)
Climate Change

13. A book connected to the Middle East in some way (Poll 2)
Death in a Desert Land

14. A book nominated for an award that values peace, cultural understanding, and related social issues (Poll 6)
Smoke and Ashes: A Writer's Journey through Opium's Hidden Histories [British Academy Book Prize 2024]

15 A book related to a planet other than earth (Poll 7)
Venus and Aphrodite: A Biography of Desire

16. A book about perceptions of reality or alternate realities (Poll 12)
Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales

17 A book about nature, climate or the environment
In Search of One Last Song: Britain’s disappearing birds and the people trying to save them

18 A book that deals with the 'fish out of water' trope
The Dragonfly Sea

19 A book about a social, political or environmental issue you care about
Songbirds

20 A book related to performance
Shrines of Gaiety

21 A book suggested by one of the song titles from Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and REM's It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I feel fine).
This Land: The Struggle for the Left

[Laura Z]

What a great list!

1. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation, such as sex, money, religion, politics, or personal issues. (Poll 13)
2. A book featuring a feat of engineering (Poll 15)
3. 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 (Poll 14)
4. A book related to observation, experimentation, or inquiry (Poll 13)
5. A book that relates to a river (Poll 12)
6. A book about wildlife or nature conservation (Poll 9)
7. A book related to medical science or health, or a medical memoir (Polls 8 and 11)
8. A fiction or non-fiction book that could be considered a microhistory (Poll 10)
9. A book about women crossing borders, boundaries, or barriers (Poll 10)
10. A book related to psychology, mental health, or neuroscience (Poll 10)
11. A book set in a country bordering the Indian Ocean (Poll 7)
12. A book with a “green” topic or character (Poll 2)
13. A book connected to the Middle East in some way (Poll 2)
14. A book nominated for an award that values peace, cultural understanding, and related social issues (Poll 6)
15 A book related to a planet other than earth (Poll 7)
16. A book about perceptions of reality or alternate realities (Poll 12)

[NancyJ]

🔆 I’ll use these lists (or shelves) as feeders for regular prompts, as well as npr

1. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation, such as sex, money, religion, politics, or personal issues. (Poll 13)
2. A book featuring a feat of engineering (Poll 15)
3. 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 (Poll 14)
4. A book related to observation, experimentation, or inquiry (Poll 13)
5. A book that relates to a river (Poll 12)
6. A book about wildlife or nature conservation (Poll 9)
7. A book related to medical science or health, or a medical memoir (Polls 8 and 11)
8. A fiction or non-fiction book that could be considered a microhistory (Poll 10)
9. A book about women crossing borders, boundaries, or barriers (Poll 10)
🔆10. A book related to psychology, mental health, or neuroscience (Poll 10)
11. A book set in a country bordering the Indian Ocean (Poll 7)
12. A book with a “green” topic or character (Poll 2)
13. A book connected to the Middle East in some way (Poll 2)
🔆14. A book nominated for an award that values peace, cultural understanding, and related social issues (Poll 6) - Dayton Peace Prize, Orwell Prize-
https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/...
15 A book related to a planet other than earth (Poll 7)
16. A book about perceptions of reality or alternate realities (Poll 12)

=====

I also like these, despite the overlaps. (Some have multiple options.)

🔆17. A book about nature, climate, or the environment
18. A book that includes the "fish out of water" trope - with immigrants or migrants
19. A book about a social, political, or environmental issue you care about
20. A book related to performance - 3 interpretations- music, acting in life (Audition or social media), performance (a book on habits).
21. A book suggested by one of the song titles from Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon
22.A book that deals with REM's It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I feel fine). (Light pirate would fit)

============
Plus I’ll post this separate Awards and Lists challenge.
🔆1. A book nominated for an award that values peace, cultural understanding, and related social issues - Dayton, Orwell, pulitzer.
🔆2. A book shortlisted for a Dublin Literary Award
🔆3. A book that won an international literary award -Booker, Dublin,
4. A book that was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award in any year
5. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2025 or 2026
🔆6. A book from the NPR “Books We Love” lists
🔆7. A book on one of Obama’s reading lists
8. A book listed in any ‘Best Books’ list of 2024 or 2025
9. A book that has been long-listed for the Tournament of Books in any year
10. A book from any widely recognized list of your choice. (E.g. Times 100)

[Martha]

Love this reject list! I'll add books soonish.

1. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation, such as sex, money, religion, politics, or personal issues. (Poll 13)
2. A book featuring a feat of engineering (Poll 15)
3. 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 (Poll 14)
4. A book related to observation, experimentation, or inquiry (Poll 13)
5. A book that relates to a river (Poll 12)
6. A book about wildlife or nature conservation (Poll 9)
7. A book related to medical science or health, or a medical memoir (Polls 8 and 11)
8. A fiction or non-fiction book that could be considered a microhistory (Poll 10)
9. A book about women crossing borders, boundaries, or barriers (Poll 10)
10. A book related to psychology, mental health, or neuroscience (Poll 10)
11. A book set in a country bordering the Indian Ocean (Poll 7)
12. A book with a “green” topic or character (Poll 2)
13. A book connected to the Middle East in some way (Poll 2)
14. A book nominated for an award that values peace, cultural understanding, and related social issues (Poll 6)
15 A book related to a planet other than earth (Poll 7)
16. A book about perceptions of reality or alternate realities (Poll 12)

[NancyJ]

Dixie wrote: "Thank you, everyone, for showing up and for your interest!

Thanks also for the Titanic information.

NancyJ, I look forward to seeing your list!"

Here is the GR link for the Orwell prize
https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/...

Dayton prize
https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/...

Updated Dayton Listopia
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

[Nike]

GailW wrote: "Nike wrote: "...Lol😅! I can maybe add more sometime tomorrow. Now it's half past eleven in the night so I'm about to rest."

Thank you!!!!! Whatever you can add in would be great!"

I'm sorry, I found out that a good friend whom I haven't met for ages passed away a few months ago. I can't quite bring my thoughts together and I have to ask someone else to add the missing books to the list. I apologise.

[Tracy]

Oh Nike, I’m so sorry to hear that. My condolences to you and your friend’s family 😔

[GailW]

Nike wrote: "GailW wrote: "Nike wrote: "...I'm sorry, I found out that a good friend whom I haven't met for ages passed away a few months ago. I can't quite bring my thoughts together and I have to ask someone else to add the missing books to the list. I apologise."

Oh, Nike! Not to worry. I'll just leave the comments there, I am sorry for your loss.

[NancyJ]

GailW wrote: "Nike wrote: "GailW wrote: "Nike wrote: "...I'm sorry, I found out that a good friend whom I haven't met for ages passed away a few months ago. I can't quite bring my thoughts together and I have to..."

Gail, where do you need books added? I added books to the Dayton list the other day. I didn’t look for a listopia for Orwell because the gr list is easy enough.

[Dixie]

Nike wrote: "GailW wrote: "Nike wrote: "...Lol😅! I can maybe add more sometime tomorrow. Now it's half past eleven in the night so I'm about to rest."

Thank you!!!!! Whatever you can add in would be great!"

I..."

Nike, I am so very sorry for the loss of your friend. That is so painful. Thinking of you. ❤️

[LeahS]

That must have been a sad shock for you, Nike. Adding my sympathy.

[Pam]

Thanks Dixie for creating this challenge! It’s a great idea! I’m not going to be overambitious at this point but will plan to complete at least a few pf the prompts,

1. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation, such as sex, money, religion, politics, or personal issues. (Poll 13)

2. A book featuring a feat of engineering (Poll 15)
The Pillars of the Earth

3. 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 (Poll 14)
Independent People by Halldór Laxness (Iceland)

4. A book related to observation, experimentation, or inquiry (Poll 13)

5. A book that relates to a river (Poll 12)

6. A book about wildlife or nature conservation (Poll 9)

7. A book related to medical science or health, or a medical memoir (Polls 8 and 11)

8. A fiction or non-fiction book that could be considered a microhistory (Poll 10)

9. A book about women crossing borders, boundaries, or barriers (Poll 10)

10. A book related to psychology, mental health, or neuroscience (Poll 10)

11. A book set in a country bordering the Indian Ocean (Poll 7)
Some countries: Indonesia, India, France, Thailand, Australia

12. A book with a “green” topic or character (Poll 2)

13. A book connected to the Middle East in some way (Poll 2)

14. A book nominated for an award that values peace, cultural understanding, and related social issues (Poll 6)

15 A book related to a planet other than earth (Poll 7)
Sisterhood of Dune

16. A book about perceptions of reality or alternate realities (Poll 12)

[Dixie]

Pam wrote: "Thanks Dixie for creating this challenge! It’s a great idea! If I decide to take it on, I’ll post here, but I’m not going to be over ambitious at this point."

Thanks Pam! I hope you join us -- but totally understand if you don't. If you want to sign on and just add books you happen to read that fit some of the prompts, that's cool too. No pressure to complete this challenge!

[Jennifer W]

Ooh, nice side challenge! I might double dip with the regular challenge.

Another award that include cultural and social understanding is the Anisfield-Wolf Award. From their website The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards recognize books that have made important contributions to our understanding of racism and human diversity.

https://www.anisfield-wolf.org/winners/

[Jennifer W]

Nike, sending you peace and healing as you process your loss. 🌼

[Dixie]

Jennifer W wrote: "Ooh, nice side challenge! I might double dip with the regular challenge.

Another award that include cultural and social understanding is the Anisfield-Wolf Award. From their website The Anisfiel..."

One of my options for this is an Anisfield-Wolf Award book: Gods of the Upper Air: How a Circle of Renegade Anthropologists Reinvented Race, Sex, and Gender in the Twentieth Century.

[GailW]

NancyJ wrote: "Gail, where do you need books added? I added books to the Dayton list the other day..."

Thanks, Nancy!! And I think I may have caused some confusion. when I said that 2024 and 2025 lists were updated with finalists, what I SHOULD have said is that the message was updated to add the finalists but that I can't get any of the categories into the list... So it appears that the winners and runners up still need to be added.

[Jennifer W]

1. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation, such as sex, money, religion, politics, or personal issues. (Poll 13)
2. A book featuring a feat of engineering (Poll 15)
3. 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 (Poll 14)
4. A book related to observation, experimentation, or inquiry (Poll 13)
5. A book that relates to a river (Poll 12)
6. A book about wildlife or nature conservation (Poll 9)
7. A book related to medical science or health, or a medical memoir (Polls 8 and 11)
8. A fiction or non-fiction book that could be considered a microhistory (Poll 10)
9. A book about women crossing borders, boundaries, or barriers (Poll 10)
10. A book related to psychology, mental health, or neuroscience (Poll 10)
11. A book set in a country bordering the Indian Ocean (Poll 7)
12. A book with a “green” topic or character (Poll 2)
13. A book connected to the Middle East in some way (Poll 2)
14. A book nominated for an award that values peace, cultural understanding, and related social issues (Poll 6)
15 A book related to a planet other than earth (Poll 7)
16. A book about perceptions of reality or alternate realities (Poll 12)

[Donna]

This is a great list - thanks!

1. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation, such as sex, money, religion, politics, or personal issues. (Poll 13)
2. A book featuring a feat of engineering (Poll 15)
3. 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 (Poll 14)
4. A book related to observation, experimentation, or inquiry (Poll 13)
5. A book that relates to a river (Poll 12)
6. A book about wildlife or nature conservation (Poll 9)
7. A book related to medical science or health, or a medical memoir (Polls 8 and 11)
8. A fiction or non-fiction book that could be considered a microhistory (Poll 10)
9. A book about women crossing borders, boundaries, or barriers (Poll 10)
10. A book related to psychology, mental health, or neuroscience (Poll 10)
11. A book set in a country bordering the Indian Ocean (Poll 7)
12. A book with a “green” topic or character (Poll 2)
13. A book connected to the Middle East in some way (Poll 2)
14. A book nominated for an award that values peace, cultural understanding, and related social issues (Poll 6)
15 A book related to a planet other than earth (Poll 7)
16. A book about perceptions of reality or alternate realities (Poll 12)

[Dixie]

I'm so happy that more people are joining! This is going to be fun (and my TBR list is going to explode).

[Kathy]

Nice list, Dixie. I already have six on my Rejects Challenge so I'll probably do at least half of these.

2026 Rejects Challenge: Science, Social Issues, and A Sense of Place

1. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation, such as sex, money, religion, politics, or personal issues. (Poll 13)

2. A book featuring a feat of engineering (Poll 15)

3. 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 (Poll 14)
The Tricking of Freya: A Novel- Christina Sunley (Iceland)
Hideaway in Iceland (Icelandic Romance series #22) - Victoria Walker
The Crime of Father Amaro - Eça de Queirós (Portugal)
Homage to Catalonia - George Orwell (Spain)
An African in Greenland - Tete Michel Kpomassie

4. A book related to observation, experimentation, or inquiry (Poll 13)

5. A book that relates to a river (Poll 12)
The Secret River - Kate Grenville
The Frozen River - Ariel Lawhon
What the River Knows (Secrets of the Nile #1) - Isabel Ibanez
There Are Rivers in the Sky - Elif Shafak
Encounters with the Archdruid - John McPhee

6. A book about wildlife or nature conservation (Poll 9)
That Quail, Robert - Margaret A. Stanger
Lost in the Barrens - Farley Mowat
Greenwood - Michael Christie
The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times - Jane Goodall
H is for Hawk - Helen Macdonald

7. A book related to medical science or health, or a medical memoir (Polls 8 and 11)
Heart: A History - Sandeep Jauhar
Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection - John Green
Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health - Casey Means
Still Alice - Lisa Genova

8. A fiction or non-fiction book that could be considered a microhistory (Poll 10)
Wanderlust: A History of Walking - Rebecca Solnit
Tea: The Drink that Changed the World- Laura C. Martin
Heart: A History - Sandeep Jauhar
Red: A History of the Redhead - Jackie Colliss Harvey
Alias Grace - Margaret Atwood
The Last Days of Night - Graham Moore
The Moor's Account- Laila Lalami

9. A book about women crossing borders, boundaries, or barriers (Poll 10)
Circling the Sun - Paula McLain (Beryl Markham)
Katherine - Anya Seton
The Makioka Sisters - Junichiro Tanizaki
Remarkable Creatures - Tracy Chevalier (Mary Anning)
LibertieLibertie - Kaitlyn Greenidge
Women Talking - Miriam Toews

10. A book related to psychology, mental health, or neuroscience (Poll 10) - Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed; The Vegetarian; Sorrow and Bliss; Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times; Still Alice; The Book of Form and Emptiness; Dreamland: Adventures in the Strange Science of Sleep

11. A book set in a country bordering the Indian Ocean (Poll 7)India
The World We Found
The Inheritance of Loss
Brotherless Night
Midnight's Children
Mother Mary Comes to Me

12. A book with a “green” topic or character (Poll 2) - The Island of Missing Trees; The Hard Blue Sky; Jane's Country Year; The Keeper of The Bees; The Forgotten Botanist: Sara Plummer Lemmon's Life of Science and Art; Floreana: A Woman's Pilgrimage to the Galapagos; Greenwood

13. A book connected to the Middle East in some way (Poll 2)

14. A book nominated for an award that values peace, cultural understanding, and related social issues (Poll 6)
There Are Rivers in the Sky - Elif Shafak (Orwell)
Dream Count - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Orwell)
The Colony - Audrey Magee (Orwell)
Intimacies - Katie Kitamura (Pen/Faulkner)
The Corrections - Jonathan Franzen (Pen/Faulkner)
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay - Michael Chabon
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration - Isabel Wilkerson (Anisfield-Wolf Book Award)
Cloud Cuckoo Land - Anthony Doerr (Dayton Literary Peace Prize)
The Light Pirate- Lily Brooks-Dalton (Dayton Literary Peace Prize)
Go, Went, Gone - Jenny Erpenbeck (Dayton Literary Peace Prize)
I Have Some Questions for You - Rebecca Makkai (Aspen Words Literary Prize)

15 A book related to a planet other than earth (Poll 7)

16. A book about perceptions of reality or alternate realities (Poll 12)

[Nike]

Jennifer W wrote: "Nike, sending you peace and healing as you process your loss. 🌼"

LeahS wrote: "That must have been a sad shock for you, Nike. Adding my sympathy."

Dixie wrote: "Nike wrote: "GailW wrote: "Nike wrote: "...Lol😅! I can maybe add more sometime tomorrow. Now it's half past eleven in the night so I'm about to rest."

Thank you!!!!! Whatever you can add in would ..."

GailW wrote: "Nike wrote: "GailW wrote: "Nike wrote: "...I'm sorry, I found out that a good friend whom I haven't met for ages passed away a few months ago. I can't quite bring my thoughts together and I have to..."

Tracy wrote: "Oh Nike, I’m so sorry to hear that. My condolences to you and your friend’s family 😔"



Thank you all of you 💜

Here I'm always worrying about losing my twenty year-older partner or my mother or some friends that has passed 80, but when death strikes it's a friend in my own age - 55 years old.

I'm fine now, I've been processing, crying and thinking the last days.

I'm looking forward to this rejection challenge but wonder if it's bad manners to change a few prompts to other prompts that I wanted to get in, for example A book connected to Brothers Grimm. Or should I start that some place else? But I do like many of the prompts chosen by Dixie. How shall I proceed do you think?

[Dixie]

Nike wrote: "I'm looking forward to this rejection challenge but wonder if it's bad manners to change a few prompts to other prompts that I wanted to get in..."

Nike, change anything you like! I'm happy to have you here, and you are (and anyone else is) welcome to alter, add, or delete prompts to make this a fun challenge for you.

[Nike]

Dixie wrote: "Nike wrote: "I'm looking forward to this rejection challenge but wonder if it's bad manners to change a few prompts to other prompts that I wanted to get in..."

Nike, change anything you like! I'm..."

Wonderful ❤️