Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

The entire Around the Year challenge list is generated by the group members. We enjoyed the process in 2015 so much that we have decided to create another list for 2017.

The Process:
The topics for the 2017 RC list will be determined through around 13 mini-polls. Suggestions for each poll will be open until 20 suggestions are received and then opened up for voting for one week. Each user will vote for their top 4 and bottom 4 topics in each mini-poll, resulting in 4 challenge entries from each (13 polls x 4 topics/poll=52 weekly topics). This timeframe allows for a completed list in October-November.

The Rules:
- One suggestion per poll per user
- Suggestions close after 20 total suggestions
- If you made a suggestion in the third round, please wait two days before making a suggestion in this one (Monday at 10PM EST)
- New rules may be added as the polls progress so please be sure to check the rules in each post!

A link to the poll will be posted in a new thread as soon as 20 suggestions are received.

A book written by Stephen King

My reason for this: While I have never personally read him, he is a very popular author. I thought of him as only a horror writer (think: Carrie), but some members of this group mentioned that he writes other genres as well. So while this topic would limit members to one author, his work should be diverse enough to satisfy everyone (hopefully!).

A book with an unreliable narrator

Possibilities: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

These ones usually keep me guessing and I like analyzing the story. They also usually have good twist endings.

A best book of the 21st century (so far)

Here are some lists or find a different list:

From List Challenges
http://www.listchallenges.com/best-bo...

From the BBC, Jan. 2015
http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/2015...

From Library Thing
https://www.librarything.com/list/288...-

An Infographic from LifeHacker
http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2016/03/...

A book with the theme of human vs nature.

I'm suggesting this as a topic because I read The Old Man and the Sea for last year's challenge. It ended up being one of my favourite books from last year and I would like to revisit that theme. It can be found in multiple genres and is a very broad theme so shouldn't be too restrictive.

Read a book about an immigrant or refugee (to any country, or planet I suppose)

A book you are going to hate.

J wrote: "A book you are going to hate."

How will you know ahead of time?

J, can you elaborate further on that? Or maybe we could do a book you think you'll hate? Or a book from a genre you don't like? Or a book from a list of most-hated (i.e. something like this)?

This is a solid start. I'm really liking the inclusion of why people are nominating these particular prompts. I think it makes them more relatable. Stellar idea, Rachel. Unfortunately, it's also already making it hard to choose favorites! #aroundtheyearproblems

chick-lit

I, too, like the reasons added. It helps a lot.

It's a book that you are certain that you will hate without having read any of it. It's fun going into a book with a bad expectation when the book actually turns out to be good. But sometimes it turns out badly anyway.

Or perhaps I'm the only one who reads books they expect to hate.

Ok, so it's more "A book you’re expecting to hate" :)

13 spots left

A book you meant to read in 2016 but didn't.

A story within a story.

JoJo > Check the rule number 3 and keep your suggestion for the next poll (I want this one) ;)

Zaz wrote: "JoJo > Check the rule number 3 and keep your suggestion for the next poll (I want this one) ;)"

Ok, I will. :)

A book set in a fictional location.

This could be a realistic fictional setting or a fantasy one.

A book about sport

Since there is a lot of sports going on this summer: Wimbledon, European Athletics Championships, Olympic games,.....

Michelle wrote: "A book set in a fictional location.

This could be a realistic fictional setting or a fantasy one."

I like this topic, but there are so many books I want to use it for! I have a bunch of sci-fi and some fantasy books I want to fit into my list next year so it will be hard to narrow down which one to use for this if it makes it.

Peter wrote: "Michelle wrote: "A book set in a fictional location.

This could be a realistic fictional setting or a fantasy one."

I like this topic, but there are so many books I want to use it for! I have a b..."

Yup, same here!

Please, don't comment on the suggestions in this topic, it's more difficult to follow what was already posted! Keep them for the poll one :)

10 suggestions so far:
A book written by Stephen King
A book with an unreliable narrator
A best book of the 21st century (so far)
A book with the theme of human vs nature
Read a book about an immigrant or refugee (to any country or planet)
A book you’re expecting to hate
A Chick-lit
A story within a story
A book set in a fictional location
A book about sport

A book based on a fairytale

A book about royalty

A book written by a person of color (i.e. someone who is not white)

A book from the BBC The Big Read list.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_B...

I nominated this because I like the prompts this year that feature lists. This is a list voted on by the British public in 2003 to find their best-loved book. I chose this particular list because it's 200 books, and it contains a good mix of classics and popular fiction, so I figured people would be able to find something they like on this list.

Also Mods, don't forget to post on the Announcements thread. I have been following that thread to know when things are happening with suggestions and voting. Thanks!

A mystery nominated for the Agatha Awards
GR full list (winners first then nominees):
https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/...
List by categories and years:
http://www.malicedomestic.org/agathaa...

What I like about this award: it's traditional mysteries and there are varied categories (non fiction, children/YA, historical, short stories, debuts...). Very few of the books are in my TBR, so I'm probably missing something as the ratings seem fine.

5 spots left

Sorry Katie!

Edit: List challenge version of the BBC Big Read List (first 100):
http://www.listchallenges.com/bbc-the...
GR List challenge version of the BBC Big Read List:
1-100 https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
101-200 https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

A really long book (750 pages or more)

The Big Read list is presented in two forms, the top 100 and the top 200. The list challenge version shows the top 100, Wikipedia shows the top 200. Just for clarification, in case that would affect people's votes.

A fan fiction or book that started as web-based content

A book about a difficult topic ( examples : mental health, school shooting, terrorism, eating dissorder etc.)

A book with a title that doesn't contain the letter 'E'

A book set in a country with a population less than 1 million

That's a wrap! I don't have access to Internet right now but I'll post the survey link asap.

A book written by Stephen King
A book with an unreliable narrator
A best book of the 21st century (so far)
A book with the theme of human vs nature
Read a book about an immigrant or refugee (to any country or planet)
A book you’re expecting to hate
A Chick-lit
A story within a story
A book set in a fictional location
A book about sport
A book based on a fairytale
A book about royalty
A book written by a person of color (i.e. someone who is not white)
A book from the BBC The Big Read list (link)
A mystery nominated for the Agatha Awards (link)
A really long book (750 pages or more)
A fan fiction or book that started as web-based content
A book about a difficult topic (examples : mental health, school shooting, terrorism, eating disorder, etc.)
A book with a title that doesn't contain the letter 'E'
A book set in a country with a population less than 1 million

Could I get more clarification on A story within a story? I have a vague idea what this means but my brain is having difficulty wrapping itself around the concept as a whole.

Amy wrote: "Could I get more clarification on A story within a story? I have a vague idea what this means but my brain is having difficulty wrapping itself around the concept as a whole."

I was going to ask the same thing... the best (and only thing) I could think of was The Neverending Story

I was thinking along the lines of 1001 Arabian Nights, Decameron, Canterbury Tales or The Princess Bride: there is a frame story, a setting for the story/stories told.
The Neverending Story fits too.

Wikipedia on story within a story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Story_w.... Other examples I found are Frankenstein, Hamlet, Wuthering Heights, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad etc. It can be used in novels, short stories, plays, poems and films (think of Inception). I think it would be an exciting new way to look at literature.