Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Voting is now open!

The 2017 Reading Challenge will continue the concept of this year's challenge, with 52 weekly topics. Users then choose a book fitting each topic in order to complete the challenge.

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:
- Voting ends August 20
- One vote per poll per user

Reminder of Current Challenge Themes:
A book by an author you haven't read before
A book in the middle of your TBR list
A book from someone else's bookshelf
A book with a strong female character
A book from the Goodreads "Top 100 YA Books"
A category from another challenge
A book that you've owned for a while but haven't gotten around to reading
A book with an animal on the cover or in the title
A book about a famous historical figure
A book based on a myth
A book from the Goodreads Choice Awards 2016
A novel inspired by a work of classic literature
A book with an unreliable narrator
A best book of the 21st century (so far)
A book set in a fictional location
A book from the BBC The Big Read list (link)
A Penguin modern classic
A book with at least 2 perspectives (more than one main character and point of view)
A book with a long title (5+ words, excluding any subtitles)
A book written by a person of color (i.e. someone who isn’t white)
An epistolary fiction book
A title that doesn't contain the letter "E"
A book set in or by an author from the Southern Hemisphere
A mystery
A dual timeline novel
A book being released as a movie in 2017

Helpful Links
A collection: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
A book published by an Author over the age of 40: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
A banned book: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
A book with a low Goodreads average rating: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
A duology: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Survey Link

I had a very clear top 4 this time and the rest I either knew I didn't want or was just very 'meh' about. Obviously, if the others make it then I'll still be fine with it but I'm really hoping at least one or two of my top four make it in. The others just didn't interest me as much or excite me very much.

I had a clear bottom 4 - and quite a few I wanted for top 4...It's getting exciting through!

I had a clear bottom 3 (with 2 suggestions I find complicated for a challenge that is opened to teenagers) and top 3. For my 4th top, there were several ideas I found interesting so it was difficult to decide which one to choose. Anyway, I'd be surprised to see my favorites in the final top.

When does the voting end?

I find the banned books prompt really interesting-if you look at the links, you find a really wide range of books, from obvious ones like Mein Kampf, to known ones like Lolita and Nineteen Eighty-Four, to ones you would never have guessed like Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss.
The author over 40 yielded some really interesting authors too, that I had no idea had started writing so late in their lifetime.

Silvia, voting ends August 20

Anna wrote: "The author over 40 yielded some really interesting authors too, that I had no idea had started writing so late in their lifetime.."

That was my suggestion Anna. I know that new authors under 25 are a hot topic right now and publishers love the young ones. Young equals money money money I guess. But for me age equals wisdom and feeling and a depth that the youth don't always have. I really hope this category wins. If it doesn't, I will still be trying to fit some "older" authors into some of the other less appealing categories that we have already chosen.

I had a very clear top 4, but had a hard time with the bottom 4. Two for sure were in my bottom but had a hard time choosing the last 2. It will be interesting to see which ones win this time.

I had a pretty clear bottom 4, but I had a really hard time choosing my top 4. Nothing really stood out to me at all. Normally with these polls, I have 2 or 3 that I immediately know that I want and several others that I have to narrow down. This time, my immediate reaction to most of the suggestions was "meh, I could live with that."

Just to clarify on the author over 40 -- does it have to be a debut novel, or any book by an author who is over 40? I interpreted it as any book by an author over 40, which leaves open many, many possibilities but based on some of the comments, I'm starting to think it was intended to be a debut novel.

I guess people really love their westerns. This is the third time it's been suggested in the past two years (I believe last year there was a suggestion for a western, and one for a book in the Old West).

Zaz, out of curiosity which prompts do you think are complicated for a challenge open to teenagers? I can guess what one might be, but I have no clue what other prompt might be so complicated.

- Erotica/romance, because it'll be the name of the prompt, there'll be topics about explicit content, etc. It's not a +18yo group, so it can be complicated to manage (and if I've no problem with people reading erotica, I think I'll turn crazy after the 5th topic with a half naked male on the cover).
- A book by an author born the same year you were, because you'll have few choices if you're young (in the age poll, around 20% of the 200 voters were under 24, so good luck with a category like this).

I liked the western suggestion, I read few of those (totally not my culture) and like to expend a little with more. But I just tried some Nordic stuff this year and found it interesting, so I preferred this one :)

I nominated the author over 40 topic. I was thinking a debut novel but if that is too restrictive for some people than any novel written by an author after their 40th birthday is fine with me. :-)

Amy wrote: "I nominated the author over 40 topic. I was thinking a debut novel but if that is too restrictive for some people than any novel written by an author after their 40th birthday is fine with me. :-)"

Ok, good. I did a quick search, and I wasn't so interested in most of the debut novels by authors over 40...but some of my favourite authors (Jodi Picoult, for example) are over 40 and I think for me it would offer a lot more choices.

Rachel wrote: " I guess people really love their westerns. This is the third time it's been suggested in the past two years (I believe last year there was a suggestion for a western, and one for a book in the Old West). "

I think I hate westerns, but my IRL book group picked a Zane Grey a few years ago and I loved it! I was shocked,. And have not picked up another one, but would not hesitate.

I will say, this is the first round I had trouble finding 4 I wanted to vote for. Too many were too broad or not broad enough.

Pamela wrote: "Rachel wrote: " I guess people really love their westerns. This is the third time it's been suggested in the past two years (I believe last year there was a suggestion for a western, and one for a ..."

Actually I suggested Old West and Western last year... it's nice to be remembered, although it never got picked :D I hope that the person who suggested the western this time has better luck than me :)

I actually voted for the Western topic. I saw it and had an initial knee jerk reaction, and then realized that I have never actually read a western (unless we count something like The Gunslinger or The Alloy of Law, which are both Fantasy books).

So, I decided that it would be a good topic to push the boundaries.

Zane Grey, huh? Will have to keep that in mind if this actually becomes a topic.

The results! The results! :D

Zaz wrote: "The results! The results! :D"

Oh it IS about that time isn't it???? Oooooooooh Laura, waaaaaaake uuuuuup:-)

Zaz wrote: "The results! The results! :D"

Yay! The results!! I can't wait!!

Lol glad I'm not the only person here that's impatient.

Everyone is lucky I couldn't sleep this morning :P

Results just posted!

Laura wrote: "Everyone is lucky I couldn't sleep this morning :P

Results just posted!"

Apparently you weren't the only one! And if it helps, we really really REALLY love and appreciate you Laura! <3