Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

This is my first year attempting this challenge and so far, it's been fun matching books to the different prompts - most I tried to pull from my constantly growing TBR list.

I'm really trying to get back into reading as much as I used to, so hopefully this will help. (I'm going to attempt to do this and POPSUGAR at the same time so fingers crossed I get as much reading done as I possibly can this year!)

ATY in 52 2019

1. A book that was nominated for or won an award in a genre you enjoy: Friday Black(National Book Foundation Honoree, 5 Under 35)
2. A book with one of the 5 W's in the title (Who, What, Where, When, Why): Who Fears Death
3. A book where the author's name contains A,T, and Y: The Belles
4. A book with a criminal character (i.e. assassin, pirate, thief, robber, scoundrel, etc.): My Sister, the Serial Killer
5. A book by Shakespeare or inspired by Shakespeare: Warm Bodies
6. A book with a dual timeline: The Chalk Man
7. 2 books related to the same topic, genre, or theme: Book #1: The Book Jumper
8. 2 books related to the same topic, genre, or theme: Book #2: The Eyre Affair
9. A book from one of the top 5 money making genres (romance/erotica, crime/mystery, religious/inspirational, science fiction/fantasy, or horror): Illuminae
10. A book featuring a historical figure: The Only Woman in the Room
11. A book related to one of the 12 Zodiac Chinese animals: Life of Pi
12. A book about reading, books, or an author/writer: Brown Girl Dreaming
13. A book that is included on a New York Public Library Staff Picks list: Call Me Zebra
14. A book with a title, subtitle or cover related to an astronomical term: The Sun Is Also a Star
15. A book by an author from a Mediterranean country or set in a Mediterranean country: The Tattooed Map
16. A book told from multiple perspectives: The Immortalists
17. A speculative fiction (i.e. fantasy, sci-fi, horror, dystopia): Kindred
18. A book related to one of the elements on the periodic table of elements: Silver Sparrow
19. A book by an author who has more than one book on your TBR: Let Me Hear a Rhyme
20. A book featuring indigenous people of a country: There There
21. A book from one of the polarizing or close call votes: A Darker Shade of Magic (Entering another world)
22. A book with a number in the title or on the cover: Lifel1k3
23. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #1 Something Old: Mules and Men (earlier book from a favorite author)
24. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #2 Something New: We Need New Names ("new" in the title)
25. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #3 Something Borrowed: A Blade So Black (Alice in Wonderland retelling)
26. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #4 Something Blue: She Would Be King (blue cover)
27. A book off of the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list: A Clockwork Orange
28. A book related to something cold (i.e. theme, title, author, cover, etc.): The Snowman
29. A book published before 1950: The Great Gatsby (published in 1925)
30. A book featuring an elderly character: A Man Called Ove
31. A children's classic you've never read: The Jungle Book
32. A book with more than 500 pages: 1Q84
33. A book you have owned for at least a year, but have not read yet: Americanah
34. A book with a person's name in the title: Dear Martin
35. A psychological thriller: Before I Go to Sleep
36. A book featured on an NPR Best Books of the Year list: The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley
37. A book set in a school or university: Suggested Reading
38. A book not written in traditional novel format (poetry, essay, epistolary, graphic novel, etc.): Daisy Jones and The Six
39. A book with a strong sense of place or where the author brings the location/setting to life: Here Comes the Sun
40. A book you stumbled upon: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
41. A book from the 2018 GR Choice Awards: The Poet X
42. A book with a monster or "monstrous" character: Doctor Sleep
43. A book related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math): The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
44. A book related in some way to a TV show/series or movie you enjoyed (same topic, same era, book appeared in the show/movie, etc.): Psycho (Bates Motel)
45. A multi-generational saga: Homegoing
46. A book with a (mostly) black cover: The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
47. A book related to food (i.e. title, cover, plot, etc.): With the Fire on High
48. A book that was a finalist or winner for the National Book Award for any year: The Great Believers
49. A book written by a Far East Asian author set in a Far East Asian country: The Astonishing Color of After
50. A book that includes a journey (physical, health, or spiritual): Believarexic
51. A book published in 2019: Children of Virtue and Vengeance
52. A book with a weird or intriguing title: The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls

COMPLETED BOOKSHELF
As of 11/15/19

Welcome to the challenge Jasmine! I’m curious how you liked Who Fears Death? I started it last month but DNF’d it. I didn’t like the violent beginning. I really enjoyed her Binti series. This one felt much heavier.

Pam wrote: "Welcome to the challenge Jasmine! I’m curious how you liked Who Fears Death? I started it last month but DNF’d it. I didn’t like the violent beginning. I really enjoyed her Binti series. This one f..."

I haven't read the Binti series (it's definitely on my TBR list), but this one is definitely heavy - in many spots. I had a hard time getting through some of it because it is so descriptive and triggering, but it was wanting to see the end of the journey that got me to the end.

It reminded me a little of Children of Blood and Bone in that the main character was going on a journey to help her people, but this one goes about it in a much darker tone.