Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

It's time for another round, everyone!

The list of topics, sorted by type, may be found in message 2 of the Introduction & Announcement post:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

A little reminder of how things are done around here:

How it works:
- The topics for the 2020 reading challenge list will be determined by a series of mini-polls, the number of which depends on the number of prompts winning in each mini-polls
- Suggestions for each poll will be opened until 15-20 suggestions are received and “seconded” (this number can change, which will be announced in each suggestion topic)
- We'll wait for one day between the end of the suggestions and the start of the poll to allow for research and discussions
- The poll will be opened for voting for one week
- Each user has 8 votes to spread between their favorite (top) and least favorite (bottom) prompts
- The prompts with the more "positive" votes (top - bottom) will be added to the final list (between 2 and 5 depending on how the votes are spread)

Rules:
- Each member can only suggest OR second one prompt
- Suggestions close after 15 total seconded prompts
- If the categories are not balanced enough at some point, the mods will add rules to encourage variety
- Multi-week prompts may be suggested
- For now, we won't limit polls to new suggestion only, but that can be considered in the future
- For now, members who have suggested or seconded a prompt don't need to wait for 24 hours before doing so again in the next poll. That may change in the future if members express a need for this rule to be reinstated
A book with half a face on the cover
As always, please express any and all feedback (respectfully, of course), either here or in The Wild Discussion

Poll Entries:
A book related to witches
A book that's from a child's perspective
A book in diary or journal form
A book that takes place where your favorite food comes from
A book that is between 400-600 pages
A book that you already know the ending of
A book about geography, geology or earth science 
A memoir or autobiographical fiction by an author that is a member of a marginalized group
A book set in the ancient world (eg. Roman empire, Ancient Greeks, Egyptians)
A book with a hyphen in the title
A book whose title is a line from or title of a song
A book with a silhouette on the cover
A book published or set in the 1920s
A book that contains a Day or Month in the title
A book recommended to you by a family member

Available to be Seconded:

I'd like to nominate a book related to witches.
(Wording suggestions accepted.)

It could be a book about witches:
- The Witches
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
- Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
- A Discovery of Witches
- The Crucible
- Equal Rites
- The Bone Witch
More suggestions: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://bookriot.com/2017/04/18/100-m...

Or the book could include characters that are witches:
- Macbeth
- A Wrinkle in Time
- Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

Or a book with witch in the title that may not have witches as characters:
- The Witches Are Coming
- Season of the Witch: Enchantment, Terror and Deliverance in the City of Love
- The Witch Elm

Or books otherwise associated with witches.

A book that is between 400-600 pages.

A book that takes place where your favorite food comes from (extra challenge or pat on the back if the food is in the book! )

Eujean2 wrote: "I'd like to nominate a book related to witches.
(Wording suggestions accepted.)

It could be a book about witches:
- The Witches
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
- [boo..."

Can I nominate and second the witch prompt? If yes, I second witches

I can’t remember if the following suggestion has ever been used or submitted for this challenge. Apologies for any repetition if it has.

Read a book with a hyphen in the title.

(It’s easy to search for a hyphen in your tbr list on goodreads. However, any author with a hyphen in their name will also come up.)

Pamela, you can only do one.

Jillian wrote: "Pamela, you can only do one."

Ok, retracting my second (sorry Eujean- it's a great idea!)

Can you give examples of ”where your favorite food comes from”? Like, do you mean set in Nigeria where cocoa is grown? Or set in a factory where the cocoa pods are processed into chocolate? Or set in a random bakery? Or is it up to interpretation?

I’ll second the witches prompt.

I thought of the prompt as like, I love Indian food, so read a book set in India.

I nominate a book that’s from a child’s perspective.

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

https://offtheshelf.com/2015/11/liste...

Nadine wrote: "Can you give examples of ”where your favorite food comes from”? Like, do you mean set in Nigeria where cocoa is grown? Or set in a factory where the cocoa pods are processed into chocolate? Or set ..."

I was inspired by the book I'm reading right now that takes place in India and each time they mention food, my mouth waters. So maybe you like souvlaki so you would read something in Greece, or maybe its pad thai so a book in Thailand, pizza Italy (or US depending on your view). Or maybe it's a factory thing- I love gummy bears but will only eat the ones that are made in Turkey or Cadbury's chocolate for a British book. Although you could be very literal and read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory because it takes place where chocolate is made! But I like the idea of even going to the origins of the food. Like a hamburger person could read a book that takes place in the American West where they have cows. Or the The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane for tea lovers, it takes place in the tea fields of China but also talks about the drink a lot.
If you like Tim Horton's the best, I just finished Ayesha at Last and every other chapter they go to Tim Horton's and I kept thinking "donuts"!
Some food favorites might have too obscure a background to pick but most people have multiple favorites. I know the too broad people will think its too broad but you can make it as broad or limited as you want.

I’m already excited that witches is on the poll. 🤞🏻

I will second “from a child’s perspective “. I liked a lot of the books on the attached links.

A book in diary or journal form

Includes fiction or nonfiction

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

I'll second diary or journal form.

I also really like the other suggestions :)

I’ll second the food prompt! That’s interesting.

A book that you already know the ending of.

This could be a re-read, something that someone “spoiled” for you, or a well known tale.

I'll second a book that has 400-600 pages!

Ooh Steve, I love that. I'll second it.

I’ll second the book you know the ending to! I like that idea! That would be good for non-fiction books, biographies, etc.

Also Megan Miranda’s “All the Missing Girls” is written in reverse order which is kind of cool!

Avery, Jody seconded it just before you. Feel free to suggest or second something else!

A memoir or autobiographical fiction by an author that is a member of a marginalized group

Katie, what does autobiographical fiction mean? Is that like when the author writes themselves into the story?

Can you give some examples? I'm intrigued by this one!

A book about geography, geology or earth science
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

Second Geography!!

Katie, I really like that one. I’m loving a lot of the suggestions this time around!

I second Katie’s suggestion.

Emily wrote: "Katie, what does autobiographical fiction mean? Is that like when the author writes themselves into the story?

Can you give some examples? I'm intrigued by this one!"

Two examples for autobiographical fiction (if I’m interpreting this correctly):
Zami: A New Spelling of My Name by Audre Lorde - Lorde called this a “biomythography”
Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi - this one maybe doesn t count for what she intended; it’s autobiographical fiction based on her life but the character is not her name


https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Ok that's what I was thinking too, Nadine. Thanks for those examples and that list!

A book set in the ancient world (i.e. Roman empire, ancient Greeks, Egyptians etc.)

Sarah wrote: "A book set in the ancient world (i.e. Roman empire, ancient Greeks, Egyptians etc.)"

I second this.

The first book I thought of for autobiographical fiction was Go Tell It on the Mountain.

Love that suggestion, glad it was seconded!

I will second the book with a hyphen in the title.

A book whose title is a line from or title of a song.

Some lists for ideas:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...
https://www.epicreads.com/blog/9-ya-b...

There are a few names for autobiographical fiction, including autofiction, autobiographical novels, and semi autobiographical fiction. The list Nadine referenced is good. It's a book where the author writes about their own life and experiences in a fictional manner, like characters with different names who go through the same things the author has.

Here are a few lists:
https://mashable.com/2014/09/01/autob...
https://bookriot-com.cdn.ampproject.o...

5 spots remaining

I'd like to re-nominate an earlier suggestion that didn't get in:

A book with a silhouette on the cover

Oh I love Sarah’s idea!! I think I always vote for an ancient civ category because it would push me to read another book by Rosemary Sutcliff

I would like to nominate a book recommended to you by a family member.

MJ wrote: "A book whose title is a line from or title of a song.

Some lists for ideas:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...
https://www.epicreads.com/blog/9-ya-bo..."

I second this suggestion "title is a line from or title of a song."

I would like to nominate a book that contains a Day or Month in the title (Monday, December, etc.)

As we start a new decade, read a book from the decade 100 years prior...the 1920's. Either published in the 1920s or set in the 1920s.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...

Joanne wrote: "I'd like to re-nominate an earlier suggestion that didn't get in:

A book with a silhouette on the cover"

I'll second this one!
There are so many good suggestions!

I will second the 1920s prompt

Shannon wrote: "I would like to nominate a book that contains a Day or Month in the title (Monday, December, etc.)"

I'll second this.

Poll Entries:
A book related to witches
A book that's from a child's perspective
A book in diary or journal form
A book that takes place where your favorite food comes from
A book that is between 400-600 pages
A book that you already know the ending of
A book about geography, geology or earth science
A memoir or autobiographical fiction by an author that is a member of a marginalized group
A book set in the ancient world (eg. Roman empire, Ancient Greeks, Egyptians)
A book with a hyphen in the title
A book with a silhouette on the cover
A book that contains a day or month in the title (Monday, December, etc.)
A book published in the 1920s or set in the 1920s

Available to be Seconded:
A book whose title is a line from or title of a song
A book recommended to you by a family member

2 Spots Left!

I wish I could second the “family member” idea. I know not everyone has a handy family member to ask, but I am lucky and love reading books my daughters recommend.

Message 42 seconded the song prompt