Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
2020 Plans
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2020 Completed Challenges
- 5 Star books that I read for the ATY ChallengeI had a lot of 5-star books this year - maybe an artifact of the pandemic and wanting to escape
Murder on the Red River by Marcie Rendon
Girl Gone Missing by Marcie Rendon
The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars by Dava Sobel
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
A Magical Inheritance by Krista D. Ball
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
Lethal Remedies by M. Louisa Locke
Last Train to Istanbul by Ayşe Kulin
The Great Passage by Shion Miura
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
- My most creative twist on a prompt
She Walks in Shadows edited by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - I picked Lovecraftian Horror for a genre or subgenera that starts with a letter in your name
- The prompt I cheated on
My Boyfriend Is a Bear by Pamela Ribon - this graphic novel is only 176 pages
- My favorite prompt
#27 History or historical fiction - one of my favorite genres. For this I read Lethal Remedies, which includes another of my favorite genres, mysteries
- My least favorite prompt
#46, a book about an event or era in history taken from the Billy Joel song "We Didn't Start the Fire" - had a hard time finding a book for this prompt. Ended up with Peter Darling, which I enjoyed but felt more like a place holder to fill the space
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!)
Last Train to Istanbul - had never heard of this author, a Turkish woman writing about WWII
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!)
Three Weeks With Lady X - really disliked the hero
Congrats Laurel! Have you read Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia? Would you recommend She Walks in the Shadows?
I would recommend She Walks in Shadows. It is an anthology - I would say about 2/3 were excellent and the rest weren't bad but weren't memorable.I have Mexican Gothic on hold at the library - should get it next month.
Mod
Yay! First time I have finished! And ahead of schedule!5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge: I feel like I'm pretty stingy with 5-star ratings so I was surprised to see I had selected so many!
The Great Alone
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Akata Witch
Salt to the Sea
When the Emperor Was Divine
Summer of '69
My most creative twist on a prompt:
Not sure. I pretty much follow the prompts pretty literally.
The prompt I cheated on:
I don't know if I really cheated on it, but for the genre that starts with a letter in my name, I read another historical fiction book!
My favorite prompt:
Historical fiction is my favorite genre - so was glad to see it on the list this year!
My least favorite prompt:
A fantasy book. Not really my thing, but was glad Harry Potter fills this prompt.
A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!)
Akata Witch
A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!)
The Divorce Papers
Johanna wrote: "Yay! First time I have finished! And ahead of schedule!5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge: I feel like I'm pretty stingy with 5-star ratings so I was surprised to see I had selected s..."
Congratulations Johanna!
I just finished this week. This was my first time doing the challenge, and I read in order (with a few side reads sprinkled in). I had a baby at the end of June and wasn't sure how that would affect my progress--I've still had lots of time to read while nursing and cuddling but have had to hit mostly lighter fare and have also stayed way more of a lurker here than I might have otherwise. I have been thinking about trying for another round of 52, including finding categories for my side reads so far, but may try to do pop sugar instead. I definitely found that doing this challenge helped me read more instead of putzing online and also helped me be more thoughtful about my reading. Thank you so much! 5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge I am really not sure how consistent I am about ratings, but I did enjoy these.
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
Middlegame
A Song for a New Day
My most creative twist on a prompt/The prompt I cheated on I read The Grammarians and We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves for binary opposites, identical twins vs very much not. I am genuinely not sure whether this was creative or cheating!
My favorite prompt Probably the book related to Maximilian Hell. It felt out of left field so introduced me to the creativity of this group, and I also loved that The Sparrow was a perfect fit, so it sounded like it led a lot of people to read a book that I read years ago and loved.
My least favorite prompt I didn't have any that I dreaded or anything, but I found the NYT 100 Notable Books to be annoying to navigate.
A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!) The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives I'm embarrassed to say this, but I live in Oakland and didn't know this book existed without this challenge.
A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!) Prep and Trust Exercise were my books for the first two prompts, and I'm not sure I would have finished either of them if not for the challenge.
Congratulations Becky on the baby and the challenge!I'm also in Oakland, and haven't heard of the 57 Bus. I just added it to my TBR!
Alicia wrote: "Congratulations Becky on the baby and the challenge!I'm also in Oakland, and haven't heard of the 57 Bus. I just added it to my TBR!"
Who knew there were so many Oaklanders.... I work in Oakland, (live in El Cerrito). I do remember the 57 bus story... so sad.
Alicia wrote: "Congratulations Becky on the baby and the challenge!I'm also in Oakland, and haven't heard of the 57 Bus. I just added it to my TBR!"
Thanks, neighbor!
Mod
- 5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge
- My most creative twist on a prompt
Olympic Games. I used Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire because of the tournament of magic.
- The prompt I cheated on
none
- My favorite prompt
A book related to witches.
- My least favorite prompt
The 20th Book
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!)
I loved this memoir so much and used it for a -ing word in the title. I only used books off my extensive TBR but I would have probably left this one on there for years.
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!)
I only had two 1-star reads this year.
I hated both of these so much. I used Beautiful Disaster for a book published in a year that is a prime number and I used Food: A Love story for my binary opposite book 1.
- 5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge- A Curse So Dark and Lonely
- The Pillars of the Earth
- The Invention of Hugo Cabret
- The Starless Sea
- Nine Perfect Strangers
- Recursion
- My most creative twist on a prompt
- Maximillian Fly for related to Maximillian Hell. Only relation is the same name.
- The prompt I cheated on
Recursion for geometric pattern on the cover. I'm not actually sure if the infinity symbol is a geometric pattern, but when I first read the prompt I thought it said "or symmetrical" so I stuck with it anyway.
- My favorite prompt -
Related to the 4 Horsemen -I've been meaning to read On a Pale Horse forever and I finally had a reason.
- My least favorite prompt
"We didn't start the fire"
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!)
- The Travelling Cat Chronicles
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!)
- The Cruel Prince
Congrats SarahKat!We have a lot of similar tastes, and I have the Cruel Prince on my TBR for awhile but haven't been able to motivate myself to read it. Mind sharing why you didn't like it?
Alicia wrote: "Congrats SarahKat!We have a lot of similar tastes, and I have the Cruel Prince on my TBR for awhile but haven't been able to motivate myself to read it. Mind sharing why you didn't like it?"
I'm thinking Holly Black just isn't for me. I started a book of hers when I was much younger and quit because the writing was bad. Figured I'd give this one a shot since I have more stay-power now.
Here's a copy/paste of my short review:
This really was just okay, if that. The entire thing is flat and flimsy. There's not really any depth. I'm not looking for a whole of profundity in my YA reads, but a nice rounded character/world/plot, or even occasionally a cliché romance will keep me invested in a series. There was none of that here. The "plot" moved along quickly, but was extremely predictable in every possible way, and not at all interesting or intriguing. Characters I was supposed to hate, I didn't. Characters I was supposed to like, I didn't. I nothing'd pretty much everything about this book. I didn't even care enough to hate it.
Finished on October 27. I was delayed by the continued closure of my town library which necessitated much re-jigging of which book goes where and some ingenuity in finding must-read books. In particular I could only find Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood as the multi-volume French original. Even with all the pictures, reading in French is slow for me and took me almost up to Popsugar’s “Read a banned book during Banned Books Week” so I finished both challenges then with Persepolis, Volume 2- 5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge
The Trick Is To Keep Breathing
The Fire-Dwellers
A Brief History of Seven Killings
The Song of Achilles
Persepolis, Volume 1 Persepolis, Volume 2
- My most creative twist on a prompt
I’m normally quite a literalist. I wasn’t keen on the prompt to read a book featuring an LGBTQIA+ author or character even though that applied to one in five of my chosen books. Something about reading a book just because of the sexuality of the person who wrote it seems patronising, so I went for Val McDermid’s non-fiction Forensics: The Anatomy of Crime where her sexuality is immaterial to the subject-matter.
- The prompt I cheated on
Not sure it was cheating but I couldn’t face reading about a current news story and so went for Long Road from Jarrow: A journey through Britain then and now
- My favorite prompt
Actually it’s 49. “A book that fits a prompt from the list of suggestions that didn't win” because I had a good yarn for my copy of Dubliners Definitely a book that was obtained in a non traditional way as it was from a Little Free Library in a public toilet in the French Alps.
- My least favorite prompt
43. A book related to one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. I do read disaster books but don’t like having to. I went with Everyone Brave Is Forgiven, set in WWII
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!)
A Brief History of Seven Killings. I wouldn’t have thought an ultra-violent book featuring Jamaican gangsters was my cup of tea but this was so well constructed and executed (pun not intended).
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!)
Exhume The second time a reading challenge has given me a medical thriller and the second time I’ve strongly disliked it.
Completed the challenge for the first time 🎉🥳5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge
I’ve had a really great reading year so far with a lot of series that I love!
My most creative twist on a prompt
#32. A book related to the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan
I used Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire with the link that the Tri-Wizard Games were similar to the Olympics.
The prompt I cheated on
I don’t believe that I cheated with any of the prompts!
My favorite prompt
#42. A book that was nominated for one of the ‘10 Most Coveted Literary Prizes’
#43. A book related to one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse
My least favorite prompt
#47. A classic book you’ve always meant to read
A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!)
A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!)
— DNF at 25%
Mod
5 star books
4.5 stars
So weird, you would assume from these books that I like stories about men in harsh environments - not at all true! they were great for their language, originality, and humanity
Most creative twist on a prompt - more like serendipity. I happened to read back to back
(because it was new on audio and I love the series) and
(for another GR book group and it was just then the book came in at the library)I was planning something else for the "2 books that are polar opposites". The creative part was that in addition to the Men/Women contrast, the first one is largely about issues of water scarcity in the American Southwest and the second is about women who spend their days in the ocean.
The prompt I cheated on - same as 1st time around, for the prompt of 20th book on a list, shelf, etc. I tried various ways of counting till I came to something I felt like reading which was
My favorite prompt -
A history or historical fiction
A mystery
A fantasy
(I always read many of each during the year)
**edit** those seem like copouts, I also liked "a book set in a time or place you wouldn't want to live in" - because I read a lot of historical fiction and fantasy, I realized there's hardly any place I read about that I would want to live! Even "glamorous" settings like the Regency are from a time before electricity, indoor plumbing and modern medicine.
My least favorite prompt - A book originally published in a year that was a prime number. I never pay attention to when a book is published. I had to look up the list of prime numbers, write some down, search through my TBR, etc. Basically, words are interesting to me and numbers aren't.
A book I might not have read but I'm glad I did
A book I might not have read and wish I hadn't
(The Ants)
Mod
I am done! This is the earliest I have ever finished this challenge. Now to finish my other 5 challenges!- 5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge
The Dearly Beloved
The Dutch House
The Giver of Stars
The Starless Sea
The House in the Cerulean Sea
Untamed
I'd Give Anything
The Book of Longings
- My most creative twist on a prompt; Pretty straight forward on all of them.
- The prompt I cheated on: Maybe “a book about witches” because Year Of Wonders isn’t really about witches.
- My favorite prompt - Non-traditional family
- My least favorite prompt - 20th book
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!) - The House of the Spirits
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!) - The Girl from the Metropol Hotel: Growing Up in Communist Russia
- 5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge
- My most creative twist on a prompt The Maximillion Hell prompt, I read The Girl Who Drank the Moon
- The prompt I cheated on I guess, but a main characters dies from AIDS, The Immortalists
- My favorite prompt A book from the 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards, I read Beard Necessities
- My least favorite prompt A book inspired by a leading news story, I read Whisper Network
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!) Serpent & Dove
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!) does not apply
Finished my challenge today--October 29. Good timing, because it is timing to start planning the 2021 list.- 5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge
Lots of 5-star reads this year, so I will just pick three favorites:
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox
The Breaking Wave
A Cry of Angels
- My most creative twist on a prompt
I regret to say that I was not extremely creative with any of the prompts. They all seemed quite straight forward to me.
- The prompt I cheated on
Nope. No cheating
- My favorite prompt
Enjoyed the binary opposites: The Mirror & the Light and A Dark Night's Work
- My least favorite prompt
A book published in 2020. Long Bright River. I have a very limited access to brand new books.
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!)
The Heretic's Daughter
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!)
The Nickel Boys
I finished on October 29th with Rebecca (classic I always meant to read). - 5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge
The Heart's Invisible Furies
Rebecca
Less
Becoming
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
- My most creative twist on a prompt
A Book set in a rural or sparsely populated area. The book is primarily set in Seattle, but Antarctica also is a setting.
Where'd You Go, Bernadette
- The prompt I cheated on
A book by an Australian, New Zealand or Canadian author.
Elizabeth von Arnim was born in Australia but I think she is considered a British author. The Enchanted April
But, I could have swapped it out for books I read later like The Break - Canadian author. The Break So, it really isn’t a cheat.
- My favorite prompt
A book that fits a prompt from the list of suggestions that did not win. I went with a book related to one of the five senses. Hearing.
The Silence Between Us
- My least favorite prompt
A book related to Maximilian Hell. WTF?
The Movement of Stars
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!)
A book related to the 2020 Olympics in Japan.
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!)
A book with an Emotion in the Title.
The Step: One Woman's Journey to Finding Her Own Happiness and Success During the Apollo Space Program
Sarah wrote: "Completed the challenge for the first time 🎉🥳5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge
I’ve had a really great reading year so far with a lot of series that I love!
[bookcover:The Fifth Sea..."
Nine Perfect Strangers was very unpopular with my book group. I am pretty sure over half of us DNF’d it.
Maan wrote: "Nothing like a lockdown and a free month-long Scribd access to get me to finish what took me a year last year. -5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge
To Have and Have Not
A Streetcar Nam..."
Julie of the Wolves has been a favourite of mine since I was a child. Did you know there are other books? Julie Julie's Wolf Pack
Too funny, the Maximilian Hell prompt was my LEAST favourite. I struggled to find a book I could get into that fit that prompt. I finally settled on The Movement of Stars but I tried about three other books before that one.
Tracy wrote: "5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge (10) The Toll- My most creative twist on a prompt
- The prompt I cheated on - None
- My favorite prompt (41) - A Mystery - Without Consent - Kathryn ..."
I loved My Sister the Serial Killer.
Melissa wrote: "Maan wrote: "Nothing like a lockdown and a free month-long Scribd access to get me to finish what took me a year last year. -5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge
To Have and Have Not
A ..."
Same thing happened to me.... and I still wasn't crazy about the book I ended up with.
I finished the 2020 challenge on October 20th and I'm already looking forward to the 2021 challenge.
Yaaaay challenge completed - can now start planning for 2021. This is the first time I’ve done anything like this and it’s definitely broadened my reading 👌- 5 star books that I read for the ATY Challenge
So many... 16 were 5 star reads so I feel very lucky...
The Kite Runner, The Travelling Cat Chronicles, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, Normal People, Where the Crawdads Sing, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Hashim & Family, The Nightingale, All the Light We Cannot See, Case Histories, Rebecca, The Bear and the Nightingale, The Girl in The Tower, The Winter of the Witch, Us Three & Disappearing Earth
- My most creative twist on a prompt
I really struggled with the Maximilian Hell prompt so opted for Rebecca as one of the main characters is Maximilian De Winter
- The prompt I cheated on
The prompt I think my choice is a bit “loose” for is “a genre or sub genre that starts with my initial” as I went for Gothic but chose Northanger Abbey which is more of a Gothic parody
- My favorite prompt
“A book about an event taken from the Billy Joel song, We Didn’t Start The Fire” - loved how creative this was and went for The Kite Runner for “Russians In Afghanistan”
- My least favorite prompt
“A classic book you’ve always meant to read” - I very much read classics on my terms as I struggle with them and the two I felt most appropriate were already tied into other prompts so opted for a more modern classic with The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 but didn’t really enjoy it
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!)
Kindred
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!)
The Lovely Bones
Roll on next year ❤️
- 5 Star books that I read for the ATY ChallengeA Place for UsA Place for Us
Hunting Prince DraculaHunting Prince Dracula
The King of Crows The King of Crows
The Thousand Doors of JanuaryThe Ten Thousand Doors of January
Ayesha at LastAyesha at Last
Frankly in LoveFrankly in Love
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Vampire SlayingThe Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires
Things in JarsThe Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires
SulaSula
This Tender LandThis Tender Land
Codename HeleneCodename Hélène: Churchills Geheimagentin Nancy Wake und ihr Kampf gegen die Gestapo in Frankreich
Dangerous AlliancesDangerous Alliance: An Austentacious Romance
Clap When You LandClap When You Land
How to Be FineHow to Be Fine: What We Learned from Living by the Rules of 50 Self-Help Books
Picnic at Hanging RockPicnic at Hanging Rock
The Poet XThe Poet X
- My most creative twist on a prompt
Binary books--The Book of Essie and A Place For Us The Book of Essie](Christian/Muslim)
- The prompt I cheated on--I like how everyone is so affronted at the suggestion we may cheat on a prompt😂 A Book on my TBR that I did not remember putting there! Well-MetWell Met The 20th Book on my TBR (out of 1000s) Ayesha at LastAyesha at Last
- My favorite prompt-A book set in a place or time that I would not want to live-Hunting Prince DraculaHunting Prince Dracula
- My least favorite prompt-A Book Related to the Four Horseman of the Apocolyse-The Library of LegendThe Library of Legends (death/war)
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!) This Tender LandThis Tender Land (emotion in the title)
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!)-The Wild InsideThe Wild Inside (survival)
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- 5 Star books that I read for the ATY ChallengeThis Is How You Lose the Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition, by Qui Nguyen
Pet Sematary, by Stephen King
Little Secrets, by Jennifer Hillier
My Dark Vanessa, by Kate Elizabeth Russell
The Princess Bride, by William Goldman
Beastie Boys Book, by Michael Diamond and Adam Horowitz
The Lost Man, by Jane Harper
The Glass Hotel, by Emily St. John Mandel
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, by Max Brooks
Hamilton: The Revolution, by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter
A Good Marriage, by Kimberly McCreight
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, by Haruki Murakami
- My most creative twist on a prompt: I think I played it pretty straight.
- The prompt I cheated on: The 20th book [on your TBR, in a series, by an author, on a list, etc.]. I didn’t cheat exactly, I just kept checking until I got one I wanted to read. 😊
- My favorite prompt: A book about an event or era in history taken from the Billy Joel song "We Didn't Start the Fire"
- My least favorite prompt: A book with a two-word title where the first word is "The"
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!): We Ride Upon Sticks, by Quan Barry
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!): Pretty Baby, by Mary Kubica
I finished my challenge on October 1. For this challenge, I read quite a few good books. Here are my stats:Format:
Audio: 40x
Ebook: 12x
Print: 0x
Type of book:
Novel: 36x
Graphic novel: 4x
Nonfiction: 10x
Genres:
I selected the genre based on Goodreads main page genres!
Fantasy: 8x
Thriller: 1x
Horror: 2x
Sci-Fi: 9x
Contemporary: 8x
Mystery/suspense: 3x
Autobiography/memoir: 9x
Anthology: 2x
Historical fiction: 8x
Other nonfiction: 2x
Star rating:
5 stars: 28x
4 stars: 21x
3 stars: 2x
2 stars: 1x
1 star: 0x
Average rating: 4.47 stars
What is interesting for me to see is how my interests in genres has shifted. A few years ago, I preferred nonfiction/personal development books, mystery/suspense, and true crime. I have ventured out of my comfort zone a lot in the last couple of years and I have found out that I also love retellings, sci-fi (in particular dystopian, apocalyptic, post-apocalyptic), and Christian fiction/nonfiction.
Two books I'm really glad I read for this challenge and would otherwise probably have pushed further down on my TBR were Oryx and Crake and Pestilence.
There were some books I had planned to read for the challenge, but either didn't feel in the mood to read for it or even DNFed (which is rare because I had DNFing books). For example, I had added American Gods to my plan because everyone kept raving about it. However, I think I have a love-hate relationship with Neil Gaiman. His books are a hit or miss for me. I did DNF this book. I just couldn't get into it.
Mod
I finished during lunch today!5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge
-- Salt to the Sea, Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, & The Sundown Motel
- My most creative twist on a prompt - Not sure this counts but I went through several editions of Last Night in Montreal to find one with 'a mode of transportation on the cover'. I finally found one with bus seats illustrated.
- The prompt I cheated on - 20th book on my TBR list...I changed the numbers to read Neuromancer.
- My favorite prompt - A classic book you've always meant to read...as a pre-teen, I decided to be 'well read'. At that time, it meant reading classics. This prompt helped me branch out a little more with 'The Woman in White'.
- My least favorite prompt - A book that you are prompted to read because of something you read in 2019... I think I was suffering from burnout and COVID anxiety by time I reached this prompt. I settled for the next book in the Mrs. Pollifax series since I started it last year.
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!) - Dear Leader: Poet, Spy, Escapee - A look inside North Korea (Billy Joel - We Didn't Start the Fire prompt)
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!) - Salvage the Bones...My neighbor growing up raised and fought roosters. If I had known the role that dog fighting played in this books, I probably would have chosen something else.
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Simone, I have the same problem with Neil Gaiman. There are a few books of his I like but most I don't really like. But, I love listening to him as a narrator so I keep trying his books.
Finished last night!- 5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge:
Women & Power: A Manifesto
The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow
The Midnight Library
Anxious People
Highway of Tears: A True Story of Racism, Indifference and the Pursuit of Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir
Under the Rainbow
Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love
Get Well Soon: History's Worst Plagues and the Heroes Who Fought Them
Pet
- My most creative twist on a prompt:
For the Maximilian Hell prompt, I read Everything Is an Emergency: An OCD Story in Words Pictures because OCD is hell.
- The prompt I cheated on:
None
- My favorite prompt:
A book about an event or era in history taken from "We Didn't Start the Fire"
- My least favorite prompt:
The 20th book - it was my last prompt finished, and honestly it just caused me anxiety trying to figure out how best to sort my TBR
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!):
None - most were all books that I had already planned to read
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!):
See above
I finished!- 5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge: Many, actually!
Normal People
Keine Ahnung was für immer ist
The Wall
Der Boxer
Ahawah, Das Vergessene Haus: Spurensuche in Der Berliner Auguststrasse
Gott wohnt im Wedding
London Calling: Als Deutsche auf der Brexit-Insel
Was genau war früher besser? Ein optimistischer Wutanfall
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
Marzahn, mon amour: Geschichten einer Fußpflegerin
Rückkehr nach Birkenau
They Called Us Enemy
Es geschah in Schöneberg
- My most creative twist on a prompt:
Kintsugi: Japanese word as the title: for prompt # 32: related to the Olympic Games in Japan; the book itself didn't have anything to do with neither sports nor Japan
- The prompt I cheated on: None
- My favorite prompt: A book with an emotion in the title: Marzahn, mon amour: Geschichten einer Fußpflegerin
- My least favorite prompt: # 36: A book from your TBR that you don't recognize, recall putting there or put there on a whim.
It was hard because I wanted to read mainly books that I already owned, and I do not own books, that really fit this category. Luckily I got a book via netgalley that I hadn't thought about much when asking for it. Read Hotel du Lac and didn't like it much. It was a drag.
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!) They Called Us Enemy
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!) None (I would have read the books I didn't like so much anyway.
I never thought I'd finish this challenge but some how I did.( ATY 2020) I think it was down to forward planning and having books that could be used for multiple prompts and some very strategic moving around towards the end.Massively looking forward to ticking off next years now. A few weeks of reading some physicals that have been on my bookshelf for far too long.
Way to go everyone this year.
Mod
Congratulations! For some of us, reading 52 books wasn't a stretch, but I want to salute those who had to make efforts to do it. It is definitely easier for me now that I am retired and have no kids at home.
Your book for Prompt #2 would be a great one for next year's prompt of "You read what!?"
DONNA FREEMAN’S📚AROUND THE YEAR IN 52 BOOKS 2020 LIST 📚
1) A book with a title that doesn’t contain the letters A, T or Y BELOVED by TONI MORRISON
2) A book by an author whose last name is one syllable IT by STEPHEN KING
3) A book prompted to read because of something read in 2019 THESE HAPPY GOLDEN YEARS by LAURA INGALLS WILDER
4) A book set in a place or time in which you wouldn’t like to live THE READER by BERNARD SCHLINK
5) The first book in a series you have not started TWILIGHT by STEPHANIE MEYER
6) A book with a mode of transportation on the cover WHILE I WAS GONE by SUE MILLER (BOAT)
7) A book set in the Southern Hemisphere DANCES WITH WOLVES by MICHAEL BLAKE
8) A book with a two-word title in which the first word is “THE” THE TOMMYKNOCKERS by STEPHEN KING
9) A book you can read in a day A VIRTUOUS WOMAN by KAYE GIBBONS
10) A book that contains 400 – 600 pages A MILLION LITTLE PIECES by JAMES FREY
11) A book that was originally published in a prime number year TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE by MITCH ALBOM (1997)
12) A book that’s a collaboration between 2 or more people FIVE FEET APART by RACHAEL LIPPINCOTT, MIKKI DAUGHTRY, & TOBIAS IACONIS
13) A prompt from a previous Around the Year in 52 Books Challenge SPILLED MILK (AUTOBIOGRAPHY / MEMOIR)
14) A book by an author on the Abe List of 100 Essential Female Writers THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD by ZORA NEALE HURSTON
15) A book set in a global city THERESE RAQUIN by EMILE ZOLA (PARIS)
16) A book set in a rural area or sparsely populated area THE FIRST FOUR YEARS by LAURA INGALLS WILDER
17) A book with a neurodiverse character REQUIEM FOR A DREAM by HUBERT SELBY JR.
18) A book by an author you’ve only read once before TONY & SUSAN by AUSTIN WRIGHT
19) A fantasy book THE DRAWING OF THE THREE (THE DARK TOWER #2) by STEPHEN KING
20) 20th book in your TBR list, in a series etc. GERALD’S GAME by STEPHEN KING
21) Book related to Maximilian Hell/noted astronomer/Jesuit Priest born 1720 THE EXORCIST by PETER BLATTY
22) A book with the major theme of survival RACEHOSS: BIG EMMA’S BOY by ALBERT RACE SAMPLE
23) A book with a LGBTQIA+ character or by an LGBTQIA+ author SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA by BECKY ALBERTALLI
24) A book with an emotion in the title MISERY by STEPHEN KING
25) A book related to the Arts MY LEFT FOOT by CHRISTY BROWN
26) A book from the 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards THE WATER DANCER by TA-NEHISI COATES (BEST DEBUT NOVEL)
27) A history or historical fiction book THE GIVER OF STARS: A NOVEL by JOJO MOYES
28) A book by an Australian, Canadian, or New Zealand author THE CRY by HELEN FITZGERALD (AUSTRALIAN)
29) An underrated book, a hidden gem or a lesser known book IN COUNTRY by BOBBIE ANN MASON
30) A book from the New York Times ‘100 Notable Books’ list from any year WE WERE THE MULVANEYS by JOYCE CAROL OATES
31) A book inspired by a leading news story A MOTHER’S RECKONING by SUE KLEBOLD
32) A book related to the 2020 Olympic Summer Games in Japan FOXCATCHER by MARK SCHULTZ and DAVID THOMAS
33) A book about a nontraditional family FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC by V.C. ANDREWS
34) Book with a Genre or Sub-Genre that starts with a letter in your name DARK HALF, THE by STEPHEN KING
35) A book with a geometric pattern or element on the cover A CLOCKWORK ORANGE by ANTHONY BURGESS
36) Book from your TBR that you don’t recall putting there THE BURNING BED by FAITH MCNULTY
37) Two books related to each other as a pair of binary opposites Book #1 THE WOMAN IN BLACK by SUSAN HILL
38) Two books related to each other as a pair of binary opposites Book #2 THE MAN IN BLACK by JOHNNY CASH
39) Book by author(s) w/real name you can’t pronounce EROTIC STORIES FOR PUNJABI WIDOWS by BALLI KAUR JASWAL
40) A book with the name of a place in the title THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY by ROBERT JAMES WALLER
41) A mystery THE STRANGER BESIDE ME by ANNE RULE
42) Book nominated for “10 Most Coveted Literary Prizes in World” ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE by GAIL HONEYMAN - WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION)
43) A book related to one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES by JENNIFER NIVEN
44) A book related to witches THE WITCHING HOUR (LIVES OF MAYFAIR WITCHES, BOOK 1) by ANNE RICE
45) A book by same author who wrote one of your favorites in 2018 or 2019 THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S LIST by STIEG LARSSON
46) Bk about an event / era in history from Billy Joel song "We Didn't Start the Fire" MARILYN MONROE: THE PRIVATE LIFE…by CASILLO
47) A classic book you’ve always meant to read THE HUMAN COMEDY by WILLIAM SAROYAN
48) A book published in 2020 IF IT BLEEDS by STEPHEN KING
49) A book that fits a prompt from the list of suggestions that didn't win NEW MOON by STEPHANIE MEYER (SUPERNATURAL- (VAMPIRE)
50) A book with a silhouette on the cover IMAGINARY FRIEND by STEPHEN CHBOSKY
51) A book with an “ing” word in the title A LESSON BEFORE DYING by ERNEST J. GAINES
52) A book related to time THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME by MARK HADDON
I finished the challenge yesterday5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge
- Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
- Under a Summer Sky by Nan Lassiter
- Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
- The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
- Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson
- The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
- The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis
- Greenwood by Michael Christie
- Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
- Someone We Know by Shari Lapena
- My most creative twist on a prompt
A book about an event or era in history taken from the Billy Joel song "We Didn't Start the
Fire"
Read: The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
- The prompt I cheated on
I'm thinking it must have been Book Charmer because I cannot figure out how I defined that as having a geometric pattern unless it was on the back or the spine :)
- My favorite prompt A book with emotion in the title
- My least favorite prompt A book by an author on the Abe List of 100 Essential Female Writers
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!) Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!) none really
My full list of books- my reviews can be found on my posts for the months at
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
√ 1. A book with a title that doesn't contain the letters A, T or Y
Read: Eggs on Ice by Laura Childs
√ 2. A book by an author whose last name is one syllable
Read: This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay
√ 3. A book that you are prompted to read because of something you read in 2019
Read: The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
√ 4. A book set in a place or time that you wouldn't want to live
Read: The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenoff
√ 5. The first book in a series that you have not started
Read: Dogs Don't Lie by Lisa Shay
√ 6. A book with a mode of transportation on the cover
Read: Stealth by Stuart Woods
√ 7. A book set in the southern hemisphere
Read: Cabs, Cakes, and Corpses by Jennifer Joy
√ 8. A book with a two-word title where the first word is "The"
Read: The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis
√ 9. A book that can be read in a day
Read: Three Widows and a Corpse by Debra Sennefelder
√ 10. A book that is between 400-600 pages
Read: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
√ 11. A book originally published in a year that is a prime number
Read: The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
√ 12. A book that is a collaboration between 2 or more people
Read: The 19th Christmas by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro
√ 13. A prompt from a previous Around the Year in 52 Books challenge (Link) - Chose- A Between the Numbers Book
Read: Kiki Lowenstein and the Purple Passion by Joanna Campbell Slan
√ 14. A book by an author on the Abe List of 100 Essential Female Writers (link)
Read: The Secret History by Donna Tartt
√ 15. A book set in a global city
Read: Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl
√ 16. A book set in a rural or sparsely populated area
Read: Toxic Toffee by Amanda Flower
√ 17. A book with a neurodiverse character
Read: : Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
√ 18. A book by an author you've only read once before
Read: Death by Jack-o'-Lantern by Alexis Morgan
√ 19. A fantasy book
Read: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis
√ 20. The 20th book [on your TBR, in a series, by an author, on a list, etc.] by VM Burns
Read: Bookmarked for Murder
√ 21. A book related to Maximilian Hell, the noted astronomer and Jesuit Priest who was born in 1720
Read: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil DeGrasse
√ 22. A book with the major theme of survival
Read: Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
√ 23. A book featuring an LGBTQIA+ character or by an LGBTQIA+ author
Read: Swipe Right for Murderby Derek Milman
√ 24. A book with an emotion in the title
Read: Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson
√ 25. A book related to the arts
Read: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
√ 26. A book from the 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards
Read: Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
√ 27. A history or historical fiction
Read: The Opium Lord's Daughter by Robert Wang
√ 28. A book by an Australian, Canadian or New Zealand author
Read: Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
√ 29. An underrated book, a hidden gem or a lesser known book
Read: The Lost Letters of William Woolf by Helen Cullen
√ 30. A book from the New York Times '100 Notable Books' list for any year
Read: Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips
√ 31. A book inspired by a leading news story
Read: The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani
√ 32. A book related to the 2020 Olympic Summer Games in Japan
Read: Private Gamesby James Patterson
√ 33. A book about a non-traditional family
Read: Normal People by Sally Rooney
√ 34. A book from a genre or sub genre that starts with a letter in your name
Read: Let's Fake a Deal by Sherry Harris
√ 35. A book with a geometric pattern or element on the cover
Read: The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins
√ 36. A book from your TBR/wishlist that you don't recognize, recall putting there, or put there on a whim
Read: The Secret Box by Whitaker Ringwald
√ 37. Two books that are related to each other as a pair of binary opposites: Book #1
Read: Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
√ 38. Two books that are related to each other as a pair of binary opposites: Book #2
Read: Under a Summer Sky by Nan Rossiter
√ 39. A book by an author whose real name(s) you're not quite sure how to pronounce
Read: Aunty Lee's Delights by Ovidia Yu
√ 40. A book with a place name in the title
Read: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
√ 41. A mystery
Read: An Appetite for Murder by Lucy Burdette
√ 42. A book that was nominated for one of the ‘10 Most Coveted Literary Prizes in the World’ (link)
Read: Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen won a Costa in 2018 for Children's
√ 43. A book related to one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse
Read: Shell Game by Sara Paretsky
√ 44. A book related to witches
Read: Cyrus LongBones and the Curse of the Sea Zombie by Jeremy Mathiesen
√ 45. A book by the same author who wrote one of your best reads in 2019 or 2018
Read: Someone We Know by Shari Lapena
√ 46. A book about an event or era in history taken from the Billy Joel song "We Didn't Start the Fire"
Read: The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
√ 47. A classic book you've always meant to read
Read: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
√ 48. A book published in 2020
Read: Treason by Stuart Woods
√ 49. A book that fits a prompt from the list of suggestions that didn't win (link) A book with a theme of discrimination, persecution or prejudice
Read: Kiss the Girls and Make Them Cry by Mary Higgins Clark
√ 50. A book with a silhouette on the cover
Read: The Medical Examiner by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
√ 51. A book with an "-ing" word in the title
Read: Hitting the Books by Jenn McKinlay
√ 52. A book related to time
Read: Greenwood by Michael Christie
Robin P wrote: "Gem ~Zero Shelf Control~ wrote: "I never thought I'd finish this challenge but some how I did.( ATY 2020) I think it was down to forward planning and having books that could be used for multiple pr..."Thank you Robin. My normal reading pace is 1 book a week so I have completed this a few weeks early. I think with lockdown I've managed to get a few more in (had to quarantine last week so I'm on 6 reads for November already) and I think others are in the same boat. I love this challenge though as it gets me to read way out of my comfort zone.
I finished the Challenge, but I have not finished reading there will be more that fit, but not the anxiety. HA!I give too many 5 stars apparently.
Here they are:
Bear Town
The Hate U Give 5 x
The Crazy School 5 x
Cold Comfort Farm 5 x
And the Birds Rained Down 5 x
Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet 5 x
The Sailors’ Rendezvous 5 x
Maigret Mystified 5 x
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane 5 x
Maigret Goes Home 5 x
The Ocean at the End of the Lane 5 x
The Land of Long Lost Friends 5 x
To Die But Once 5 x
People of the Book 5 x
In This Grave Hour 5 x
The Sparrow 5 x
This Tender Land 5 x
The Photograph 5 x
Precious and Grace 5 x
Thrice the Brindled Cat Hath Mew’d 5 x
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet 5 x
Creative Twist: A book with a place name in the title. Well, I assumed that was like a city or a town or an address on the street. I wanted to read: Our Stop. I decided that was a place name. Also, Meet Me at the Museum. You have to not get too anal about these things.
Cheated On: Initially, I had Becoming by Michelle Obama for "Inspired by a Major News Story." She headlined a bunch, uh? Then, I found And the Birds Rained Down, which was about an amazing fire in Canada at the beginning of the last century. Maybe that was still cheating, because it was something I had never heard of. What makes it a "major news story?"
My Favorite Prompt: A book set in a Global City. I read a lot of books in global cities. Global? Unless it is on the moon, it must be global. Anyway, if I came across a book I wanted to read and couldn't find any other place to put it, I put it there.
Least Favorite: A book nominated for one of the 10 most coveted literary prizes in the world. Gawk!!! If you had not done the leg work I would have used a wild card for that one. Why? How would I know what the 10 most coveted prizes are? So many questions, it wore me out. I guess I cheated here, as well, because one of the books I put here was a prize winner that seemed associated with a literary prize that might be coveted.
Might not have read but for the Challenge/liked: The Hate U Give. The title worried me. I am white so that made it a bit uncomfortable. But man is it ever a fabulous book! Great writing and a compelling story.
I am going to add Bear Town to this writing prompt, as well. It is just incredible!
Might not have read/didn't like: I do like books about time and time travel, but The Price of Time was kind of ugly. The characters were selfish and self-centered. It was meant to be this way, but it was not an enjoyable read. Even the "hero" wasn't that much of a hero, because he went around murdering people.
A fun reading year all in all. What I didn't make it to this year I will read for some prompt next year. You can always make them fit somewhere.
I am done … I am done … I am done!I started this year on target to finish in the summer BUT Then covid hit and I basically didn't read anything for 3 months! Crazy year, got divorced, bought a home, worked from home.... but now I have found my joy for reading I finished this challenge and read over 100 books on my way to meet my goal of 118 for my good reads challenge.
- 5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge - Miracle Creek
- The prompt I cheated on the book about witches... I read Nothing to See Here really has nothing to do with witches but they were on fire! Lol I couldn't find a better book since I don't like fantasy.
- My favorite prompt 45. A book by the same author who wrote one of your best reads in 2019 or 2018. I liked it cause I sometimes forget to go back and read more from authors I have liked.
- My least favorite prompt The Withes one, The fantasy one, The apocalypses one
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!) City of Girls I read that for the Billy Joel prompt. I had been resisting that book for years and I loved it!!!
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!) This Is How You Lose the Time War I don't really like time travel books and this wasn't a very good one.
Here are some of my stats:
Author Stats:
24 born outside the US (although the majority are from English speaking countries UK, Ireland and Australia)
4 nonwhite Americans (not including some authors that were born outside the US but are now Citizens I just used the country of birth for stats)
33 Female Authors
20 Male Authors
Books Stats:
8 Books that were focused on LGBTQ+ community
19 Non Fiction
33 Fiction
Sadly only one 5 star book Miracle Creek
17 books that were above a 3.0
35 books that were 3.0 or below
Mod
I give too many 5 stars apparently.
Here they are:
Bear Town
The Hate U Give 5 x
The ..."
I always think I am too stingy with 5 stars, only giving a few a year. Yours seems in line with how many books you read. I see some people who give 5 stars to almost every book. I guess no method is wrong, as long as it works for you. You did read some excellent books!
I finished a couple of weeks ago but decided to gather my thoughts before posting. I also completed the Modern Mrs. Darcy challenge and the BookRiot challenge this year once again. Very fun!- 5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge
The Mists of Avalon The first book in a series that you have not started.
Slave Old Man A book written as a collaboration.
Man Tiger A book by an author from the southern hemisphere.
- My most creative twist on a prompt
Candide Related to Maximillian Hell. Published in his lifetime!
- The prompt I cheated on
The Storm A book inspired by a leading news story.
I get the feeling that this was meant to be based on current events but I went with the Bhola cyclone that struck Bangladesh in 1970. I couldn't find anything I was remotely interested in going on in the news.
- My favorite prompt
Binary opposites.
- My least favorite prompt
A book from our TBR/wishlist that you don't recall putting there or put there on a whim.
I literally had no options here since every book on my TBR was carefully chosen. I had to make something up and ended up hating the book I chose.
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!)
Man tiger. A book by an author from the southern hemisphere. One of my best of the year.
- A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!)
Reservoir 13. A book you put on your TBR on a whim.
So boring and pointless. The text just meanders endlessly and the writing is so flat. No entertainment value. No literary merit. Just a waste of paper. I DNF'd after a few dozen pages and did not bother to find a new one because I hated the prompt so much.
Finished today! https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
5 Star books that I read for the ATY Challenge:
Middlegame
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Crooked Kingdom
Miracle Creek
The Empire of Gold
The Calculating Stars
The Year After You
My most creative twist on a prompt:
I'm not sure about creative but I managed to find a book actually about going to the 2020 Olympics for that prompt, Break the Fall.
The prompt I cheated on:
A book related to time, only because I wanted to use The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue for something and I didn't have many options left. I went with the fact she is alive for a very long time and another character is short of time.
My favorite prompt:
A book related to witches.
My least favorite prompt:
A book from the New York Times '100 Notable Books' list, I just struggled to get excited by this list.
A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!):
Maybe Miracle Creek which I read for a genre starting with a letter in my name. Not sure it is a legal thriller but it was legal something and I was hooked. I hope she writes something else.
A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!):
The Passengers which I read for a book related to a new story (driverless cars) and I did have a copy but might not have ended up reading it otherwise. Characters were flat and there were some harmful stereotypes and the story just went on and on when it should have ended. Great idea, poor execution.
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Weight of Ink (other topics)The Bear and the Nightingale (other topics)
Anne of Green Gables (other topics)
Normal People (other topics)
Possession (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Seanan McGuire (other topics)Pamela Aidan (other topics)
T. Kingfisher (other topics)
Tamsyn Muir (other topics)
Alexis Hall (other topics)
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I actually liked Force of Nature better than The Lost Man. But I found I had zero care for Cameron and whatever happened to him, so the plot fell a little flat for me in The Lost Man.
Force of Nature is more similar in writing style to The Dry with changing time periods. I highly recommend!