Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

OK so here is what I am thinking so far, though I have several books waiting on the TBR pile which could fit these, so I may visit weeks more than once...

THE 2021 LIST
1. A book related to “In the Beginning...” Taking this to be "the start of a series", I actually have several options here.

2. A book by an author whose name doesn't contain the letters A, T or Y. Again, I have more than one option here, so this could be a week I visit more than once throughout 2021.

3. A book related to the lyrics for the song "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music. This is my first "only one choice" category

4. A book with a monochromatic cover. So for this, I originally picked out How To Stop Time, but my physical copy of that is very much not a monochrome cover. So my options are:

I actually have an ARC of that last one, which is entirely red, no picture. That's the closest match I could find.

5. A book by an author on USA Today's list of 100 Black Novelists You Should Read. I have several options for this sitting on my Kindle, but all of them except one have been slotted into other prompts! So for this one it will be

6. A love story. I am REALLY not big on love stories, it's probably my least favourite genre. However, if I'm going to read a love story, it sure ain't gonna be a heterosexual one and so lurking on my Kindle for this is

7. A book that fits a prompt suggestion that didn't make the final list Looking at all those prompts and trying to see what I had on my TBR pile which could fit them broke my mind a little so I took an easy option of "A book with a pronoun in the title" and went with

8. A book set in a state, province, or country you have never visited. Another one with a few options so likely to be a prompt I visit more than once

9. A book you associate with a specific season or time of year. I have a few options here too, it turns out!

10. A book with a female villain or criminal. Another multiple choice prompt where I'll probably read all my eligible books I already own and haven't read.

11. A book to celebrate The Grand Egyptian Museum. Only one choice here and it's this classic

12. A book eligible for the Warwick Prize for Women in Translation. So I really struggle with translated literature. I find it somehow always reads really flat. Whenever I put it aside and read a book everyone is raving about, I always end up disappointed (Lullaby is the latest in that regard). However, perusing some best of 2020 lists, one book kept cropping up enough to pique my interest so for this prompt it's

13. A book written by an author of one of your best reads of 2020.
I've read a LOT of books in 2020, most of my best reads are from debut authors who don't have another book announced though. However, I've read some corking books by non-debut authors and I happen to have other books of theirs sitting around waiting to be read.

14. A book set in a made-up place. For this one, my TBR pile offers up

15. A book that features siblings as the main characters. I have a few options for this, but all bar one ended up being sucked into other prompts, leaving me with

16. A book with a building in the title. A few options here, sitting on both my Kindle and my physical book shelf

17. A book with a Muslim character or author. Vaguely ashamed to say that my options here were limited to just one, and that was with the author option.

18. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 1 Past -

19. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 2 Present.-

20. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 3 Future -

21. A book whose title and author both contain the letter "u". Some options here are

22. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads. A couple of options here, as one book I earmarked for a different prompt was bumped and it could fit here instead

23. A cross genre novel

24. A book about racism or race relations. Again, a few sitting in my TBR piles but only one didn't get sucked into other prompts.

25. A book set on an island. I mean, the UK is technically an island, so I could read any one of the MANY books I own and haven't read set in the UK. But that would be silly. Using the Listopia as an inspiration, it narrowed it to one choice. Handy.

26. A short book (<210 pages) by a new-to-you author. A few options sitting on the Kindle for this one

27. A book with a character who can be found in a deck of cards. A slightly tricky one, though I'm sure I have many books with characters called Jack in them. However, I've opted for

28. A book connected to ice. Only one option here, thank the lord for Sharon Bolton.

29. A book that you consider comfort reading. Reading IS a comfort, so I could put literally anything here. But I went with something that will undoubtedly be easy and charming and fun.

30. A long book. Again, I have more than one option here, but I likely won't revisit this prompt more than once because who has the time?

31. A book by an author whose career spanned more than 21 years. I have such a backlog of books to read, it's kind of hilarious and so already purchased in one form or another and waiting to be read I have:

32. A book whose cover shows more than 2 people. Nowhere NEAR as many options for this one, but more than option all the same. There were others, but they ended up in other prompts or in my Winter Challenge.

33. A collection of short stories, essays, or poetry. I am not at the biggest fan of either short stories or poetry, so this prompt nearly went empty-handed. But luckily I love David Sedaris and have a copy of this sitting on the Kindle.

34. A book with a travel theme. A couple of options here which managed to resist the lure of other prompts.

35. A book set in a country on or below the Tropic of Cancer. A couple of options here, one of which HAS been sucked into another prompt now, but hey ho.

36. A book with six or more words in the title. Again, more options here than I thought, and this is only the books which didn't get pulled into other prompts.

37. A book from the Are You Well Read in World Literature list. As mentioned above, translated literature and I are not friends, so my options here in my TBR world are slim.

38. A book related to a word given by a random word generator. My word was "revenge" so even though it's shown up in other prompts, this is my only pick for here.

39. A book involving an immigrant. Three options here, one on the Kindle, two physical.

40. A book with flowers or greenery on the cover. My options here include

41. A book by a new-to-you BIPOC author. I had many options on this one, but by the time the other prompts had come along I was left with just one option.

42. A mystery or thriller. Mysteries and thrillers are my go-to, so this could get LONG. MANY of my TBR pile have ended up in other prompts though, so hopefully not TOO long.

43. A book with elements of magic. Mercifully after the RIDICULOUS amount above, I only have one option for this prompt.

I loved the Trouble with Sheep and Goats last year. Hope you do too.

Lizzy wrote: "I loved the Trouble with Sheep and Goats last year. Hope you do too."

Thanks I hope so too! I wasn't actually that fussed about it until I read and REALLY loved Three Things About Elsie at the start of the year.

44. A book whose title contains a negative. For this, again, I have options.

45. A book related to a codeword from the NATO Phonetic Alphabet. Only one option here

46. A winner or nominee from the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards. A whopping 18 of the Listopia are on my to read list. Of those 18 that I already own though, only one remains which hasn't been snaffled by other prompts.

47. A non-fiction book other than biography, autobiography or memoir. I am not a big non-fiction person (if you hadn't already guessed). However, I do have an option here, since I discovered Mary Roach and I love her.

48. A book that might cause someone to react “You read what?!?”. Well, the book above would fit nicely here too, however I think this also fits the bill beautifully.

49. A book with an ensemble cast. I do love me a big sprawling multi-character book. Of all my pre-owned options, all bar two have been shoved into other prompts.

50. A book published in 2021. Now, my main focus needs to be on reducing my tsonduku, not adding to it. But if anyone thinks I'm going to make it through 2021 without buying another book, then do I ever have some magic beans to sell you. Sitting on my to read shelf, there is

51. A book whose title refers to person(s) without giving their name. Just a couple of options here which, as is now par for the course, haven't been swept up by other prompts.

52. A book related to "the end". If ever a prompt should only have one book, it's this one! And I have the ideal book for it.

Alright so I have weeks with multiple options and weeks with only one option. So I think my best approach is to actually follow this week to week, but dip in and out of multiple book choice weeks when one book from the correct week is complete.

1. A book related to “In the Beginning...”

✅ ✅

31. A book by an author whose career spanned more than 21 years.

✅

2. A book by an author whose name doesn't contain the letters A, T or Y.

❌ ✅

23. A cross genre novel.

✅

51. A book whose title refers to person(s) without giving their name.

✅

42. A mystery or thriller.

✅

3. A book related to the lyrics for the song "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music.

✅

10. A book with a female villain or criminal.

✅

40. A book with flowers or greenery on the cover

✅

Sounds like a great book. What do you think?

It's a beautiful book, but one that's easier to admire than to love. Every sentence is a work of art but they create an emotional distance to the story.

19. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 2 Present.-

✅

4. A book with a monochromatic cover.

✅

36. A book with six or more words in the title.

✅

Calvin wrote: "36. A book with six or more words in the title.

✅"

Hope you like this... I know I did.

5. A book by an author on USA Today's list of 100 Black Novelists You Should Read.

✅

Lizzy wrote: "Calvin wrote: "36. A book with six or more words in the title.

✅"

Hope you like this... I know I did."

Yes, it was wonderful.

7. A book that fits a prompt suggestion that didn't make the final list.

✅

6. A love story.

✅

24. A book about racism or race relations.

✅

26. A short book (<210 pages) by a new-to-you author.

✅

13. A book written by an author of one of your best reads of 2020.

✅

16. A book with a building in the title.

✅

22. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads.

✅

21. A book whose title and author both contain the letter "u".

✅

47. A non-fiction book other than biography, autobiography or memoir.

✅

30. A long book.

✅

25. A book set on an island.

✅

14. A book set in a made-up place.

✅

11. A book to celebrate The Grand Egyptian Museum.

✅