Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

And we have.... a lot of results this week!

Top:
A book related to mythology
A book that involves aging, or a character in their golden years
A book from NPR's Book Concierge
A book with a theme of food or drink

Bottom:
A book related to The Princess Bride movie

Polarizing:
A book with a protagonist who is a military veteran

Close Call:
A book shelved as literary fiction

The next round of suggestions will open around 1 pm CST tomorrow, August 24

Listopias:
A book related to mythology
A book that involves aging, or a character in their golden years
A book from NPR's Book Concierge
A book with a theme of food or drink

Wow, by my count we've passed the halfway point!

I am pleasantly surprised by these results! These were my top four and I am shocked they all got in.

I didn't have particularly strong feelings about the prompts this week, but I'm happy to see the NPR list got in and I think I voted for mythology, though at this rate I might go for something not Greek as I have read a lot of them now.

I voted for NPR and food & drink so I'm glad to see those two in the top. The aging one I didn't vote for but can think of a few books I can slot in. I down voted mythology though. That's the first time in a long while that one of my bottom votes made it in. I have no idea at all what I will read for that one.

The only one I’m not keen on is the NPR one. But good to see the others

I didn't vote for any of these but think there are some nice additions to the list.

I voted for 3 of the 4 but am fine with the 4th - Mythology. I’m glad to see 4 prompts this week!

We wanted more theme prompts and we got them! I'm pleasantly surprised by the NPR list... it looks like people don't mind the repeat prompts too much this year, with the couple that have gotten in. Luckily, this prompt is one of my favorite lists, so I'm glad to see it.

The only one I know I'll struggle a bit with is the food and drink one, just because that's not a theme I typically gravitate towards. I'll definitely be looking to the listopia for that one.

I downvoted mythology but only because I couldn't think of anything I currently own that fit. I'm sure I'll come up with something though.

The other three were all nonvotes for me, which in this case meant I disliked them less than the 8 that I downvoted so that works. I am very happy that none of my other downvotes made it through.

Four great prompts :)

I’m ruling myself out. I will finish this year’s and then take a break

I think this is the first time I've suggested a prompt that got in! I let out a little "yay!" and my dogs came running lol.

I didn't vote for NPR but I'm glad it got in, if I had another vote I would have voted for it. I'm super excited about the other 3 though.

I'm quite surprised Princess Bride is in the bottom.

The NPR list is looking better now people have added to it

Nancy wrote: "I think this is the first time I've suggested a prompt that got in! I let out a little "yay!" and my dogs came running lol.

I didn't vote for NPR but I'm glad it got in, if I had another vote I wo..."

Congrats! I was super excited when I had one win last year.

I"m not crazy about mythology just because there have been so many retellings lately but remember, it's not just Greek and Roman, there are Asian, African and Latin American stories that aren't as familiar to us. I voted for all the others.

I was looking at he 2020 NPR’s Book Concierge list & there were several I have read & a lot I want to read. Before I start planning I’m going to wait for their 2021 list to come out in December.

I'm struggling to find a book I want to read with elderly characters. My problem is that many books featuring older people are written by younger people who don't seem to know what elderly people are really like; in these books they are are invariably cranky, lonely, querulous, stubborn, eccentric, quirky, confused, and/or filled with regrets. I am not interested in almost all of the books on the Listopia so far.

Where are books about calm, wise, insightful, competent old people? Ideally, I'd like to read a book about old people written by an old person, something that has good insight. I'm thinking about just finding a book of poetry written by an elderly poet, like Ted Kooser or Mary Oliver.

I really enjoyed starting some of Rick Riordan’s mythology series this year. Especially the Egyptian and Norse. They are YA but might be a good option for this prompt.

Nadine, if you've read Fried Green Tomatoes, the sequel came out this year. It includes an elderly character (Buddy grown up, and he gets older during the book), and Fannie Flagg is 76 now.

The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop

If you haven't read Fried Green Tomatoes you don't really need to to enjoy the sequel, IMO.

You could also read a book that has a character age, if you don't want to go the "golden years" route.

Nadine wrote: "I'm struggling to find a book I want to read with elderly characters. My problem is that many books featuring older people are written by younger people who don't seem to know what elderly people a..."

Have you tried Lissa Evans Old Baggage V for Victory Crooked Heart

Maybe older people are all those things you quoted. I hope so

Nadine wrote: "I'm struggling to find a book I want to read with elderly characters. My problem is that many books featuring older people are written by younger people who don't seem to know what elderly people a..."

I loved Like a Mule Bringing Ice Cream to the Sun, and Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk.

Deborah Moggach is in her 70s now and writing books about older characters.

Nadine wrote: "I'm struggling to find a book I want to read with elderly characters. My problem is that many books featuring older people are written by younger people who don't seem to know what elderly people a..."

Nadine, I loved The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot

Jill wrote: "Maybe older people are all those things you quoted. I hope so..."

Hah yes, my mum who is 77 quite enjoys the books about eccentric elderly characters having adventures.

I'm feeling a lot better now about the aging category now that I found this old listopia
Books About Old People

They have A LOT of books on that list, a really good mix. I found several that I think I might enjoy, and I'm adding some to our list.

I like all four prompts that made it. I think I voted for three of them. Miss Marple will obviously be an option for older character, but I will collect more ideas.

I'm thrilled that the NPR prompt. I need to sit down and really explore the list.

Mythology is a good one. I recently ran into a book called Olympus, Texas. It's supposed to be a modern family saga with Greek mythology woven through it. I'm not sure if that is what I will read or not, but I'm intrigued.

Nadine wrote: "I'm feeling a lot better now about the aging category now that I found this old listopia
Books About Old People

They have A LOT of books on that list, a really good mix. I found several that I thi..."

Take a look at post #15 on the voting thread. There are many lists.

Tuesdays with Morrie is certainly about a wise, older person, though of course it has its sad side.

Not really thrilled with the mythology prompt or the food one. I had a hard time last time we had a mythology related prompt. I might just read the second Percy Jackson book in that series. The food prompt I never read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory so I guess with these two prompts I'll fall back on my inner child. It's refreshing every once in awhile to read these kinds of books.

NancyJ wrote: "... Take a look at post #15 on the voting thread. There are many lists. ..."


you are right, the list I linked to was already included in the list of suggestions, I just didn't see it then.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who isn't thrilled with mythology. I would need to find something without @#S& capricious gods.

For Aging I like the Reifensroman list, or a One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot.

Food and drinks will be fun.

I'm disappointed about veterans.

I found this book when searching for side-challenge prompts and am intrigued by it for the mythology prompt: Love in Color: Mythical Tales from Around the World, Retold.

If I don't go with that one, I'll probably try to find something else from Asia or Africa or about indigenous myths on any continent rather than Greek mythology, which is usually what I think of first around a mythology prompt.

Norse Mythology is one of my favorites if you are interested in Norse mythology. They are definitely capricious, but the stories are hilarious and very entertaining.

Also, I've read a lot of Asian and African mythology stories, as well as some Indigenous mythology. I'll be adding those to the list as I'd love to highlight options other than Greek mythology and Madeline Miller (whose writing I strongly dislike)

Nancy wrote: "I think this is the first time I've suggested a prompt that got in! I let out a little "yay!" and my dogs came running lol.

I didn't vote for NPR but I'm glad it got in, if I had another vote I wo..."

Congratulations! I seconded it, so I'm extra happy. You picked good books to show they aren't just frivolous.

I'm thinking of suggesting the mental health prompt tomorrow, that's if I can get here in time and get my nerve up to do it.

Alicia wrote: "Norse Mythology is one of my favorites if you are interested in Norse mythology. They are definitely capricious, but the stories are hilarious and very entertaining.

Also, I've re..."
I read a book by Madeline Miller this summer. I didn't dislike the writing, and I liked the personal story, but not the rest.

A few years ago, I read The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington to satisfy a prompt in a different challenge involving a book featuring a female protagonist over the age of 60. It’s a wonderfully surreal story about an elderly lady who goes on magical adventures after being placed in a very unusual rest home. It would work quite well for the aging/golden years prompt. I adored it.

Pearl wrote: "Alicia wrote: "Norse Mythology is one of my favorites if you are interested in Norse mythology. They are definitely capricious, but the stories are hilarious and very entertaining. ..."

I'm in the small minority. I definitely enjoy the stories, as I'm a big myth/folklore/fairy tale/legends fan. But, I personally find that her writing starts out strong and sometimes ends strong (like in Circe), but she tries to stretch too much and keep up the momentum for the large middle chunk of the book. Which for me makes getting through the book tough.

Nina wrote: "A few years ago, I read The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington to satisfy a prompt in a different challenge involving a book featuring a female protagonist over the age of 60. It’s ..."

That sounds perfect.

I'm not thrilled with the results overall, but they're all fine, I guess. NPR was in my upvotes so I'm happy about that one, and elderly character was one that I strongly considered voting for.

I wasn't too happy about mythology but after looking at the list, I feel a little better about it since it seems that there are several books I'm already actively planning to read that might fit. To be fair, I'll have to look a little deeper into some of them because at first glance, they don't really seem connected to mythology to me.

Food/drink was in my bottom votes and I'm a bit annoyed that it got through since it's a prompt I'm pretty sure I've had every single year that I've done challenges. I'd much rather have something a little newer to me, although I'm struggling to come up with any suggestions of my own so I guess I can't really complain.

The mythology prompt doesn't really require a retelling, I've added a few books to the listopia that just have elements of a myth, they might not be obvious from the blurb.

The Canongate Myths are a series of novellas from different writers taking on myths from around the world and some have quite unusual interpretations:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canonga...

Celtic legends might also be a way to go for the mythology prompt. Having spent more time in Wales this year, I was already planning to try an easy reading version of The Mabinogion for “Here be dragons” so may follow it up with The Meat Tree which is a science fiction retelling of the tale of Blodeuwedd.

I have a humorous YA book of the exploits of Finn McCool though I’ve yet to find it on Goodreads and have seen other accessible retellings of the Irish stories.

And then there is King Arthur who manages to span history and mythology.

Nina wrote: "A few years ago, I read The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington to satisfy a prompt in a different challenge involving a book featuring a female protagonist over the age of 60. It’s ..."

This sounds marvellous. Unfortunately not available for Kindle, so I'll need to order a paperback. I see from the reviews it is "cloaked in mythology" so would work for that too, thank you Nina :)

Joyce wrote: "Celtic legends might also be a way to go for the mythology prompt. Having spent more time in Wales this year, I was already planning to try an easy reading version of The Mabinogion ..."

Yep, a lot of stories about changelings and the Fae are rooted in Celtic mythology.

Thomas wrote: "I’m ruling myself out. I will finish this year’s and then take a break"

I'm with you there. I see myself in more and more reading slumps as the list comes together...

I’m thinking of going for salt for the food. There have been quite a few with salt in the title. We had a suggestion for salt in the past but I don’t think it got in

I was going to read Salt: A World History for PopSugar's gem, mineral, or rock in the title this year, but ended up reading something else. It's on my short list for the food and drink prompt.

Also I thought adding "drink" to the food prompt would expand it for those who've had it before. I suggested tons of books on the Listopia so I guess it's an area I read a lot.

Even though my nomination didn't make it, this is a good list! Everything I downvoted didn't make it- normally me downvoting guarantees it makes it in!

Nancy wrote: "I was going to read Salt: A World History for PopSugar's gem, mineral, or rock in the title this year, but ended up reading something else. It's on my short list for the food and drink ..."

There's so many good food related microhistories- Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World, Tea: The Drink that Changed the World, Olives: The Life and Lore of a Noble Fruit... I think I should read Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World-- I live near Wellfleet, MA and there's a common saying "bananas come from Wellfleet" (the first bananas imported to the US came through the harbor)

Lots of food changed the world, I guess!

Ellie wrote: "The mythology prompt doesn't really require a retelling, I've added a few books to the listopia that just have elements of a myth, they might not be obvious from the blurb.

The Canongate Myths are..."

I forgot about that. Was Penelopiad a part of that? I loved reading Circe and Penelopiade back to back. I might not have appreciated the latter separately.