Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
2021 Plans
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Irene's 2021 ATY
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Prompts # 1 - 261. A book related to “In the Beginning...”
✅ 2. A book by an author whose name doesn't contain the letters A, T or Y
Verity by Colleen Hoover✅ 3. A book related to the lyrics for the song "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music
Wilder Girls by Rory Power✅ 4. A book with a monochromatic cover
Falling from the Moon by Karin E. Zirk5. A book by an author on USA Today's list of 100 Black Novelists You Should Read
6. A love story
✅ 7. A book that fits a prompt suggestion that didn't make the final list
(A book featuring a theme of women overcoming systemic obstacles)
Such a Pretty Smile by Kristi DeMeester✅ 8. A book set in a state, province, or country you have never visited
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab9. A book you associate with a specific season or time of year
✅ 10. A book with a female villain or criminal
White Ivy by Susie Yang11. A book to celebrate The Grand Egyptian Museum
12. A book eligible for the Warwick Prize for Women in Translation
13. A book written by an author of one of your best reads of 2020
14. A book set in a made-up place
✅ 15. A book that features siblings as the main characters
The Comfort of Monsters by Willa C. Richards 16. A book with a building in the title
17. A book with a Muslim character or author
✅ 18. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 1
When the Light Went Out by Bridget Morrissey19. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 2
20. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 3
21. A book whose title and author both contain the letter "u"
22. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads
23. A cross genre novel
✅ 24. A book about racism or race relations
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah✅ 25. A book set on an island
The Grace Year by Kim Liggett✅ 26. A short book (<210 pages) by a new-to-you author
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric Larocca
Prompts 27 - 5227. A book with a character who can be found in a deck of cards
28. A book connected to ice
29. A book that you consider comfort reading
30. A long book
31. A book by an author whose career spanned more than 21 years
32. A book whose cover shows more than 2 people
✅ 33. A collection of short stories, essays, or poetry
The Ballad of the Sad Café and Other Stories by Carson McCullers34. A book with a travel theme
✅ 35. A book set in a country on or below the Tropic of Cancer
Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia✅ 36.A book with six or more words in the title
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara✅ 37. A book from the Are You Well Read in World Literature list
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy38. A book related to a word given by a random word generator
39. A book involving an immigrant
40. A book with flowers or greenery on the cover
✅ 41. A book by a new-to-you BIPOC author
Goddess of Filth by V. Castro42. A mystery or thriller
43. A book with elements of magic
44. A book whose title contains a negative
45. A book related to a codeword from the NATO Phonetic Alphabet
46. A winner or nominee from the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards
✅ 47. A non-fiction book other than biography, autobiography or memoir
Three Women by Lisa Taddeo✅ 48. A book that might cause someone to react “You read what?!?”
Dead Inside by Chandler Morrison✅ 49. A book with an ensemble cast
What's Mine and Yours by Naima Coster✅ 50. A book published in 2021
Animal by Lisa Taddeo✅ 51. A book whose title refers to person(s) without giving their name
Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison✅ 52. A book related to "the end"
The Last to Die by Kelly Garrett
July
"New" Books: 1 book
"Old" Books: 1 book
ARC/Giveaway Books: 1 book
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: 1
⭐⭐⭐⭐: 2
⭐⭐⭐: 0
⭐⭐: 0
⭐: 0
Prompts Completed
50. A book published in 2021
4. A book with a monochromatic cover
33. A collection of short stories, essays, or poetry
August
"New" Books: 7 books
"Old" Books:
ARC/Giveaway Books:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: 3
⭐⭐⭐⭐: 3
⭐⭐⭐: 1
⭐⭐: 0
⭐: 0
Prompts Completed
15. A book that features siblings as the main characters
25. A book set on an island
47. A non-fiction book other than biography, autobiography or memoir
35. A book set in a country on or below the Tropic of Cancer
51. A book whose title refers to person(s) without giving their name
37. A book from the Are You Well Read in World Literature list
10. A book with a female villain or criminal
September
"New" Books: 5 books
"Old" Books: 1 book
ARC/Giveaway Books:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: 3
⭐⭐⭐⭐: 1
⭐⭐⭐: 1
⭐⭐: 1
⭐: 0
Prompts Completed
49. A book with an ensemble cast
8. A book set in a state, province, or country you have never visited
24. A book about racism or race relations
52. A book related to "the end"
18. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 1
3. A book related to the lyrics for the song "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music
October
"New" Books: 5 books
"Old" Books: 1 book
ARC/Giveaway Books: 1 book
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: 2
⭐⭐⭐⭐: 2
⭐⭐⭐: 1
⭐⭐: 1
⭐: 0
Prompts Completed
7. A book that fits a prompt suggestion that didn't make the final list
26. A short book (<210 pages) by a new-to-you author
2. A book by an author whose name doesn't contain the letters A, T or Y
36. A book with six or more words in the title
41. A book by a new-to-you BIPOC author
48. A book that might cause someone to react “You read what?!?”
November"New" Books:
"Old" Books:
ARC/Giveaway Books:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: 0
⭐⭐⭐⭐: 0
⭐⭐⭐: 0
⭐⭐: 0
⭐: 0
Prompts Completed
December"New" Books:
"Old" Books:
ARC/Giveaway Books:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: 0
⭐⭐⭐⭐: 0
⭐⭐⭐: 0
⭐⭐: 0
⭐: 0
Prompts Completed
2021 Wrap Up"New" Books:
"Old" Books:
ARC/Giveaway Books:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: 0
⭐⭐⭐⭐: 0
⭐⭐⭐: 0
⭐⭐: 0
⭐: 0
Prompts Completed
50. A book published in 2021
Animal by Lisa Taddeo
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Thriller
Published: June 8, 2021
Format: Hardcover
"New" or "Old": Brand New
Optional Questions
1. What are you reading this week?
First book in a long while I *had* to have and could not await the used copy pricing to go down to purchase.
2. Have you read other books by this author?
This was my first experience with Lisa Taddeo. I quickly dove into Three Women shortly after completing this.
3. What other 2021 releases are on your to-read list?
4. A book with a monochromatic cover
Falling from the Moon by Karin E. Zirk
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Published: January 6, 2020
Format: Paperback
"New" or "Old": Brand New, signed copy, GoodReads giveaway
Optional Questions
1. What are you reading for this category?
A book I won in a GoodReads giveaway. Not something I would typically pick up, but the synopsis intrigued me, so I entered and fortunately was selected to receive a copy.
2. Do you normally pick books based on their cover?
Guilty.
3. What book would you recommend to others to read for this category?
Depends. If they seem more of a "free spirit" sure.
33. A collection of short stories, essays, or poetry
The Ballad of the Sad Café and Other Stories by Carson McCullers
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Fiction, Classics, Short Stories, Southern Gothic
Published: 1951
Format: Paperback
"New" or "Old": Old, used copy
Optional Questions
1. What are you reading for this category? What type of collection was it?
Collection of short stories.
2. Are these genres something you typically read?
I do like to switch between classics and contemporary, so yes. I have not read much southern gothic though.
3. What would you recommend to other people interested in collections?
Yes.
15. A book that features siblings as the main characters
The Comfort of Monsters by Willa C. Richards
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Published: July 13, 2021
Format: Hardcover
"New" or "Old": Brand New
Optional Questions
1. What are you reading for this category?
A novel about two sisters, one disappears during the summer of 1990 & the other is left to be consumed by her absence.
2. Do you typically enjoy books about siblings?
Eh, could take or leave it. I don't relate too much because my brothers & I were not too close.
3. What would you recommend to someone wanting to read a book about an interesting sibling relationship?
Yes.
25. A book set on an island
The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian, Young Adult, Coming of Age
Published: October 8, 2019
Format: Hardcover
"New" or "Old": New, used copy
Optional Questions
1. What are you reading?
A novel that is a cross of Handmaid's Tale & Lord of the Flies
2. What kind of island is it set on?
An island that has an encampment which girls are sent to live out their 16th year, and rid themselves of their "magic."
3. What island books would you recommend?
47. A non-fiction book other than biography, autobiography or memoir
Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Nonfiction, Feminism
Published: July 9, 2019
Format: Hardback
"New" or "Old": New, used copy
Optional Questions
1. What are you reading?
A collection of three different women's experience with sex, relationships and desire.
2. How much nonfiction do you typically read?
Not much.
3. What are your recommendations for this category?
I recommend this for people who prefer literary fiction.
35. A book set in a country on or below the Tropic of Cancer
Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Fiction, Historical, Noir
Published: August 17, 2021
Format: Hardback
"New" or "Old": Brand New
Optional Questions
1. What are you reading for this category?
My first ever "noir." Written by the author of Mexican Gothic.
2. What is the setting of this book?
Mexico City, Mexico
3. What would you recommend to others for this prompt?
Yes!
51. A book whose title refers to person(s) without giving their name
Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Fiction, Classic, Southern, Coming of Age
Published: March 1992
Format: Paperback
"New" or "Old": New, used copy
Optional Questions
1. What are you reading for this category?
2. Do you read a lot of titles with this format?
3. What book would you recommend to others for this prompt?
37. A book from the Are You Well Read in World Literature list
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Fiction, Classic, Asian, Indian,
Published: March 15, 1997
Format: Paperback
"New" or "Old": New, used copy
Optional Questions
1. What are you reading for this prompt?
A novel from the 100 Great 20th Century English-language Works of Fiction by Women list I've been slowly working through for a few years.
2. What country (or countries) is it from?
India
3. How many books on the list have you read? Which ones would you recommend?
9. Most of them.
10. A book with a female villain or criminal
White Ivy by Susie Yang
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Published: November 3, 2020
Format: Hardcover
"New" or "Old": New, used copy
Optional Questions
1. What are you reading?
A novel featuring a protagonist we are told right away is a theif.
2. Did you know who the villain/criminal was going in?
Yes, but it turns out much worse.
3. What recommendations do you have?
It was tough at the start, but after a quarter or a third of the way in, it was hard to put down. Even with an immense dislike for the protagonist.
49. A book with an ensemble cast
What's Mine and Yours by Naima Coster
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Published: March 2, 2021
Format: Hardcover
"New" or "Old": New, used copy
Optional Questions
1. What are you reading for this category?
I originally selected a different prompt for this novel, but as I read it, it screamed this prompt.
2. How does this fit the criteria of ensemble cast? How many main characters does it include?
Too many to count. The novel really goes in depth of all the characters who make up this family.
3. What other ensemble cast books would you recommend for this prompt?
Irene wrote: "I took up a mid-year resolution to read more, which lead me to discover more of GoodReads. I am starting a bit late, so I will shoot for 26 this year. Can't wait to fully participate in 2022!P.S...."
I'm glad to provide inspiration. I'm a visual person too.😁
8. A book set in a state, province, or country you have never visited
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Published: October 6, 2020
Format: Hardcover
"New" or "Old": New, brand new however Amazon packaged it so poorly it looks like a used copy. 🙄
Optional Questions
1. What are you reading for this prompt?
A book club read that has me completely ennamored.
2. Where is it set?
The story begins in France. It continues across Europe and eventually the United States to many locations I would love to visit one day.
3. Would you ever want to go there?
Yes, sadly I have not travelled a much as I would like to. My overseas travel is limited to visiting family in Greece.
24. A book about racism or race relations
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir
Published: November 15, 2016
Format: Audiobook
"New" or "Old": Old
Optional Questions
1. What are you reading for this category?
I am listening to Trevor Noah's memoir I bought on Audible quite a while ago but never got around to listening.
2. How does it fit into this theme?
The memoir reflects on his birth and childhood in South Africa. Noah's birth during apartheid was considered a crime.
3. What is a book you'd recommend for this prompt?
Between the World and Me
Anything by Ta-Nehisi Coates, he is an eloquent communitcator.
52. A book related to "the end"
The Last to Die by Kelly Garrett
⭐⭐
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult
Published: November 5, 2019
Format: Paperback
"New" or "Old": New, used copy
Optional Questions
1. What are you reading for this category?
A YA novel I stumbled upon somehow...
2. How does this relate to "the end"?
The title itself reflects this. But the story itself, of a game played by a group of friends, has come to an end..
3. What is a book you'd recommend for this prompt?
Sentimental me suggests this.
18. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 1
When the Light Went Out by Bridget Morrissey
⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Young Adult
Published: June 4, 2019
Format: Paperback
"New" or "Old": New, used copy
Optional Questions
1. What are you reading?
When the Lights Went Out, a story reflecting on the death of girl five years later.
2. Are your book choices connected in any way?
Nope.
3. How did you decide what to read?
I looked at my TBR pile and found three books that titles speak in past, present & future.
3. A book related to the lyrics for the song "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music
Wilder Girls by Rory Power
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Horror / YA
Published: July 9, 2019
Format: Paperback
"New" or "Old": Brand New
Optional Questions
1. What are you reading for this category?
A book I was recommended based on my enjoyment of The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
2. How does it connect to the song?
The Girls are the Girls of the Raxter Girls. It snows towards the end (snowflakes). The "brown paper packages tied up with strings" the shipments left for the girls on the dock.
3. Have you seen The Sound of Music? Did you enjoy it?
Yes. I enjoyed it. My mother & I used to sing the songs when I was a child while she played them on piano. "Edelweiss" was a favorite of ours.
4. What book would you recommend to others to read for this category?
The movie is actually mentioned in the book.
7. A book that fits a prompt suggestion that didn't make the final list
Such a Pretty Smile by Kristi DeMeester
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Horror
Published: January 18, 2022
Format: Kindle
"New" or "Old": New, ARC
Optional Questions
1. What prompt did you choose and why?
'A book featuring a theme of women overcoming systemic obstacles.' I selected it because it stood out to me. Also it fit so I could give feedback on the ARC.
2. What book did you read for it?
Such a Pretty Smile by Kristi DeMeester
3. What other prompts did you consider?
Almost did 'A book nominated for the First Novel Prize.'
26. A short book (<210 pages) by a new-to-you author
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca
⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Horror
Published: June 1, 2021
Format: Paperback
"New" or "Old": Brand New
Optional Questions
1. What are you reading for this prompt?
A horror novella I've seen mention on this year's Halloween Horror lists.
2. What authors have you been meaning to read for a while?
Far too many to list.
3. What short books do you recommend?
2. A book by an author whose name doesn't contain the letters A, T or Y
Verity by Colleen Hoover
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Thriller / Romance
Published: December 7, 2018
Format: Paperback
"New" or "Old": Brand New
Optional Questions
1. What are you reading for this category?
A book I discovered first through a BookTok video. Since I made not of it then, I started seeing it everywhere, along with mostly praises.
2. Was it difficult to find an author to read for this prompt?
It wasn't too hard, but a lot less common than I thought it would be.
3. What book would you recommend to others to read for this category?
36. A book with six or more words in the title
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Nonfiction, True Crime
Published: February 27, 2018
Format: Audiobook
"New" or "Old": Old
Optional Questions
1. What are you reading?
2. Did you have a lot of options for this prompt?
3. What would you recommend?
41. A book by a new-to-you BIPOC author
Goddess of Filth by V. Castro
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Horror
Published: March 30, 2021
Format: Paperback
"New" or "Old": Brand New
Optional Questions
1. What are you reading for this category?
2. Who is the author? Do you want to read more books written by them?
3. What book would you recommend to others for this category?
48. A book that might cause someone to react “You read what?!?”
Dead Inside by Chandler Morrison
Genre: Horror / Splatterpunk
Published: January 1, 2015
Format: Paperback
"New" or "Old": Brand New
Optional Questions
. What are you reading for this category?
2. How does it fit the prompt?
3. What would you recommend to others for this prompt?
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Dead Inside (other topics)Dead Inside (other topics)
Goddess of Filth (other topics)
Goddess of Filth (other topics)
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer (other topics)
More...
P.S. Kendra, I love how you kept track of your progress (I am a visual person). I hope you don't mind if you inspired parts of how I am tracking. I am a newbie at challenges, hope it is okay.
Goals
Complete at least 26 books in the last 6 months of 2021.
For every 3 newly purchased books I read, I must read 1 previously purchased, neglected book from my shelf.Summary
Books Read: 23 books
ATY Prompts Completed: 22/26
"New" Books: 18 books
"Old" Books: 3 books
ARC/Giveaway Books: 2 books
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: 9
⭐⭐⭐⭐: 9
⭐⭐⭐: 2
⭐⭐: 2
⭐: 0
⭐: 1Monthly Summary
July - 3 books
August - 7 books
September - 6 books
October - 7 books, so far
November -
December -