The 52 Book Club: 2025 Challenge discussion

February 2023 - Set In Either Winter Or Spring (depending on what the groundhog says)

Groundhog day is a North American tradition observed in the United States and Canada on February 2nd. It derives from the superstition that if a groundhog emerges from his burrow and sees his shadow, winter will go on for another six weeks. If the groundhog does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early.

While this tradition has little to do with when spring actually arrives, it does make for an amusing February mini-challenge theme. This time, the groundhog will decide the prompt for you!

If the groundhog sees its shadow, pick a book set in winter.
If the groundhog does not see its shadow, pick a book set in spring.

If you do not have a local groundhog, feel free to google one or use one from a different location. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' choice for this, we won't all go the same route for this prompt


Here are the links for our Set In Winter and Set In Spring lists, and feel free to add your suggestions to them!

It's really sunny in my area today, so winter it is. I have lots of possibilities on my TBR list, but I think I'll go with The Fallen Snow by John J. Kelley since I actually own it.

Our local groundhog, Shubenacadie Sam, saw her shadow, so it’s 6 more weeks of winter here! I read Winter's Secret by Lyn Cote for this mini challenge.

Here in Michigan, our local groundhog, Woody didn't see her shadow, signaling an early spring!!
So, I will be reading Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

I'm going to read The House in the Cerulean Sea. Since I'm new here I have a question. If I add this book to the challenge should I increase my goal for the number of books I plan to read?

Jimmy in Sun Prairie saw his shadow, so I'll have to find a winter book to read! This prompt is so cute :D

Zermeena wrote: "I'm going to read The House in the Cerulean Sea. Since I'm new here I have a question. If I add this book to the challenge should I increase my goal for the number of books I plan t..."

Up to you, it depends on how you want to track your challenge. I keep my main 52 prompts separate and have a different shelf for mini challenge reads, but there's no right or wrong way

Lindsey wrote: "Zermeena wrote: "I'm going to read The House in the Cerulean Sea. Since I'm new here I have a question. If I add this book to the challenge should I increase my goal for the number ..."

Thanks, Lindsey!

Two local groundhogs, one saw its shadow and one didn't. So I'm just confused, lol. It definitely feels like winter here, I'll stick with winter.

I read A Simple Plan by Scott Smith, that begins on December 31.

Sir Walter Wally has retired. Snerd said winter. The two never agreed, so maybe I'll read one of each... Or perhaps a book that starts in winter and finishes in spring? Hmm...

No shadow for the closest groundhog, so if I end up with a spring book, I'll be back. Too bad there was no sun because I'm reading one set in winter right now!

I live in a country - Sweden - where there are no groundhogs at all. There is not even any winter this year at the west coast where I live, just a looooong and grey autumn. (I guess that's not the general view of Swedish winters but in the south and at the west coast we hardly ever see any snow nowadays.)

Since the sky has been grey almost every day for the last four and a half months now I do long for SUN so I'll continue reading one of the books I'm currently reading Occasion for Loving by Nadine Gordimer set in South Africa where (at least in the book) the sun keeps shining no matter what time of the year it is. I'll stick to this book for this challenge.

A Week In Winter by Maeve Binchy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I just read In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende
3 stars for me

I finished reading Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

5 star read and would highly recommend!!

I read February for this prompt its both set in winter and named after a winter month.

Set in winter.
The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny. https://cdnbookworm.blogspot.com/2023...

The lion, the Witch and the wardrobe by CS Lewis

Secrets of the Chocolate House by Paula Brackston. Set in winter... At least the half set in 1605.

The Great Alone is what I used for this prompt and Title starts with "G"

I read Wintering by Katherine May. Although I admire her self-exploration and honesty, I was often bored. I should add that I am not a fan of winter and had a hard time relating to her.

I read Dark Witch by Nora Roberts, 4 Stars. It's actually set in both winter and spring so I'm combining prompts.

Read this back in February. Resting Scrooge Face Very fluffly "lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers" romcom. Not my usual. But at least it was short. :)

Dana Stabenow - Cold Day for Murder

The girl in the tower