Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Everything read for the 2024 challenge

Am planning, and recording reads, month by month (or four/five at a time). Intend to read in general order but if I read something that fulfils a later prompt I'll list it, though may change it later.

✔ 1. A book with a title that ends in A, T or Y Will and Testament
✔ 2. A book connected to something you read in 2023 As Good As Dead (read the preceding book in the series in 2023)
✔ 3. A book that fits a suggestion that didn’t make the final list Gone Girl (told from multiple POVs)
✔ 4. A book related to something mentioned in the lyrics of What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong Bright Young Women (Bright blessed day)
✔ 5. A book set in one of the 25 most beautiful cities in the world How Kyoto Breaks Your Heart
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6. A book with wings on the cover Hostage
7. A book with a pronoun in the title. Options: How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House, I Was Born for This,She's a Killer, We Lie Here, We Ride Upon Sticks
8. A book by an author from Canada, Australia or New Zealand She's a Killer, Into the Night, The Maid, Moon of the Crusted Snow
9. A book with fewer than 2024 ratings on Goodreads either Beka Lamb or Rodolfo Walsh's Last Case (to be added to GR)
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10. A history or historical fiction book Femina or Life After Life
11. A book with an X connection. I want to read Biography of X for this but given it's challenging I may need to skip until less slumpy.
12. A book that has been on your TBR for over a year Kindred (also works for #13)
13. A book that is on a Five Books List.

January progress

As Good As Dead - 3*

Wasn't as shocked by the "twist" as lots of readers but felt in general that this was weaker than the other two books. The main reason is the repetitive conversations and thoughts of Pip's that slowed everything down. She didn't need to ponder the same moral questions nor think about the impact on her loved ones so many times, and conversations didn't need so much back and forth. The actual plot points were great and if the book had focused more on the action and less on the thoughts and discussions about it I would have enjoyed the book a lot more.

I used this for prompt 2, it would also fit for 3 (among others for "author OR character whose first name is gender neutral"), 15, 25, 36, 37, 46 (as most of the action takes place at night).

Will and Testament - 4.5*

Have a lot I want to say about this one so will think and organise my notes before hopefully writing a full review.

Used for prompt 1, also fits 3 (literary fiction), 11, 15, 25, 33, 49.

Gone Girl - 3.5*

Finally read this which has been on my list for years. It was more thrilling than I expected given I knew the twists etc. from watching the film adaptation, but it was pleasurable seeing them set up with the clever writing. The final third wasn't up to the standard of the earlier parts which brought the rating down a little.

Used for prompt 3 (Told from multiple character POVs) would also fit 17, 23, 24, 25, 36.

Bright Young Women - 4.5*

So very good.

Used for prompt 4. Would also fit 3, 10, 11, 15, 17, 25, 34 36, 46, 50

February progress
Slow going this month; a mini-slump.

How Kyoto Breaks Your Heart - 3.5*

Really enjoyed this, made me want to visit Kyoto but really made me glad I don't live there. Descriptions of food and tea were particularly good. I'm not experienced with travel writing so perhaps my minor frustrations were to do with the genre itself but some of the connections were missing for me. Would still highly recommend for specific reading needs.

Used for prompt 5. Also fits 1, 7, 11, 14, 16 (lovely depictions of rain), 18, 23, 33, 45, 49

March progress
Am behind on the challenge. Doing a mixture of catching up and current week's readings so will be a little out of order.

Hostage - 2.5*

I enjoyed this and it was an easy read but there were a few issues that reduced it to just an average rating. There were few surprises, though one twist I didn't anticipate and really enjoyed the reveal.

The ending was poor and I would have appreciated more from Sophia's perspective early on rather than just a few pages. Mina's personality and opinions seemed to change several times throughout the book and I didn't think her trauma was dealt with either respectfully or effectively (though Sophia's was depicted very well). In contrast, Alex got a nice redemption arc that he didn't deserve.

I'm disappointed I didn't keep up with this. NEXT year will be the year when I actually reflect on and write about the books.