Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Ellie wrote: "Bea wrote: "5. 2 Weeks: Two books related to high and low.
Really? Why?..."

It's not any more random than up/down/sideways. It was suggested a previous year and I liked it, so I suggested it again..."

I really like the high - low concept. It’s very versatile. I like that you can use it for high fantasy, or for high/ low temperatures. This year I read The Dry (very hot), several books with freezing climates, and a climate change book.

I love the different genre/similar topic prompt. I love finding pairs of books like this.

I would be happy with nearly all of them, but I really want a geography prompt. I understand that some people don’t want three of them. I would love to hear personal opinions as to which one might be the most popular. 3 continents, 3 European countries! the four directions (or another that could work)? Otherwise I might end up voting for all 3. Please send me a message of you don’t want to post it?

I’m not sure about blood sweat and tears. I like having a familiar phrase, but I’m not sure about the interpretations. (Why is Romance in the blood category??) I would use murder or war for blood, sports for the sweat, and a tearjerker for tears.

this is the week when it’s most important to take the time to think and talk about each prompt, because the impact is large.

Jennifer W wrote: "Bea wrote: "All I could think of was the Episcopalian high church and low church designations! Maybe I will look at this among my books and change my mind..."

Lol, all I can think about are the hi..."

Sure, a high vs low mood would work. You could read an upbeat book, feel good book, romance or beach read for high. A sad book, or a mental health book for “low.

I like high temp vs low temp for a hot climate/summer vs freezing climate/winter.

High could also be a book set in the mountains, in outer space, or on a plane. Low could be on land, deep in the sea, a canyon, or a valley.

Dear Edward would fit both high and low (airplane, and sad). Many other books show a character go from sad to happy. I might tweak the prompt to read two books with a good contrast with the plot.

NancyJ wrote: "Ellie wrote: "Bea wrote: "5. 2 Weeks: Two books related to high and low.
Really? Why?..."

It's not any more random than up/down/sideways. It was suggested a previous year and I liked it, so I sugg..."

10. 3 weeks: Three books by authors from three different continents

I was neutral with this one and downvote the other two. I think, this one is the most broad and flexible enough for both fiction set in the real world and fantasy.

I’m planning on reading in order and don’t want to read three European authors back to back.

On the 4 directions, I’m not a huge fan of location prompts so having to read 4 back to back feels like too much. I also think it will be harder to fit in fantasy/sci-fi books with this prompt (at least the ones I’m interested in reading).

Emily wrote: "Sorry y'all, work got hectic yesterday. Voting is open now, and I've updated the dates!

https://forms.gle/XF5gUiWKBCv5wYPT6"




I love the seashell theme!

Jillian wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Ellie wrote: "Bea wrote: "5. 2 Weeks: Two books related to high and low.
Really? Why?..."

It's not any more random than up/down/sideways. It was suggested a previous year and I like..."

Thanks Jillian. I like the 3 continents one better too. I didn’t even notice that the prompt say authors vs settings. It makes it easier to fit in fantasy or sci fi settings, or nonfiction. I usually try to hit 6 continents each year, and this supports that effort.

I don’t read in order, so I don’t know if the weekly prompts MUST be listed in order. I guess it makes it easier to keep track, but I’d prefer to spread them out. The high low one would be easy to split. I really like the seasons idea, but I guess they are harder to place on the calendar.

1 up, the rest down. Don't like multiweek but I love the books of different genres. I love reading a fiction book and then the real story!

How does one interpret the theme of sideways? Can someone suggest how I can think about that one and some books to help me visualise this?

Nike wrote: "How does one interpret the theme of sideways? Can someone suggest how I can think about that one and some books to help me visualise this?"

The first book I think of is 100 Sideways Miles. I haven't read it, but want to.

For something to "go sideways" means to get out of sorts or not go to plan, usually on a large scale. A wedding where the bride or groom doesn't show. A murder at a cocktail party. A riot. A hectic medical setting.

Thanks Nadine! I'm leaving for the beach this week so I had to go on theme lol

Have a wonderful time Emily

I just found a great book to start the set of #9: question and answers books.

This book title asks a great open ended question, AND sounds like a fun read (and is also a memoir for you NF Only readers):
Congratulations, Who Are You Again?
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

The “answer” to this could be SO many things.

Names or nicknames (like from Poll 3): James, Anne of Green Gables, My Name is Barbra, etc.

How you identify: The Light Pirate, The Glassmaker, The Bear, Horse Barbie

How someone else sees you: The Man Who Saw Seconds, The Last Man in Paradise, Lady Chatterly’s Lover, Lady Susan, The Women (by Kristen Hannah OR T.C. Boyle)

I’m enjoying this prompt more than I thought I would. There are more question titles than I thought.

Another decent starting question is Ann Patchett’s What Now? (or other similar titles)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
All This & More

Same Bed Different Dreams

All the Sinners Bleed


So many ways this one could go too!

Pamela wrote: "1 up, the rest down. Don't like multiweek but I love the books of different genres. I love reading a fiction book and then the real story!"

It’s my favorite as well.
I went 4 up, 4 down. All my upvotes are 2 week prompts.

Nike wrote: "How does one interpret the theme of sideways? Can someone suggest how I can think about that one and some books to help me visualise this?"

If you visualize this as movement, up could go into space, down would dig in the ground or dive in the water, and sideways would be travel on land. I like this, but I decided to only upvote 2 week prompts.

Nike wrote: "How does one interpret the theme of sideways? Can someone suggest how I can think about that one and some books to help me visualise this?"

Things going sideways (wrong or unexpectet) is one possibility.

You could also choose directions in the title (east, west, north etc or left/right) - in a sense of moving sideways, changing directions, stepping into a parallel universe ect.
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

It could also be something looked at sideways on the cover - something in profile, seen from the side
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...

crabs are known for moving sideways.

In sports like basketball or soccer, players often move sideways to evade opponents or position themselves. So sideways could refer to a story where someone has to evade something.

In a business context, "moving sideways" can refer to a lateral move within a company, where an employee changes positions but remains at the same level.
So a book about changing jobs?

Jennifer W wrote: "Nike wrote: "How does one interpret the theme of sideways? Can someone suggest how I can think about that one and some books to help me visualise this?"

The first book I think of is [book:100 Side..."

Aha! Thank you so much! I didn't know of that interpretation of the word. Very grateful for your explanation Jennifer 🌺💜🙏

Pearl wrote: "Nike wrote: "How does one interpret the theme of sideways? Can someone suggest how I can think about that one and some books to help me visualise this?"

If you think of it as movement, up could go..."

Well, I did view it as a movement but sideways didn't give me anything more than how to move sideways like crabs. I think traveling on land is forward, not sideways. But Jennifer gave me an alternative meaning. Thank you anyhow!

Nike wrote: "How does one interpret the theme of sideways? Can someone suggest how I can think about that one and some books to help me visualise this?"

To "come at a problem sideways" is to approach a problem in a different way. So you could read a book about some kind of invention or innovation, a character who is neurodivergent in some way, or a story in which people work together to solve a puzzle (bringing all of their varying perspectives & skillsets to the task).

Emily - I submitted my votes just now with Rachel A. in the bar for the profile link. I couldn't figure out how to access the profile link from my phone or tablet. hope that's okay!

That's fine, thanks for letting me know!

Such a great set of prompts for this! I’ve gone 6 upvotes, 2 downvotes. But honestly could’ve thrown in a few more upvotes, as I really enjoyed a lot of these.

Upvote:

1. 2 Weeks: A book related to a beginning and a book related to an end - I seconded this and am very into the concept. The wording, for me, is the perfect sweet spot between easy and a challenge. A lot of fun interpretations here.

2. 3 Weeks: A book relating to Blood, A book relating to Sweat, and A book relating to Tears - This is just so inventive! I’m not sure what I’d use for these, apart from a vampire book for blood, but I’m really excited about the possible interpretations.

4. 4 Weeks: A book connected to Northeast, A book connected to Southeast, A book connected to Northwest, & a book connected to Southwest - Again upvoting for how inventive this is. Not sure if I’d read 4 books set in different corners of the globe or go for a more creative interpretation, but there are a lot of options here.

8. 3 Weeks: Three books by authors from 3 different European countries - I do like specific countries prompts! And this seems a fun way to do it. A nice choose your own difficulty prompt in a lot of ways.

10. 3 weeks: Three books by authors from three different continents - Quite similar to 8 in some ways,

11. 3 Weeks: A book relating to "up", A book relating to "down", & A book relating to "sideways"


Downvote:

12. 2 Weeks: Two books with a pair of opposites in their titles
13. 2 Weeks: A book that matches the season/month that you read it during, and a book that is opposite the season/month that you read it in

I have been usually using mostly upvotes, but this time I used 4 downvotes as some just seemed too hard to accomplish.

Nike wrote: "How does one interpret the theme of sideways? Can someone suggest how I can think about that one and some books to help me visualise this?"

I think a book with dual timelines would work as well

I felt like I needed to be strategic this week and voted 6 down and only 2 up. I did leave some neutral that I wanted to vote for.

One I was on the fence about and left neutral was the question and answer. Since the Q&A doesn't need to be the title, that opens up the options. But, I would likely want a book with a question in the title or it would have to be obvious that the topic of the book is exploring a question (sci-fi or science might work). One possible pairing that I thought of after voting is Little Man, What Now? paired with The Dwarf. Another pairing of books (which I've already read) is Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret with The Sparrow. If I hadn't read The Sparrow, though, I wouldn't know the connection to the question. It's a very creative prompt, just a little harder to fill.

Ciara wrote: "Nike wrote: "How does one interpret the theme of sideways? Can someone suggest how I can think about that one and some books to help me visualise this?"

To "come at a problem sideways" is to appro..."

Thank you! 🙂

Sarah wrote: "Nike wrote: "How does one interpret the theme of sideways? Can someone suggest how I can think about that one and some books to help me visualise this?"

I think a book with dual timelines would wo..."

Ok, thanks for the suggestion 🙂

Pam wrote: "I felt like I needed to be strategic this week and voted 6 down and only 2 up. I did leave some neutral that I wanted to vote for.

One I was on the fence about and left neutral was the question an..."

The only pair I found so far
Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?
If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal: What Animal Intelligence Reveals About Human Stupidity

Beautiful World, Where Are You - there are many titles that could pair with this question.

Some titles seem to suggest both a question and answer, I found the most by searching my tbr for “how to” (using my new favorite search tool in a listopia) , and got 10 pages of hits. Some were actual guides, but others were novels.

🔅How to Fly in Ten Thousand Easy Lessons by Barbara Kingsolver - I will read this next year
How to Build a Boat
How to Stop Time Matt Haig
How the Light Gets In Louise Penny., plus same title by different authors
How to Walk Awayby Katherine center
How to Find Love in a Bookshop

Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention— and How to Think Deeply Again
✴️Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath- Excellent book with examples for individuals, groups, companies, and communities trying to change or almost anything.
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone
Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It
The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World
Midnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still Could by Adam Schiff
The Ghost in My Brain: How a Concussion Stole My Life and How the New Science of Brain Plasticity Helped Me Get It Back

NancyJ wrote: "I’m not sure about blood sweat and tears. I like having a familiar phrase, but I’m not sure about the interpretations. (Why is Romance in the blood category??) I would use murder or war for blood, sports for the sweat, and a tearjerker for tears."

I agree with you on romance not being blood. If anything it would be sweat, lol. Or I guess tears, for that inevitable third act breakup.

Maybe the intended connection from Romance to Blood was that: Romance is connected to hearts ❤️ which pump blood?

Tracy wrote: "Maybe the intended connection from Romance to Blood was that: Romance is connected to hearts ❤️ which pump blood?"

NancyJ wrote: "Ellie wrote: "Bea wrote: "5. 2 Weeks: Two books related to high and low.
Really? Why?..."

It's not any more random than up/down/sideways. It was suggested a previous year and I liked it, so I sugg..."

It was only examples. Romance could be connected to tears as well, but yes - Tracy interpreted it correctly. Your heart pumps faster when you're in love, the blood rushes to your cheeks. A symbol for being unhappily in love is a bleeding heart and so on. The heart is a universal symbol for love and the heart is fulI of blood. I gave various examples to all three so I did not only suggest romance for blood.

Nike wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Maybe the intended connection from Romance to Blood was that: Romance is connected to hearts ❤️ which pump blood?"

NancyJ wrote: "Ellie wrote: "Bea wrote: "5. 2 Weeks: Two books rela..."

Ok I get it now! Hearts pump blood.


I guess I could also use a political book for this prompt. It can get vicious,it requires hard work, and it can lead to tears. It also raises blood pressure. Back when Trump was president of the US, we had to keep the TV news off.

NancyJ wrote: "Nike wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Maybe the intended connection from Romance to Blood was that: Romance is connected to hearts ❤️ which pump blood?"

NancyJ wrote: "Ellie wrote: "Bea wrote: "5. 2 Weeks: T..."

Good idea!

I am not a fan of multi-week prompts. 3 upvotes for the ones I like best (since we are going to have some) and 5 downvotes for the ones I like the least. Generally I downvote any prompt that takes up 4 weeks, but I didn't vote either way on SE, SW, NE, NW since I found that suggested ideas might make it doable.

Edie wrote: "I am not a fan of multi-week prompts. 3 upvotes for the ones I like best (since we are going to have some) and 5 downvotes for the ones I like the least. Generally I downvote any prompt that takes ..."

I agree, I downvoted all 4-week in principle. Nothing about the prompts, just their length.

Pamela wrote: "Edie wrote: "I am not a fan of multi-week prompts. 3 upvotes for the ones I like best (since we are going to have some) and 5 downvotes for the ones I like the least. Generally I downvote any promp..."

Same here--even though I liked one of the 4 week ones as an idea.