Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

2025 Summer Reading Challenge Prompts
Completed 7/20/25

Chips and Dip - 100 points
✅1a. A book in a series - 100
This Mournable Body by Tsitsi Dangarembga - 6/16/25 - 3.5* - My Review
✅1b. A book with water on the cover - 100

The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan - 6/1/25 - 4* - My Review
✅1c. A book released in 2024 or 2025 - 100
Endling by Maria Reva - 6/23/25 - 5* - My Review
✅1d. A book by a new to you author - 100
The Scent of Burnt Flowers by Blitz Bazawule - 6/2/25 - 3* - My Review
✅1e. A humorous book - 100
A Severed Head by Iris Murdoch - 6/3/25 - 4* - My Review

Drinks Station - 200 points
Author's initials are in:
✅2a. FRESH-SQUEEZED LEMONADE - 200
Skipper: Why Baseball Managers Matter and Always Will by Scott Miller - 6/12/24 - 4* - My Review
✅2b. UNSWEETENED ICED TEA - 200
Fagin the Thief by Allison Epstein - 6/10/25 - 4* - My Review
✅2c. ROOT BEER SODA - 200
Thunder at the Gates: The Black Civil War Regiments That Redeemed America by Douglas R. Egerton - 6/7/25 - 4* - My Review
✅2d. FRUIT PUNCH - 200
Galatea 2.2 by Richard Powers - 6/19/25 - 5* - My Review
✅2e. SPARKLING WATER - 200
Beyond the Black Stump by Nevil Shute - 6/15/25 - 4* - My Review

Burger and Hotdog Toppings - 300 points
✅3a. Ketchup: A book with red on the cover - 300

Summertime: George Gershwin's Life in Music by Richard Crawford - 6/9/25 - 5* - My Review
✅3b. Relish: A book by a favorite author - 300
Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson - 6/4/25 - 4* - My Review
✅3c. Mustard: A book with a military character (serving, retired, or adjacent) - 300
The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942–1944 by Ian W. Toll - 6/20/25 - 4* - My Review
✅3d. Pickles: A book title that includes a word starting with the letter P
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard - 7/19/25 - 4* - My Review
✅3e. Cheese: A sentimental book - 300
The Taste of Air by Gail Cleare - 7/4/25 - 3* - My Review

Desserts - 400 points
✅4a. A book with a child main character - 400
The Famished Road by Ben Okri - 6/18/25 - 3.5* - My Review
✅4b. A book with a wedding - 400
Wifedom: Mrs. Orwell's Invisible Life by Anna Funder - 6/6/25 - 3* - My Review
✅4c. A book that has been nominated for an award - 400
Whiskey When We're Dry by John Larison - 6/13/25 - 4* - My Review
[HWA Gold Crown Nominee for Longlist (2020)]
✅4d. A book with a cafe, bakery, or restaurant as an important setting
The Waves Take You Home by María Alejandra Barrios Vélez - 7/12/25 - 3* - My Review
✅4e. A book originally written in a language other than English - 400
My Friends by Fredrik Backman - 6/11/25 - 4* - My Review

The Sides - 500 points
✅5a. Potato salad - A book with more than one point of view - 500
Heart, Be at Peace by Donal Ryan - 6/8/25 - 4* - My Review
✅5b. Mac n' cheese - A book by an author with 10 or more books - 500
Crucible of Gold by Naomi Novik - 6/15/25 - 4* - My Review
✅5c. Corn bread - A book originally published before 1900
The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas - 7/20/25 - 4* - My Review
✅5d. Deviled eggs - A book with challenging subject matter - 500
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman - 6/6/25 - 4* - My Review
[last remaining humans]
✅5e. Watermelon - A book over 500 pages - 500
Watergate: A New History by Garrett M. Graff - 6/5/25 - 5* - My Review (832 pages)

Total: 7500

2025 Summer Reading Challenge Prompts

Planning

Chips and Dip - 100 points
1a. A book in a series
This Mournable Body - Tsitsi Dangarembga - 100

1b. A book with water on the cover
The Spinning Heart - Donal Ryan - 100

1c. A book released in 2024 or 2025
Endling by Maria Reva - 100

1d. A book by a new to you author
The Scent of Burnt Flowers by Blitz Bazawule - 100

1e. A humorous book
A Severed Head by Iris Murdoch - 100

Drinks Station - 200 points
Author's initials are in:
2a. FRESH-SQUEEZED LEMONADE
Skipper by Scott Miller - 200

2b. UNSWEETENED ICED TEA
Fagin the Thief - Allison Epstein - 200

2c. ROOT BEER SODA
Thunder at the Gates - Douglas R. Egerton - 200

2d. FRUIT PUNCH
Galatea 2.2 - Richard Powers - 200

2e. SPARKLING WATER
Beyond the Black Stump - Nevil Shute - 200

Burger and Hotdog Toppings - 300 points
3a. Ketchup: A book with red on the cover
Summertime - Richard Crawford - 300

3b. Relish: A book by a favorite author
Run for the Hills - Kevin Wilson - 300

3c. Mustard: A book with a military character (serving, retired, or adjacent)
The Conquering Tide by Ian Toll - 300

3d. Pickles: A book title that includes a word starting with the letter P
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard - 300

3e. Cheese: A sentimental book
A Taste of Air by Gail Cleare - 300

Desserts - 400 points
4a. A book with a child main character
The Famished Road by Ben Okri - 400

4b. A book with a wedding
Wifedom by Anna Funder - 400
(covers the wedding of Eric Blair aka George Orwell and Eileen O'Shaughnessy)

4c. A book that has been nominated for an award
Whiskey When We're Dry by John Larison - 400
[HWA Gold Crown Nominee for Longlist (2020)]

4d. A book with a cafe, bakery, or restaurant as an important setting
The Waves Take You Home by Maria Alejandra Barrios Velez - 400

4e. A book originally written in a language other than English
My Friends - Fredrik Backman - 400

The Sides - 500 points
5a. Potato salad - A book with more than one point of view
Heart, Be at Peace by Donal Ryan - 500

5b. Mac n' cheese - A book by an author with 10 or more books
Crucible of Gold by Naomi Novik - 500

5c. Corn bread - A book originally published before 1900
The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas - 500

5d. Deviled eggs - A book with challenging subject matter
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman - 500
(story of the last remaining human survivor)

5e. Watermelon - A book over 500 pages
Watergate - Garrett M. Graff (832 pages) - 500