Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

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THE 52 TOPICS OF THE 2025 ATY READING CHALLENGE

1. A book with a cover that has an image of something that starts with A, T, or Y
2. A prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list
3. A book connected to something mentioned in the Do Re Mi song
4. A book set underground, under sea or in an underworld
5. A book with a weird or intriguing title

6. A book with a serpentine element on the cover
7. A book by an author that uses 3 names
8. A collection of short stories or novellas, essays, poetry, or a mix of various brief writings
9. A book that has been long-listed for the Tournament of Books in any year

10. A book about witches, goddesses or nuns
11. A book set in a fictional location
12. A book by an Irish author
13. A book involving a "group" with at least 4 members that's not a family
14. A science fiction or fantasy novel written by a woman

15. A book of secrets, lies, or deception
16. A book that fits a prompt from the 2016 ATY list
17. A history or historical fiction book set prior to 1925
18. A book set primarily in nature

19. A book with a cover that has a building or cityscape
20. A book with an animal, vegetable (plant), or mineral in the title
21. A book connected in some way to any collective noun for animals
22. A translated novel from Asia

23. A book that involves art, music, dancing or acting
24. A book with a main character who is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal
25. A book with waves on the cover
26. A book by an author with a common noun in their name
27. A book set in the winter

28. Two books with a pair of opposites in their titles: Book 1
29. Two books with a pair of opposites in their titles: Book 2
30. A monster book
31. A book with a coastal setting

32. A mystery or true crime book
33. A book by an author you enjoyed but haven't gotten around to reading again for some time
34. A book title that could be a country song
35. A book from the NPR “Books We Love” lists

36. A book with a common household object on the cover
37. A book featuring adult friendships
38. Two books with a connection from different genres: Book 1
39. Two books with a connection from different genres: Book 2
40. A book you'd consider a comfort read

41. A book that involves digging up the past
42. A book set in a manor, mansion, or estate
43. A book whose title has ten or fewer letters
44. A haunting book

45. A book by an author whose publishing career spans at least ten years
46. A book related to one of the traditional full moon names
47. A book relating to fire
48. A book with a character dealing with death

49. A book that deals with time travel, alternate universes, or alternate timelines
50. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2024 or 2025
51. A book published in 2025
52. A book with a sunset vibes on the cover

This list was suggested, voted on, and chosen by ATY group members.

THE ANNIVERSARY LIST
In honor of ATY's 10 year of reading challenges, we have put together an anniversary list made up of member-chosen prompts. Each prompt comes from that year's respective list and was chosen by the members of the group.

2016: A book originally written in a language other than English
2017: A book whose title doesn't contain the letter "E"
2018: An author's debut book
2019: A book related to one of the elements on the periodic table of elements
2020: A book with an emotion in the title
2021: A book related to a codeword from the NATO Phonetic Alphabet
2022: A book that uses all five vowels in the title and/or author's name
2023: A book whose author has published more than 7 books
2024: A book that has been on your TBR for over a year
2025: A book involving a "group" with at least 4 members that's not a family

1. A book with a cover that has an image of something that starts with A, T, or Y
The Running Man by Richard Bachman
• Target on cover
• Last read: 04/20/2025

2. A prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list
~ A book connected to somewhere you've lived
Fariña by Nacho Carretero
• I was born in the region of Spain where this took place
• Read: 06/03/2025

3. A book connected to something mentioned in the Do Re Mi song
~ Far! A long long way to run
The Long Walk by Richard Bachman
• "And I think... when I get tired enough... I think I'll just sit down”
― Stephen King, The Long Walk
• Last read: 04/22/2025

4. A book set underground, under sea or in an underworld
~Trapdoor by J.P. Pomare (Audible)

5. A book with a weird or intriguing title
Der Augenjäger by Sebastian Fitzek
• Title translates to "The Eyehunter", both weird and intriguing, and creepy, too. I like creepy!
• Read: 05/24/2025

6. A book with a serpentine element on the cover
Recursion by Blake Crouch
• Read 05/07/2025

7. A book by an author that uses 3 names
~ Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (Audible)

8. A collection of short stories or novellas, essays, poetry, or a mix of various brief writings
Night Shift by Stephen King
• Short story collection
• Last read 04/07/2025/i>

9. A book that has been long-listed for the Tournament of Books in any year
~ Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (Libby)

10. A book about witches, goddesses or nuns
~ The Hanging Tree by Irina Shapiro (Audible)
~ The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke (Libby)

11. A book set in a fictional location
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
• Last read 04/19/2025

12. A book by an Irish author
~ Every Dead Thing by John Connolly (Libby)

13. A book involving a "group" with at least 4 members that's not a family
~ The Christmas Party by Kathryn Croft (Audible)

14. A science fiction or fantasy novel written by a woman
~ Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

15. A book of secrets, lies, or deception
The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden
• Read 05/26/2025

16. A book that fits a prompt from the 2016 ATY list
~ A dystopia
The Stand by Stephen King
• Last read 05/03/2025

17. A history or historical fiction book set prior to 1925
~ The Devil's Den by Irina Shapiro (Audible)

18. A book set primarily in nature

19. A book with a cover that has a building or cityscape
Düsterhof by Melisa Schwermer
• Read 07/01/2025

20. A book with an animal, vegetable (plant), or mineral in the title
The Ratcatcher by Anthony Khaseria
• Loved this one. Bring on #2!
• Read 05/29/2025

21. A book connected in some way to any collective noun for animals

22. A translated novel from Asia

23. A book that involves art, music, dancing or acting

24. A book with a main character who is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal
Roadwork by Richard Bachman
• Definitely a basket case
• Last read 03/24/2025

25. A book with waves on the cover
~ Spiegelküste by Simon Geraedts (Audible)

26. A book by an author with a common noun in their name
The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King
• Last read 04/16/2025

27. A book set in the winter
The Second Stranger by Martin Griffin
• Read 05/21/2025

28. Two books with a pair of opposites in their titles: Book 1
The Final Wife by Jenny Blackhurst
• This title may change
• Read 06/05/2025

29. Two books with a pair of opposites in their titles: Book 2
~ The First Apostle by James Becker (Audible Ends 07/08!

30. A monster book
'Salem's Lot by Stephen King
• Last read 01/02/2025

31. A book with a coastal setting
Amokküste: Nordsee-Krimi (Sophie Jensen ermittelt 3) by Simon Geraedts
• Will be reading more of this author!
• Read 06/07/2025

32. A mystery or true crime book
The Perfect Father: The True Story of Chris Watts, His All-American Family, and a Shocking Murder by John Glatt
• True crime
• Read 04/19/2025

33. A book by an author you enjoyed but haven't gotten around to reading again for some time
Nameless - Season 1 by Dean Koontz

In the Heart of the Fire - Last read 07/01/2025
Photographing the Dead - Last read 07/02/2025
The Praying Mantis Bride - Last read 07/02/2025
Red Rain - Last read 07/02/2025
The Mercy of Snakes - Last read 07/02/2025
Memories of Tomorrow - Last read 07/02/2025

34. A book title that could be a country song
No One I Knew by A.J. McDine
• Enjoyed this one!
• Read 06/17/2025

35. A book from the NPR “Books We Love” lists

36. A book with a common household object on the cover
Do Not Disturb by Do Not Disturb
• doorknob
• I see why her books are popular, will be reading more!
• Read 06/15/2025

37. A book featuring adult friendships
Malignant by Anita Waller
• Read 07/09/2025

38. Two books with a connection from different genres: Book 1

39. Two books with a connection from different genres: Book 2

40. A book you'd consider a comfort read

41. A book that involves digging up the past


42. A book set in a manor, mansion, or estate
The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
• Read 05/12/2025

43. A book whose title has ten or fewer letters


44. A haunting book


45. A book by an author whose publishing career spans at least ten years


46. A book related to one of the traditional full moon names

47. A book relating to fire


48. A book with a character dealing with death


49. A book that deals with time travel, alternate universes, or alternate timelines


50. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2024 or 2025

51. A book published in 2025

52. A book with a sunset vibes on the cover

THE ANNIVERSARY LIST
In honor of ATY's 10 year of reading challenges, we have put together an anniversary list made up of member-chosen prompts. Each prompt comes from that year's respective list and was chosen by the members of the group.

2016: A book originally written in a language other than English
Auris by Vincent Kliesch
• Published and read in German
• Read 06/07/2025

2017: A book whose title doesn't contain the letter "E"
1984 by George Orwell
• No letters at all!
• Read 05/13/2025

2018: An author's debut book
~ Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell
• First published 1990
• Currently reading

2019: A book related to one of the elements on the periodic table of elements
~ Quicksilver by Dean Koontz (Audible)

2020: A book with an emotion in the title
~ Mad Love by Wendy Walker (Audible)

2021: A book related to a codeword from the NATO Phonetic Alphabet
~ Oscar
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (Audible)

2022: A book that uses all five vowels in the title and/or author's name
The Guise of Another by Allen Eskens
• Read 06/29/2025

2023: A book whose author has published more than 7 books
Das Flüstern der Puppen by Gunnar Schwarz
•Enjoyed it! Will be reading more by this author.
• Read 07/11

2024: A book that has been on your TBR for over a year
Run by Blake Crouch
• I recently deleted my TBR, but this book had been on there for years. The irony!
• Read 05/19/2025

2025: A book involving a "group" with at least 4 members that's not a family

All books read in 2025