Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

We're on lucky #13! There's 38 suggestions so far!

Just a reminder that you can find a full list of prompts already on the 2026 list in the third post on this thread.

A little reminder of how things are done around here:

How it works:
- The topics for the 2026 reading challenge list will be determined by a series of mini-polls, the number of which depends on the number of prompts winning in each mini-polls
- Suggestions for each poll will be opened until 15 suggestions are received and “seconded”.
- The voting thread will open the day after suggestions go live. You can find the schedule here.
- The poll will be posted after the voting thread is opened for 24 hours, and will remain open for three full days.
- Each user has 8 votes to spread between their favorite (top) and least favorite (bottom) prompts
- The prompts with the more favorable votes (comparing top votes to bottom votes, and looking at the overall number of votes it received) will be added to the final list (between 2 and 5 depending on how the votes are spread)

Rules:
- Each member can only suggest OR second one prompt
- Suggestions close after 15 total seconded prompts

When suggesting and seconding, feel free to provide examples and descriptions that may help other members understand the prompt better. These descriptions and examples will be copied over to the voting thread for further discussion. Please make them as complete as possible by the end of nominations- I won't do endless edits!

As always, please express any and all feedback (respectfully, of course), either here or in The Wild Discussion.


Moving on to Voting:
1. A book that could fit three prompts on the list.
2. A book set in a NEW place.
3. A book related to one of the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales
4. A book with a photographic element on the cover.
5. A book you've wanted to read for a long time
6. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation - religion, politics, sex or money.
7. A book that was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award in any year
8. A mystery or true crime book
9. A book whose cover is divided or split in half
10. A book with a word for a family member in the title
11. A book that is not a novel
12. A book related to observation, experimentation, or inquiry
13. A book considered a space opera.
14. A book with an indigenous character or author
15. A book that could earn you a Goodreads bookmark.

To Be Seconded
- A book with antonyms in the title.

A book that could fit three prompts on the list.

Deborah wrote: "A book that could fit three prompts on the list."

I'll second that!

Kate wrote: "Deborah wrote: "A book that could fit three prompts on the list."

I'll second that!"

Thanks!

Yay! One prompt and it's a good one! We can stop there and just take it...

Pamela wrote: "Yay! One prompt and it's a good one! We can stop there and just take it..."

Thanks!

Where is everyone? is it too early? or just Thursday?

Deborah wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Yay! One prompt and it's a good one! We can stop there and just take it..."

Thanks!

Where is everyone? is it too early? or just Thursday?"

No kidding.... I have a meeting at noon!
Also thinking, I have time to think of a good prompt!

Just arrived, thinking I'd missed it all!

I have zero ideas, waiting to second something good :)

(I'll suggest one of Tracy's ideas from the Wild Discussion).

A book set in a NEW place.
Some ways to use this:
- a place name that includes “new”: 

Cities: New Haven, New Delhi, New York City, Newcastle upon Tyne, Newport, etc.
States/Provinces: New York, New Mexico, New South Wales, Newfoundland, etc. 

Countries: New Zealand, New Guinea, Nova Scotia (New Scotland), etc.

Regions: New England, New World, The New Forest (in England), etc.

Other: The New School (a university in NY), etc.

- a new location for a character: a new job, a new house, a new city/state/country, newly constructed building, etc.

I second "A book set in a NEW place".

I suggest a mystery or true crime book

Sorry, just cleaning up my suggestion:

A book set in a NEW place.
Some ways to use this:
- a place name that includes “new”: 

     Cities: New Haven, New Delhi, New York City, Newcastle upon Tyne, Newport, etc.
     States/Provinces: New York, New Mexico, New South Wales, Newfoundland, etc. 

     Countries: New Zealand, New Guinea, Nova Scotia (New Scotland), etc.

     Regions: New England, New World, The New Forest (in England), etc.

     Other: The New School (a university in NY), etc.

- a new location for a character: a new job, a new house, a new city/state/country, newly constructed building, etc.

Jillian wrote: "(I'll suggest one of Tracy's ideas from the Wild Discussion).

A book set in a NEW place.
This could mean:
- a place name the includes “new”: New York City , New Mexico, Newfoundland, New England, ..."

Jillian- did you post that? Cause I swear I just did and now I'm trying to figure out if I somehow posted as you! (no clue how cause mods can edit posts but I'm whigged out!)

Tracy wrote: "Sorry, just cleaning up my suggestion:

A book set in a NEW place.
Some ways to use this:
- a place name that includes “new”: 

     Cities: New Haven, New Delhi, New York City, Newcastle upon Tyne..."

It's done and seconded-- want to pick something else from that list? I'll take this description though

I suggest

A book related to one of the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales

I'll second a book related to Brothers Grimm

Pamela wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Sorry, just cleaning up my suggestion:

A book set in a NEW place.
Some ways to use this:
- a place name that includes “new”: 

     Cities: New Haven, New Delhi, New York City, Newca..."

As long as you take my list of suggestions, I'm happy to work on something else.

Jillian - glad you liked my idea enough to make sure it got suggested!

Tracy wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Sorry, just cleaning up my suggestion:

A book set in a NEW place.
Some ways to use this:
- a place name that includes “new”: 

     Cities: New Haven, New Delhi, New Y..."

I'm using your language since the nomination language is yours.

Ok, how about this?

A book with a photographic element on the cover.

Examples (could not find any listopias):

Rae wrote: "I suggest

A book related to one of the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales"

Do you have a listopia or anything you want me to include in the thoughts post?

How about
A book you've wanted to read for a long time

Could be because it's been on your shelf for years, or people keep telling you about it or because the author hasn't yet written the newest entry in a series (but hopefully in 2026!)
Could be a type of book you wanted to read but couldn't find before
(set in a certain place or time, or on a certain subject.)
Definition of "long time" is totally up to you.

A book who’s cover is divided or split in half

"Split covers have become common to indicate that two characters are from different backgrounds, or to show the book is about parallel worlds/alternate timelines."

Examples - Part of Your World, The Betrayal of Anne Frank, The Left Hand of Darkness, The Secrets We Kept

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Tracy wrote: "Sorry, just cleaning up my suggestion:

A book set in a NEW place.
Some ways to use this:
- a place name that includes “new”: 

     Cities: New Haven, New Delhi, New York City, Newcastle upon Tyne..."

New Orleans
New Town in Edinburgh

The noon meeting was cancelled- but let's get moving anyways!

I'll second photographic element on the cover

Robin P wrote: "How about
A book you've wanted to read for a long time

Could be because it's been on your shelf for years, or people keep telling you about it or because the author hasn't yet written the newest e..."

I'll second that. It might finally get me to read Lord of the Rings.

Yay two seconds!

Suggesting: A book that was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award in any year

Siobhan wrote: "I'll second a book related to Brothers Grimm"

Rae wrote: "I suggest

A book related to one of the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales"

Thank you for pursuing my idea! 🥰

Nike wrote: "A book related to one of the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales"

Thank you for pursuing my idea! 🥰"

Do you still have your thoughts language? I'll use it is Rae approves it.

A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation - religion, politics, sex or money.

We are traditionally advised to avoid discussing topics such as religion, politics, and sex in casual conversation. We’re not supposed to talk about them, but we sure can read about them!

(I’ll add lists next. My wifi keeps going out.)

I’ll second the goodread choice award

( I edit my suggestion post to include Tracy's new information).

NancyJ wrote: "A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation - religion, politics, sex or money.

We are traditionally advised to avoid discussing topics such as religion, politics, sex, and mon..."

Oh, I'm seconding that! My book group just opened nominations for next year and when we put up the forbidden topic list (we have people with various political affiliations) it became a discussion of which books had good sec scenes! My TBR list is bursting!

Pamela wrote: "Nike wrote: "A book related to one of the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales"

Thank you for pursuing my idea! 🥰"

Do you still have your thoughts language? I'll use it is Rae approves it."

I'm fine with Rae's wording!

Here's the Grimm wording:

https://www.grimmstories.com/en/grimm...

Rae- do you approve?

I’ll second a mystery or true crime book.

Tracy wrote: "Ok, how about this?

A book with a photographic element on the cover.

Examples (could not find any listopias):
[bookcover:Le..."


Can you try to find something? We don't do links to individual books in the thoughts post.

There's these: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

Pamela - Goodreads Choice Award is in both On to Voting and To Be Seconded. :)

Edited:

I'd love to suggest a book with a title containing the word for a family member in the title.


Words like Mother, aunt, brother, cousin, sister-in-law, grandson etc.


Titles:Her Mother's Daughter by Marilyn French, Mother Earth Father Sky by Sue Harrison, Galileo's Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love, Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire, Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman, My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite, The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Forbidden topic extras:

You could choose a book that delves deeply into one of these topics, or a book with a character or subplot related to the topics. If you have been waiting for a prompt on political satire, spirituality, financial scandals, queer lit, or steamy romance, here is your chance. If a priest who goes to space or solves murders sounds fun to you (yes please), that works too.

You could combine the topics and focus on how to survive all the controversies and the current cultural divide.

Nike wrote: "I'd love to suggestion a book containing the word of a family member in the title like Mother, aunt, brother, cousin, sister-in-law, grandson etc.


(How will I best phrase this, I'm deeply affect..."

A book whose title contains a word for a family member.

That's how I would word it.

Pamela wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Ok, how about this?

A book with a photographic element on the cover.

Examples (could not find any listopias):
[bookcover:The History of Sound|199373354..."

Thanks Pamela. I've seen Shelves, but I've never known how to find them on purpose. I've relied on Listopia and a little bit on Tags. How do you find them to begin with?

The one you supplied seems to work, but I'm happy to look further if you can point me in the right direction. Thanks!

A book considered a space opera.

https://www.goodreads.com/genres/spac...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

I'll second "A book whose cover is divided or split in half"

Sandra wrote: "Nike wrote: "I'd love to suggestion a book containing the word of a family member in the title like Mother, aunt, brother, cousin, sister-in-law, grandson etc.


(How will I best phrase this, I'm ..."

Thank you!

Nike wrote: "I'd love to suggest a book containing the word of a family member in the title like Mother, aunt, brother, cousin, sister-in-law, grandson etc.

(How will I best phrase this, I'm deeply affected ..."

We try to keep the main language simple

How about "A book with a word used for a family member in the title"

And then for the description?

This includes words like mother, aunt, brother, cousin, sister-in-law, grandson etc. Like Her Mother's Daughter by Marilyn French, Mother Earth Father Sky by Sue Harrison, Galileo's Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love

And there's this list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...

Sandra wrote: "Nike wrote: "I'd love to suggestion a book containing the word of a family member in the title like Mother, aunt, brother, cousin, sister-in-law, grandson etc.


(How will I best phrase this, I'm ..."

When I suggested it near the start of the season I used this wording:

A book with a title that includes a family relationship word.

But I like Sandra's wording as well.

I'll second Nike's family member in the title prompt!