Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
ATY 2026
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[2026] Poll 13 Voting
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Also see discussion below where more information on prompts can be offered
2. 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
3. A book related to one of the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales
Here's a list of the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales:
https://www.grimmstories.com/en/grimm...
listopia of Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6...
Popular Grimm Fairy Tales include Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, Rumpelstiltskin, Snow White, etc. Retellings or books inspired by the Tales would fit the prompt
4. A book with a photographic element on the cover.
- See Table for Two, Shortest Way Home, Leslie ***ing Jones, One Two Three, Mobility, History of Sound
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
5. 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.
6. 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!
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
https://lgbtqreads.com/2025/09/10/fav...
https://www.politico.com/news/magazin...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...
https://bookriot.com/novels-religion/
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
https://bookriot.com/novels-religion/
https://ig.ft.com/sites/business-book...
https://ig.ft.com/sites/business-book...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
7. A book that was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award in any year
https://www.goodreads.com/list/tag?id...
9. A book whose 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...
10. A book with a word for a family member in the title
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
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
11. A book that is not a novel
Could be a play/a book of plays, a book of poetry or essays or short stories, Manga, graphic novels or comics, and of course, any non-fiction including biographies or memoirs
12. A book related to observation, experimentation, or inquiry
The prompt can be taken as a science prompt, but experimenting could go in the direction of sexual experimentation or using new spices in a cooking recipe.
Inquiry could be a political or criminal investigation as well, so this can be easily broadened away from something science-y.
I would read a book about birding, personally.
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
13. A book considered a space opera
https://www.goodreads.com/genres/spac...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
15. A book that could earn you a Goodreads bookmark.
Goodreads awards bookmarks for reading at least one book a month, reaching the goal you set with them for number of books read, or for reading a book off of one of their lists that they post throughout the year. Unfortunately, GR doesn't tell you in advance which lists will earn you bookmarks, and there's a time limit that can be for as short as 1 month. But I said COULD - so reading a book that is on the list after/before the time periods would also be a KISS option.
I can't add links right now, but if you're on the desktop version, you go to the drop down menu that has your profile, choose the 'reading challenge's option and it takes you there.
That suggestion round seems to have actually benefitted from taking its time. This is a really great bunch of prompts. I'm seriously thinking of going seven up. (I generally think it's better to go half and half, but I don't feel that strongly about downvoting any but one.)
Interesting line-up for Round 13. Here are the prompts I'm most likely to upvote for this round: - A book that could fit three prompts on the list
- A book that was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award in any year
- A book with an indigenous character or author
Mod
And the title with antonyms didn't have time to get seconded!
A book that could fit three prompts on the list is my favorite. It is such a fun treasure hunt. The pre-poll prompts alone would be perfect for this:A book with a road trip or long journey
A book with a primarily red, green or blue cover
A book related to blood, sweat, or tears
And any number of other prompts groups would work, too.
I also really like NEW place, forbidden topic, not a novel, and space opera.
I need more votes. At first glance I want to vote 5 up and 6 down.
I decided to experiment this time and make some comments based on how I would vote with no context and not reading discussions of any kind (other than the NEW prompt... I saw that the other day). A lot of people vote that way, so I thought it would be instructive to see how prompts land when you have no context:1. A book that could fit three prompts on the list. I’m not sure I love the idea of a prompt being reliant on other prompts.
2. A book set in a NEW Place Not sure. I’d probably just default to a book set in New York. I read so widely that I’m not sure what kind of new setting I could come up with. Maybe a new-to-me fantasy book with a unique world? Just spit balling.
3. A book related to one of the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales Neutral. I’m sure I could come up with something, but we already have five other related to prompts (by my count).
4. A book with a photographic element on the cover. I’d probably use it for a memoir since that didn’t get in.
5. A book you've wanted to read for a long time Seems like another “read a book” prompt, but it’ll almost certainly get in. I’ll just use it to read something that’s been on my TBR list for a while.
6. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation - religion, politics, sex or money. This is intriguing. No idea what I’d read, but it sounds like something interesting to dig into.
7. A book that was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award in any year Well, we don’t have any award prompts. A quick glance at the first few years tells me that I do have books on my TBR that would work.
8. A mystery or true crime book This is one of my favorite genres, so it’s a no-brainer. Of course, I’ll upvote it.
9. A book whose cover is divided or split in half I’m jotting down these thoughts without reading the conversation around the prompts, so I have no idea what this means. I’ll have to look at the examples to see what I’d be looking for.
10. A book with a word for a family member in the title Neutral. I have a couple of things that would work.
11. A book that is not a novel I have plays, poetry, memoirs, etc. on my TBR list. I can work with this.
12. A book related to observation, experimentation, or inquiry Neutral.
13. A book considered a space opera Neutral.
14. A book with an indigenous character or author I’m sure I have something that would work for this. In fact, I have Love Medicine around here somewhere.
15. A book that could earn you a Goodreads bookmark. This is another one I have to read up on. I have no idea what it’s asking for.
Now, to actually read up on these.
Mod
For new you can do to new to the characters prompts.
I sometimes do Indigenous files at work and we were told that the new writing guidelines are to use a capital I.If the prompt gets in, can we spell it as Indigenous.
Beyond that, I see some prompts I haven't seen a zillion times"
- A book set in a NEW Place
- A book related to one of the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales
- A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation - religion, politics, sex or money.
I personally dislike SF. But I also dislike historical fiction, contrary to the rest of the group, so what do I know.
Initial thoughts:1 A book that could fit three prompts on the list.
I like working these out, so an upvote.
2. A book set in a NEW Place
Don't mind this, although we already have a location prompt, plus road trip, but it could be interesting.
3. A book related to one of the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales
Can't think of anything off hand, but no doubt could manage something. One to think about.
4. A book with a photographic element on the cover.
I seconded this prompt so....
5. A book you've wanted to read for a long time
A real heart sinker for me, that will probably be popular. If I haven't read a book that interests me it's because it's not available in the library system and I am not quite interested enough to buy it. Absolutely nothing comes to mind.
6. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation - religion, politics, sex or money.
I really like this one.
7. A book that was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award in any year
Reasonable choices for a list prompt.
8. A mystery or true crime book
We have this one this year. I wouldn't down vote it because it's so easy, but I wouldn't upvote either.
9. A book whose cover is divided or split in half
Another neutral
10. A book with a word for a family member in the title
I like this one
11. A book that is not a novel
Possible
12. A book related to observation, experimentation, or inquiry
Some interesting possibilities - an upvote
13. A book considered a space opera .
Sci-fi - not my cup of tea/coffee or any other beverage
14. A book with an indigenous character or author
Fine
15. A book that could earn you a Goodreads bookmark.
Don't do this, don't want to have to do it to fulfill a prompt.
Voting will open in the morning of September 12 and results will be posted in the morning of September 16 (CST time).
How it works:
- When the voting opens, follow the link to the mini-poll that will be added at the end of this post
- You have a total of 8 votes this poll to spread across your favorite and least favorite prompts (you can also use less than 8 votes)
- You can find examples of acceptable voting practices on the Introduction thread
- 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
We are asking people to include their Goodreads profile address when they vote. To find this, just go to your own profile and then copy the URL/web address. If for some reason you can't link to your Goodreads profile, please post your full Goodreads name with enough identifiable information that we'll be able to access your profile.
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.
Feel free to discuss the prompts below, but please remember to be respectful to the other group members. Additional information or suggestions for the prompts may also be posted below- the thoughts and ideas post only transfers them from the other thread.
Voting will open tomorrow, September 12