Robin P’s Comments (group member since Feb 17, 2020)

Robin P’s comments from the Around the Year in 52 Books group.

I finished A Room Full of Bones and put it under Red/orange cover. I"m not great at spreadsheets and I couldn't figure out how to get the text to wrap on the completed page.

The 1700s would include the American Revolution and the Georgian period in England. It was good you put 1700s instead of 18th century. I've been surprised how many people think 18th century means 1800's.

Welcome, everyone! have a book half done and have made a list of some shorter books I will try to get through. I will have a lot of audiobook hours since I am less than halfway through the 30+ hour The Hallmarked Man.

It turns out I'll be home a lot this week because my husband tested positive for covid this morning and I am waiting to see if I get it, so neither of us are going anywhere for some days! He's not very sick at the moment so we hope that continues.

Marie wrote: "Robin P wrote: "I like all of these (though a little tired of book made into movie, as it gets used a lot)."

That seems to be the perception every time we get this type of prompt, but I can't find..."

You're right, I realized that it is in other groups that I had the movie prompt, so that's my problem! As Jillian pointed out, it's out in the world.

Some fantasy books have character lists and family trees in them.

I like all of these (though a little tired of book made into movie, as it gets used a lot).

just lori wrote: "Sorry about that. Didn't we used to get one of each or am I mistaken?"

It's always been one or the other, but we appreciate your enthusiasm!

Pam wrote: "My husband has a suggestion - a book with a deuteragonist who is an ingenue. He thinks this is a great idea that’s never been suggested before and I’m sure it hasn’t been. I feel like those are 2 w..."

Yes, I would advise not using the word "deuteragonist". I am a former English major and big word nerd and I didn't know it. People who just get on to vote will either vote it down or disregard it. Ingenue is more known but maybe not by everyone. Definition - an innocent or unsophisticated young woman, especially in a play or film. Lots of Regency romances feature them. Also Coming of Age stories in any time or place.

KP wrote: "History or historical fiction"

I'll second that.

The one that bothers me is people dying of cancer, since that is what happened to my daughter 3 years ago. But of course it's common in real life and in books. I was going to read Crying in H Mart but it starts out with her mother having cancer so I couldn't do it.

D.L. wrote: "Those who voted for the prompt a book with a trial (like me) can use a courthouse for the public building prompt, just a thought.
"

Good point!

Maggie wrote: "Very happy about the tops, I voted for 2 of them.

I downvoted sports team for the same reason as last time – the prompt's phrasing. I believe someone mentioned this the last time as well. The way ..."

Good point about how important phrasing is. As someone who is "creative" in fulfilling prompts, I would have gone with the most flexible interpretation. It wouldn't even dawn on me that someone thought it was the whole name. I think it's different with those British/European teams where a lot of them are "United" or "City" plus the place name. US teams tend to have a lot more variety - names of animals, professions, etc. and the city name isn't needed in order to recognize the team, such as Yankees or Cowboys.

It's tricky to get the right phrasing sometimes because we want to keep the prompts short but still convey the meaning.

1. What is your availability this week, and how many books do you anticipate reading during the Read-a-Thon? I am generally available. I try to pick some short books so that I can read at least 5.
2. Which time zone do you live in? US Central
3. Can you commit to checking in with your team frequently during the read-a-thon? yes
4. Are you interested in being a team leader for your group? (i.e. keeping track of team totals, needed tasks, updating spreadsheet, etc. -- We aim to have two captains per team so you can share the responsibility.) yes, if needed

- In the Woods
- Author - Tana French
- Rating - 5*
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) NA
- Brief reason why it was the best - an excellently written mystery with characters who have depth, no easy solutions, unexpected twists. This author has been recommended to me for years. I will definitely read more. (Warning: plot contains children in peril.)


- Mary Jane
- Author - Jessica Anya Blau
- Rating - 4.5 *
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - ebook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - NA
- Brief reason why it was the best - Charming evocation of the time and place. Mary Jane is a sheltered, rule-abiding, churchgoing 15-year-old. Then she takes a nanny job with a "hippie" family, who are also hosting a famous rock star and movie star, and her world opens way up.


- Title - A Forty Year Kiss
- Author - Nickolas Butler
- Rating - 4 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - ebook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - NA
- Brief reason why it was the best This author is from Wisconsin, where I live, and he captures the language and attitudes of the small-town Midwest. It's a book about second chances and mature love, which isn't that common in popular literature.

Well, I guess that's part of the point of ATY, to get introduced to some kinds of books you might not ordinarily read.

I have to listen to the audio of The Hallmarked Man which comes out tomorrow. I'm not happy with how the author (who is actually J K Rowling) is using her fame and money politically. But I am addicted to the series and the last one ended on an emotional cliffhanger. I have been listening to most books on 1.25 speed but I'll be going back to regular speed for all 31 hours of this.

Finishing The Bee Sting - I am about 1/3 through and I hope it gets less depressing. Will be rereading When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present because I am the co-leader of a local class on 2nd wave feminism.

Here is the September newsletter:



September - Important Announcements
=======================================
Summer Reading Challenge Entries Due Today!
September 1 is the last day to submit raffle entries for the Summer Reading Challenge. The winner of the raffle, who will get to create a prompt for 2026, will be contacted on September 3rd.
Info is here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
The Completion/Raffle Entries Thread is here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Fall Read-a-Thon starts September 6
It will take place September 6-14. Watch for details and team signup this week!

Fall Challenge begins today
You will be finding books that match letters or concepts in autumn-related words and phrases. Find all the info here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Set up your tracking thread here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Nominating and Voting for 2026 is over half done!
As of today, we have selected 30 of the 52 prompts for next year. You may see these and associated Listopias at https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/....

General information and schedule is here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

To workshop your great ideas, you can find the 2026 Wild Discussion here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
================================================

2025 Links
The list of 52 prompts and the optional 10th anniversary prompts are here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/.... There is also a printable list in Message 2 of that thread.

2025 Discussion Threads Are Always Available
Find discussions and ideas on each of the individual threads here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

You can track your 2025 reading in this thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

There is a special thread for those of you reading in order: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

When you post on social media, don't forget to use the hashtags #aroundtheyearin52books and #aty2025
=================================================

Monthly Discussions & Questions
What were the best books you read in August? Share those here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The September Reading Discussion is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The Monthly Question for September is about peeking ahead or checking out elements before reading:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
==================================================

Useful Links
This is the thread where Mods will post announcements:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

If you have questions about how the group works or... anything, really, feel free to post it in this thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

=================================================

2025 Community Spreadsheet
The link is: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Use this throughout the year to track your completed books. Remember to go under the correct tab for your first name to reserve your space. This is optional, as you can use whatever tracking method works for you.


Most Completed Prompts:
1. A book with something on the cover starting with A, T, or Y
2. A prompt suggestion for this year that didn't make the list
5. A book with a weird or intriguing title
7. A book by an author that uses 3 names
13. A book involving a group of at least 4 members that's not a family
15. A book of secrets, lies, or deception

Least Completed Prompts:
50. A book posted in one of th ATY Best Book of the Month threads for 2024 or 2025
46. A book related to one of the traditional full moon names
47. A haunting book
38. Two books with a connection from two different genres

Prompt of the Month:
38 and 39 - Two books with a connection from different genres. There are many ways to go about this. You could read two books by the same author if they wrote in more than one genre. You could have a historical, scientific, or social issue covered in a fiction and a nonfiction book. You could have two books from the same time or place but different genres. There could even be something similar about the covers. Some people have selected two books with the same title by different authors. For suggestions from our members, see this thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Nike wrote: "Hm, this round consists of no Wow, yeses! It's maybe, maybe, maybe, no and don't know.

One suggestion I'm struggling with is the Wildlife Conservation. I love nature, I love spending time with Mo..."

All the books by Charlotte McConaghy fit this - Migrations, Once There Were Wolves and Wild Dark Shore, and they are all wonderfully written fiction about people as well. On a lighter note, there is How the Penguins Saved Veronica or Miss Benson's Beetle.

I don't usually peek ahead, but on rare occasions I'll skip to a later chapter just to make sure the character isn't going to die, for instance. But generally I try not to even read the blurb on the back cover or inside flap right before starting the book because they often give away too much.

I don't have restrictions about what I can stand to read, but if there is a description of torture, I might skip over the details.

I know there are some people who will always look at the last paragraph of a book before they choose it. If any are in this group, I'd be interested to hear your reasoning.

When reading, do you peek ahead? Do you look at the end of the book before you start? Do you check any sites to make sure there aren't any unacceptable elements?
(fFor example,
https://www.doesthedogdie.com covers more than just that question).