The Next Best Book Club discussion

My approach: I'm on an out-of-the-box kick, so I'll keep track of my thinking for each prompt.
Also, I'm going for Expert, allowing myself to use each book for as many prompts as possible (at least as a fall-back). I will also keep track of the Beginner (where each title can only appear once); not all of these books will be the same.

Expert Level

June Reads:
Take Pride – Leah on the Offbeat Not my style to search authors' IRL mating preferences so I went with a self-declared character.
Into the Great Wide Open – Astrophysics for People in a Hurry Can't get much more open than this. (also, monthly section of Moby-Dick or, The Whale)
It’s the End of the World – A Separate Peace Finish senior year, graduate, and head off to war. (also Leah on the Offbeat, The Plot Against America, 1Q84)
School’s Out for Summer - The Tragedy of MacBeth a) As a mega-slow reader, I mastered "fake" reading early on; and b) School was quite a ways back. So my first thought was something read to us and that I didn't like (my def on "forced"), which is why I picked up James and the Giant Peach but that book is delightful and seemed new-to-me, so clearly not the book I was thinking of and therefore ineligible. But I know I've read the Scottish play--college?--so I'll go with that.
Sick Day – Our Town The list is so long, but here's one that I tried for at least two classes; big check
Hook ‘Em – The End of Something Thanks, Listopia (also, monthly section of Moby-Dick or, The Whale)
Sports-a-holic – Murder on the Links A little bait-and-switch, but I'm counting it; I read it for this prompt
Dear Pen Pal – "The Visitors" from The Big Book of Science Fiction Scanned anthologies for tell-tale offset paragraphs (also, Leah on the Offbeat, The Plot Against America, Our Town)
Father Knows Best – 1Q84 Though I still can't decide if I find Tengo's dad a terrible father or a noble one (also, The Plot Against America, Murder on the Links)
Campfire Story – The Plot Against America It was all so easy, and, sadly, familiar
Ocean Blue – James and the Giant Peach No limits were given for the vessel (also, monthly section of Moby-Dick or, The Whale)

July Reads:
Get Your Grill On – Meet Your Baker I haven't made any of the goodies yet, but I also haven't returned the book
Backyard BBQ – Fantastic Mr Fox A bit more tense than the prompt implies, but the family did end up together, with other families, for a big summer dinner (also, Manhattan Beach, The Nakeds)
Forefathers – Harriet Tubman: A Life From Beginning to End I did Forefathers when I was younger; now I spend more time on Foremothers (also, Manhattan Beach)
The Colors of Summer – I Am a Cat Muted Sandy (also, Manhattan Beach, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, Meet Your Baker, Vile Verses, The Roald Dahl Audio Collection)
Red, White, and Blue – Amber Brown Is Feeling Blue Went with the blue
Funny Bone – Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine This was a lot funnier than I was expecting
Embrace Your Inner Geek – Ms. Marvel, Vol. 4: Last Days More time with my favorite Jersey Girl superhero
Sun, Moon, and Stars – Babel-17 (also, Seven Brief Lessons on Physics)
I Feel a Breeze – The Nakeds This just isn't something I encounter very often
Beach Bum - For Your Eyes Only Action and adventure work for me (also, Cat Among the Pigeons)
Sand Between My Toes - Manhattan Beach Aside from the title, and a beach and three oceans being critical to many of the major plot points, the MC has "sand between her toes" by page 5

August Reads:
Let’s Get It On – Heartburn Out. But with humor and all the enthusiasm Meryl Streep can muster. I probably should have read it sooner (after my own divorce) (also, Wild Strawberries, Death and Night, Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World)
It’s 12 O’clock Somewhere – Crooked Man A couple of the main characters own/work in a bar, and alcohol is ever-present whether the scenes take place there or not (also, Hawkes Harbor, Slow Burn)
Stranded – Hawkes Harbor MC is "stranded" while committed, but there are also broken-down boats and, to top off, time on an island (also The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds)
One and Done – The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds As a slow reader, plays are always my go-to for one-day prompts
Lucky to Have You – Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet Big sale at The Book Barn
Girl Power – Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World So many strong women, and I'd only heard of seven of them Hard to tell which other authors are feminists, but let's hope at least a few of them.
Life is a Highway – In Cold Blood Not what you'd expect, but 800 miles of driving on the day of the murder (also, Heat Lightning)
Time of Our Lives – Death and Night Even when you're not eternal beings, falling in love is an adventure (also Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World)
Memories – The Real Nick and Nora: Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, Writers of Stage and Screen Classics The memories were more of their movies than my vacation, but I'm happy either way

Stretch Your Comfort Zone Tasks (all months):
Won’t Be Long – The Roald Dahl Audio Collection As part of my Summer of Dahl
Poet at Heart – Vile Verses I told you it was my Summer of Dahl (also, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Other Poems)
You Have a Funny Accent – The Boy in the Earth This couldn't have been weirder if I'd read it in the original Japanese
Read the World - Wild Strawberries Servants and dances and inheritances and titles. Yeah. Just like life in New Jersey.
Diversify Yourself –"Coromandel Fishers" by Sarojini Naidu Hadn't guessed the author was female. (also, Ms. Marvel, Vol. 4: Last Days, Babel-17/Empire Star, Death and Night, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry)
My What Big Teeth You Have – Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in ExileA murder mystery in a post-apocalyptic (for them) world.
High Noon – Bernardo's Revenge Again, not what I would call a "classic" Western, but I went with Zane Grey, so I did my part
The Future is Bright – Empire StarI always knew they built the Brooklyn Bridge to last.
The Book is Always Better – Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot: The Autobiography of a Dangerous Man It was on the list I saw
TBRing It – The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Other Poems A lovely little hard-cover from 1926 (also, Murder on the Links, Cat Among the Pigeons, Crooked Man, Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, My Lady's Choosing: An Interactive Romance Novel)
Unshelve it – The Bell Jar On there since June 23, 2015 (also, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, Seven Brief Lessons on Physics, Harriet Tubman: A Life From Beginning to End, Ms. Marvel, Vol. 4: Last Days, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds, In Cold Blood, Death and Night)
Childhood Reboot – My Lady's Choosing: An Interactive Romance Novel Some adventures are better left unlived. Maybe I should have started with a children's version
Listen to Me –1984 Audiobooks work best for me for re-reads (also, The End of Something, The Plot Against America, 1Q84), Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, The Roald Dahl Audio Collection, Heartburn, Heat Lightning)

Beginner Level AKA the Back-Up Plan

Into the Great Wide Open– Read a book that takes place out in the great wide open
Get your Grill On - Read a book that features summer recipes or outdoor summer activities
The Colors of Summer – Read a book that features a yellow, green, or sandy cover
Beach Bum - Read a book that could be considered a “beach read”
Sand Between My Toes - Read a book that takes place in or around a beach/ocean
Ocean Blue – Read a book that takes place out on the water
Hook ‘Em – Read a book that features fishing or fishermen
Sports-a-holic – Read a book that features a popular sport
Campfire Story – Read a book that scares the bejesus out of you
One and Done – Read a book that you can finish in one day

Welcome Autumn. Time to tally up for Summer, and I can proudly say, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!