Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

I have been fussing over this for a while, so I might as well post it.

The 2019 List

50/52

✔ 1. A book that was nominated for or won an award in a genre you enjoy
All Systems Red by Martha Wells (01/10/2019) ★★★★
✔ 2. A book with one of the 5 W's in the title (Who, What, Where, When, Why)
Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss (10/27/2019) ★★★★★
✔ 3. A book where the author’s name contains A, T, and Y WILD CARD
The Prince (11/12/2019) ★★★★★
✔ 4. A book with a criminal character (i.e. assassin, pirate, thief, robber, scoundrel etc.)
The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain (01/03/2019) ★★★
✔ 5. A book by Shakespeare or inspired by Shakespeare
William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back by Ian Doescher (06/26/2019) ★★★★

✔ 6. A book with a dual timeline
The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson (11/24/2019) ★★★
✔ 7. 2 books related to the same topic, genre, or theme: Book #1
The Institute by Stephen King (09/12/2019) ★★★★
✔ 8. 2 books related to the same topic, genre, or theme: Book #2
Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater (11/17/2019) ★★★★★
✔ 9. A book from one of the top 5 money making genres (romance/erotica, crime/mystery, religious/inspirational, science fiction/fantasy or horror)
Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett (08/29/2019) ★★★

✔ 10. A book featuring an historical figure
The Alienist by Caleb Carr (01/31/2019) ★★★★★
✔ 11. A book related to one of the 12 Zodiac Chinese Animals
Mystery at Maplemead Castle by Kitty French - dog (06/12/2019) ★★★★
✔ 12. A book about reading, books or an author/writer
Art Matters by Neil Gaiman (01/31/2019) ★★★★★
13. A book that is included on a New York Public Library Staff Picks list
Circe by Madeline Miller
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

✔ 14. A book with a title, subtitle or cover relating to an astronomical term
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (10/06/2019) ★★★★★
✔ 15. A book by an author from a Mediterranean country or set in a Mediterranean country
The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djèlí Clark - Egypt (05/31/2019) ★★★★
✔ 16. A book told from multiple perspectives
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner (02/05/2019) ★★★★
✔ 17. A speculative fiction (i.e. fantasy, sci-fi, horror, dystopia)
Lock In by John Scalzi (currently reading) ★★★★★
✔ 18. A book related to one of the elements on the periodic table of elements
Two Ravens and One Crow by Kevin Hearne - Iron Druid series (11/11/2019) ★★★★

✔ 19. A book by an author who has more than one book on your TBR
Prayers for Rain by Dennis Lehane (09/08/2019) ★★★★
✔ 20. A book featuring indigenous people of a country
There There by Tommy Orange (01/02/2019) ★★★★★
✔ 21. A book from one of the polarizing or close call votes
A Study in Emerald by Neil Gaiman (09/21/2019) ★★★★ - under 200 pages
✔ 22. A book with a number in the title or on the cover
Mile 81 by Stephen King (11/28/2019) ★★

✔ 23. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #1 Something Old
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Unknown more than 600 years old (06/25/2019) ★★★★
✔ 24. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #2 Something New
Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell - new-to-me-author (07/14/2019) ★★★★★
✔ 25. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #3 Something Borrowed
The Very Thirsty Vampire: A Parody by Michael Teitelbaum - parody of A Very Hungry Caterpillar (06/30/2019) ★★★★
✔ 26. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #4 Something Blue
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone- cover and character name (12/05/2019) ★★★★★

I got cut off in the other post. So here are the rest.

✔ 27. A book off of the 1001 books to read before you die list
Foundation by Isaac Asimov (09/02/2019) ★★★
✔ 28. A book related to something cold (i.e. theme, title, author, cover, etc.)
Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman title and theme (12/04/2019) ★★★★
✔ 29. A book published before 1950
Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (08/09/2019) ★★
✔ 30. A book featuring an elderly character
Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie (07/19/2019) ★★★★
✔ 31. A children’s classic you’ve never read
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming (08/01/2019) ★★★★★

✔ 32. A book with more than 500 pages
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (01/19/2019) ★★★★
✔ 33. A book you have owned for at least a year, but have not read yet
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (12/23/2019) ★★
✔ 34. A book with a person's name in the title
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (03/11/2019) ★★★★★
✔ 35. A psychological thriller
Lock Every Door by Riley Sager (07/31/2019) ★★★★

✔ 36. A book featured on an NPR Best Books of the Year list
The Dead Mountaineer's Inn by Arkady Strugatsky & Boris Strugatsky (01/06/2019) ★★★
✔ 37. A book set in a school or university
Magic for Liars (07/07/2019) ★★★★
✔ 38. A book not written in traditional novel format (poetry, essay, epistolary, graphic novel, etc)
R.U.R. by Karel Čapek (06/01/2019) ★★★
✔ 39. A book with a strong sense of place or where the author brings the location/setting to life
Dark Carnival by Nancy K. Duplechain (08/26/2019) ★★★
✔ 40. A book you stumbled upon
Child of the Moon by Jessica Semaan (02/10/2019) ★★

✔ 41. A book from the 2018 GR Choice Awards
Head On by John Scalzi (06/28/2019) ★★★★
✔ 42. A book with a monster or "monstrous" character
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (07/08/2019) ★★★★
✔ 43. A book related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) [fiction or nonfiction]
The Martian by Andy Weir (11/22/2019) ★★★★
✔ 44. A book related in some way to a tv show/series or movie you enjoyed (same topic, same era, book appeared in the show/movie, etc.)
Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love by Jonathan Van Ness - written by one of the show's stars (10/23/2019) ★★★★

45. A multi-generational saga
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
✔ 46. A book with a (mostly) black cover
On the Come Up by Angie Thomas (02/12/2019) ★★★★
✔ 47. A book related to food (i.e. title, cover, plot, etc.)
Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie (11/29/2019) ★★★
✔ 48. A book that was a finalist or winner for the National Book Award for any year
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt (09/21/2019) ★★★★

✔ 49. A book written by a Far East Asian author or set in a Far East Asian country
An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro (11/8/2019) ★★★★
✔ 50. A book that includes a journey (physical, health, or spiritual)
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (12/20/2019) ★★★★★
✔ 51. A book published in 2019
Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service by Gary Sinise (02/27/2019) ★★★★
✔ 52. A book with a weird or intriguing title
Art of Birds by Pablo Neruda (06/18/2019) ★★

The 52 topics:

1. A book that was nominated for or won an award in a genre you enjoy
2. A book with one of the 5 W's in the title (Who, What, Where, When, Why)
3. A book where the author’s name contains A, T, and Y
4. A book with a criminal character (i.e. assassin, pirate, thief, robber, scoundrel etc)

5. A book by Shakespeare or inspired by Shakespeare
6. A book with a dual timeline
7. 2 books related to the same topic, genre, or theme: Book #1
8. 2 books related to the same topic, genre, or theme: Book #2

9. A book from one of the top 5 money making genres (romance/erotica, crime/mystery, religious/inspirational, science fiction/fantasy or horror)
10. A book featuring an historical figure
11. A book related to one of the 12 Zodiac Chinese Animals (title, cover, subject)
12. A book about reading, books or an author/writer

13. A book that is included on a New York Public Library Staff Picks list
14. A book with a title, subtitle or cover relating to an astronomical term
15. A book by an author from a Mediterranean country or set in a Mediterranean country
16. A book told from multiple perspectives
17. A speculative fiction (i.e. fantasy, scifi, horror, dystopia)

18. A book related to one of the elements on the periodic table of elements
19. A book by an author who has more than one book on your TBR
20. A book featuring indigenous people of a country
21. A book from one of the polarizing or close call votes

22. A book with a number in the title or on the cover
23. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #1 Something Old
24. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #2 Something New
25. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #3 Something Borrowed

26. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #4 Something Blue
27. A book off of the 1001 books to read before you die list
28. A book related to something cold (i.e. theme, title, author, cover, etc.)
29. A book published before 1950
30. A book featuring an elderly character

31. A children’s classic you’ve never read
32. A book with more than 500 pages
33. A book you have owned for at least a year, but have not read yet
34. A book with a person's name in the title

35. A psychological thriller
36. A book featured on an NPR Best Books of the Year list
37. A book set in a school or university
38. A book not written in traditional novel format (poetry, essay, epistolary, graphic novel, etc)

39. A book with a strong sense of place or where the author brings the location/setting to life
40. A book you stumbled upon
41. A book from the 2018 GR Choice Awards
42. A book with a monster or "monstrous" character
43. A book related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) [fiction or nonfiction]

44. A book related in some way to a tv show/series or movie you enjoyed (same topic, same era, book appeared in the show/movie, etc.)
45. A multi-generational saga
46. A book with a (mostly) black cover
47. A book related to food (i.e. title, cover, plot, etc.)

48. A book that was a finalist or winner for the National Book Award for any year
49. A book written by a Far East Asian author or set in a Far East Asian country
50. A book that includes a journey (physical, health, or spiritual)
51. A book published in 2019
52. A book with a weird or intriguing title

Reserved for book covers

Classics Challenges
TBD

Reserved for a challenge outside the group. Do I want to do Pop Sugar or Book Riot? Maybe...

I'll be logging whatever personal challenge(s) I commit to here. Some thoughts:

* An "Around the World" type challenge
* A "Literary Movement" challenge
* A "read different formats" challenge
* A 'read Ohio authors/Ohio-based stuff" challenge

Helpful Links:

LibriVox

HathiTrust

NY Public Library Staff Picks

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold and The Alienist are two books I started reading this year but didn't finish... not that they were bad: they were taking too long for me to read so I ended up returning them to the library.

And I finally got around to reading The Stand. (It was on my tbr for a long time) I recommend that you read his original/expanded/uncut version. It's longer, but worth it, I think. Great list!

MJ wrote: "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold and The Alienist are two books I started reading this year but didn't finish... not that they were bad: they were taking too long for me to read so I ended up retu..."

Thanks for the recommendation. I've wanted to read The Stand for the longest time, and I want to read the best version!

I was supposed to read The Alienist this year, too, but being library dependent, I had to give mind back before I could get to it. Hopefully this year!

ooh i see you like the walking dead too! I'm actually reading the first graphic novel for the "monster prompt" It's been sitting on my shelf since I started the show haha

If you decide to read "The Invisible Man" check out the thread here first. It has some good background information that adds to depth of the story.

Sabrina - I hope you'll love the book. It's got a lot of differences from the show (the biggest being no Daryl), but it's really good.

Anastasia - Thanks! I'll definitely look at the background info.

I really liked The Alienist. It was long but never really felt that way to me since it flowed well and kept me completely absorbed. I would say it fits in Sense of Place as well if you're looking to give yourself more options to include it. The author did a great job of making that era in NYC feel real.

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold is an excellent book. It was my first Le Carre and I was really impressed by it. The Golem and the Jinni was brilliant and I really recommend it. Circe, also great. The audiobook was the second audiobook I ever listened to and it's still one of the best, imo. The Left Hand of Darkness is a classic for a reason (even though I personally prefer The Dispossessed), so definitely read it if you get the chance.

I adored Little Fires Everywhere. As I said elsewhere, Celeste Ng is an incredible author. Her prose is amazing. Have you read Everything I Never Told You? That's one of my favorite books ever.

You have a lot of really great books to choose from. I love The Wind Up Bird Chronicle (super weird and fabulous all rolled into one). The Stand is fantastic, though I actually preferred the edited version (which is probably hard to find these days). The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is a classic cold war thriller that I'd highly recommend. I can't say enough good things about Toni Morrison. You look like you have this well under control. Happy reading

Rachelnyc wrote: "I really liked The Alienist. It was long but never really felt that way to me since it flowed well and kept me completely absorbed. I would say it fits in Sense of Place as well if you're looking t..."

Ooh, I'll add it to my Sense of Place list. I wasn't really satisfied with my choices for that one. Thanks, I'm excited to read it. :)

Melanie wrote: "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold is an excellent book. It was my first Le Carre and I was really impressed by it. The Golem and the Jinni was brilliant and I really recommend it. Circe, also great..."

I've been hearing tons of great stuff lately about The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. I can't believe I've never read it. I'm glad to hear great things about the other books, too. I read The Dispossessed back in college and remember liking it. I've had The Left Hand of Darkness on my list for Ages.

I read Everything I Never Told You this year and loved it. I can't wait to read Little Fires Everywhere. I meant to read it this year, but the wait list at the library is enormous.

Tammy wrote: "You have a lot of really great books to choose from. I love The Wind Up Bird Chronicle (super weird and fabulous all rolled into one). The Stand is fantastic, though I actually preferred the edited..."

Thanks! Looking forward to The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. Super-weird and fabulous is a great combo in my book!