Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Here are the results from our 2020 reading survey!







Of the people that completed the survey, 10% completed the challenge in order (or approximately in order). One member chose to read 52 books from 52 countries, excluding the US and the UK.

The favorite book of the year was The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune.
Other notable favorites included:
- Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
- The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
- Recursion by Blake Crouch

The top three favorite prompts of 2020 were:
- Week 37/38. Two books that are related to each other as a pair of binary opposites
- Week 46. A book about an event or era in history taken from the Billy Joel song "We Didn't Start the Fire"
- Week 3. A book that you are prompted to read because of something you read in 2019

The three least favorite prompts of 2020 were:
- Week 21. A book related to Maximilian Hell, the noted astronomer and Jesuit Priest who was born in 1720
- Week 20. The 20th book [on your TBR, in a series, by an author, on a list, etc.]
- Week 32. A book related to the 2020 Olympic Summer Games in Japan

Most people didn't use their Wild Card, but if they did, it was for Week 20: The 20th book.

The prompts that were the hardest to find books for were:
- Week 21. A book related to Maximilian Hell, the noted astronomer and Jesuit Priest who was born in 1720
- Week 20. The 20th book [on your TBR, in a series, by an author, on a list, etc.]
- Week 11. A book originally published in a year that is a prime number

Hope you enjoyed this look back at 2020!

I am always amazed at how many books people read in a year. Thanks to ATY, I am one step above 52... so to see that people read 2 or 3 times that...OMG. Congratulations all!

It is always interesting to see the results. My library copy of The House in the Cerulean Sea is a six month wait but I’m looking forward to it. I’m surprised that the 37/38 were in the top as favorites. Maybe, it was doing it in order but I did not enjoy them. I went with titles having “First” and “Last” so I’m doing something different this year for the beginning and end prompts (though I have no idea what I’m actually going to do).

Due to Covid and the library being closed I was not able to read the book I wanted for prompt 21., but I have since bought a used copy of The Sparrow and can use it for this years challenge.

Wow, I'm blown away that so many people read over 200 books! That's truly astounding to me.

I actually haven't heard much about The House in the Cerulean Sea but that may be because I'm not a big fantasy. I'm definitely no surprised by the other popular books.

Very interesting data! Definitely agree that it blows my mind that so many people read 200+ books! I feel so accomplished hitting 75!

Steve wrote: "Very interesting data! Definitely agree that it blows my mind that so many people read 200+ books! I feel so accomplished hitting 75!"

75 still puts you in the top 1% of Americans (I don't know about other countries.) Apparently, the average is 12, which means many people read way less.

Robin P wrote: "Steve wrote: "Very interesting data! Definitely agree that it blows my mind that so many people read 200+ books! I feel so accomplished hitting 75!"

75 still puts you in the top 1% of Americans (..."

I've definitely noticed that on YouTube. Many people set goals to read 12. That aways makes me feel much more accomplished since I have yet to hit my 75-book goal.

While I read 100+ books, I recognize that I read a couple of middle school books in that list. So I'm not always impressed with the number of books. I failed to finish matching books to the challenge but enjoyed the challenge in the beginning as it inspired me to look for books outside the usual.

Yeah plus some people are just naturally fast readers. My aunt can finish a 400 pager in a single sitting of a couple hours. I can't do that.

I’ve moved away from counting books and focus on the number of pages read in a year. I don’t avoid long books when I do this. I set my page goal on the year I read 200 books. In 2020 I exceeded the page goal by a bit (63,024) but was 10 short of 200 books. I keep thinking about not counting, but I guess I like lists and counting and goals. What ever your goal is, pat yourself on the back for reading at all. Some years its hard to find the time. I’ve been int the under 12 category I’m sure - but now that I’m retired - lofty goals.