Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

THE 2021 LIST
52/52

✔1. A book related to “In the Beginning...”
One by Sarah Crossan★★

✔2. A book by an author whose name doesn't contain the letters A, T or Y
Red Milk by Sjón★★★

✔3. A book related to the lyrics for the song "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music (Roses)
The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

✔4. A book with a monochromatic cover
Verity by Colleen Hoover★★


_______________________________________________________________

✔5. A book by an author on USA Today's list of 100 Black Novelists You Should Read
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates★★★★

✔6. A love story
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

✔7. A book that fits a prompt suggestion that didn't make the final list:
In honour of Wikipedia's 20th birthday, read a book related to a featured article on Wikipedia, or one selected by clicking "random article" ➡ “Dian Fossey
10 suurta seikkailijaa by Pia Strømstad & Trond Bredesen⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

✔8. A book set in a state, province, or country you have never visited
Burma Chronicles by Guy Delisle★★★★


_______________________________________________________________

✔9. A book you associate with a specific season or time of year
Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman★★★★

✔10. A book with a female villain or criminal
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite★★★

✔11. A book to celebrate The Grand Egyptian Museum
Justine by Lawrence Durrell★★

✔12. A book eligible for the Warwick Prize for Women in Translation
The White Book by Han Kang⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


_______________________________________________________________

✔13. A book written by an author of one of your best reads of 2020
Romanssin sankari by Niina Mero★★★★

✔14. A book set in a made-up place
For the Wolf by Hannah F. Whitten★★★

✔15. A book that features siblings as the main characters
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett★★★★

✔16. A book with a building in the title
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune★★★★


_______________________________________________________________

✔17. A book with a Muslim character or author
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid★★★★

✔18. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 1 (Past/Theme: friends & families)
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak★★★★

✔19. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 2 (Present/Theme: friends & families)
The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

✔20. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 3 (Future/Theme: friends & families)
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro★★★


_______________________________________________________________

✔21. A book whose title and author both contain the letter "u"
Pienen hauen pyydystys by Juhani Karila⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

✔22. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads
The Deep by Rivers Solomon★★

✔23. A cross genre novel
The Girl in Red by Christina Henry★★

✔24. A book about racism or race relations
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead★★★


_______________________________________________________________

✔25. A book set on an island
The Storm Keeper's Island by Catherine Doyle⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

✔26. A short book (<210 pages) by a new-to-you author
Sirkka by Anni Saastamoinen★★★

✔27. A book with a character who can be found in a deck of cards (Title of the book in English is "Queen of the Night")
Yön kuningatar by Eva Frantz★★★★

✔28. A book connected to ice
Arktis - Likaista lunta by Ville-Juhani Sutinen★★★


_______________________________________________________________

✔29. A book that you consider comfort reading
The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

✔30. A long book
Infinitum – Tähtien meri: osa 1 by Christopher Paolini★★★

✔31. A book by an author whose career spanned more than 21 years
My Life as a Rat by Joyce Carol Oates★★

✔32. A book whose cover shows more than 2 people
When We Were Magic by Sarah Gailey★★


_______________________________________________________________

✔33. A collection of short stories, essays, or poetry
Daddy by Emma Cline★★

✔34. A book with a travel theme
After the Flood by Kassandra Montag★★

✔35. A book set in a country on or below the Tropic of Cancer
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah★★★

✔36. A book with six or more words in the title
Korkeintaan vähän väsynyt eli Kuinka olla tarpeeksi maailmassa, jossa mikään ei riitä by Eeva Kolu⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


_______________________________________________________________

✔37. A book from the Are You Well Read in World Literature list
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery★★★

✔38. A book related to a word given by a random word generator: "Hand" (➡️ ring)
The Ring of the Slave Prince by Bjarne Reuter★★★★

✔39. A book involving an immigrant
The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon★★★

✔40. A book with flowers or greenery on the cover
The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano by Donna Freitas★★


_______________________________________________________________

✔41. A book by a new-to-you BIPOC author
There There by Tommy Orange⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

✔42. A mystery or thriller
Der Insasse by Sebastian Fitzek★★★★

✔43. A book with elements of magic
Year One by Nora Roberts★★

✔44. A book whose title contains a negative (Ellen here refers to a person called Ellen Thesleff, but as a Finnish word it could be translated as: unless I/if I don't)
Ellen T. by Annukka Mäkijärvi★★★


_______________________________________________________________

✔45. A book related to a codeword from the NATO Phonetic Alphabet
The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel★★★

✔46. A winner or nominee from the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

✔47. A non-fiction book other than biography, autobiography or memoir (A historical non-fiction book about women and their position in society in ancient Japan)
Auringonjumalattaren tyttäret - Naiskohtaloita muinaisesta Japanista by Raisa Porrasmaa★★★

✔48. A book that might cause someone to react “You read what?!?”
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot★★★


_______________________________________________________________

✔49. A book with an ensemble cast
The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

✔50. A book published in 2021
The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. by David Levithan★★★★

✔51. A book whose title refers to person(s) without giving their name
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

✔52. A book related to "the end"
The End of Men by Christina Sweeney-Baird★★

1/4 Update

Looks like this "keep your library visits short" & "think ahead" really helps to keep up with this challenge, first quarter finished and I'm 5 books ahead of schedule, unlike ever before! Maybe this year I'm free to celebrate New Year without panic reading short stories that fit the final topics 😂🥳📚

Books read: 17
Avg. rating: 3.53

Top 3:

My Brilliant Friend
The Storm Keeper's Island
Pienen hauen pyydystys

2/4 Update - Halfway!

Still a few books ahead of schedule, but the speed of tackling this challenge is not the same; too many sidereads, ice hockey/football to watch and so so so many weeds to pluck from the flower beds. I'm also unusually reluctant to change my original choices, I feel like there's so many great books waiting to be read and now is the time.

Challenge at 28/52, 30th June

Top 3:

The Bastard of Istanbul
The White Book
The Chalk Pit

I'm saving the original plan here, ran out of characters in the first post.

THE 2021 LIST

1. A book related to “In the Beginning...”
One by Sarah Crossan

2. A book by an author whose name doesn't contain the letters A, T or Y
The Silence of Bones by June Hur

3. A book related to the lyrics for the song "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music (Roses)
The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman

4. A book with a monochromatic cover
Toil & Trouble by Augusten Burroughs
Kaikki mitä halusit by Helen Monks Takhar
Verity by Colleen Hoover
_____________________________________________________

5. A book by an author on USA Today's list of 100 Black Novelists You Should Read
Queen Sugar by Natalie Baszile
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Y. Dennis-Benn
We Love You, Charlie Freeman by Kaitlyn Greenidge
The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin

6. A love story
Time After Time by Lisa Grunwald

7. A book that fits a prompt suggestion that didn't make the final list:
In honour of Wikipedia's 20th birthday, read a book related to a featured article on Wikipedia, or one selected by clicking "random article" ➡ “Dian Fossey”
Gorillas in the Mist by Dian Fossey

8. A book set in a state, province, or country you have never visited
What's Left of Me Is Yours by Stephanie Scott
_____________________________________________________

9. A book you associate with a specific season or time of year
Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman

10. A book with a female villain or criminal
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
The Huntress by Kate Quinn

11. A book to celebrate The Grand Egyptian Museum
Justine by Lawrence Durrell
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

12. A book eligible for the Warwick Prize for Women in Translation
Memoirs of a Polar Bear by Yōko Tawada
_____________________________________________________

13. A book written by an author of one of your best reads of 2020
A Country Road, A Tree by Jo Baker
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
Kevyesti kipsissä by Veera Vaahtera

14. A book set in a made-up place
Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline
All Systems Red by Martha Wells

15. A book that features siblings as the main characters
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

16. A book with a building in the title
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
_____________________________________________________

17. A book with a Muslim character or author
The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak

18. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 1
The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

19. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 2
A Witch in Time by Constance Sayers

20. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 3
Breath of Magic by Teresa Medeiros
_____________________________________________________

21. A book whose title and author both contain the letter "u"
Pienen hauen pyydystys by Juhani Karila

22. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary
The Deep by Rivers Solomon

23. A cross genre novel
The Girl in Red by Christina Henry

24. A book about racism or race relations
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
_____________________________________________________

25. A book set on an island
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
The Islanders by Christopher Priest
The Storm Keeper's Island by Catherine Doyle

26. A short book (<210 pages) by a new-to-you author
Sirkka by Anni Saastamoinen

27. A book with a character who can be found in a deck of cards
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

28. A book connected to ice
The Ice by John Kåre Raake
Arktis - Likaista lunta by Ville-Juhani Sutinen
_____________________________________________________

29. A book that you consider comfort reading
Shadows in Time by Julie McElwain

30. A long book
Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

31. A book by an author whose career spanned more than 21 years
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

32. A book whose cover shows more than 2 people
When We Were Magic by Sarah Gailey
_____________________________________________________

33. A collection of short stories, essays, or poetry
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
Naamion takana: kootut kertomukset by Louisa May Alcott
Kootut kertomukset by Edgar Allan Poe
The Garden Party and Other Stories by Katherine Mansfield

34. A book with a travel theme
A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende

35. A book set in a country on or below the Tropic of Cancer
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

36. A book with six or more words in the title
Historian jännät naiset – Merirosvoja, meedioita, varkaita ja vakoojaprinsessoja by Maria Pettersson
_____________________________________________________

37. A book from the Are You Well Read in World Literature list
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

38. A book related to a word given by a random word generator: "Hand"
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

39. A book involving an immigrant
The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
Small Island by Andrea Levy

40. A book with flowers or greenery on the cover
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
_____________________________________________________

41. A book by a new-to-you BIPOC author
The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri

42. A mystery or thriller
The Tattoo Thief by Alison Belsham
The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths

43. A book with elements of magic

44. A book whose title contains a negative
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
The Unseen World by Liz Moore
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
_____________________________________________________

45. A book related to a codeword from the NATO Phonetic Alphabet
The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel

46. A winner or nominee from the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

47. A non-fiction book other than biography, autobiography or memoir
Auringonjumalattaren tyttäret - Naiskohtaloita muinaisesta Japanista by Raisa Porrasmaa

48. A book that might cause someone to react “You read what?!?”
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot
A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher
_____________________________________________________

49. A book with an ensemble cast
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
The Cousins by Karen M. McManus

50. A book published in 2021

51. A book whose title refers to person(s) without giving their name
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

52. A book related to "the end"
Howards End by E.M. Forster
The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy
_____________________________________________________

3/4 Update

Apparently I'm on track which is kind of a miracle when I've been doing so many sidereads, but still, yay! I also did the summer challenge and made a decision not to let any books overlap. There are a few books that are on hiatus, I'm stuck and just can't proceed and I might have to change them (I'm looking at you Inifinite Jest!). But all in all, the challenge is looking good.

Challenge at 39/52, 30th of September

Top 3:

There There
Korkeintaan vähän väsynyt eli Kuinka olla tarpeeksi maailmassa, jossa mikään ei riitä (A bit tired at most aka how to be enough in a world where nothing quite cuts it)
The Hating Game

4/4 Update

I'm done! And almost a whole day still left 😂 Life happened and I couldn't keep up the pace, had to use some shady tactics i.e. do last minute changes but as the title states, that was the plan all along. Happy New Year!