Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

It's now time to get ready to vote for our next set of prompts! This thread will be open for around 24 hours before the poll gets posted. This is a good opportunity to ask any question you may have regarding the prompts, do some research, or ask for recommendations.

Voting will open in the evening of August 31st and results will be posted in the morning of Saturday September 4th.

How it works:
- When the voting opens, follow the link to the mini-poll that will be added at the end of this post
- You have a total of 8 votes this poll to spread across your favorite and least favorite prompts (you can also use less than 8 votes) - You can find examples of acceptable voting practices on the Introduction thread.
- The prompts with the more favorable votes (comparing top votes to bottom votes, and looking at the overall number of votes it received) will be added to the final list (usually between 2 and 5 depending on how the votes are spread)

As a reminder: You have a total of 8 votes to use among your top and bottom votes. The mods have access to each individual vote, so we can see if you use more than 8 votes. If you use more than 8 votes in the poll, your vote will have to be deleted, so please make sure to follow the directions so your voice can be heard.

1. A book with a theme of courage or heroism
2. A book that fits your favourite prompt that did not make the list
3. A book about women overcoming systemic obstacles
4. A book about "First Contact"
5. A book about a woman who changed history
6. A book connected to bees
7. A book involving an ancient artifact or structure
8. Read a genre chosen by Random Genre Generator
9. Read a book involving two of a kind
10. Read an atmospheric, emotional, moody or evocative book
11. A book related to your favorite holiday
12. A book with nomads
13. A book related to one of the 22 Tarot Major Arcana cards
14. A book with a musical instrument in the title or on the cover
15. A book featuring a major life event

Feel free to discuss the prompts below, but please remember to be respectful to the other group members.

VOTE HERE: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/KKDW5U/

Examples and Discussions from Suggestion Thread

1. A book with a theme of courage or heroism

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
A Tale of Two Cities
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
The Paris Library
I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
The Three Musketeers
Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10
To Kill A Mockingbird
The Hate U Give
The Hobbit or The Lord of Rings Trilogy
Divergent
The Help
White Fang
The Hunger Games
The Odyssey
The Iliad
The Red Badge of Courage
The Diary of a Young Girl
The Nightingale
Percy Jackson
Robin Hood
Beowulf

2. A book that fits your favorite prompt that did not make the list
you can find a link here to the ones that haven't made this year's list, but of course, we're not done yet!
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

3. A book about women overcoming systemic obstacles

This could be a non-fiction about the Suffrage Movement and women succeeding in gaining the right to vote, most non-fiction about women in politics around the world or I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban that shouldn't have even been able to get an education, let alone write a book (especially relevant with Afghanistan today).

Most domestic thrillers like The Last Mrs. Parrish

A lot of YA alternate history/fantasy where the girls are expected to get married but instead defy "expectations" and save everyone.

Horror like The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires about how men disregarded women's opinions in the south in the 90s or Mexican Gothic (not a Wuthering Heights retelling)
but deals with psychological abuse.

4. A book about "First Contact"

First Contact is a common science fiction theme: it's a story where humans encounter aliens for the first time (or sometimes, humans encounter a new alien species for the first time, or aliens encounter another alien species for the first time.). But it's also an anthropology term to refer to the first meeting of any two cultures that were previously unaware of each other. Taken more figuratively, it could be a book about any kind of first contact: between two communities, two individuals, two bodies, etc.

5. A book about a woman who changed history

I imagine this could be a fiction or non-fiction book about a real or fictitious woman, as long as the woman was a driving force for change.

Non-Fiction: This would be a great opportunity to read a biography or the memoir of a game-changing woman in history.

Fiction: This could be a fictionalized story about a real woman/women OR a fictitious woman who changes the world she inhabits. This could encompass any genre, really – not limited to Historical Fiction. Immediately, The Hunger Games, Girl Waits with Gun, White Houses, Victoria, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (we all know Harry was nothing without Hermione!), and The Alice Network come to mind. Here are some other great options:

[the links provided in the suggestion thread did not work for me; I got error messages for all them. hopefully the original poster can add a comment with fresh links below. sorry!]

6. A book connected to bees

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
There are many current ecology books plus books on gardening to encourage bees.
Lots of international bees from The Beekeeper of Aleppo to Ukraine’s Grey Bees.
If you think about The Birds & the Bees that steers towards romance and erotica. Plus honeymooners and The Unhoneymooners and A Honeybun and Coffee plus other foodie books.
There is fantasy with The Bees and dystopias about life without them. There’s crime with The Colour of Bee Larkham’s Murder.
And, of course, there’s always Winnie-the-Pooh

7. A book involving an ancient artifact or structure

Possibilities: there is actually a subgenre called "archaeological thriller", but there are also mysteries involving old artifacts, or contemporary or historical fiction set in or around ancient ruins, or you could go with non-fiction about archaeology or museum pieces.

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
https://thelibrary.org/blogs/article....

8. Read a genre chosen by Random Genre Generator
here is one: https://www.generatormix.com/random-g...
but this could also be substituted for a generator of your choice

9. Read a book involving two of a kind

(examples include twins, doubles, pairs, clones, 2 parallel story lines/ cities/universes)
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...

10. Read an atmospheric, emotional, moody or evocative book

https://www.goodreads.com/genres/atmo...
https://www.goodreads.com/genres/emot...
https://www.goodreads.com/genres/moody
https://www.goodreads.com/genres/evoc...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

11. A book related to your favorite holiday

Halloween: a horror/thriller novel, characters in disguise/costumes, supernatural themes or creatures,

Christmas: a book about a present/gift, set somewhere it’s snowing, about a family gathering, a pine tree on the cover,

Thanksgiving: a book about Indigenous people, a book by an Indigenous author, something about family or community, involving a feast, about football, about a parade

New Years: a book spanning multiple years, a book that has something to do with midnight (midnight in the title, have until midnight to do a task, etc), set in a city where the ball drops in your country

St Patricks Day: set in Ireland, with a green cover

Valentine’s Day: a romance/rom com, about a date or dating, hearts on the cover, love in the title, the MCs are a couple

This is just a small sample, as there are hundreds of holidays all over the world to choose from! There are always books that are specifically about holidays as well. You could also use something related to a personal/family holiday tradition that you take part in!

13. A book related to one of the 22 Tarot Major Arcana cards
https://www.tarot.com/tarot/cards/maj...
0-The Fool
1-The Magician
2-The High Priestess
3-The Empress
4-The Emperor
5-The Hierophant (aka The Pope)
6-The Lovers
7-The Chariot
8- Strength
9-The Hermit
10-Wheel of Fortune
11-Justice
12-The Hanged Man
13-Death
14-Temperance
15-The Devil
16-The Tower
17-The Star
18-The Moon
19-The Sun
20-Judgement
21-The World

I think they have a lot of possibilities for interpretation with all kinds of genres. They're beautiful and there are 22 of them for 2022! I'd really like to see a prompt or two related to the year 2022 and/or the number 22. I also like the side challenge potential for this prompt!

15. A book featuring a major life event

examples of events: marriage, divorce, birth of a child, job change, death of a loved one, etc

For suggestion #1, here is an additional list that might be helpful.
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
I like this idea. (I almost suggested a similar idea, with heroic and inspiring people.)

I like both the woman suggestions, but the second one is more workable. I will probably upvote both to be fair.

I think this month's pair selection might be the one that will work. for 22.

I am most excited about an atmospheric book. You can decide what type of feelings or mood you want a book to evoke. It's all about the writing. I might look for something redolent of fall hay rides and the emotions I associate with that atmosphere. Or something dreamy and romantic, or misty and sultry.

First contact and archeology might be difficult. Examples will help. All the others are fine, except maybe the random genre. My first few spins were not relevant to anything I would read, so I don't think I'll vote for it. If it wins I'll give it an official spin, and maybe I'll get lucky. With the random prompt this year I liked the very first word that was selected.

#5 Women who changed history. Shannon also posted the links in the wild discussion, post #1551. They worked then. I hope gr doesn't block them. I added some gr links to play it safe.

Women's history tag list:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Women in History Tag list:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

Non-Fiction: This would be a great opportunity to read a biography or the memoir of a game-changing woman in history.

https://explorethearchive.com/biograp...
https://www.nbcnews.com/shopping/book...
https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/g...
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/must-r...

Fiction: This could be a fictionalized story about a real woman/women OR a fictitious woman who changes the world she inhabits. This could encompass any genre, really. Immediately, The Hunger Games, Girl Waits with Gun, White Houses, and The Alice Network come to mind. Here are some other great options:
https://earlybirdbooks.com/historical...
https://electricliterature.com/12-nov...
https://offtheshelf.com/2017/10/12-hi...

If you think one person can't make a difference:
https://www.boredpanda.com/women-who-...

Listopias that might relate to the two women's suggestions

Women's Suffrage
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...

Biographies of Significant historical women
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

Trailblazing women adventurers
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...

Ancient world
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

Gender studies
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...

women in stem biographies
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...

Unsung women in history
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...

Unusual women
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...

Overlooked
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

And MORE....
https://www.goodreads.com/list/tag/wo...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/tag/wo...

I’m not sure about the bees prompt (potentially too few options) but I will say that The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd is one of my favourites!

Factoring in books with bees on the cover adds to the possibilities. There is a list here in GR but I can’t link to it since I’m on a mobile device right now. The Starless Sea had a bee featured prominently and there is a rather nice edition of Far From the Madding Crowd which is covered with bees.

Frontrunners for me are tarot cards (love this one, hope it makes it this time!), two of a kind (books about twins are intriguing) and the two women prompts (I wouldn't want to see both on the final list though so will have to decide between them).

I really like the idea of connected to bees but I'm having a hard time find anything on my TBR that fits. The closest I can find is wasps. Maybe there is a character called Bea in there somewhere (as in The Wife Upstairs) but that would take some digging.

Kim wrote: "I’m not sure about the bees prompt (potentially too few options) but I will say that The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd is one of my favourites!"

Me too.

I also liked these:
The Bees - this one is really interesting, with anthropomorphic bees
The Beekeeper's Apprentice - mystery series with an older Sherlock Holmes
The Beekeeper: Rescuing the Stolen Women of Iraq - this was OK, but the newer one might be better.

On my TBR
The Murmur of Bees
**The History of Bees - environmental theme
The Beekeeper of Aleppo this looks good.

Obsessed with the bee option!

Here's some from my shelves.

At first glance I have 3 or 4 prompts that I really like (courage, women overcoming obstacles, tarot, and possibly first contact), but I also have 3 that I'm not such a fan of.

I don't really care for the bees prompt. I've owned Secret Life of Bees for years with little motivation to pick it up, and I'm not sure I'd be any more motivated if this prompt gets in. Other than that, I don't think there is much on my TBR that really fits. I'm also not that interested in the ancient artifact prompt, again because I don't think I have much that fits and also strongly interests me.

At first glance I'm not too keen on the nomads prompt, but I think that's mostly because I have no idea how to conceptualize it. I know what "nomad" is, but I don't think I quite understand what the intent of the prompt was.

Bees also play a role in the Bridgerton books by Julia Quinn

I disliked The Bees and wasn't crazy about The Murmur of Bees or The Secret Life of Bees. There's also Bee Season. Although it's original, I think it's too narrow for a prompt, more so than rabbit which never made it. If it does get in, I'll read some Sherlock book because he was a beekeeper.

Napoleon used the bee as a symbol, I think.

As of right now, I’m going to go with 5 up and 3 down this week. I wish that we did not have both of the women based prompts on this poll. I’d be fine with either of them but I don’t want both.

Jillian wrote: "As of right now, I’m going to go with 5 up and 3 down this week. I wish that we did not have both of the women based prompts on this poll. I’d be fine with either of them but I don’t want both."

https://www.lemoncrushers.com/books-a...

If anyone really wants one of the woman's prompt to win, it makes sense to vote for both. That's what I'm doing. That solidarity is the only chance they have. If you're not sure, vote for the one you think has the best shot. I think the second one is more clear cut so it might have a better chance. The first one has no examples of books or specific obstacles to be overcome. So I think it would be smart to read books about women who overcame obstacles to get to someplace you'd like to be. Most of the biographies or memoirs will cover how women overcame obstacles in their lives.

Or maybe WAIT a few days to vote to see what other ideas emerge.

The article above mentions Educated and I am Malala. They are great for all ages. Cheryl Sandburg's books are great for people who are ambitious, and who see themselves as someone who wants to shatter glass ceilings, but she has ideas for everyone. Some of her ideas are unrealistic for most people, but they might be perfect for someone who is ready.

Robin P wrote: "I disliked The Bees and wasn't crazy about The Murmur of Bees or The Secret Life of Bees. There's also Bee Season. Although it's original,..."

Have you read the The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie King? It's the first in the series. I think I only read 2 or 3 so far. I would read the environmental book History of Bees. I hate bees in person (I had a bad reaction to my last sting), but I love the role they play in nature.

I'd like to see some suggestions for first contact and nomad. Are there some cool upcoming books on these topics?

I would love a list of books that fit first contact in relation to countries, cultures, subcultures, international business or cultures in organizations.

At first glance, I have three pretty strong upvotes, a couple of hard maybes, and a couple I'm leaning toward downvoting.

If the bee prompt gets in, I loved The Honey Bus: A Memoir of Loss, Courage and a Girl Saved by Bees

Would also work if the courage prompt got in.

I hadn’t expected to still be up for the suggestions round and so hadn’t been desperately thorough with my homework. Here is a more fulsome list of bee books with 1415 titles instead of 26:

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

There is also a list of Book Riot recommendations here:

https://bookriot.com/bee-books/

I like the bees one, there are loads of books with bees or honeycomb patterns on the cover, plus many words and phrases are bee connected.

That and first contact are the only ones I particularly like out of these. Atmospheric would be good on it's own but nearly every novel is emotional in some way.

I'd like a suggestion that didn't make it prompt but wish it wasn't worded as your favourite.

Thanks Joyce, I found quite a few fiction books including The History of Bees, The Music of Bees and the Honey Bus. I might end up with a non-fiction book in the end.

Bees are the symbol of Manchester in the UK, symbolising industry and co-operation. That could be used for books about/set in the Industrial Revolution, e.g. Hard Times and North and South . Also Manchester workers supported Abraham Lincoln's embargo on the export of cotton, which would obviously tie into the Civil War etc. There are several books about the Peterloo massacre e.g. Peterloo: Witnesses to a Massacre, which ties into suffrage rights. Sadly, also the Arena bomb and terrorism.

For both #9 twins and #10 atmospheric, I would suggest Once There Were Wolves. I noticed The Secret History is on both lists too.

#10 I found several evocative atmospheric books that I would like to read right now. Just reading the titles made me want to snuggle under the covers (but not in a scared way).

Happiness by Aminatta Forna,
The Bird and the Sword
The strange and beautiful sorrows of Ava Lavender
Piranesi
The Bear and the Nightingale
Uprooted
Six of Crows
the Henna Artist
The Secret History

The most recent Outlander book, coming out Nov 2021, is #9 in the series and titled Go Tell the Bees that I am Gone. I haven’t read any of the books but watched the TV series. It looks like it is 3 books ahead of where the TV show ended.

Queen Bee (Lowcountry Tales, # 12) by Dorothea Benton Frank. The protagonist is a beekeeper. The bees play a major role in the story. I have also read The Keeper of The Bees by Gene Stratton-Porter.

I'm porably upvoting both women prompts but if the women in war had got in too I would have voted downvoted that one. I will upvote major life event for sure and downvote bees because it seems to have limited possbilities.

For those who liked last weeks women in STEM prompt a lot of the books mentioned would work for overcoming systemic obstacles as they are often about entering male dominated spaces, accessing education, gender pay gap etc. Some definitely changed history as well.

Kat wrote: "For those who liked last weeks women in STEM prompt a lot of the books mentioned would work for overcoming systemic obstacles as they are often about entering male dominated spaces, accessing educa..."

I would probably have just read a book for woman in STEM where she was just accepted in her job though. I work in STEM, so I don't feel it automatically means we're all oppressed in our jobs.

As it happens, I've got The Murmur of Bees as a freebie e-book, and I really want to read A Sting in the Tale: My Adventures with Bumblebees, Bee People and the Bugs They Love, Here Is the Beehive, The Bees, The Bees, A Taste of Honey, and Clan Apis, so I'm voting for that! So, honestly, I'm surprised at how many books I want to read that fit that category!!! But I'm worried it's a bit niche and won't win.


for anyone who likes picture books, there is a lovely non-fiction picture book about bees that I don't see on those lists that were shared: The Bee Book by Charlotte Milner

About fifteen years ago, I read a slim book of thoughtful essays about bees, beekeeping, gardens, nature, etc. It was back before I had GR. I'm going nuts trying to find the book so I can recommend it here!! All I remember is that it was by a woman, and it wasn't a guide, it was more like her thoughtful musings.
EDIT: I found it!! A Book of Bees: And How to Keep Them by Sue Hubbell

It was on this listopia
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

I am terrified of bees. I think t hey are great creatures and applaud those that keep them, but I think it is all those pictures of people covered in them that has made me so frightened.

There are different types of nomads out there. Some current nomads are digital ones.

The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich

A Joosr Guide to... The $100 Start-Up by Chris Guillebeau: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future

Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel

How To Be A Successful 21st Century Nomad

Some people are nomads because of the jobs they choose

American Nomads: Travels with Lost Conquistadors, Mountain Men, Cowboys, Indians, Hoboes, Truckers, and Bullriders

You can read a book with characters like Hoboes, Truckers, Cowboys, natives of different countries who traditionally move with the herds etc. Sailors could also count.

You can also use scifi or fantasy stories. Many scifi are based in space ships and travel from port to port.

Remote Control
Leviathan Wakes
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Night Circus
All Systems Red

I am LOVING the "two of a kind" category. I'm trying to find listopias that are more than just twins.

So far I've found:

doppelgangers
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...

plastic surgery to make one person look like another
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

time travellers
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...

creepy stories about someone in the mirror
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...


I'm sure there are many other ways to look at this.

I'll be voting for both women prompts! But I'll also advocate for mine. Here are some list suggestions (some stolen from NancyJ, thanks!):

Domestic Noir: a type of domestic thriller that focuses on the female experience and challenges they face
- https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Women Who Changed History: I do think a lot of the books that would count for that prompt would fit here. Generally, if a woman is changing history she had to overcome some sort of systematic obstacle.
- Suffrage Movement: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
- Female Political Figures: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1... or https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
- Some STEM Women Books: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...

Strong Female Leads
- Fiction: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6...
- YA: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6...
- Fantasy: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
- SciFi: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

LGBT Literature
- Lesbian, bi-sexual and queer women: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
- Trans-female: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Note, I recognize that not every book on these lists counts, but it's a good starting off point

Couple other comments/questions on the prompts:

nomads: would we consider "travelers" as part of this group? I'm not sure if the word gypsy is considered a slur (if so, I'm truly sorry). I'm not talking about just Romanis, but all ethnicities that travel for events/work, but generally have a home base.

bees: I actually don't think this is any more difficult than the rabbit prompt. Because its "connected" I think you can use anything with bee in the title, author or on the cover. A book with a beekeeper, the Bridgerton series like Juliet mentioned, or stretch it to books about climate change (a major factor in the decline of bees and vice versa destroying our environment because of the lack of bees).

Also, if you are interested in learning more about bees, I read an excellent book, The Lives of Bees: The Untold Story of the Honey Bee in the Wild. I'd probably read his second book, Honeybee Democracy, if this gets in.

Finally, on bees, they are really fascinating and intelligent creatures. The bees you see out in the world and that keep the colony alive and functioning are female bees. The men stay close to the hive and are only used for reproduction, then they die. If they were a people they would be the Amazonians in Greek mythology. (Side note: are bees examples of women overcoming systematic obstacles?? haha)

ancient artifact/structure: I have absolutely no idea what I would read for this, but I'm really intrigued.

Let's try this again. For some reason, the links cut off when I copied and pasted them before.

Here are the links for #5: A book about a woman who changed history.
Non-Fiction: This would be a great opportunity to read a biography or the memoir of a game-changing woman in history.

https://www.nbcnews.com/shopping/book...

https://explorethearchive.com/biograp...

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/must-r...

https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/g...

Fiction: This could be a fictionalized story about a real woman/women OR a fictitious woman who changes the world she inhabits. This could encompass any genre, really. Immediately, The Hunger Games, Girl Waits with a Gun, White Houses, and The Alice Network come to mind. Here are some other great options:

https://earlybirdbooks.com/historical...

https://electricliterature.com/12-nov...

https://offtheshelf.com/2017/10/12-hi...

Actually, I’m down voting both of the women prompts because I don’t want both.

If only one was on the list, I would not down vote either of them.

I'm not quite sure how I am going to vote yet. I like the two women prompts. One is mine, but I will probably vote for both (better odds of one getting in!). I kind of like the bee one, but that might be just because I have a book in mind already if that gets through. As a mother of twins, I like the two of a kind prompt and will likely pick a book with characters who are twins. I also read a lot of books with dual timelines (lots of historical fiction uses dual timelines), which I think would also work for this prompt, so it would be easy to find a book on my TBR for this one. I find the First Contact prompt interesting, but would probably want to see some more book lists before I decide on that one. I can't quite picture books for that one. I don't really have strong feelings on any of the others. I am sure I could find a book for any of them. So not sure how I will distribute my 8 votes yet.

Does anyone know of any novel/fiction about the Women's Suffrage Movement? I would love to read more about that, but I much prefer fiction to non-fiction.

Alicia wrote: "nomads: would we consider "travelers" as part of this group? I'm not sure if the word gypsy is considered a slur (if, so I'm truly sorry). I'm not t..."

Groups working to end discrimination against nomadic people use "Gypsies, Roma and Travellers" to talk about the whole group in the UK so I think it is about context and being able to self define your identity. But yes to them being nomads.

I am definitely voting for "ancient artifact / structure" because it hits on several sub-genres that I happen to love.


First, a common trope in SFF is humans uncovering an ancient alien artifact. Examples include the Sleeping Giants series and and Tepper's Grass series.

Related to that SFF trope are Arthurian sword-in-the-stone types of tales of humans uncovering magical artefacts, including The Buried Giant (I haven't actually read this so I'm not 100% sure it fits?) and The Mists of Avalon (yes MZB is deeply problematic, but this was a great book so I'm recommending it anyway), as well as any stories of searches for a holy grail.

And I LOVE Peters' Amelia Peabody mystery series, which also involves archeology. Starts with Crocodile on the Sandbank. For audiobook lovers, the later books in this series are read by Barbara Rosenblat and she is fantastic.

There are also historical romances that involve archeologists, such as Brockway's As You Desire & The Other Guy's Bride.

And I'm reading an interesting non-fiction book right now that is all about artefacts: A History of the World in 100 Objects

A character named Bea is a great way to fill the bee prompt. Here are just a few books that would fit:

The Snakes by Sadie Jones
Leaving Lucy Pear by Anna Solomon
The New Wilderness by Diane Cook
Montauk by Nicola Harrison
The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

Plus there's bees in the title, bees on the cover, bees in the story, bee symbolism, etc. So very many options! Love this kind of prompt.

I'm reading House of Earth and Blood now and part of that has a hunt for an ancient artifact. I'd kinda forgotten how prevalent they are in SFF, so thanks for the reminder Nadine.

I'm so upset. I thought #6 was beers not bees. Then I put my glasses on

I used #3 for the "prompt that didn't make the list" week this year - I did a woman overcoming ageism.

NancyJ wrote: "Robin P wrote: "I disliked The Bees and wasn't crazy about The Murmur of Bees or The Secret Life of Bees. There's also Bee Season. Althoug..."

Oh yes, I love the Mary Russell series. Actually a couple of the other titles are bee-related.

Shannon wrote: "Does anyone know of any novel/fiction about the Women's Suffrage Movement? I would love to read more about that, but I much prefer fiction to non-fiction."

A new book is The Women's March: A Novel of the 1913 Woman Suffrage Procession. I haven't read it myself. The author is a novelist so she should be able to tell a story but some reviews said it was too much like a history for them.

Pamela wrote: "I'm so upset. I thought #6 was beers not bees. Then I put my glasses on

I used #3 for the "prompt that didn't make the list" week this year - I did a woman overcoming ageism."

I love it! For beers we could have had The Lager Queen of Minnesota. (Though actually any prompts related to alcohol have been polarizing or downvoted because of some member's understandable personal concerns.)

I found this list also of fiction books related to women's suffrage while looking at books:

https://www.nypl.org/blog/2020/08/19/...

dalex wrote: "A character named Bea is a great way to fill the bee prompt. Here are just a few books that would fit:

The Snakes by Sadie Jones
Leaving Lucy Pear b..."

Also characters named Bea in:
One to Watch
The Royal We

Shannon wrote: "Does anyone know of any novel/fiction about the Women's Suffrage Movement? I would love to read more about that, but I much prefer fiction to non-fiction."

I highly recommend The Women's Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote. It is non-fiction, but I thought it read like cliff-hanging fiction.