The 52 Book Club: 2025 Challenge discussion

16. Featuring one of the “seven deadly sins”

What are the seven deadly sins? Pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and slothfulness have historically been referred to as “the seven deadly sins.” They have been popular themes in plays and literature throughout history.

For this prompt, your pick could make reference to the seven deadly sins in general, or you could focus on one of the seven. The word could appear in the title or subtitle (Example:Pride and Prejudice), could be a major theme within the book, or could be a character trait for a specific character.

You might also chose to go with a more modern or alternate interpretation of the words. This is an opportunity to get creative and think outside of the box! (Maybe you just want to read a super cute, non-fiction book about the animals, sloths!) Show us what you can come up with!


Click here for our Goodreads List of suggestions

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

I'll reread Pride and Prejudice

Melissa wrote: "I'll reread Pride and Prejudice"

so rereads are allowed. I get my challenge my rules, but I would of thought it would have to be books you have yet to read. sorry first time ever doing a challenge like this.

M (aka DarkBeauty73) wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I'll reread Pride and Prejudice"

so rereads are allowed. I get my challenge my rules, but I would of thought it would have to be books you have yet to read. sorry first time ever d..."

Rereads are definitely allowed. I think the prompts encourage branching out but rereads count.

It's been about 15 years since I've read it, so I can't remember much about it

Anna wrote: "M (aka DarkBeauty73) wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I'll reread Pride and Prejudice"

so rereads are allowed. I get my challenge my rules, but I would of thought it would have to be books you have yet to ..."

thanks that is what I thought

Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch,

Would also fit alliterative prompt.

Themes of thievery and ambition so will probably contain lots of pride and envy

I am trying to get through a large pile of unread books I own this year. Anyone read the murder/mystery/thriller "Things We Do In the Dark" and would it fit here?

My book club picked “The Stranger Beside Me” by Ann Rule. I think that it will fit in this prompt.

I would say Things we do in the Dark fits .

Wrath by T.R. Ragan

I’ve found Envy by Amanda Robson

The wife between us by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

I'm going to embrace them all and try The Girl and the 7 Deadly Sins by A.J. Rivers.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling or A Christmas Carol

Edit I READ the ex hex in Jan

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Pride & Puppies
I'm reading this, and then the original Pride and Prejudice for another book club where the prompt is "Something a co-worker recommends."

I just finished A Fate of Wrath and Flame for this one. Had requested it a while ago from Libby and realized it fit this prompt! Was a slow start but ended up liking it.

Also have Pride and Protest on my to read list, for any of those thinking of rereading Pride and Prejudice. I always love an Austen retelling.

Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich

Settled on Spare for this one as I think it clearly depicts wrath amongst other things. Was going to use it for the inheritance prompt but decided Bobbi Holmes Ghost of Marlow House was preferable.

If someone loves fantasy trilogies, my suggestion is about Lust:
Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey

I think I’m going to read Vanity Fair!

Kingdom of the Wicked By Kerri Maniscalco features four of the seven deadly sins as Demons. Lust, Pride, Wrath, and Envy. The magical elements and the strong female MC made this Italian novel Wicked Wonderful. Enjoy !

I’m reading Moby Dick for this one

Me by Elton John
He hits all seven in this re-telling of his life's story.

After seeing it float around some friends' Goodreads and getting it through Prime Reading, I chose The Perfect Marriage

Girl, Forgotten by Karin Slaughter

Savage Knights - Jillian Frost

The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman (a few of the sins covered in this I think!), ⭐️⭐️

I read Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden, 4.5 Stars

I took it back to a retelling of a classic and read Fairest of them all by Serena Valentino

I read The Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood. Highlights a few: sloth, wrath, envy.

I just finished listening Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

I read A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins

I give this 4 stars (graciously) I did finally enjoy reading this book but it took a while for me to get there. It was a very slow start but I did finally get to the point where I couldn't put the book down,

Happy Reading!!

I read The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.

Michele wrote: "I'm going to embrace them all and try The Girl and the 7 Deadly Sins by A.J. Rivers."
And later: the prologue fooled me. It's actually in present tense, and since I've already filled that prompt, and I hate present tense, and there are others out there, I'll read something else.
Even later: I just finished Revenge by Stephen Fry. It's an updated (and much shorter) version of The Count of Monte Cristo, and the action is initiated by a prank by envious boys gone horribly wrong.

The Secrets of Bridgewater Bay is a dual timeline historical fiction by Australian author Julie Brooks. Molly goes to the Luscombe estate in Devon and starts to unravel the mystery of her great-grandmother’s disappearance. Here is my review

A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins

King of Flesh & Bone by Liv Zander. The other book in this "duet" Queen of Rot & Pain would've worked for this prompt as well, but I used it for #38. I just really wanted a light, fun, smutty read :) nailed it!

American Queen by Sierra Simone (lust)

I read The Pearl

I read My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite. Excellent book. It was a quick read- I read it during one international flight. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

knittingmami wrote: "I read My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite. Excellent book. It was a quick read- I read it during one international flight. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3......"
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed that book when I read it. I'm glad you enjoyed it as well.

The Paper Palace - Miranda Crowley-Heller

Madame Bovary
Several of the deadly sins are found in multiple characters within this classic

Lust, Caution by Eileen Chang for this prompt, Its a short book but the spare writing is very effective. It is during the Sino Japanese was so fits that prompt too.

I read Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead, which was on the Masterlist for this prompt.

Killer Triggers by Joe Kenda 5 stars

Is anyone else thinking of reading a book for each of the 7 deadly sins?

So far I've read: lust Breaking Free by Rachel Jeffs
envy Rainbow Valley by L M Montgomery
wrath The Cuckoo's Cry by Caroline Overington
And I'm planning to read: pride Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
greed The Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort

Does anyone have any ideas for gluttony or slothfulness? I''ve tried looking through the list but it's difficult to know which 'sin' the recommendations refer to.

Gluttony (eating or drinking inordinately, I might also consider drug abuse under this sin)- Thinner, Interview with the Vampire, Hannibal Rising, Trainspotting, High Achiever: The Incredible True Story of One Addict's Double Life, Girl Walks Out of a Bar: A Memoir

Sloth (failure to do things that one should do or neglect)- Hamlet, Before We Were Innocent, The Hole, How It Feels to Float, Franny and Zooey

not sure if any appeal to you but maybe my interpretation of the sins meaning can help you find something that does. Good luck with reading all seven!