The 52 Book Club: 2025 Challenge discussion

51. Doesn’t fit any of the other 51 prompts

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, a book just won’t fit on your challenge. And that’s exactly what this prompt is for!

Depending on the level of difficulty you want to approach your challenge with, this prompt could either be extremely difficult OR it could be treated as a freebie. For example: The earlier in the year you decide to use this prompt, the more difficult it may be. If you use this prompt for your very first pick, you’ll have to find a book that doesn’t fit any of the other prompts.

However, you could make this prompt easier by saving it for later in the year when you’ve already checked off some of the prompts. (As an example: You might decide to save it for your last prompt, or for when you only have a handful of prompts left. In this interpretation, most of the other prompts have already been used and the specific book in mind “won’t fit” those categories for your personal challenge because they’re no longer available.)


There is no Goodreads List for this prompt

I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out if there is an option that legitimately does not fit ANY of the other prompts. Surprisingly, I've found a few that come very close but usually get tripped up by one or two things (most often the dedication!)

Rachel wrote: "I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out if there is an option that legitimately does not fit ANY of the other prompts. Surprisingly, I've found a few that come very close but usually get t..." I have done the same thing. So far I can't find anything.

I was actually very surprised to find one book that didn't have a dedication at all (I think it was The Last Letter from Your Lover), but it had alliteration in the title so it was crossed off the list too.

If "a novel" counts as a subtitle, that makes it harder, also.

It's seeming like either historical fiction or classics might end up being the best option, since "contemporary setting" is a prompt.

I actually went ahead and made a list of all the criteria the book would need to meet so I can check things against it as I go, and so far nothing has got through all the way.

Rachel wrote: "It's seeming like either historical fiction or classics might end up being the best option, since "contemporary setting" is a prompt.

I actually went ahead and made a list of all the criteria the ..."

Even then, some classics could be considered contemporary to when they were written. Science fiction that takes place in the future might be an option, too.

Michele wrote: "Rachel wrote: "It's seeming like either historical fiction or classics might end up being the best option, since "contemporary setting" is a prompt.

I actually went ahead and made a list of all th..."

I don't think I'd count contemporary to when they were written as a contemporary setting though, although it does make sense. I'm interpreting it as set contemporary to us.

Rachel wrote: "Michele wrote: "Rachel wrote: "It's seeming like either historical fiction or classics might end up being the best option, since "contemporary setting" is a prompt.

I actually went ahead and made ..."

Well, I was just pointing it out, and as is constantly emphasized, our challenge, our rules.

Michele wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Michele wrote: "Rachel wrote: "It's seeming like either historical fiction or classics might end up being the best option, since "contemporary setting" is a prompt.

I actually went ..."

Absolutely! I wasn't trying to suggest you shouldn't interpret it that way, just that I personally wouldn't (especially since that would make an already very difficult prompt even harder).

I’m just using a book I’m not using for anything else

Since I already planned out my 2023 but got sucked into I'm Glad My Mom Died, I used that book for this prompt!

This is my second year with this challenge. I loved it so much last year that I planned out enough books for doing it twice! Don't know if I'll make it or not, but it will sure be fun trying. I'm reading only non-fiction for the challenge this year. For this prompt, I didn't try to exclude the books from the other 51 prompts, but chose whatever looked good after the planning was finished.

For this prompt I chose Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World by Dan Koeppel

Clara wrote: "This is my second year with this challenge. I loved it so much last year that I planned out enough books for doing it twice! Don't know if I'll make it or not, but it will sure be fun trying. I'm r..."

I'm really intrigued by that title, let us know how it is when you read it!

is what I chose for this prompt :)

Lindsey wrote: "Clara wrote: "This is my second year with this challenge. I loved it so much last year that I planned out enough books for doing it twice! Don't know if I'll make it or not, but it will sure be fun..."

Banana was really interesting. It talked about early bananas, breeding bananas - not easy as they have no seeds, and the diseases that affect them. I was surprised in the importance of bananas in world economy and in preventing starvation in many countries. This could also go under the war prompt as there were several wars over bananas.

Zolitude by Paige Cooper. https://cdnbookworm.blogspot.com/2023...
As a book of very unusual short stories, I couldn't see any prompts that it would fit into, which makes this the obvious choice.

Europe
Russia:
Zuleikha by award-winning debut Russian author Guzel Yakhina is a historical fiction set in 1930s Tatarstan and Siberia inspired by her grandmother’s memories of being exiled to the Gulag. Zuleikha is an oppressed Tatar housewife taken from her home and taken to a remote camp in Siberia where, despite adversity, she finds her inner strength and will to survive. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

Last night I finished The Rewind by Allison Winn Scotch. This was a 3.5*** read for me.

I read and am using Diary of a Provincial Lady by E.M. Delafield. I could not find this to fit any of the categories.

What about an autobiography?

Emily wrote: "What about an autobiography?"

You can use whatever you want if you don't think it fits another prompt, or if all applicable prompts have already been filled. Many people are considering it a "free space".

I read "The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 1" by Kousuke Oono which is a graphic novel.

The Dark Horse by Rumer Godden. At first, I thought it had "script font on the spine," but then I realized it was just fancy.

The Complete Stories of Leonora Carrington by Leonora Carrington

A book that doesn’t fit any of the other 51 prompts. It Changed My Life: Writings on the Women's Movement

Betty Friedan Feminism
History
Nonfiction
Gender Studies
Womens Studies
Sociology
Memoir

Small Things Like These - Claire Keegan

Deb wrote: "Just finished “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt. It’s a story of an octopus and it’s friendship with the aquarium janitor. I couldn’t figure out which prompt to use this booked for s..."

I think if fits several prompts, set in a workplace, contemporary setting, a book "everyone has read", has a dedication. Of course if you have filled all those you can use it here (or use it here, because we are not book police!)

I had basically given up on finding a book that fit the prompt literally. But I found one. It doesn't meet any of the prompts! Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Payson Prentiss

I read Dynasty

My second book for this prompt was Marley and Me by John Grogan. I laughed and cried, but not quite as much as at the movie. Wonderful book! 5 Stars

I enjoyed Eight Winter Nights by Liz Maverick a New York City Hanukkah romance. Holiday Fun.

I may use this prompt as a freebie~

Anna wrote: "I had basically given up on finding a book that fit the prompt literally. But I found one. It doesn't meet any of the prompts! Stepping Heavenward by [author:Elizabeth Payson Prentiss..."

I may also read this - it looks good

I read Targeted: Three Romantic Suspense Novellas by Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn and Natalie Walters. This is a collection of 3 Romantic Suspense Novellas. I won this book late last year in a 52 Book Club giveaway!

Bless Your Heart, Rae Sutton

I've read Serotonin by Michel Houellebecq

I read Bruce Springsteen and Philosophy: Darkness on the Edge of Truth by Randall E. Auxier

I read My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante which doesn’t fit into any of the other prompts! (I don’t think so anyway) But I will definitely be reading the other books in the series and might make the last one my book for prompt 39 “final book in a series”.

Love at First Psych by Cara Bastone

I read Blood Magick by Nora Roberts, 4 Stars

I was reading 'Trifles' and 'a Jury of Her Peers' by Susan Glaspell for another challenge and it fit this prompt perfectly. Trifles is a one-act play written and first performed in 1916. A Jury of Her Peers is the short story of the same story written in 1918. Well worth the read, and introduced me to this Pulitzer Prize-winning author and early feminist.

I used “The Downstairs Girl” for this prompt. It could have been a typographical cover also, but I think I will be able to find other books for that prompt as the year goes on.

I read A Hiker's Guide to Purgatory: A Novel by Michael Norton.

I counted All the Missing Girls for this one. Could have fit other prompts, but this didn't fit any of the prompts I hadn't filled yet.

I read

Im reading Ghost stories and mysterious creatures of British Columbia by Barbara Smith

PROMPT #51: Doesn't fit any of the other 51 prompts -


Darling Girl by Liz Michalski

"All The Pretty Horses" by Cormac McCarthy. I've tried fitting this in to each challenge and so here it lands.

I have read My Brilliant Friend for this prompt