Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
2024 Plans
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Hayley's 2024 ATY Reading Plan
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2024 Reading List1. A book with a title that ends in A, T or Y
πππππ²ποΈ - The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde - 01/03/2024 - βββ
2. A book connected to something you read in 2023
ππππππ - Snowflower and the Secret Fan - Lisa See - 01/15/2024 - ββ
3. A book that fits a suggestion that didnβt make the final list
(A book shelved as literary fiction)
ππππππ² - Piranesi - Susanna Clarke
(A book with a person on the cover but you can't see their whole face)
πππππ²π - One Hundred and One Nights - Benjamin Buchholz
(A book about a mask or masquerade)
π ππππ²π¬π -Phantom- Susan Kay
4. A book related to the lyrics of What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
πππππππ - The World That We Knew - Alice Hoffman - 01/24/2024 - βββββ
5. A book set in one of the 25 most beautiful cities in the world
(Rome)
π ππππ²ππ - Eternal - Lisa Scottoline
6. A book with wings on the cover
π ππππβ¨π - The Third Angel - Alice Hoffman
7. A book with a pronoun in the title
(I, you)
π πππππI Must Betray You - Ruta Sepetys
8. A book by an author from Canada, Australia or New Zealand
(Australia)
ππππππThe Book Thief - Markus Zusak - 02/11/2024 - ββ
9. A book with fewer than 2024 ratings on Goodreads
π πππππThe Bird Hotel - Joyce Maynard
10. A history or historical fiction book
π ππππ²A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
11. A book with an X connection
(Author born in Generation X)
π ππποΈπLooking for Alaska - John Green
12. A book that has been on your TBR for over a year
π ππππ²The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
13. A book that is on a Five Books List
(Five Books by Egyptian Authors)
π ππππ²The Yacoubian Building - Alaa Al Aswany
14. A book with a main character who is Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color
(Character who is a person of colour)
π ππDaughter of the Moon Goddess - Sue Lynn Tan
15. A book whose authorβs name includes one of the 4 least used letters in the alphabet (JQZX)
π ππThe Map of Salt and Stars - Zeyn Joukhadar
16. A book related to the phrase "It's Raining Cats and Dogs"
(Character is a cat)
π ππThe Travelling Cat Chronicles - Hiro Arikawa
17. A book involving intelligence
(Animal intelligence)
π ππRemarkably Bright Creatures - Shelby Van Pelt
18. A book with a botanical cover
(Trees on cover)
π ππAs Long as the Lemon Trees Grow - Zoulfa Katouh
19. A book connected in some way to any of the flavors of Ben & Jerryβs ice cream
(Berry Revolutionary)
π ππA Girl Called Samson - Amy Harmon
20. A book with a single word title
π ππKaikeyi - Vaishnavi Patel
21. A book with a title containing 6+ words
π ππHotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet - Jamie Ford
22. A book by an author from an African country
(Ghana)
π ππHomegoing - Yaa Gyasi
23. A book related to Boats, Beaches, Bars, Ballads, or Jimmy Buffett
π ππA Thousand Ships - Natalie Haynes
24. A book with a secondary color on the cover
π ππWeyward - Emilia Hart
25. A book involving a crime other than a murder
π ππDemon Copperhead - Barbara Kingsolver
26. A book by an author known by their initials
π ππBabel - R. F. Kuang
27. A book related to land
π ππππ²And the Mountains Echoed - Khaled Hosseini
28. A book related to sea
π ππCirce - Madeline Miller
29. A book related to air
β³ππππ²The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
30. A book set in a country bordering the Mediterranean Sea
(Greece)
π ππThe Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller
31. A book related to βGoing for the Goldβ
π ππ A Fall of Marigolds - Susan Meissner
32. A book with a number in the title
π ππFive Feet Apart - Rachael Lippincott
33. A book involving travel
π ππA Long Petal of the Sea - Isabel Allende
34. A book related to the name of one of Snow White's seven dwarfs
(Grumpy)
π ππA Man Called Ove - Fredrik Backman
35. A science or science fiction book
π ππParable of the Sower - Octavia Butler
36. A book featuring a character in education
π ππMy Dark Vanessa - Kate Elizabeth Russell
37. A book that is part of a series
π ππParable of the Talents - Octavia Butler
38 Book with similar cover A
π ππThe Book of Lost Names - Kristin Harmel
39. Book with similar cover B
π ππThe Book of Last Letters - Kerry Barrett
40. A book involving a wild animal or endangered species, in the content, title, or on the cover
π ππThe Bear and the Nightingale - Katherine Arden
41. A book with a chilling atmosphere
π ππBeartown - Fredrik Backman
42. A book with a sound-related word in the title
(Silence)
π ππThe Fountains of Silence - Ruta Sepetys
43. A book by an Edgar Award-winning author
π ππThis Tender Land - William Kent Krueger
44. A book with a touch of magic
π ππStardust - Neil Gaiman
45. A book that is not a novel
π ππLetters on Life - Rainer Maria Rilke
46. A book related to night
π ππAfter Dark - Haruki Murakami
47. A book with a two-word title beginning with THE
π ππ The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah
48. A second book that fits your favorite prompt (No Listopia)
(A book with a title that ends in A, T or Y)
π ππThe Red Tent - Anita Diamant
49. A book with a senior citizen character
π ππThe Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid
50. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2023
π ππEast of Eden - John Steinbeck
51. A book published in 2024
π ππDaughters of Shandong - Eve J. Chung
52. A cozy mystery
π ππA Good Girl's Guide to Murder - Holly Jackson
Reflecting on the books I've read in 2024
A Man Called Ove made my list too! I loved the movie and canβt wait to read it.
You have some GREAT books on this list! You're in for an exciting year of reading :)
Eli wrote: "A Man Called Ove made my list too! I loved the movie and canβt wait to read it."If you're interested, we can buddy read in August.
January ReadingI started my challenge early because my birthday is the 29th and I feel like that is really when I start over each year. But since I finished my first book in two days, I decided to pick a second book for the first prompt.
1. A book with a title that ends in A, T or Y
Phantom of the Opera β Gaston Leroux β ββ - 12/31/2023
The film was popular when I was in high school and sparked my original interest in reading this book. I never saw it, so I have nothing to compare my reading experience to. I went into reading this book with the expectation of a love story. It read more like a mystery/horror book. I thought the Phantom would be compelling. He was not. He was creepy and obsessive, but maybe that was the point. I would have enjoyed it more if it had been more character-driven and focused on the love triangle between Raoul, Christine, and the Phantom. But judging by other reviews on this site, that was the film. So, I'm challenging myself to read an adaptation about the Phantom's life (maybe that will make him more likeable) and to borrow the film from the library before I put this in the "not for me" category.
Read my full review here
1. A book with a title that ends in A, T or Y
The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde - βββ - 01/03/2024
I had heard many references to this book since first hearing about it during my first year in university. I had always wanted to read it and was glad that it fit this prompt from the challenge. Overall, it was a very immersive read in parts of the book, but it did drag in the second quarter. I wasn't expecting the main character to be corrupted by beauty and pleasure. Those weren't quite ideas that I would have thought had the ability to do that. But it was interested in seeing how the best things in life could have the ability to ruin someone. Not sure if I'd recommend this one.
Read my full review here
2. A book connected to something you read in 2023
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - Lisa See - ββ - 01/15/2024
I had been looking forward to reading this book since after I read another book by the same author. I had actually planned to read two books by the author but a book that I was waitlisted for at the library was returned by mistake and I had to choose another book. Overall, it wasn't as immersive as I was expecting. I didn't feel connected to the characters or the setting. The plot was very unsatisfying. There were several times when I thought the book was going to get better and explore potential storylines but it never went where I hoped it would go. I could understand Lily's frustration with Snow Flower due to her behaviour, but I just didn't think she deserved the harsh life that she was given. I wanted more from this book. I wanted a good character arc. I didn't even need a happy ending. But I was just bored by much of this book and put it down for about a week, not wanting to pick it up again. I wouldn't recommend this book and I hope that it is not the author's best writing.
Read my full review here
4. A book related to the lyrics of What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
The World That We Knew - Alice Hoffman - βββββ - 01/24/2024
I remember hearing about this book in the suggested books in my library's search engine. I will definitely be utilizing it again to find more recommendations. This book was really immersive. I was captivated from start to finish. I felt connected to the characters and their journeys. It took me longer than expected to finish it, but that was because it was a lot to take in, not that I didn't enjoy it. I was happy with most of the endings that the main characters got. But I really fell in love with the way magical realism was utilized in this book in golem and the heron. The imagery was just beautiful and I really enjoyed the prose. I will definitely check out another book by the same author because as far as I'm concerned, this is a perfect book. I definitely recommend it to other readers.
Read my full review here
JanuaryI had a bit of bad luck this month. Some disappointments. One new favourite. I'm really happy that I'm knocking off some books off my long-time TBR though. I can't seem to finish a book for the third prompt. lol, 2 DNF and one book that didn't come through at the library. Will try again next month.
February ReadingI'm a bit behind on reading because two books took me 9+ days to finish and I had two DNF for the third prompt.
I'm hoping to finish six books this month! The four usual prompts for this month and catching up on two from January. I hope I can do it.
I also might be able to buddy read with two people this month. I left the offer available to one member on her thread for this year. It would be cool. I like solidarity.
I love that your DNF icon is a skull.Also somewhat intrigued that you DNFed Piranesi. That one is on my list for this year, *Grinning Skull Emoji*
J wrote: "I love that your DNF icon is a skull.Also somewhat intrigued that you DNFed Piranesi. That one is on my list for this year, *Grinning Skull Emoji*"
It made sense to me π€·
I know! I heard such good things about it. Some of my fav booktubers even read it. I was looking forward to it and then it just didn't work for me. First, it was written like a journal. Not my favourite novel structure. Second, it was very descriptive of the visuals and focusing on that and I can't imagine things in my head. I gave it a few chapters and then couldn't do it.
Not as bad as my second DNF though. I could probably make Piranesi work but I thought it would be at most a three star read and that there were better books for me out there.
February Reading
8. A book by an author from Canada, Australia or New Zealand
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak - ββ - 02/11/2024
I have been trying to read some of my favourite booktubers' favourite books to help determine my reading preferences. I thought I would start with this book because it is a modern classic and found on a lot of reading lists. Overall, it was pretty disappointing. I couldn't tell if it was a character-driven or plot-driven novel because both were lacking. It could have been more immersive because there was nothing outstanding about the characters or the setting. I thought this book was going to get better and really explore different viewpoints in Nazi Germany. Details like the main character's father being a communist were left unexplored. I felt like this book could have been a much more satisfying read and I found myself bored by large chunks of it. I wouldn't recommend this book to other readers and I believe that there are authors out there who wrote better books about the same subject.
Read my full review here
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Third Angel (other topics)Looking for Alaska (other topics)
The Book Thief (other topics)
Phantom (other topics)
The Bird Hotel (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Alice Hoffman (other topics)John Green (other topics)
Susan Kay (other topics)
Joyce Maynard (other topics)
Benjamin Buchholz (other topics)
More...
π Finished
β³ Currently Reading
π TBR
π DNF
π Stand Alone
π Series
π New Author
π Familiar Author
π Reread
π Physical Book
π± Kindle
π§ Audiobook
π² Owned
π Library
π»Downloaded
Genres
πΈ Children
ποΈ Classic
ποΈ Contemporary
π² Fantasy
π Historical Fiction
ποΈ Literary Fiction
β¨ Magical Realism
π Mystery/Thriller
π Nonfiction
ποΈ Poetry
π¬ Retelling
π Romance
π§¬Science Fiction