The 52 Book Club: 2025 Challenge discussion

WEEKLY CHECK-IN
January 1, 2024 -- Week 1

Hello everyone! Our 52 Book Club 2024 challenge has officially begun! With so many new faces in the group, we thought this would be an excellent opportunity to introduce ourselves!

In the comments tell us:
1) Where are you from?
2) How many years have you participated in The 52 Book Club challenge?
3) What book (and/or prompt) are you starting out 2024 with?

I’m Lindsey, I live in Edmonton, Canada and this is my 7th year doing the challenge. Last year I read 172 books and my starting goal this year is 125. I don’t love audio books but I’m able to read on both of my commutes and my lunch break, so I fit a lot in. I’m doing the challenge in order this year (for the first time) so my first book is The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware for prompt #1.

Hi, I'm Jolien and I live in Lokeren in Belgium. This is my second year in the challenge, starting the year with the novelization of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Hi Everyone,
I'm Diana, I live in San Antonio,Texas. And I'm very excited participating in this challenge for this 1st time. I plan on doing the prompts in order.
1. Locked - Room Mystery
Reading The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse

Hi! I'm Beth (M). I'm currently in North Carolina. This will be my fourth year with this challenge.
The book(s) I'm starting with are leftovers from last year: Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim and The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon. I was trying to finish "author who shares a name with me," but I'm sure I will fit them somewhere. My plan for this year is to choose the prompt as I go, and not allow myself to change it if I find something that fits better later...
And I'm aiming at 100 again, but I've set all my accountability goals for 60.

Hi there! My name is Jaklin and I'm from Reno, Nevada. In the past, I've taken on self-imposed 52 book challenges where I read whichever books I wanted, but this year, I'm excited to participate in a structured event with prompts. In the first week, I plan on finishing three books: "Dracula," "Fourth Wing," and "Treasure Island." After that, I'll be moving on to "The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle," "The Violin Conspiracy," and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

I’m Jen checking in from Buffalo, NY. This is my first time participating in this challenge. I’m currently reading a non-fiction book a friend recommended. “The Second Miracle” by Peter Greave is a pretty old book and is out of print, so she mailed her precious copy to me. I honestly put off reading it because I had so much going on over the holidays and truthfully, it did not look like my kind of thing. But I do respect her and appreciate that she sent it. Of course, it took me only about five pages to realize I’m going to love this!

Bucks County, Pa. My first challenge. Started 2024 with Agatha Christie The Mysterious Affair at Styles. Promp #1

Hello everyone,

My name is Natalya and I live in Calgary, Canada. This is my second year doing this challenge. I'm starting this year with White Fang by Jack London for Prompt # 51 - Related to the word "wild".

My name is Pam. This is my first year with this challenge. I am starting with prompt #1 with The Woman in Cabin 10.

Hi! I live in Schertz, TX right outside of San Antonio. Very excited to start this. I just found this club. I'm starting with prompts 19/50 and a read along - The Violin Conspiracy and prompt 51 Runaway Horses Also my daughter and I are about to start House of Leaves but unsure which prompt I'll fit that in to - any suggestions?

Hi my name is Christopher and I am in west central Pennsylvania. This is my first time participating in this challenge. I have enjoyed selecting some books from my shelves as well as others from the suggested lists for many of the prompts while also leaving some prompts open to find/fill in later down the line.

I just finished my first book of the year for Prompt #2. I read Pink Lemonade Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke. Throughout there are comments from characters about how good the baked goods that are being prepared by the main character smell. The inclusion of the recipes stimulates my imagination of what they would smell like even more so I thought this was a good fit for the prompt.

Looking forward to continuing my 2024 reading journey.

I'm Maddie and this is my first year doing this challenge! I live in Olympia, WA. I'm starting out with Prompt #47 (self-insert by an author) by reading The Pleasing Hour by Lily King!

Hello! My name is Crystal, I'm 26 and I live in San Antonio, TX. This is my first year participating in this challenge and I'm so excited to tackle it! I'm starting off with The Writing Retreat for Prompt #3 (Book with 40+ Chapters)

Hi, I'm Cindy, and I live in Tours in France. This is my first participation in the 52 books challenge, and I'm really excited to try it ! I'm starting the year with the #30 challenge : Picked without reading the blurb, with La vie leur appartient by Frédérik d'Onaglia. Good luck to eveyone with their goals :)

Lana wrote: "Hi! I live in Schertz, TX right outside of San Antonio. Very excited to start this. I just found this club. I'm starting with prompts 19/50 and a read along - The Violin Conspiracy. Also my daughte..." this would actually fit prompt #19 (a buddy read) because you'd be reading it with a buddy, your daughter!

Greetings from Michigan!! This is my second year participating. I am starting off with prompt #26 with Homecoming by Kate Morton.

Hello! This is my second year doing the challenge. I started last year after the start of the year, so this is my first time starting at the beginning of the year. I am currently reading The Imagineering Story: The Official Biography of Walt Disney Imagineering. I have a few options of where I might use it in the challenge, I am not sure which prompt I am assigning it yet.

Hello everyone! I'm front Fenton, MI. This is going to be my first of many years hopefully. I'm starting off with prompt #1 with And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.

Hiya! My name is Casey and I live in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This will be my third year participating, though my second year actually starting at the beginning of the year since my first year I didn't start until nearly half way through. I am starting off with the prompt "a cover without people on it" and I am reading the short novella Into the Riverlands by Nghi Vo.

I'm Michele from a tiny village in Pike County, Illinois. This is my third year doing the challenge. My first books are Dear Bob and Sue, which would fit the "buddy read" prompt, because it's for a book club, or the "relates to the word 'wild'" prompt, because it's about a couple who visit all 58 National Parks, and The Wartime Matchmakers which I am going to use for the first "similar plots" prompt.

Hi, I’m Lily, I live in Montreal but currently I’m away with my family so I can’t read as usual. I’m mostly reading manga. I’m currently reading “ something is killing thé children “ #4 .
This is the first time I join 52 and I’m very excited. I want to read more diverse book. I mostly l8ke to read mystery , thrillers, some fantasy and graphic novels.

Greetings and Happy New Year! I'm Jennifer from Loris, SC and this is my 2nd year in the 52 Book Challenge. Once I finish my current read, I will probably begin the challenge by reading I Work at a Public Library: A Collection of Crazy Stories from the Stacks to fulfill prompt #52 (related to the word "wild"), since I've had it checked out for forever and have reached my renewal limit - although since I actually do work at a public library I could probably override the system, or, failing that, write my own darn book.

Hi
I'm Victoria from Norway. First time participating, and started with a book that can fit several prompts. Haven't decided yet. Can fit
3) more than 40 chapters
19) a buddy read
43) about finding identity
51) related to the word wild

so, now it's up to what other books I read, to find the right prompt...

Hello! I am Pam from Ontario Canada. This is my first time doing the challenge and am so excited about my picks. I had many options from my TBR pile and the rest I am borrowing from the library. I am using all three methods: some audiobooks, some ebooks and some hard copies. I started today with my first pick for prompt #15: part of a duo. I am listening to Gone With the Wind in audiobook format. Little did I realize that it is 48 hours long in audio format. Fortunately I should get lots of crocheting done as I listen. All the best to everyone and their goals. Cheers!!!

Hi, all! I'm from the United States. This is my first year doing this challenge. I'm starting with prompt #43 and reading Persepolis.

Hi, Kena here from Maryland. This is my first year joining the 52 book club and am exciting to take on the challenge. I've started reading House Rules for prompt #7. I selected several books from my TBR list for several prompts and plan to read the books in order of when I added them to my TBR list. I'm looking forward to the different variety of books that I will be reading this year. Hope everyone has fun reading.

Hello :)

1) Where are you from? Midwest, U.S.
2) How many years have you participated in The 52 Book Club challenge? This is my first year!
3) What book (and/or prompt) are you starting out 2024 with? A Marvellous Light. Not sure what prompt it will fit yet but I'm sure I can make it work somewhere lol :)

Hello, my name is Shannon and I am from Illinois. This is my second year participating in the Challenge. I found the Challenge in June last year so I did not quite finish it. I am starting with the prompt Women in STEM and will be reading Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood.

Hi! I'm Anouk and I'm from The Netherlands. This is my first year doing the challenge. I'm starting with prompt #28 and reading Bright Young Women :)

Hi Everyone!
I am from Idaho, USA

This is my first year participating in The 52 Book Club challenge. However, I do a 50 book Challenge with my Library every year since it started in 2014. So I'm new to this group, but not the idea of the Challenge. I am so happy I found this. I am a fairly quick reader.

To start off the year I am not sure what prompt I am doing. I kinda plan the books I wanna read and then see how they fit the prompts as I go. Sometimes I find that a book I chose for one prompt fits another one better after I read it. I have a few books (sorry yes, I am one of those lol) that I am reading right now:
1) Beloved - Toni Morrison
2) Shadow Riders - Christine Feehan
3) The Warmth of Other Suns - Isabel Wilkerson
4) The Body Keeps the Score - Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD

I am hoping to fit in some series books this year that I've had on my Physical Shelf a while: Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Dark Hunters (I need to catch up), Black Dagger Brotherhood (another I need to catch up on). I also have some classics I've been meaning to get to... so they are hopefuls to pull in some time this year.

So many Great Book, So Little Time.

Happy New Year! I'm Haley from Conway, SC and this is my 2nd year doing the 52 Book Challenge. I'm going to be doing Prompt 48 - The Word "Secret" is in the Title. I'll be reading My Coworker Has a Secret!, Volume 1 since it's a short two-part manga. It's light and will be a good way to start off the New Year.

1) Where are you from? Hi, I’m Kathi from a small community near Green Bay, WI.
2) How many years have you participated in The 52 Book Club challenge? This is my second year doing this challenge.
3) What book (and/or prompt) are you starting out 2024 with? I am currently reading Mystic Warrior by Tracy Hickman & Laura Hickman (physical book) and Out of the Mirror, Darkness by Garth Nix (audiobook). I will assign them to prompts when I finish them.

I’m Catherine. I live just outside of Blenheim, ON, Canada. This is my 3rd year working through this challenge. I am currently working on prompt 19 - reading a buddy book. The book is the Thursday murder club

Hi! I'm StacyRenee, from Florida. I think this is my third year participating and I'm going to start with the locked room prompt and read The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse!

Hi! I'm Faith from Arizona. This is my second year participating. I'm staring with Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters for prompt #4 lowercase letters on the spine.

Hi all! Checking in from NW Colorado. This is my third challenge (completed 51/52 in 2022, 52/52 in 2023). I'm starting with prompt 26, reading The Fragile Threads of Power

Hi! I'm Beth from Wisconsin. This is my very first challenge. I'm starting off with prompt #4 lowercase letters on the spine--Fredrik Backman's my grandmother asked me to tell you she's sorry--because it's on my physical bookshelf. I like the idea of reading books from my stash and then assigning them to a prompt, as suggested by a few others on this thread. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm excited to be a member of the group!

Hello! I'm Alex from BC, Canada. This is my first year participating in this challenge. I'll be starting off with prompt #8, reading Life Of Pi by Yann Martel.

Hi! I'm Sandy from Utah. This is my first challenge. I am starting with prompt #32 - Time frame spans a week or less, The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett. I will be reading a lot of books on my TBR shelves and finding a prompt to fit them into. Many of those books will be middle grade novels. I teach 5th/6th grade and love to discuss books with my kiddos.

Hello my name is Sam. I am starting with prompt #24 a cover without people on it. I am reading It is better this way by Debbie Macomber. This is my first time doing a reading challenge with prompts.

Hi, I'm Sarah from Cold Lake, Alberta. This is my first reading challenge since 1st grade when we got star stickers for every book we read LOL. I'm trying to finish "The Amoveo" series by Sara Humphreys first and then starting my challenge with Finding Me since Oprah's everyone's friend right ;) it'll fill in Prompt #39. Happy reading everyone and have a wonderful 2024

My name is Ronda Perry. I am from Portsmouth Oh. This is my first time doing the challenge. I am doing the read along the Violin Conspiracy , and Murder n the Orient Express to start the challenge.

Hi! My name is Michele and I live in Maryland. This is my 4th year doing this challenge. I plan to start with the locked room mystery prompt with The Mysterious Affair at Styles.

Hi all! I'm Zeljka from Croatia, just recently came across this group and this is my first time participating.
Unfortunately I'm not sure that I will have time to read for all 52 prompts so I decided to use books for multiple prompts if they fit so we'lll see where this will get me.
Starting of with #15 - Part of duology The Family Upstairs.

Hi all! Name’s Mara. I’m joining the challenge from South Carolina, 🇺🇸. I’ve tried to complete a challenge for a couple of years but always succumbed to work overload. This year, I’m determined to complete all prompts 😤 And I’m kicking off this challenge with #33 An Abrupt Ending: Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins.

hello,I'm Hnin.This is my fist year doing the challenge.I'm starting with prompt#1 locked room mystery, murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

I’m Jenny from Alexandra New Zealand. This is my second challenge. I’m starting with Ernest Hemingway’s The sun also rises for prompt 47 - self insert by an author. Also listening to Kirk? Krak! for prompt 11 starting with K. My husband is also doing the challenge for the second year. He is reading Dead Man’s Axe by Bing Turkby Guitar store Mysteries for Prompt 50 a musical instrument on the cover.

Hello everyone! I'm Edit from Hungary and this is my second year doing this challenge. I have read 116 books last year and my initial goal was to reach the magical 52.
I'm starting this years challenge with four books, bc I couldn't contain myself last december and started multiple books.
Prompt 1 - A titokzatos stylesi eset by Agatha Christie
Prompt 3 - Az Alapítvány trilógia by Isaac Asimov
Prompt 25 - Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
Prompt 30 - Stargazy Pie by Victoria Goddard (chosen by my boyfriend as a random book on my tbr)

Hi, my name is MaryAnn, I am in Colorado, USA.
My first book for the year is #8 Features the ocean
A Year by the Sea by Joan Anderson. I reread it every year !
This is my first time in the challenge.