Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

I love the format of this challenge, that you so much for creating it ❤️


The Summer Challenge

June
✅️ 1. National Ballpoint Pen Day
June 10th, the anniversary of the patent filing. Fun fact: the world's most popular ball point is the Bic Crystal, which sells on average 57 pens per second.
✔️ a. A book with a writing utensil on the cover
A Stroke of the Pen by Terry Pratchett
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook
✔️b. A book written under a pen name
In the Margins: On the Pleasures of Reading and Writing by Elena Ferrante
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - e-book
✔️ c. A book about a writer, bookseller, or librarian
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook


✅️ 2. National Prune Day
June 15th. Fun fact: prunes, the dried version of plums, were originally from China.
✔️ a. A book written by someone over the age of 60
The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan (published when he was 62 years old)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - physical book
✔️ b. A book with more than 400 pages
The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson (556 pages)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - physical book
✔️ c. A book with purple on the cover
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook


✅️ 3. Let's Catch a Movie
The term 'blockbuster' was originally used to describe especially destructive bombs, and then came to mean shocking news stories. It's current use as a movie with huge box office returns is often attributed to producer Max Youngstein
✔️ a. Author's initials can be found in BLOCKBUSTER FILM
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook
✔️ b. A book that has been adapted into a movie or series
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
⭐️⭐️ - audiobook
✔️ c. A book published in the last two years
The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan (from 2023)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook


✅️ 4. Happy Birthday Paul Gauguin
Born on June 7th 1848 Gauguin was a French artist most known for his contributions to the Post-Impressionist and Symbolist movements. He lived in France, Peru, Martinique, Tahiti, and the Marquesas Islands.
✔️a. A book with at least 4 colors on the cover
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook
✔️ b. A translated book
The Old Woman with the Knife by Gu Byeong-mo (translated from Korean)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook
✔️ c. A book with a seven in the page count
Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi (272 pages)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook


July
✅️ 1. Happy Birthday Satchel Paige
Baseball pitcher Leroy R. (Satchel) Paige (1906-1982) was the first African American pitcher in the American League. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.
✔️ a. A book whose author's initials appear in CURVEBALL
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook
✔️ b. A book featuring a sport
Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook
✔️ c. A book with a black main character
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook


✅️ 2. The Apollo Moon Landing
Apollo 11, the first manned landing on Earth's moon, touched down on the surface on July 20, 1969.
✔️ a. A book set in space
Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook
✔️ b. A book with the moon on the cover
The Twilight Garden by Sara Nisha Adams
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook
✔️ c. A book published in the 1960s
Dune by Frank Herbert
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - physical book


✅️ 3. Let's Go on a Hike
Fun fact: Yellowstone National Park averages 1 bear attack per year, and there have only been 8 bear-caused fatalities in park history. For perspective that is 1 bear attack per 26.2 million park visits.
✔️ a. A book with a cover of a nature scene without people
Skogen - Om trær, folk og 25 000 andre arter by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - e-book
✔️ b. A book set in a rural area
The Shepherd's Life: A People's History of the Lake District by James Rebanks
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - physical book
✔️ c. A book with an element of survival
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook


✅️ 4. Dog Days of Summer
Fun fact: this phrase refers to the time when Sirius the dog star is visible in the sky.
✔️ a. A book with a dog on the cover
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook
✔️ b. A book with a hot setting
The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook
✔️ c. An author's first book
Dear Wendy by Ann Zhao
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -audiobook



August
✅️ 1. The Destruction of Pompeii
Pompeii was a Roman city that was buried under volcanic ash and pumice during the eruption of Mt Vesuvius on August 24, 79 CE. Because of the particular method of its destruction it is extremely well preserved and offers a unique look at life in the ancient Roman Empire.
✔️ a. A book featuring an ancient civilization
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook
✔️ b. A book with red on the cover
The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook
✔️ c. A book set in a city
Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto (set in Tokyo)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - physical book


✅️ 2. Vacation Time
Fun fact: 60% of the Earth's lakes are located in Canada. Something to think about next time you're by a lake.
✔️ a. A book you've been meaning to read
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook
✔️ b. A book by a favorite author
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - physical book
✔️ c. A book set somewhere you would like to visit
Y/N by Esther Yi (set in Berlin and Seoul)
⭐️ - physical book


✅️ 3. Let's Play a Game
Fun fact: In Chile the Clue character Mr. Green is named Chef Lettuce.
✔️ a. A book with multiple points of view
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook
✔️ b. A book by an author whose initials appear in SCRABBLE
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook
✔️ c. A book in a series
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook


✅️ 4. Back to School Sales
Fun fact: in 2023 the average American household spent $890 on back to school shopping, according to an online survey. Ok, that one's not actually that fun.
✔️ a. A book borrowed from the library
Lukkertid by Maja Lunde
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - e-book
✔️ b. A nonfiction book
Den vanskelige maten - Hvordan det vi spiser ble et problem og hva vi kan gjøre med det by Andreas Liebe Delsett
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - physical book
✔️ c. A book with a character in an educational setting
Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - audiobook


Quite a mixed pile 😂
I will very likely change the plans as I go 🤷‍♀️