The 52 Book Club: 2025 Challenge discussion

Are you ready for a new summer reading adventure?

This year, our summer reading challenge is inspired by sports! We’re celebrating competition, global community, and the dedication, hard work, and talent it requires to become the best of the best… with 24 sport-inspired prompts! And we invite you to “compete” for a bronze, silver, or gold medal — bookworm style, of course! (Note: No physical medals will be given out, but you will get the immense satisfaction of crushing your summer reading goals!)

HOW IT WORKS:
Our Summer ’24 Reading Challenge contains a total of 24 prompts. Depending on your personal reading goals, participants will read anywhere from 8-24 books for this challenge by choosing whether they’d like to complete the bronze, silver, or gold tiers.

Bronze Tier: To complete this bronze-level tier, readers will complete at least 8 prompts on this summer challenge. For added difficulty, readers can complete only the 8 bronze prompts. OR, for lesser difficulty, readers are welcome to pick any 8 prompts total from the challenge.

Silver Tier: To complete the silver-level tier, readers will complete at least 16 prompts from this summer challenge. For added difficulty, readers can restrict themselves to the 8 bronze-level prompts plus the 8 silver-level prompts only. OR, for lesser difficulty, readers are welcome to pick any 16 prompts total from the challenge.

Gold Tier:To complete the gold-level tier, readers will complete all 24 prompts from this summer challenge.

Once you decide whether you’ll be completing the gold, silver, or bronze tier — pick your prompts and match one book to each! Get creative and enjoy! (Remember that the only person you’re actually competing against is yourself! The goal is to have fun, try new books and authors, and read more! That looks different for all of us, and that’s okay!)

The prompts for this challenge are inspired by a variety of summer sports (with bookish twists, of course!) but the books you choose do not have to be sport-related. Books read for this challenge can be about any genre or topic. As long as you think the book fits the prompt, it does!

The Summer 2024 Prompts are:

OPENING CEREMONIES
1) Set in Paris
2) Flame on the cover
3) Going for Gold

ATHLETICS:
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection
5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours
6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
7) BOXING: A strong opening hook
8) WRESTLING: A heavy read
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!

GYMNASTICS:
10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life
11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books
12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover

WATER SPORTS
13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel
14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash
15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect”

CYCLING:
16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation
17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends
18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance”

TEAM SPORTS:
19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian
20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball
21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover
23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years
24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian

What books will you be pairing with each prompt?

You can find more challenge details (including free graphics to download) on our website here: https://www.the52book.club/summer-202...

When I read though the list I picked books for 3 prompts right away,
for

1) Set in Paris

either Den hemliga våningen by Kelly Bowen
or The Werewolf of Paris by Guy Endore

4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection

This is one of the library books I have at the moment, a collection of crime short stories Årets påskekrim: 13 kriminalnoveller fra spenningens mestere by Johan Theorin and 14 more authors.

24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian
Aamodt og Kjus: 35 år som konkurrenter. Og brødre by Svein Tore Bergestuen - not just one but two winter Olympians.

This Reading Challenge is fantastic!
I can't wait to spend some time here picking my books and hopefully coordinating them to the 2024 Reading Challenge.
Plus, I'm a big fan of the Summer Olympics.
Thanks for putting this together.

I hope to read all 24 but we'll see:
OPENING CEREMONIES
√1) Set in Paris: Identity by Milan Kundera
√2) Flame on the cover: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
√3) Going for Gold: Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen (gold records)

ATHLETICS:
√4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection: Never Whistle At Night by Shane Hawk
√5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours: The Annotated Arabian Nights by Yasmine Seale
√6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader: London by Edward Rutherfurd

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
√7) BOXING: A strong opening hook: Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
√8) WRESTLING: A heavy read: The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
√9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!: Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries and Just One More Page Before Lights Out by Shannon Reed

GYMNASTICS:
√10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life: The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson
√11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books: Anne of green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
√12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover: The Iliad by Homer

WATER SPORTS
√13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel: Why We Love Baseball by Joe Posnanski
√14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
√15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect”: The Chaos Machine by Max Fisher

CYCLING:
√16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation Huckleberry Finn
√17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends: K-Pop Confidential
√18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance”: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

TEAM SPORTS:
√19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
√20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball: The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie
√21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title: Seven Kinds of People you find in BOOkshops by Shaun Bythell

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
√22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover: Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
√23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years: From A Cat's View edited by Robin Praytor (last book 2019)
√24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian: Grace, Gold Glory by Gabrielle Douglas

challenge complete

Going for Gold! Thanks for these fun prompts. Also, I guess I will be watching at least the Volleyball.

23/24

🥇Complete 8/03/24
🥈Complete 9/20/24
🥉Complete 8/21/24

OPENING CEREMONIES
1) 🥉 Set in Paris: Mrs. ‘Arris Goes to Paris
2) 🥈 Flame on the cover: The Perilous Performance at Milkweed Meadow
3) 🥇 Going for Gold: The Outsiders

ATHLETICS:
4) 🥉 100M SPRINT: A short story collection: The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories
5) 🥈 LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
6) 🥇 STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader: Hamnet

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
7) 🥉 BOXING: A strong opening hook: Made Glorious
8) 🥈 WRESTLING: A heavy read: Flying Through Water Deals with child trafficking in the Ghana fishing industry.
9) 🥇 FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche! : Slow Dance

GYMNASTICS:
10) 🥉 BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life: Atomic Habits
11) 🥈 UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books: The Murder on the Links
12) 🥇 RINGS: Jewelry on cover: The Mystery of the Blue Train

WATER SPORTS
13) 🥉 SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel: Dairy Queen
14) 🥈 WATER POLO: A book that made a splash: Three Summers Lots of adolescent angst playing in and out of the Una River
15) 🥇 BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect”: To Say Nothing of the Dog

CYCLING:
16) 🥉 ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation: Equal Rites (If dodgy broomsticks and leaky boats count as transportation)
17) 🥈 TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends: Gut Reaction
18) 🥇 CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance”: Keeping Pace

TEAM SPORTS:
19) 🥉 HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Linford Christie)
20) 🥈 VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball: If You Didn’t Have Me (Sweden)
21) 🥇 FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title: The Bullett that Missed

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
22) 🥉 At least four Olympic ring colors on cover: Camp Average
23) 🥈 An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years: Gay-Neck The Story of a Pigeon
24) 🥇 Memoir / Biography about an Olympian: Coming Home

22/24

OPENING CEREMONIES
1) Set in Paris: Light Music by Kathleen Ann Goonan
2) Flame on the cover: Farriers' Lane by Anne Perry
3) Going for Gold: Tyrant's Throne by Sebastien de Castell

ATHLETICS:
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection: The Faraway Collection (Amazon Original Stories)
5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours: Ashworth Hall by Anne Perry
6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader: Brunswick Gardens by Anne Perry

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
7) BOXING: A strong opening hook: Saint's Blood by Sebastien de Castell
8) WRESTLING: A heavy read: Powers by Ursula K. Le Guin
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!: Traitor's Blade by Sebastien de Castell

GYMNASTICS:
10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life: The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin
11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books: The Lavalite World by Philip José Farmer
12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover: The Princess Game by Soman Chainani

WATER SPORTS
13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel
14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash: The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect”: Exhalation by Ted Chiang (the story "Anxiety is the Dizziness of Freedom")

CYCLING:
16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation: Traitors Gate by Anne Perry
17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends: House of Crows by Lisa Unger
18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance”: The Sea Watch by Adrian Tchaikovsky

TEAM SPORTS:
19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian: Daughter of Silence by Morris L. West
20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball: either Light Music by Kathleen Ann Goonan or All the Seas of the World by Guy Gavriel Kay (both of which I used for other prompts in the Summer Mini-Challenge)
21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title: Dragonfly Falling by Adrian Tchaikovsky

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover: Mystic Quest by Tracy Hickman & Laura Hickman
23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years: The Maker of Universes by Philip José Farmer
24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian

52 Book Club Summer Challenge

☀ Completed: 8 / 8
BRONZE, with lesser difficulty
Challenge completed 6/20/2024

OPENING CEREMONIES
1) Set in Paris: partially: The Art of Losing

ATHLETICS:
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection: Today a Woman Went Mad in the Supermarket: Stories

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
7) BOXING: A strong opening hook: End of Story

FENCING:
Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!: An Assassination on the Agenda

GYMNASTICS:
11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books: currently the Henry Kimball/Lilly Kintner series by Peter Swanson has 3 titles: The Kind Worth Saving

WATER SPORTS:
14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash: The Women

CYCLING:
17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends: The Fury

TEAM SPORTS:
21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title: BEEN: We Could Have Been Friends, My Father and I

Here's to an end to my reading slump! I do another challenge in Summer to read 30 Books so this will help me create a win! win!

I will update this list as I go along. I plan to read in order, also, something I have never done in the past.

OPENING CEREMONIES
1) Set in Paris - The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl
2) Flame on the cover
3) Going for Gold

ATHLETICS:
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection
5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours
6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
7) BOXING: A strong opening hook
8) WRESTLING: A heavy read
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!

GYMNASTICS:
10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life
11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books
12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover

WATER SPORTS
13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel
14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash
15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect”

CYCLING:
16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation
17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends
18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance”

TEAM SPORTS:
19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian
20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball
21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover
23) 🥈 An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years:
24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian

reply | flag

I’m in! Ordered my journal and going for the GOLD!!

Your challenges are so creative! I love reading but this group adds such fun and purpose. I’m so glad I joined!

Haven't decided which medal I am going for but will do my best!



OPENING CEREMONIES
1) Set in Paris
2) Flame on the cover
3) Going for Gold - A Deadly Education

ATHLETICS:
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection
5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours - Into the Drowning Deep
6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
7) BOXING: A strong opening hook
8) WRESTLING: A heavy read - They Called Me Number One
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche! - Two Wrongs Make a Right

GYMNASTICS:
10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life
11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books
12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover - The Gilded Ones

WATER SPORTS
13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel - Break the Ice
14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash
15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect” - Girl, Serpent, Thorn

CYCLING:
16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation - The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister's Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine
17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends - Sick Kids in Love
18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance”

TEAM SPORTS:
19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian - Seashells, Spells & Caramels
20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball
21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title - Starter Villain

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover - Haroun and the Sea of Stories
23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years - The Magic Mountain
24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian

Completed ✔ 24/24

OPENING CEREMONIES
✔ 1) Set in Paris - The Perfect Nanny
✔ 2) Flame on the cover - The Midnight Feast
✔ 3) Going for Gold - Starsight

ATHLETICS:
✔ 4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection - Tales From the Hinterland
✔ 5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours - Fairy Tale
✔ 6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader - How to Solve Your Own Murder

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
✔ 7) BOXING: A strong opening hook - To Kill a Kingdom
✔ 8) WRESTLING: A heavy read - The Only Light Left Burning
✔ 9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche! - Soulless: The Manga, Vol. 2

GYMNASTICS:
✔ 10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life - Dragon Hoops
✔ 11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books - Soulless: The Manga, Vol. 3
✔ 12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover - Fumbled

WATER SPORTS
✔ 13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel - Blitzed
✔ 14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash - The Edge of the Ocean
✔ 15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect” - Wrong Place Wrong Time

CYCLING:
✔ 16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation - Prudence
✔ 17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends - Death in the Spires
✔ 18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance” - Dry

TEAM SPORTS:
✔ 19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian - The Warm Hands of Ghosts
✔ 20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball - Hidden in Shadows
✔ 21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title - Soulless: The Manga, Vol. 1

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
✔ 22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover - DC vs. Vampires, Vol. 2
✔ 23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years - Third Girl
✔ 24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian - Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, a Life in Balance

Summer Reading Challenge

🔥 OPENING CEREMONIES
(view spoiler)[1) Set in Paris - The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier by Thad Carhart
2) Flame on the cover - Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
3) Going for Gold - Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (hide spoiler)]

🎽 ATHLETICS
(view spoiler)[4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection - A Dirty Wedding Night (Dirty, #2.5) by Jaine Diamond
5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader - Shōgun (Asian Saga, #1 Part #1) by James Clavell (hide spoiler)]

🥊 INDIVIDUAL SPORTS
(view spoiler)[7) BOXING: A strong opening hook - Black Summer (Washington Poe, #2) by M.W. Craven
8) WRESTLING: A heavy read - It Was Always You by Sarah K. Stephens
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche! - The Last Devil to Die (Thursday Murder Club, #4) by Richard Osman (hide spoiler)]

🤸🏻‍♂️ GYMNASTICS
(view spoiler)[10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life - The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen (The Doomsday Books, #1) by K.J. Charles
11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books - Call for the Dead (George Smiley, #1) by John le Carré
12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover - Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (hide spoiler)]

🏊🏻‍♀️ WATER SPORTS
(view spoiler)[13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel - Sneaking Around with the Player (Holiday with the Players, #2) by Rebecca Jenshak
14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash - Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2) by Suzanne Collins
15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect” - The Housemaid (The Housemaid, #1) by Freida McFadden (hide spoiler)]

🚲 CYCLING
(view spoiler)[16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation - Victory of Eagles (Temeraire, #5) by Naomi Novik
17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends - Sweet Thanksgiving (Sweet Cover, #21) by J.A. Whiting
18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance” - Nowhere Safe (Harley Cole, #1) by Kate Bold (hide spoiler)]

🏐 TEAM SPORTS
(view spoiler)[19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian - The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements by Sam Kean
20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball - The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao by Martha Batalha Brazil
21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title - The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett (hide spoiler)]

🔥 CLOSING CEREMONIES
(view spoiler)[22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover - The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder
23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years - The Virgin in the Ice (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #6) by Ellis Peters
24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian - Path Lit by Lightning: The Life of Jim Thorpe by David Maraniss (hide spoiler)]

Love this challenge. I’m going for the Gold!
Completed: 🥉🥈🥇
OPENING CEREMONIES
🥉1) Set in Paris: Fantômas by Marcel Allain
🥈2) Flame on the cover: The Haunted Counter by W.L. Knightly
🥇3) Going for Gold: The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics byDaniel James Brown

ATHLETICS:
🥉4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection: Dear Life by Alice Munro
🥈5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours: Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult
🥇6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader: The Preacher's First Murder by K.P. Gresham

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
🥉7) BOXING: A strong opening hook: Killing Floor by Lee Child
🥈8) WRESTLING: A heavy read: The Pact by Jodi Picoult
🥇9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!: Stardust by Neil Gaiman

GYMNASTICS:
🥉10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life: Legacy by Danielle Steel
🥈11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books: The Mask by Taylor Stevens
🥇12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover: Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert

WATER SPORTS
🥉13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel: Home Ice by Aven Ellis
🥈14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash: The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan
🥇15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect”: Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister

CYCLING:
🥉16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation: The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith
🥈17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends: When Girlfriends Step Up by Savannah Page
🥇18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance”: Lost on a Mountain in Maine by Donn Fendler

TEAM SPORTS:
🥉19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian: The Chardonnay Charade by Ellen Crosby
🥈20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball: Déjà Dead by Susan Kiernan-Lewis
🥇21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title: Summer House by Nancy Thayer

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
🥉22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover: Delta Girls by Gayle Brandeis
🥈23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years: Nemesis by Agatha Christie
🥇24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian: Open Heart, Open Mind by Clara Hughes

oh I love this!!! gonna go for the gold but if I miss, and get silver, I'll be proud of myself ✨

9/24

OPENING CEREMONIES
📕 1) Set in Paris - Giovanni's Room
📗 2) Flame on the cover - On Fire: The Case for the Green New Deal
📗 3) Going for Gold - Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI

ATHLETICS:
📕 4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection - After the Quake
📕 5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours - Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
📕 6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader - Gilead

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
📗 7) BOXING: A strong opening hook - I'm Glad My Mom Died
📒 8) WRESTLING: A heavy read - Kingdom of Ash
📗 9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche! - Tower of Dawn

GYMNASTICS:
📕 10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life - The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate: Discoveries from a Secret World
📗 11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books - Fourth Wing
📕 12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover - Blood Diamonds: Tracing the Deadly Path of the World's Most Precious Stones

WATER SPORTS
📕 13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel - Twilight (there's baseball OKAY???)
📕 14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash - Beach Read
📕 15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect” - Total Garbage: How We Can Fix Our Waste and Heal Our World

CYCLING:
📗 16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation - Pride and Prejudice
📗 17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends - Empire of Storms
📕 18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance” - And Then There Were None

TEAM SPORTS:
📗 19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian - Really Very Crunchy: A Beginner's Guide to Removing Toxins from Your Life without Adding Them to Your Personality
📕 20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball
📕 21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title - Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
📕 22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover - Lab Girl
📗 23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years - The Chain: Farm, Factory, and the Fate of Our Food
📕 24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian - Coming Home

I’ve always loved the Summer Olympics!! This is exciting. I’m going to double the summer and the regular challenge. And in ways I think it is hard to match 2 prompts together. Going for Gold! 🏅

Have books fitting 20 of the prompts, and I'll see how far I'll get. 2 of them are library books, the rest are my own, and then there are Volleyball. I'll add them to the list here as soon as I start to read them. Prompt 4 & 21 are the library books.

OPENING CEREMONIES
1) Set in Paris
2) Flame on the cover
3) Going for Gold

ATHLETICS:
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection
5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours
6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
7) BOXING: A strong opening hook
8) WRESTLING: A heavy read
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!

GYMNASTICS:
10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life
11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books
12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover

WATER SPORTS
13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel
14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash
15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect”

CYCLING:
16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation
17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends
18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance”

TEAM SPORTS:
19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian
20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball
21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title - Gutten og fjellet by Torbjørn Ekelund

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover - by Lonely Planet - All five colors!
23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years
24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian

OPENING CEREMONIES
✔️ 1) Set in Paris - The Prince and the Dressmaker
✔️ 2) Flame on the cover - We Set the Dark on Fire
✔️ 3) Going for Gold - Gold Spun

ATHLETICS:
✔️ 4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection - The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories
✔️ 5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours - The King
✔️ 6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader - The Three Musketeers

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
✔️ 7) BOXING: A strong opening hook - We Have Always Lived in the Castle
✔️ 8) WRESTLING: A heavy read - Me Before You
✔️ 9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche! - Fangirl

GYMNASTICS:
✔️ 10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life - A Bad Case of Stripes
✔️ 11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books - The Iron Trial
✔️ 12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover Broadway Butterfly

WATER SPORTS
✔️ 13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel - The Deal
✔️ 14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash - Oona
✔️ 15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect” - Recursion

CYCLING:
✔️ 16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation - The Wronged Princess
✔️ 17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends - Happy Place
✔️ 18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance” - The Knife of Never Letting Go

TEAM SPORTS:
✔️ 19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian - The Book Eaters
✔️ 20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball - The Tomten
✔️ 21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title - Bug in a Vacuum

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
✔️ 22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover - The Prison Healer
✔️ 23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years - Max's Words
✔️ 24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian - She Persisted in Sports: American Olympians Who Changed the Game

Done! 8/26
OPENING CEREMONIES
✅1) Set in Paris - The Deep End of the Sea by Heather Lyons
✅2) Flame on the cover - The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
✅3) Going for Gold - When Among Crows by Veronica Roth

ATHLETICS:
✅4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection - Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology by Shane Hawk
✅5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours - A Master of Djinn by P. Djeli Clark
✅6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader - The Gods Awoke by Marie Vibbert

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
✅7) BOXING: A strong opening hook - The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel
✅8) WRESTLING: A heavy read - Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson
✅9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche! - My Man Jeeves by PG Wodehouse

GYMNASTICS:
✅10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life - Girl Meets Boy by Ali Smith
✅11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books - System Collapse by Martha Wells
✅12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover - Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

WATER SPORTS
✅13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel - A Gentleman Never Keeps Score by Cat Sebastian
✅14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash - Poseidon’s Children by Michael West
✅15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect” - Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh

CYCLING:
✅16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation - An Imaginary Life by David Malouf
✅17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends - Escape Velocity by Victor Manibo
✅18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance” - Get Well Soon: History's Worst Plagues and the Heroes Who Fought Them by Jennifer Wright

TEAM SPORTS:
✅19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian - The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
✅20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball - On Etruscan Time by Tracey Barrett
✅21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title - Immortal Fire by Annette Marie

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
✅22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover - Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth
✅23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years - The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
✅24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian - (Re)Presenting Wilma Rudolph by Rita Liberti

OPENING CEREMONIES
1) Set in Paris
2) Flame on the cover
3) Going for Gold

ATHLETICS:
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection
5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours
6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
7) BOXING: A strong opening hook
8) WRESTLING: A heavy read
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!

GYMNASTICS:
10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life
11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books
12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover

WATER SPORTS
13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel
14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash
15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect”

CYCLING:
16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation
17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends
18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance”

TEAM SPORTS:
19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian
20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball
21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover
23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years
24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian

06/08/2024-08/10/2024
Completed: 19/24

OPENING CEREMONIES
✅1) Set in Paris- The Three Musketeers
✅2) Flame on the cover- The Dragonet Prophecy
❌3) Going for Gold- Queen of Shadows

ATHLETICS:
✅4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection- His Hideous Heart
✅5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours- The Butlerian Jihad
❌6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader- The Alchemist

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
✅7) BOXING: A strong opening hookLegends & Lattes
✅8) WRESTLING: A heavy read- It
❌9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!- Bride

GYMNASTICS:
✅10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life- Feel-Good Productivity: How to Do More of What Matters to You
✅11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books- Mr. Mercedes
❌12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover- Sword Catcher

WATER SPORTS
✅13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel- Against the Ropes
✅14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash- I'm Glad My Mom Died
✅15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect”- The Midnight Library

CYCLING:
✅16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation- Dracula
✅17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends- The Phoenix Crown
❌18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance”- Heir of Fire

TEAM SPORTS:
✅19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian- A Gathering of Old Men
✅20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball- How to Sell a Haunted House
✅21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title- Bookshops & Bonedust

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
✅22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover- Lessons in Chemistry
✅23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
✅24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian- Fast Girls: A Novel of the 1936 Women's Olympic Team

52 Book Club Summer Challenge
duration: Jun 1, 2024 - Aug 31, 2024
Bronze =8, Silver = 16, Gold = 24
Level - Silver
completed: 20

OPENING CEREMONIES
1) Set in Paris (partly) - If Something Happens to Me - 6/8/24 √
2) Flame on the cover - - 6/23/24√
3) Going for Gold - - 7/17/24√

ATHLETICS:
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection - Tiny Tales: Stories of Romance, Ambition, Kindness, and Happiness-7/12/24√
6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader - The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh - 6/27/24√

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
7) BOXING: A strong opening hook - The Housemaid - 7/29/24√
8) WRESTLING: A heavy read -How to Keep House While Drowning- 7/11/24√
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche! - The Guncle Abroad -6/3/24√

GYMNASTICS:
10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life - Sipsworth - 6/2/24 √
11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books -A Talent for Murder- 6/17/24√
12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover - - 6/13/24√

WATER SPORTS

14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash - Never Lie - 7/15/24 √
15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect” - The Last Murder at the End of the World - 6/3/24 √

CYCLING:
16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation - Most Ardently - 7/3/24 √
17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends - The Wedding People - 8/3/24√
18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance” - A Wizard of Earthsea -6/30/24√

TEAM SPORTS:
19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian - The Hollywood Assistant by May Cobb - 7/26/24 √

21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title - The Next Mrs. Parrish -7/9/24√

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover - - 6/19/24√
23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years - Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys - 7/20/24√

The Summer 2024 Prompts are:

16/24

OPENING CEREMONIES
🔥1) Set in Paris
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin 8/3/24
2) Flame on the cover
3) Going for Gold

ATHLETICS:
🏃🏻‍♀️4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection
Relit: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories by Sandra Proudman 7/24/24
5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours
🏃🏻‍♀️6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare 7/30/24

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
🥊7) BOXING: A strong opening hook
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens 8/1/24
🥊8) WRESTLING: A heavy read
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes 8/25/24
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!

GYMNASTICS:
🤸10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life
Finally Heard by Kelly Yang 6/4/24
🤸11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books
Kernel of Truth by Kristi Abbott 6/23/24
🤸12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover
The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins 7/29/24


WATER SPORTS
13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel
🏊14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash
Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee 7/19/24
🏊15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect”
The Guest List by Lucy Foley 6/23/24

CYCLING:
🚴‍♀️16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation
Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo 6/29/24
🚴‍♀️17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo 7/31/24
18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance”

TEAM SPORTS:
🏐19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian
A Call for Kelp by Bree Baker 6/14/24
20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball
⚽21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title
Ellie Engle Saves Herself by Leah Johnson 6/30/24

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
🏅22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover
Made in Asian America: A History for Young People by Erika Lee & Christina Soontornvat 7/21/24

🏅23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years
The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle 7/16/24
24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian

Super fun!!! I’m all in going for gold, but no planning just looking per prompt what book on my tbr fits and i am in the mood for reading

My list and I hope I'm sticking to it.

OPENING CEREMONIES
1) Set in Paris - The Paris Bookseller
2) Flame on the cover - Painting with Fire
3) Going for Gold - My Antonia


ATHLETICS:
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection - The Monk and the Butterfly
5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours - Demon Copperhead
6) STEEPLECHASE: The character is a spiritual leader - Buddha: Deepak Chopra


INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
7) BOXING: A strong opening hook - The Thirteen Tale
8) WRESTLING: A heavy read - Orlando
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!


GYMNASTICS:
10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life - A Fine Balance
11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books - Poetry Collection Maria Kitsios
12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover - The Tiger Queens


WATER SPORTS
13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel
14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash - The Wishing Game
15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect” - To Say Nothing of the Dog


CYCLING:
16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation - Frankenstein
17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends - A Circle of Friends
18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance” - Marathon By: Brian Freeman


TEAM SPORTS:
19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian - Emily Dickson Poety
20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball
21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title - The Book of Nature


CLOSING CEREMONIES:
22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover - The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years - White Pines: Mary Oliver
24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian - Let My Mind Run

I'm in!

OPENING CEREMONIES
☑ 1) Set in Paris - I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself: One Woman's Pursuit of Pleasure in Paris
☑ 2) Flame on the cover - Flamer
☑ 3) Going for Gold - Billionaires: The Lives of the Rich and Powerful

ATHLETICS:
☑ 4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection - Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil
☑ 5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours - The Bright Sword
☑ 6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader - Babette’s Feast

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
☑ 7) BOXING: A strong opening hook - The Moustache
☑ 8) WRESTLING: A heavy read - Chain-Gang All-Stars
☑ 9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche! - The Importance of Being Earnest

GYMNASTICS:
☑ 10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life - Cat + Gamer, Volume 1
☑ 11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books - The Wild Robot
☑ 12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover - They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us

WATER SPORTS
☑ 13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel - Furia
☑ 14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash - T-Shirt Swim Club: Stories from Being Fat in a World of Thin People
☑ 15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect” - The Husbands

CYCLING:
☑ 16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
☑ 17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends - Dress Coded
☑ 18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance” - Tuck Everlasting

TEAM SPORTS:
☑ 19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian - The Book of Doors
☑ 20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball - Spitting Gold
☑ 21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title - How to Live Free in a Dangerous World: A Decolonial Memoir

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
☑ 22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover - Alphabetical Diaries
☑ 23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years - Dune
☑ 24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian - Coming Home

I'm trying to fulfil these prompts with books I already own or from the library, & am reading all the bronze books first. Hoping to add silver, then gold.

COMPLETED 9the September! Rather distracted by the actual Olympics & Paralympics.

OPENING CEREMONIES
1) Set in Paris ~ The Red Notebook
2) Flame on the cover ~ The Debutante
3) Going for Gold ~ The Racket: On Tour with Tennis’s Golden Generation – and the other 99%

ATHLETICS:
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection ~ Single, Carefree, Mellow
5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours ~ The Social Distance Between Us: How Remote Politics Wrecked Britain
6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader ~ The Red Tent

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
7) BOXING: A strong opening hook ~ Dark Truths
8) WRESTLING: A heavy read ~ The Bell Jar
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche! ~ Weirdo

GYMNASTICS:
10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life ~ What Happened To You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing
11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books ~ The Stranger Diaries
12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover My Husband's Wife

WATER SPORTS
13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel ~ Double Fault
14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash ~ None of This Is True
15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect” ~ The Butterfly Effect

CYCLING:
16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation ~ Femina
17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends ~ Penance
18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance” ~ Dark Matter

TEAM SPORTS:
19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian ~ Great Britain?: The must-read Sunday Times bestseller: How We Get Our Future Back
20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball ~ The Witch of Napoli
21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title ~ Sleepless

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover ~ Don't Hang Up
23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years ~ Dead Girls
24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian ~ Triumph: The Untold Story of Jesse Owens And Hitler's Olympics

So much fun!!!! Going for the Gold!
Well, sometimes Olympians go for the Gold, but come home with a Silver medal instead. It is a tough blow, but it is still a success. I ended up earning the Silver Tier with 16 prompts. I actually completed 18, but decided to use the additional 2 for the main challenge instead.

Completed: 16/24
OPENING CEREMONIES
1) Set in ParisThe Paris Hours
2) Flame on the coverThe Library Book
3) Going for GoldGold

ATHLETICS:
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collectionScary Stories to Tell in the Dark
5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hoursThe Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X
6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leaderBrooklyn

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
7) BOXING: A strong opening hookAll the Sinners Bleed
8) WRESTLING: A heavy readFamiliaris
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!The Guncle Abroad

GYMNASTICS:
10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in lifeThe Happiness Project
11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of booksBury Your Dead
12) RINGS: Jewelry on coverRules of Civility

WATER SPORTS
13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING:~A sports romance novelThe Bromance Book Club
14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash
15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect”

CYCLING:
16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation
17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends
18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance”

TEAM SPORTS:
19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an OlympianShe's Not Sorry
20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball
21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in titleFive Little Pigs

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover
23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four yearsA Certain Justice
24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian

Well, as of right now i will say I am going for the Gold Tier (all 24 prompts)......I had to have emergency hip surgery on June 4th after my hip dislocated on June 2nd. Which is to say I have to be down for the next 6 to 8 weeks (could be longer) so I will have a lot of time on my hands.

I am very much looking forward to this Summer Reading Challenge, all the prompts are going to be fun to match books up ton :)

Happy Reading Everyone!!!

GOAL: 16/24

OPENING CEREMONIES
√ 1) Set in Paris: The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
√ 2) Flame on the cover: The Matzah Ball
√ 3) Going for Gold: Hornet's Nest by Patricia Cornwell



ATHLETICS:
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection: Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Three Stories by Truman Capote
√ 5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours: Dune by Frank Herbert
√ 6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader: The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver



INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
√ 7) BOXING: A strong opening hook: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
√ 8) WRESTLING: A heavy read: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!: Bossypants by Tina Fey



GYMNASTICS:
10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life: Untamed by Glennon Doyle
√ 11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books: Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell
√ 12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover: The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory



WATER SPORTS
√ 13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel: Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich
14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash: Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
√ 15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect”: In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware



CYCLING:
16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
√ 17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance”: Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive by Stephanie Land



TEAM SPORTS:
√ 19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian: The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball - ITALY: The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
√ 21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title: The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood



CLOSING CEREMONIES:
√ 22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover: The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer
23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years: X by Sue Grafton
√ 24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian: The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown

2024 Summer Challenge: 24/24

OPENING CEREMONIES
✅1. A book set in Paris: Perestroika in Paris, Jane Smiley ★★★
✅2. A book with a flame on the cover: Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books, Kirsten Miller ★★★★★
✅3. A book related to going for gold: Just Add Water: My Swimming Life, Katie Ledecky ★★★★



ATHLETICS
✅4. 100M SPRINT - A short story collection: You Like It Darker, Stephen King ★★★★
✅5. LONG JUMP - An audiobook that is 15+ hours long: The Parrot and the Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial, David Lipsky ★★★
✅6. STEEPLECHASE - A book featuring a character who is a spiritual leader: Twelfth Knight, Alexene Farol Follmuth ★★★★



INDIVIDUAL SPORTS
✅7. BOXING - A book with a strong opening hook: Listen for the Lie, Amy Tintera ★★★★★
✅8. WRESTLING - A heavy read: Fatherland: A Memoir of War, Conscience, and Family Secrets, Burkhard Bilger ★★★★
✅9. FENCING - A book with dialogue featuring witty banter: My Lady Jane, Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows ★★★★★



GYMNASTICS
✅10. BALANCE BEAM - A book about finding balance in life: Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life, Christie Tate ★★★★
✅11. UNEVEN BARS - A book from a series with uneven number of books: The Girl in the Tower, Katherine Arden ★★★★
✅12. RINGS - A book with jewelry on the cover: I Take You, Eliza Kennedy ★★



WATER SPORTS
✅13. SYNCHRONIZED DIVING - A sports romance novel: Fangirl Down, Tessa Bailey ★★★★
✅14. WATER POLO - A book that made a splash: Butcher & Blackbird, Brynne Weaver ★★★★
✅15. BUTTERFLY - A book with a plot featuring the butterfly effect: All Our Wrong Todays, Elan Mastai ★★★★★



CYCLING
✅16. ROAD CYCLING - A book set in a Time period without modern transportation: A Woman Of Endurance, Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa ★★★
✅17. TEAM PURSUIT - A book featuring a group of friends: Before We Were Innocent, Ella Berman ★★★★
✅18. CROSS-COUNTRY - A book related to endurance: Small Acts of Courage: A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy, Ali Velshi ★★★★



TEAM SPORTS
✅19. HANDBALL - A book by an author who shares the same last name as an Olympian: Counterfeit, Kirstin Chen ★★★
✅20. VOLLEYBALL- A book set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in volleyball (Sweden): Britt-Marie Was Here, Fredrik Backman ★★★
✅21. FOOTBALL/SOCCER - A book with a double letter word in its title: Meet the Benedettos, Katie Cotugno ★★★★



CLOSING CEREMONIES
✅22. A book with at least four Olympic ring colors on the cover: The Rom-Commers, Katherine Center ★★★★
✅23. A book by an author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, Gail Honeyman ★★★★
✅24. A memoir or biography about an Olympian: Naomi Osaka: Her Journey to Finding Her Power and Her Voice, Ben Rothenberg ★★★

OPENING CEREMONIES
*✅1) Set in Paris - "The Paris Winter"
*✅2) Flame on the cover - "Divergent" (Divergent #1)
3) Going for Gold

ATHLETICS:
*✅4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection - "Table For Two"
*✅5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours - "The Girl Who Played With Fire" (Millennium #2)
*✅6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader - "Swimming"

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
7) BOXING: A strong opening hook
*✅8) WRESTLING: A heavy read - "Wandering Stars"
*✅9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche! - "Funny Story"

GYMNASTICS:
10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life
*✅11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books (3) - "Murder In The 11th House"(Starlight Detective Agency #1)
12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover

WATER SPORTS
*✅13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel - "Coming Home"
14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash
*✅15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect” - "The Midnight Library"

CYCLING:
*✅16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation - "James"
*✅17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends - "Flying Solo"
*✅18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance” - "Unbroken"

TEAM SPORTS:
*✅19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian - "Stories I Only Tell My Friends: An Autobiography"
*✅20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball -"Playing For Pizza"
*✅21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title - "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" (Millennium #1)

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
*✅22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover - “The $64 Tomato: How One Man Nearly Lost His Sanity, Spent a Fortune, and Endured an Existential Crisis in the Quest for the Perfect Garden”
*✅23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years - "Evil In The 1st House" (Starlight Detective Agency #3) (2104) Mitchell Scott Lewis
*✅24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian - "The Boys In The Boat: Nine Americans And Their Epic Quest For Gold At The 1936 Olympics"

This is a wonderful, well-put together challenge. I've already put together my list based on both suggestions and my own ideas. Because I live so close to the beach, I'm lucky to be able to read for hours each day with beautiful sounds of nature as background.

I also have a couple 8 hour flights to Europe for vacation. No shortage of reading time!

Another summer challenge. Hurray!
Going for gold... No plan yet.

OPENING CEREMONIES
1) Set in Paris
2) Flame on the cover
3) Going for Gold

ATHLETICS:
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection
5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours
6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
7) BOXING: A strong opening hook
8) WRESTLING: A heavy read
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!

GYMNASTICS:
10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life
11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books
12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover

WATER SPORTS
13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel
14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash
15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect”

CYCLING:
16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation
17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends
18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance”

TEAM SPORTS:
19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian
20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball
21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover
23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years
24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian

What a fun concept! I'm in.

Opening Ceremonies

1) Set in Paris
Rachel Khong – Real Americans
2) Flame on the cover
Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan – SS Falling Down
3) Going for Gold
Ngaio Marsh – Hand in Glove

Athletics

4) 100m Sprint: A short story collection
Ngaio Marsh – SS Collected Short Mysteries
5) Long Jump: Audiobook is 15+ hours
Walt Whitman – Leaves of Grass
6) Steeplechase: Character is a spiritual leader
Jon Meacham – His Truth Is Marching On

Individual Sports

7) Boxing: A strong opening hook
Daphne du Maurier – Rebecca
8) Wrestling: A heavy read
Richard Flanagan – The Narrow Road to the Deep North
9) Fencing: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!
Dr Seuss – Hop on Pop

Gymnastics

10) Balance Beam: About finding balance in life
Jon Dunn – The Glitter in the Green
11) Uneven bars: Series with uneven number of books
Ngaio Marsh – Death at the Dolphin
12) Rings: Jewelry on cover
Qiu Xiaolong – A Loyal Character Dancer

Water Sports

13) Synchronized Diving: A sports romance novel
Yamile Méndez – Furia
14) Water Polo: A book that made a splash
Jeanette McCurdy – I’m Glad My Mom Died
15) Butterfly: Plot featuring ‘butterfly effect’
Graham Greene – Our Man in Havana

Cycling

16) Road Cycling: Time period without modern transportation
Nathan Harris – The Sweetness of Water
17) Team Pursuit: Featuring a group of friends
Jacqueline Davies – Sydney & Taylor Take a Flying Leap
18) Cross-Country: Related to word ‘endurance’
Judy Blume – Deenie

Team Sports

19) Handball: Author shares same last name as an Olympian
Jim Thompson – The Killer Inside Me
20) Volleyball: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball
?
21) Football/soccer: Double letter word in title
Graham Greene – End of the Affair

Closing Ceremonies

22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover
Jonathan Evison – Lawn Boy
23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years
Ngaio Marsh – Clutch of Constables
24) Memoir/Biography about an Olympian
Tommie Smith & et al – Victory, Stand

Fun! Here are my entries so far

✅️ OPENING CEREMONIES
✔️ 1) Set in Paris - The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
✔️ 2) Flame on the cover - The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan
✔️ 3) Going for Gold- Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid (very goal (and gold) oriented MC)


✅️ ATHLETICS:
✔️ 4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection - Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
✔️ 5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours - The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett
✔️ 6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader - The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson


✅️ INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
✔️ 7) BOXING: A strong opening hook - Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
✔️ 8) WRESTLING: A heavy read - Dune by Frank Herbert
✔️ 9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche! - The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan


✅️ GYMNASTICS:
✔️ 10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life - Sauebondens liv - Fortellinger fra den engelske landsbygda by James Rebanks
✔️ 11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books - The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan (first of theee books)
✔️ 12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover - The Many Deaths of Laila Starr by Ram V. (MC is wearing bangles on the cover)


✅️ WATER SPORTS
✔️ 13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel - Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez
✔️ 14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
✔️ 15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect” - A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury


✅️ CYCLING:
✔️ 16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation - The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
✔️ 17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends - Roaming by Jillian Tamaki
✔️ 18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance” - Så den store fuglen ikke tar deg by Hiromi Kawakami


✅️ TEAM SPORTS:
✔️ 19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian - Lukkertid by Maja Lunde
✔️ 20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball - The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante (set in Italy)
✔️ 21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title - All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot


✅️ CLOSING CEREMONIES:
✔️ 22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover - The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
✔️ 23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years - Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie
✔️ 24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian - Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice by Tommie Smith

Update to Message #30 ~

GOAL: 10/24

Lisa Marie wrote: "Update to Message #30 ~

GOAL: 10/24"

Please edit your original post instead of entering a new update message

10/24 Completed

OPENING CEREMONIES
1) Set in Paris - Witched at Birth
2) Flame on the cover -
✅ 3) Going for Gold - The Hunger Games - June 11 2024

ATHLETICS:
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection - Just After Sunset
5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours - The Diana Chronicles
✅ 6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader - The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen - June 15 2024

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
✅ 7) BOXING: A strong opening hook - Lock In - July 20 2024
✅ 8) WRESTLING: A heavy read - Stone Heart - August 3 2024
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!

GYMNASTICS:
10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life
✅ 11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books - Cloudy with a Chance of Witchcraft - July 24 2024
12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover

WATER SPORTS
13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel
✅ 14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash - The Wishing Game - July 7 2024
15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect”

CYCLING:
✅ 16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation - The Last Necromancer - June 10 2024
17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends - Catching Fire
18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance” - The Girls

TEAM SPORTS:
✅ 19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian -Magic Bites - June 19 2024
Shares the last name Andrews - Theresa Andrews 2x gold medails in swimming
20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball
✅ 21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title - Misfortune Teller - June 3 2024

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
✅ 22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover - Magic Burns - July 13 2024 - Blue, black, green, yellow
23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years
24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian - The Matchless Six: The Story of Canada's First Women's Olympic Team

🥇 THE 52 BOOK CLUB SUMMER 24 READING CHALLENGE (24/24) 🥇
🥳challenge completed 12 August

OPENING CEREMONIES
✔️1) Set in Paris: The Perfume Collector*
✔️2) Flame on the cover: The Burning Girls
✔️3) Going for Gold: Unruly: The Ridiculous History of England's Kings and Queens*

ATHLETICS
✔️4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection: The Periodic Table*
✔️5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours: Mansfield Park (The audiobook is 16 hours and 50 minutes long.)
✔️6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader: The Red Tent*

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS
✔️7) BOXING: A strong opening hook: Pride and Prejudice* (“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”)
✔️8) WRESTLING: A heavy read: Random Family: Love, Drugs, Trouble, and Coming of Age in the Bronx*
✔️9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!: Neanderthal Seeks Human

GYMNASTICS
✔️10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life: A Book of Balance: Kogi Wisdom for a Good Life and Thriving Earth
✔️11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books: All Systems Red* (The series currently has 7 primary works.)
✔️12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover: The Echo Wife

WATER SPORTS
✔️13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel: Intercepted
✔️14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash: Normal People
✔️15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect”: The Last Murder at the End of the World

CYCLING
✔️16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation: Sense and Sensibility*
✔️17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends: The It Girl
✔️18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance”: Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage

TEAM SPORTS
✔️19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian: Carrie* by Stephen King (Lilly King swims for Team USA. She has won 3 gold medals, including for women's 4x100 medley relay in Paris 2024.)
✔️20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball [France]: The Little Paris Bookshop (France won the men's gold medal in volleyball against Poland)
✔️21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title: Network Effect

CLOSING CEREMONIES
✔️22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover: Filthy Animals
✔️23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years: Emma by Jane Austen
✔️24) Memoir/Biography about an Olympian: The Hard Parts: A Memoir of Courage and Triumph by Oksana Masters

✔️: read
*: fulfills multiple challenges/goals I’m completing this year

OPENING CEREMONIES
1) Set in Paris -- A Light in the Window by Marion Kummerow
2) Flame on the cover -- Firebird by Mercedes Lackey
3) Going for Gold -- City of Lost Dreams by Magnus Flyte

ATHLETICS:
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection -- The Locked Tomb Mystery: And Other Stories by Elizabeth Peters
5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours The Sword of Moses by Dominic Selwood
6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader -- Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
7) BOXING: A strong opening hook -- Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook by Christina Henry
8) WRESTLING: A heavy read -- Champion of the World by Chad Dundas
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche! -- Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole

GYMNASTICS:
10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life -- Balance: A Dizzying Journey Through the Science of Our Most Delicate Sense by Carol Svec
11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books -- In Real Life by Jonathan Gregory
12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover -- Inanna by Emily H. Wilson

WATER SPORTS
13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel -- Game Changer by Rachel Reid
14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash -- The Million Dollar Mermaid by Esther Williams
15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect” -- The Butterfly Effect by Rachel Mans McKenny

CYCLING:
16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation -- The Royal Ranger: A New Beginning by John Flanagan
17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends -- The Body by Stephen King
18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance” -- Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

TEAM SPORTS:
19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian -- Codex Born by Jim C. Hines
20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball -- Roosevelt's Beast by Louis Bayard
21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title -- Too Many Bullets by Max Allan Collins

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover -- The Awakening of Miss Prim by Natalia Sanmartín Fenollera
23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years -- Heading Out to Wonderful by Robert Goolrick
24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian -- Path Lit by Lightning: The Life of Jim Thorpe by David Maraniss

I am finished with this year's main challenge, so I went ahead & did all 24 prompts. I've read way more than 24 books this summer, but it took me a while to find a sports romance I wanted to read. Romances in general are not my cup of tea; add sports & I'm even less interested! I didn't really WANT to read this one either, but I did want to complete the challenge, so voila!

OPENING CEREMONIES
1) Set in Paris: Blue Ruin - Hari Kunzru
2) Flame on the cover: This Won’t Help: Modest Proposals for a More Enjoyable Apocalypse - Eli Grober
3) Going for Gold: You Dreamed of Empires - Álvaro Enrigue

ATHLETICS:
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection: Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil - Ananda Lima
5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours: The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook - Hampton Sides
6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader: The Glow - Jessie Gaynor

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
7) BOXING: A strong opening hook: youthjuice - E.K. Sathue
8) WRESTLING: A heavy read: James - Percival Everett
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!: Green Dot - Madeleine Gray

GYMNASTICS:
10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life: Sociopath - Patric Gagne
11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books: Soulless - Gail Carriger
12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover: Stone Cold Fox - Rachel Koller Croft

WATER SPORTS
13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel: The Art of Catching Feelings - Alicia Thompson
14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash: 11/22/63 - Stephen King
15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect”: The Ministry of Time - Kaliane Bradley

CYCLING:
16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation: The Vaster Wilds - Lauren Groff
17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends: One of Our Kind - Nicola Yoon
18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance”: The Reformatory - Tananarive Due

TEAM SPORTS:
19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian: The Z Word - Lindsay King-Miller
20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball: Interview with the Vampire - Anne Rice
21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches - Sangu Mandanna

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover: Headshot - Rita Bullwinkel
23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years: Xala - Ousmane Sembéne
24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian: One Life - Megan Rapinoe

OPENING CEREMONIES
2) Flame on the cover - Zatanna & the Ripper 3 by Sarah Dealy
Finished Aug. 4 - ⭐⭐⭐ - 🥈


ATHLETICS
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection - I Work at a Public Library: A Collection of Crazy Stories from the Stacks by Gina Sheridan
Finished June 16 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 🥉


INDIVIDUAL SPORTS
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche! - Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
Finished June 22 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 🥇


GYMNASTICS
12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover - Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb
Finished Aug. 17 - ⭐⭐⭐ - 🥇

*Prompt said we could be as subtle as possible if we wanted. If you'll notice, the part of the book cover where it normally says "A Novel" for this book, is actually designed as a necklace that the main character on the cover is wearing.*

WATER SPORTS
14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash - Ariel and the Curse of the Sea Witches (Disney Princess) by Walt Disney Company
Finished July 7 - ⭐⭐ - 🥈


CYCLING
16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation - A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft
Finished June 9 - ⭐⭐⭐ - 🥉


TEAM SPORTS
21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title - Mr. Villain's Day Off 04 by Yuu Morikawa
Finished June 26 - ⭐⭐⭐ - 🥇


CLOSING CEREMONIES
22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover - Disney Mirrorverse: Belle, Vol. 1 by Alex Singer
Finished June 18 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 🥉

*With this book cover, the blue and yellow are easy to spot. However, there are two other colors that make up the Olympic Rings that are easy to miss. Belle's pupils are black, and barely noticeable is a green leaf on her staff!*

I won't be done by end of August but will continue. The plan is to go for GOLD!

OPENING CEREMONIES
1) Set in Paris - The Paris Library
2) Flame on the cover - Nothing to See Here
3) Going for Gold - The Lost Order

ATHLETICS:
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection - Hook, Line & Sinister: Mysteries to Reel You In
5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader - Murder at the Vicarage

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
7) BOXING: A strong opening hook - Die Trying
8) WRESTLING: A heavy read - 1984
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche! - Cajun Justice

GYMNASTICS:
10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life - The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck
11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books - The Broken Road
12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover - The Bride's Necklace

WATER SPORTS
13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel - The Bromance Book Club
14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash - The Ocean at the End of the Lane
15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect” - Rise of the Fourth Reich: Confronting COVID Fascism with a New Nuremberg Trial, So This Never Happens Again

CYCLING:
16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation - Pride and Prejudice
17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends - The Outsiders
18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance” - Last of the Breed

TEAM SPORTS:
19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian -Stilton Slaughter
20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball - The Testament
21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title - Priest and Beggar: The Heroic Life of Venerable Aloysius Schwartz

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover - Bakewell Tart Bludgeoning
23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years - Murder in Waiting by Mignon Eberhart, The Night Hunter by John Miles, & Inspector Ghote Trusts His Heart by H.R.F Keating
24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian - The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics

I can't believe it I made it!!! Finished the challenge 11/15/2024.

This was such a fun challenge. I aimed for silver and ended up completing 19 prompts total.

OPENING CEREMONIES
1) Set in Paris
2) Flame on the cover - The Burning Girls by C.J. Tudor
3) Going for Gold - The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton - I felt this fit the prompt in a few ways... there's a yellow/gold feather on the cover, and several characters strive for things that seem impossible, or who have difficult/impossible goals in mind.

ATHLETICS:
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection
5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours - The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader - The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
7) BOXING: A strong opening hook - Wildcard by Marie Lu
8) WRESTLING: A heavy read - Girl at War by Sara Novic
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche! - These Infinite Threads by Tahereh Mafi

GYMNASTICS:
10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life - All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books - This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi - It looks to be slated as a 5 book series??
12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover - Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

WATER SPORTS
13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel
14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash - The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager - I saw this twofold: it was on the bestseller list (as Sager's books tend to be), and there's literal splashes as the plot revolves around a lake, drownings, and a character who swims.
15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect” - Dark Across the Bay by Ania Ahlborn

CYCLING:
16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation - What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends - The Tea Dragon Society by K. O'Neill
18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance” - The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

TEAM SPORTS:
19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian - Pioneering in Oregon's Coast Range by Ione Reed - Apparently there are several Olympians with this last name.
20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball
21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title - Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover - Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years - The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian

Started: June 4
Finished: August 28
Total: 19/24 - Silver

24/24
The Summer 2024
✅1) Set in Paris Falling for Paris by Laura Marquez Diamond
✅ 2) Flame on the cover - A ​Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
✅3) Going for Gold - Straw into Gold by Carol Beth Anderson
✅4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection Ghost Stories by Ron Ripley
✅5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
✅6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
✅7) BOXING: A strong opening hook The Guest List by Lucy Foley
✅8) WRESTLING: A heavy read In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn
✅9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche! In the Middle of Hickory Lane by Heather Webber
✅10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life- The Lights of Sugarberry Cove
✅11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books Heavy Is the Crowne by Cathleen Cole by Heather Webber
✅12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
✅13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel Ace of Hearts by Ella Goode
✅14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash - The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor
✅15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect” At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities by Heather Webber
✅16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
✅17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends - Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
✅18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance” - Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
✅19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian - War & Pieces by Cathleen Cole
✅20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball - The Lost Village by Camilla Sten
✅21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title- Hidden by Fern Michaels
✅22) At least four Olympic ring colors on the cover - The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
✅23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years= Without: Poems by Donald Hall
✅24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian - Grace, Gold, and Glory: My Leap of Faith by Gabrielle Douglas; Michelle Burford;

I finished 22 by the end of August. I'm going to finish memoir by an Olympian (Butterfly, by Yusra Mardini) and four Olympic ring colors (Moloka'i, by Alan Bennett) before summer really ends. ;)

Progress: 23/24 as of 11/07/2024

OPENING CEREMONIES
1) Set in Paris: Empress of the Nile: The Daredevil Archaeologist Who Saved Egypt's Ancient Temples from Destruction
2) Flame on the cover: The House Is on Fire
3) Going for Gold: Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law

ATHLETICS:
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection: Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology
5) LONG JUMP: Audiobook is 15+ hours: City of Girls
6) STEEPLECHASE: Character is a spiritual leader: Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and A Legacy of Rage

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
7) BOXING: A strong opening hook: Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk
8) WRESTLING: A heavy read: Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning
9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!: Late Bloomer

GYMNASTICS:
10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life: How to Age Disgracefully
11) UNEVEN BARS: Series with uneven number of books: Delilah Green Doesn't Care
12) RINGS: Jewelry on cover: I Curse You With Joy

WATER SPORTS
13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel:
14) WATER POLO: A book that made a splash: Yellowface
15) BUTTERFLY: Plot featuring “butterfly effect”: She's Not Sorry

CYCLING:
16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation: The Duke and I
17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends: What Have You Done?
18) CROSS-COUNTRY: Related to word “endurance”: Into the Drowning Deep

TEAM SPORTS:
19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian: Treacle Walker
20) VOLLEYBALL: Set in a country that wins a 2024 Olympic gold in Volleyball: The Spice Master at Bistro Exotique
21) FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Double letter word in title: Oona Out of Order

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover: Connections in Death
23) An author who hasn’t released a book in the past four years: Rebecca's Tale
24) Memoir / Biography about an Olympian: Just Add Water: My Swimming Life

The Summer 2024 Reading Challenge Prompts are:

OPENING CEREMONIES
1) Set in Paris - Bronze The Little Paris Patisserie

ATHLETICS:
4) 100M SPRINT: A short story collection - Bronze Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
7) BOXING: A strong opening hook - Bronze The It Girl

GYMNASTICS:
10) BALANCE BEAM: About finding balance in life - Bronze The Seven Year Slip

WATER SPORTS
13) SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: A sports romance novel - Bronze The Cheat Sheet

CYCLING:
16) ROAD CYCLING: Time period without modern transportation - Bronze The Rose & the Dagger

TEAM SPORTS:
19) HANDBALL: Author shares same last name as an Olympian - Bronze She's Not Sorry

CLOSING CEREMONIES:
22) At least four Olympic ring colors on cover - Bronze The Hawthorne Legacy