Book Nook Cafe discussion

Master List of 25 prompts for 2025 !



✅1- YA book (young adult)
An Abundance of Katherines

✅2- Takes place during a holiday or about a holiday. Any holiday.
A Dog Named Christmas

✅3- A banned or challenged book
The Message

✅4- STEM ( any field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) or a character who works in or is involved with any STEM area.
Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI

✅ 5- A book about a world leader or notable person(s) (living or dead)
America First: Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War

6- A book from your TBR list or a book you own but never read.

✅7- A book published in 2025
Source Code: My Beginnings

✅ 8- A book that was nominated for a prize or won a book award prize. (any year, any prize)
James
2024 National Book Award for fiction

✅9- A book involving the Arts or character involved in the Arts
(dance, music, painter, theater, drawing, architecture, film, photography)
City of Night Birds


✅10- Animal, vegetable or mineral
World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments

✅11- Re-read a book you read before
The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels (read on 7/2021)

✅12- History, Current event, or historical fiction
Hitler's People: The Faces of the Third Reich

✅13- A book that takes place in or is about a country you don't currently live in
Rental Person Who Does Nothing Japan

✅14- ...OLOGY --- Any field of study that ends in the suffix ology. For example: psychology, sociology, archology, cardiology, dermatology, zoology, ecology, oceanology, biology, zoology etc.
Can be non fiction or a fictional character that is involved in that field.
Healthy Brain, Happy Life--Neurobiology

✅15- A book dealing with mental health, physical disability or other health related issue
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness

✅16- Author's Last Name begins with R, E, A or D.
The Lost Art of Silence: Reconnecting to the Power and Beauty of Quiet by Sarah Anderson

✅17- Self help, motivational, inspirational, spirituality, mindfulness, or communication.
Courage Is Calling: Fortune Favors the Brave

✅18- Biography, autobiography or memoir
Sonny Boy


✅19- Mystery, thriller, suspense or true crime novel
Camino Island

✅ 20- novella, short story collection, essays collection, or play.
The Answer Is No

✅21- (for 2025) Select a book that was published at least 25 years ago.
Too Loud a Solitude
It was self-published in samizdat in 1976 and officially in Czechoslovakia in 1989

✅22- A book that was translated into English.
I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki
Korean

✅23- Travel or a journey ( could be literal or spiritual)
In a Sunburned Country

✅24- Bildungsroman - Coming of age
Dead Poets Society

✅25- (for 2025) A book title with at least 5 words in the title. Bonus if it is exactly 5.
The President and the Assassin: McKinley, Terror, and Empire at the Dawn of the American Century

***************************************************************
Bonus prompts or substitution
NOT required to complete the challenge!
******************************************************************

1- humorous or funny book

2- fantasy, magical realism or science fiction

3- A book that features water. (ocean, swimmer, lake, ship/boat or has picture of water on cover)

✅4- Romance or love 💖
How to Read a Book

✅5- A book with a female detective
Never Flinch

I finished my first prompt of the challenge. I listened to the audio as I read along with the eBook. Both were excellent. I'll review the book in the Book Salon thread.

✅ 5- A book about a world leader or notable person(s) (living or dead)
America First: Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War

Rate- 5 stars for the audio and eBook.

Congratulations for a good beginning, Alias! I look forward to reading your thoughts on this one.

Yay for a 5-star read to start the year!

Thank you. It's nice to start the year on the right foot.

I finished another prompt.

I read the short story/novella (68 pages)
✅ 20- novella, short story collection, essays collection, or play.
The Answer Is No by Fredrik Backman

This was an Amazon Prime, Monthly First Reads freebie. I've read two of this authors books and enjoyed them a lot. I read

Anxious People

A Man Called Ove

I found this feel good short story funny as it pokes fun at the absurdity of modern day life.

I gave it a 4/5 rating.

The story is also a translation from Swedish, but I figured at some point this year I would read another story translated to English so I didn't pick prompt #22.

Alias Reader wrote: "I finished another prompt.

I read the short story/novella (68 pages)
✅ 20- novella, short story collection, essays collection, or play. ..."

What a curious idea for a story. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Alias. And that you are moving right along with your prompts.

Alias Reader wrote: "I finished another prompt.

I read the short story/novella (68 pages)
✅ 20- novella, short story collection, essays collection, or play.
The Answer Is No by [author:Fredrik Bac..."

I didn't realize he had a novella! Glad you enjoyed it.

I also read the same 2 by Backman and thought Anxious People was very clever.
I didn't love A Man Called Ove. My mother did, and suspected it was slightly generational - her father was a bit of a curmudgeon like Ove and she appreciated the subtle humor :)

Lindsey wrote: " her father was a bit of a curmudgeon like Ove and she appreciated the subtle humor :).."

I've no idea why, but I love a curmudgeon. Maybe I'm a bit of one myself. :)

Did you ever see the British TV show, One Foot in the Grave? The star of the show was a older guy who was a curmudgeon. So funny.

You can catch it on YouTube or maybe one of those British Streaming channels.

This short clip will give you a idea of the show.
Victor Finds a Car in His Skip | One Foot in the Grave
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOiB-...

Alias Reader wrote: "Did you ever see the British TV show, One Foot in the Grave? The star of the show was a older guy who was a curmudgeon. So funny."

Ha! I hadn't heard of it, but watched the clip you attached - he is quite curmudgeonly!

Alias Reader wrote: "Lindsey wrote: " her father was a bit of a curmudgeon like Ove and she appreciated the subtle humor :).."

I've no idea why, but I love a curmudgeon. Maybe I'm a bit of one myself. :)

Did you ever..."

I love One Foot in the Grave! 😃

Congrats on the prompts, though I've never been tempted to try Backman.

John ! Thank you. Finally someone who has heard of the show. I think you are the first person who I talk to that said they know it.

It used to be shown on my local PBS station.

Alias Reader wrote: "John ! Thank you. Finally someone who has heard of the show. I think you are the first person who I talk to that said they know it.

It used to be shown on my local PBS station."

I've been known to utter "I don't believe it!" at times when something has gone wrong (in a Victor Mildrew voice).

John wrote: I've been known to utter "I don't believe it!" at times when something has gone wrong (in a Victor Mildrew voice)."

LOL

Love it !

I finished another prompt. I wasn't sure if I wanted the STEM prompt or the Ology prompt. The book is about technology and artificial intelligence, AI. I went with STEM for now. I'll see as the year progresses. I'll write up a review in the Book Salon.

✅4- STEM ( any field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) or a character who works in or is involved with any STEM area.
Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI

Clever idea, as it fits both so well. Kudos for getting another prompt under your belt, Alias.

Great choice - congrats!

Thanks !

I finished prompt #19 with a John Grisham novel.

I wrote up a review in the Book Salon Folder.

✅19- Mystery, thriller, suspense or true crime novel
Camino Island

Congrats, though sorry it fell flat for you.

You go, Book Friend! Moving right along.

Thanks. Onward !

I checked off another prompt. I reviewed the book in the February Book Salon Thread.

✅16- Author's Last Name begins with R, E, A or D.
The Lost Art of Silence: Reconnecting to the Power and Beauty of Quiet by Sarah Anderson

Well done, Alias. I look forward to your comments on this one.

Finished another prompt !

I will review it in the Feb. Book Salon.

✅18- Biography, autobiography or memoir
Sonny Boy-- by Al Pacino

Alias Reader wrote: "Finished another prompt !

I will review it in the Feb. Book Salon.

✅18- Biography, autobiography or memoir
Sonny Boy-- by Al Pacino"

Congratulations!

I read a lot about Al. He says his near death experience with Covid made him believe there is no afterlife.

I put no credence in pro or con since the people who have near death experiences have not really died. No one has ever died and come back to tell us about it! LOL

I do know scientists say living matter cannot be created or killed, only changed, so maybe we do come back as something else. I've no idea, and don't think about that a lot. It's too much of a downer.

I do think Al should stop having children. He isn't going to be around for so many of his baby's life events, and that's not fair to the baby. If he were 20 years younger, I would feel differently. But, it's his life, not mine. I think he'd quit if he had to endure childbirth! LOL

Alias Reader wrote: "Finished another prompt !

I will review it in the Feb. Book Salon.

✅18- Biography, autobiography or memoir
Sonny Boy-- by Al Pacino"

Well done, Alias!

Thanks, deb.

Bella, Yes, Al Pacino's youngest child, Roman Pacino, was born in June 2023. He doesn't really discuss his romantic life or children very much in the book. I think it's a good decision to give them their privacy.

Great job in selecting such an interesting subject!

Thanks, John. It was interesting. However, I wish the writing was better.

Checked off another prompt !

8- A book that was nominated for a prize or won a book award prize. (any year, any prize)
James
2024 National Book Award for fiction

A well deserved award. I gave the book 5/5 rating.

Always great to see such an enthusiastic post! 👍

Brava!

Alias Reader wrote: "Checked off another prompt !

8- A book that was nominated for a prize or won a book award prize. (any year, any prize)
James"

Congrats! So glad you loved it. I'm hoping to get around to reading it this year.

Alias Reader wrote: "Checked off another prompt !

8- A book that was nominated for a prize or won a book award prize. (any year, any prize)
James
2024 National Book Award for fiction

A well deserved..."

I have this one on my list to look at - glad to know you agree with the hype! :)

Did you like "Nexus.....etc? I have had a copy for a while, but intend to read it this time, come hell or high water.

Bella (Kiki) wrote: "Alias Reader wrote: "Finished another prompt !

I will review it in the Feb. Book Salon.

✅18- Biography, autobiography or memoir
Sonny Boy-- by [a..."

Interesting that he has concluded there is no afterlife. I wonder how that changed his lifestyle?

I finished another prompt !

✅15- A book dealing with mental health, physical disability or other health related issue
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness

Interesting book. I'll write up a review in the salon tomorrow.

Well done. I look forward to reading your further thoughts on the book.

Alias Reader wrote: "I finished another prompt !

✅15- A book dealing with mental health, physical disability or other health related issue
[book:The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an E..."

Sounds a bit ... dire to me. Congrats on the effort!

Exactly, John. I'm glad I am not a teen at this time and that I don't have kids.

Alias Reader wrote: "I finished another prompt !

✅15- A book dealing with mental health, physical disability or other health related issue
[book:The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an E..."

This is a very popular book in my area and with parents I know. I think we're all trying to figure out how to navigate this strange new world of social media, depression and anxiety among kids.

Re: The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness

Lindsey wrote: This is a very popular book in my area and with parents I know. I think we're all trying to figure out how to navigate this strange new world of social media, depression and anxiety among kids. ..."

Even if one disagrees with the premise or solutions offered, it's definitely worth a read, Lindsey. It will get the conversation started if nothing else.

Checked off another prompt !

✅12- History, Current event, or historical fiction
Hitler's People: The Faces of the Third Reich

This was a disappointment. I reviewed it in the Book Salon.

I can see why it didn't work for you. Full credit for trying!

Alias Reader wrote: "Checked off another prompt !

✅12- History, Current event, or historical fiction
Hitler's People: The Faces of the Third Reich

This was a disappointment. I reviewed it in the Boo..."

Well done, Alias. Sorry it was so dry and repetitive, though.

John wrote: "I can see why it didn't work for you. Full credit for trying!"

Thank you, John. At times it was a bit of a chore. Which is unfortunate as I am a person who enjoys reading about that period in history. ( world war, Great Depression, stock market crash, Dust Bowl) I don't know how people got through that time.

There were bios of people that I didn't know. For example, a section of women Nazis. One example is, Ilse Koch. He disputes she was a psychopath, but she sure sounded like one to me.

"Her name is firmly associated with one of the most horrific crimes, namely, the alleged killing of inmates in Buchenwald for the purposes of making lampshades and photo albums out of their tattooed skins."

Though the author says there is no proof of the lampshade story. Either way, it was to gross to read.

Honestly, what some of these people did was difficult to read and I had to skim the details.

The author's conclusion regarding how seemingly normal people, many well educated, ended up doing unspeakable things, he mostly attributes to the economic conditions (Great Depression) and the Treaty of Versailles. Each situation in history is unique but it seems again and again we are capable of genocide and inhumanity. :(

You might prefer a book I liked: Swansong 1945: A Collective Diary of the Last Days of the Third Reich.

John wrote: "You might prefer a book I liked: Swansong 1945: A Collective Diary of the Last Days of the Third Reich."

Thanks, John. I'm not familiar with the title. I'll check it out.

In another thread, deb and I were discussing books that fall under the epistolary label. This seems like one.

We were wondering if texts would fit that category.

Yes, I think texts are epistolary as a recent extension of the category.