Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

The 2016 List

52/52
✅1. A book you meant to read in 2015, but didn't: Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee 01/06/2016
✅2. A book set in a different continent : Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 01/10/16
✅3. A book from the Goodreads Choice Awards 2015 (winner or nominated): The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah 01/14/2016
✅4. A book by an author you discovered in 2015: The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson 02/01/2016
✅5. A book with a title beginning with the 1st letter of your name: Bull Mountain by Brian Panowich 02/11/2016
✅6. The highest rated on your TBR: Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates 01/27/2016
✅7. A book about books: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows 02/20/2016
✅8. A classic book with less than 200 pages: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck 02/09/2016
✅9. A book that was mentioned in another book: The Moonstone by Wilkie Colliins 05/09/2016
✅10. A book by an author you feel you should have read by now: The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett 06/21/2016
✅11. A book from the Rory Gilmore challenge: A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole 08/30/2016
✅12. A childhood classic: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum 03/16/2016
✅13. Reader’s Choice: Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty 08/08/2016
✅14. A book with one of the five W’s -or H in the title (Who/What/Where/When/Why/How): What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Monroe 05/08/2016
✅15. A book set in the past (more than 100 years ago): Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell 03/26/2016
✅16. A book from the top 100 mystery novels: Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier 09/07/2016
✅17. A book with a beautiful cover: Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai 02/28/2016
✅18. A book on a summer/beach reading list: Etta and Otto and Russel and James by Emma Hooper 08/31/2016
✅19. A non-fiction book: 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff 03/11/2016
✅20. A book with a first name in the title: The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion 02/16/2016
✅21. A book from the Goodreads Recommendations page: The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown 04/24/2016
✅22. The first book in a new to you series: Naked in Death by J.D. Robb 04/27/2016
✅23. The next book in a series you are reading: Glory in Death by J.D. Robb 06/19/2016
✅24. A "between the numbers" book of a series (0.5, 1,5, 2.5, etc.): The Hangman by Louise Penny 03/10/2016
✅25. A book whose main character is in a profession that interests you: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell 01/29/2016
✅26. A book everyone is talking about: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes 03/28/2016
✅27. A book with a beautiful title (in your own opinion): A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor 10/10/2016
✅28. A biography, autobiography, or memoir: Stitches by David Small 05/25/2016
✅29. A book by an author who writes under more than one name: Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith AKA J.K. Rowling 01/14/2016
✅30. A fairytale from a culture other than your own: Mighty Mikko a Book of Finnish Fairy Tales and Folk Tales by Parker Fillmore 09/19/2016
✅31. A work of young adult fiction: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard 08/16/2016
✅32. A historical fiction book: Euphoria by Lily King 06/17/16
✅33. The 16th book on your TBR: Women Heroes of World War II: 26 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue by Kathryn J. Atwood 09/02/2016
✅34. A book about mental illness: Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman 01/16/2016
✅35. An award winning book: Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo illustrated by K.G. Campbell 03/05/2016
✅36. An identity book - a book about a different culture, religion or sexual orientation: Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family by Amy Ellis Nutt 06/20/2016
✅37. A book that you've seen the movie of but haven't read: Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote 04/11/2016
✅38. A book about an anti hero: The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler 06/26/2016
✅39. A previous suggestion that did not make it into the list: The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey by Candice Millard 06/23/2016
✅40. A novella from your favorite genre: The Final Solution by Michael Chabon 04/15/2016
✅41. A book about a major world event (fiction or non-fiction): The Train to Crystal City: FDR's Secret Prisoner Exchange Program and America's Only Family Internment Camp During World War II by Jan Jarboe Russell 12/04/2016
✅42. A top 100 fantasy novel: American Gods by Neil Gaiman 10/05/2016
✅43. A book about a thing that goes bump in the night: Slade House by David Mitchell 10/30/2016
✅44. A book you're embarrassed to read in public: Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella 09/17/2016
✅45. A book related to a hobby or passion you have: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell 09/08/2016
✅46. A crime story: A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny 09/11/2016
✅47. A book with a type of food/drink in the title: Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman 09/17/2016
✅48. A dystopia: Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey 04/17/2016
✅49. A book with a great opening line: 1984 by George Orwell 10/22/2016
✅50. A book originally written in a language other than English: My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman 03/31/2016
✅51. A short story from a well-known author: The Curious Case of the Copper Corpse by Alan Bradley 03/24/2016
✅52. A book published in 2016: Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben 03/30/2016

And Pop Sugar 2016
35/41
✅1. A book based on a fairy tale: The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman 01/02/2016
✅2. A National Book Award winner: Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann 09/30/2016
✅3. A YA bestseller:Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs 01/26/2016
4. A book you haven't read since high school:
✅5. A book set in your home state: Rats Saw God by Rob Thomas 01/11/2016
✅6. A book translated to English: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman 01/31/2016
✅7. A romance set in the future: Cinder by Marissa Meyer 02/18/2016
✅8. A book set in Europe: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr 02/23/2016
✅9. A book under 150 pages: Candide by Voltaire 02/21/206
✅10. A New York Times bestseller: My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout 02/27/2016
✅11. A book that's becoming a movie this year: The BFG by Roald Dahl 04/04/2016
12. A book recommended by someone you just met:
13. A self-improvement book:
✅14. A book you can finish in a day: Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere by Julie T. Lamana 06/22/2016
✅15. A book written by a celebrity: As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes and Joe Layden 01/27/2016
16. A political memoir: The Letters of John and Abigail Adams Abigail Adams and Frank Shuffelton
✅17. A book at least 100 years older than you: Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne 05/01/2016
✅18. A book that's more than 600 pages: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara 01/22/2016
19. A book from Oprah's Book Club:
✅20. A science-fiction novel: Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor 10/07/2016
21. A book recommended by a family member: Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
✅22. A graphic novel: The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman 01/21/016
✅23. A book that is published in 2016: Crowned and Dangerous by Rhys Bowen 09/03/2016
✅24. A book with a protagonist who has your occupation: Off to Be the Wizard by Scott Meyer 07/21/2016
✅25. A book that takes place during Summer: The Sunlit Night by Rebecca Dinerstein 07/08/2016
✅✅26. A book and its prequel: Dorothy Must Die 03/24/2016 and No Place Like Oz 04/20/2016 by Danielle Paige
✅27. A murder mystery: Deadly Gamble by Connie Shelton 06/25/2016
✅28. A book written by a comedian: Modern Romance Aziz Ansari and Eric Klinenberg 04/19/2016
✅29. A dystopian novel: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel 11/13/2016
✅30.A book with a blue cover: Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman 04/10/2016
✅31. A book of poetry: Aimless Love: New and Selected Poems by Billy Collins 05/16/2016
✅32. The first book you see in a bookstore: The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney 08/11/2016
✅33. A classic from the 20th century: Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov 11/03/2016
✅34. A book from the library: Heartburn by Nora Ephron 06/03/2016
✅35. An autobiography: The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi 02/06/2016
✅36. A book about a road trip: Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell 11/16/2016
✅37. A book about a culture you're unfamiliar with: State of Wonder by Ann Patchett 10/26/2016
✅38. A satirical book:: Animal Farm by George Orwell 03/29/2016
✅39. A book that takes place on an island: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin 06/24/2016
✅40. A book that's guaranteed to bring you joy: Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd by Alan Bradley 10/18/2016

I've got Go Set A Watchman on my list for later in the challenge (a book everyone is talking about, I think). I love To Kill A Mockingbird so I'm very curious but a little nervous about it...

I didn't read it last year in part because of being nervous about it myself. But every time I see it, I think.. "I meant to read that" and eventually I will, so I might as well read it for this challenge. But I'm terribly nervous about it myself.

I've never even read To Kill a Mockingbird. *shameface* But in my defence, it's never been required reading for me. It's just one those books that hang out on my infinite to-read list, waiting for me to finally get to it.

Really want to read The Sleeper and the Spindle, too! I'll have to see if I can get my hands on it.

Although I remain conflicted abut Watchman, I ended up being really glad I read it. In fact, so far, I've been really happy with all three of the choices I've read for this particular challenge. And fr Pop Sugar I'm loving Challenger Deep.

I'd say Sleeper and the Spindle was my least favorite, because I just felt like there was more of a story to be told than Gaiman told. But there were moments of utter brilliance and the illustrations were a real dark, demented delight.

I had planned to read Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman for PopSugar2016 prompt national book award winner. However, it was such a great look into the descent into mental illness that I switched it to around52s prompt 34: A book about mental illness.

Previous books I've read about the subject didn't feel as real to me as this one did, and I figure I'd have an easier time finding another national book award winner than another book I loved dealing with mental illness and I didn't want to spend that entire prompt wishing that book was as true to me as Challenger Deep.

Brandy wrote: "I had planned to read Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman for PopSugar2016 prompt national book award winner. However, it was such a great look into the descent into mental illness that I switched i..."

I just finished reading Challenger Deep for the PopSugar challenge too (a National Book award finalist/winner). I really liked it--it gave me a better understanding of mental illness.

I'm not decided about my mental illness book and I've Unwind the week just before so maybe I'll use Challenger Deep if I like his writing style. Thanks for the idea!

I added Inside Out & Back Again to my TBR, the story looks interesting and I agree with the beautiful cover :)

I don't think I realized I never read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz until I started reading Dorothy Must Die for the pop sugar book and its prequel list. So I took a break from DMD and picked up the first Oz book and honestly, I loved it. Now I'm interested in the others but I get the impression they go down hill so I don't know how invested I want to become.

My books have been oddly connected this year. two different books have had pet rats who ride around on the shoulder of their people.

I've lost track of the Wuthering Heights references in books I've read this year. I almost read it for book mentioned in another book, and I'm struggling with the book I've picked so I might come back to Wuthering Heights but regardless at least four books I've read this year had characters discussing Wuthering Heights.

I think next year I'll keep a random coincidence log.

I read Oz 1-6 and planned a re-read + finishing the series this year. So far, the ones I enjoyed the most are #1 and #3, the others were less interesting and #4 was the most disappointing. I don't know about Dorothy Must Die, but if Ozma is at some point a character, it would help if you read #2 & #3 :)
As usual with Oz, I recommend the graphic novels (Oz: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz), the art is great and it's easier to enjoy the boring parts.

Ozma is a character and it was her, in fact, that had me looking into the Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the first place. Thanks very much for the clue about where to go next on that quest!

I just finished The BFG for book that will become a movie in 2016 (PopSugar 2016) and it was delightful. I don't know how i managed only to read a couple of Roald Dahl's when I was a kid.

The BFG was a particularly nice break after the very, very, very, very long read of Gone With the Wind and then a pretty heavy mystery novel. It was sort of like a fizzpopping palate cleanser.