Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

1. A, T & Y in the title:
4 Stars 3.5 Stars 3.75 Stars
2. A book from the first 10 books of your TBR:
4 Stars 3.75 Stars 3.75 Stars
3. A 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards (link):
3 Stars 2.75 Stars 2.75 Stars
4. 4 elements: Book #1 Earth:
3.75 Stars 3.5 Stars 4.5 Stars
5. A book inspired by real events:
1.5 Stars 3 Stars 4.5 Stars
6. A book originally written in a language other than English:
3.5 Stars 4 Stars 4.75 Stars
7. A gothic novel:
4.5 Stars 5 Stars 2 Stars
8. An "own voices" book:
3.75 Stars 4.5 Stars 2.75 Stars
9. A body part in the title:
3 Stars 4.5 Stars 4 Stars
10. An author's debut:
4.25 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars
11. A literary fiction:
3.75 Stars 5 Stars 4 Stars
12. A book set in Africa or South America:
3.5 Stars 4.5 Stars 4 Stars
13. A plot centered around a secret:
4 Stars 4.5 Stars 4 Stars
14. 4 elements: Book #2 Fire:
3 Stars 3 Stars 4.25 Stars
15. A unique format/writing structure:
4 Stars 4.5 Stars 4 Stars
16. A narrative nonfiction:
5 Stars 3 Stars 4.25 Stars
17. A book you expect to make you laugh:
2.75 Stars 3 Stars 3.75 Stars
18. A location in the title:
2.75 Stars 2 Stars 4.5 Stars
19. An Edgar Award:
3.25 Stars 3.75 Stars 4.5 Stars
20. A book rated 5 stars by at least one of your friends:
4.5 Stars 4.5 Stars 4.5 Stars
21. First person perspective:
2.5 Stars 3.75 Stars 3.5 Stars
22. High expectations:
3.75 Stars 4.5 Stars 4 Stars
23. A medical/legal thriller:
2.5 Stars 2.75 Stars 3.25 Stars
24. A book with a map:
4 Stars 2.5 Stars 3.5 Stars
25. A book with an antagonist/villain POV:
2 Stars 4.5 Stars 4.25 Stars
26. Text only cover:
3.25 Stars 4 Stars 3.75 Stars
27. A book about surviving a hardship:
4.5 Stars 4.5 Stars 3.5 Stars
28. 4 elements: Book #3 Water:
4 Stars 4 Stars 3.75 Stars
29. A book with a "Clue" weapon on the cover or title:
1 Star 3 Stars 3.5 Stars
30. Short book:
4 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars
31. A book set in a country you'd like to visit but have never been to:
4.25 Stars 3 Stars 3 Stars
32. An alternate history book:
4.25 Stars 4.25 Stars 4 Stars
33. A book title connected to a word "born" in the same year as you (Fell-Good, Glitter Rock, Doomsday):
3.25 Stars 2 Stars 4 Stars
34. A polarizing suggestion from AtY 2018 polls: (#1: Celestial theme; #2: A title with 4 Letters or less; #3: 5 Star book from a Mod's list (Sophie's Choice):
3.75 Stars 4 Stars 3.75 Stars
35. A book featuring a murder:
2.5 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars
36. A book published in 2016, 2017, or 2018 by an author you haven't read before:
3 Stars 2.5 Stars 2 Stars
37. A Women's Prize for Fiction winner or nominee:
3.5 Stars 2.75 Stars 3.75 Stars
38. A science book or a science fiction book:
3.75 Stars 4.5 Stars 3.75 Stars
39. A book with punctuation in the title:
3.25 Stars 4.5 Stars 2.75 Stars
40. Amazon's 100 Books to Read:
4.75 Stars 4.75 Stars 4.25 Stars
41. A book by an author with the same first and last initials:
3.75 Stars 4.25 Stars 5 Stars
42. A book that takes place on, in, or underwater:
4.25 Stars 4.25 Stars 3.75 Stars
43. A book with a title that is a whole sentence:
3.5 Stars 2.5 Stars 4.5 Stars
44. A ghost story:
3 Stars 2.75 Stars 4.5 Stars
45. A book that intimidates/ scares you:
3.5 Stars 4 Stars 4.5 Stars
46. 4 elements: Book #4 Air:
3 Stars 3.75 StarS 4 Stars
47. Main character/author is of a different ethnicity, religion, or sexual identity than your own:
3.5 Stars 3.75 Stars 4 Stars
48. 7 deadly sins:
4 Stars 4.5 Stars 1 Star
49. Goodreads Best Books of the Month:
2 Stars 2.75 Stars 3.75 Stars
50. A warm atmosphere:
3.5 Stars 4.5 Stars 4 Stars
51. An award-winning short story or collection:
3.25 Stars 5 Stars 4 Stars
52. Published in 2018
3.75 Stars 3 Stars 3 Stars

Another person with Ulysses for the intimidating book. I love it! And Absalom, Absalom! is my all time favorite book, so I'm excited to see it on your list!

Katie wrote: "Another person with Ulysses for the intimidating book. I love it! And Absalom, Absalom! is my all time favorite book, so I'm excited to see it on your list!"

I confess that I read 36 pages of Ulysses this year and put it down. This is going to be a big accomplishment if I can finish it!

I've made my list pretty and I think I'm going to stop for now. I could use some really good suggestions for the legal and medical thrillers because I have read a lot of them and am looking for something special. Oh...and the "own" voice selection is giving me a real pain. I'd appreciate any help!

I suppose you could find other interesting books for the "rated 5 stars by a mod", More Than This is own voice. If you want to keep it there, what topic would you be interested in (ethnic group, LGBTQ+, mental illness, etc) and in which genre?

Your list is very ambitious! I confess I've started reading Ulysses several times and never made it to the end. For the ownvoices book, I would recommend Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, if you haven't read her yet. Two of her books are listed by the BBC in the 13 best novels of the 21st century.

Whoa, starting out the year with Gravity's Rainbow - brave woman! :D

Another Ulysses reader here - although I have a bunch of other options for that category, it really has to be that terrifying book.

Night is incredible - I hope you like it. I'm currently reading Oscar and Lucinda, but it's far from compelling. I'm surprised to see it on someone's list - I didn't think it was too well known! I'm Australian, and I don't think it's even that well known for us, I found it on a couple of lists, and picked up the book for a Franc at a used book sale.

Zaz wrote: "I suppose you could find other interesting books for the "rated 5 stars by a mod", More Than This is own voice. If you want to keep it there, what topic would you be interested in (ethnic group, LG..."

Zaz, I'll use the Ness book in the own voice category and try to find another mod 5 star choice! Helene, if I can make it past Gravity's Rainbow I will feel pretty good. I think that and Ulysses are going to be the real deal breakers on the list. I will definitely put Adichie on my to read list!

Jody wrote: "Whoa, starting out the year with Gravity's Rainbow - brave woman! :D

Another Ulysses reader here - although I have a bunch of other options for that category, it really ha..."

Jody, your comment made me laugh! Night is something I should have read years ago. I'm sure I will like it because it will give me a lot to think about. As for Oscar and Lucinda, I just googled books set in Australia and that is something I picked randomly. If you have another suggestion, I'm open to making a change. I've got a lot of tough books and don't need something that is not interesting! I do think it is funny that you are currently reading it, though!

I'm making an effort to read more Australian works at the moment, but I'm not doing very well! Picnic at Hanging Rock is probably my favourite - it's really eerie & interesting, and way more readable than O&L. I'm really having to push through it, I have it sitting beside me now, but every time I look at it I involuntarily frown and think "Whyyyyyyyy?!".

Picnic is the one about the women that go missing in the early 1900's right? That was my second choice. I'll make the change!

Bahaha, I love your Sophie's Choice comment. Too funny.

Yes! That’s the one, Tammy. I think every Australian my age or older is really familiar with the story. I rem never when I moved to Victoria (the state where Hanging Rock is) and I first saw a road sign for it, I got chills.

You have really ambitious plan, Tammy! I loved The Master and Margarita, The Pillars of the Earth and The Princess Bride.

Looks good! I have Ulysses on my list, too. Gravity's Rainbow seems quite daunting.

Angie wrote: "Looks good! I have Ulysses on my list, too. Gravity's Rainbow seems quite daunting."

Angie, I think Gravity's Rainbow scares me almost as much as Ulysses. The fact that it is set for week one makes me feel a bit queasy.

So pleased to hear Anna and Katie liked some of the books on the list. I'm still trying to find a mod 5 star book. I'll keep looking.

Nice list! I have Pale Fire and Stiff on my list, too. I meant to read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn this year because a friend read it and liked it, but didn't get to it. But maybe for my full-sentence title next year...

Cheri wrote: "Nice list! I have Pale Fire and Stiff on my list, too. I meant to read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn this year because a friend read it and liked it, but didn't get to it. But maybe for my full-sentence..."

Oh good, Cheri! I like to have someone to bounce idea's off of (especially if I am having trouble with a book).

Cheri, I was surprised how much I loved A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. It’s really wonderful book. I hope you love it!

I've heard so many good things about A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Jody! I'm looking so forward to reading it.

It's really such a wonderful book. It feels like nothing happens, although so much does.

I have to reneg on Oscar and Lucinda. I really had to push through, but I hit a point about 375 pages in (of 511!) and it finally had me hooked. An absolute slow burn, but it ended up being pretty darn great.

Ha! I read your review and thoroughly enjoyed it. I actually just finished a book that hit me the same way. I trudged through the first 200 pages and then flew through the last 250. I will put Oscar and Lucinda back in my TBR list. Thanks for keeping me updated!

It really was so much like my experience of reading Catch-22 (although that was hilarious all of the way through and O&L had more scattered funny moments). I didn’t think I was invested in either until I suddenly realised that I really was, and both of them had me close the book thinking I’d like to revisit them.

I love the mention of Catch-22. Ive picked that book up twice and haven't made it past the first chapter. I put it on my list for 2018 because once I commit to something I will do it. It makes me happy to hear that you really ended up enjoying it after all.

It took me a long time to finish - six months. The beauty of it is that it’s not at all a book that needs to be rushed through. There’s very little plot, so it’s not all that compelling. The humour kept me going!

I like your double down idea! I might try that too, if I get really ambitious. Nice list! I read Dune, We, and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn this year and loved them. Have fun with your challenge!

Pam wrote: "I like your double down idea! I might try that too, if I get really ambitious. Nice list! I read Dune, We, and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn this year and loved them. Have fun with your challenge!

I'm still working on the 2nd list, but hopefully will get it done this weekend.. I love hearing good reviews for some of the books. Makes me look forward to reading them even more!

Summer Book and Burial Rites are really good, also. Good luck with Ulysses! You are much braver than me, taking that one on.

I love A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Homegoing was excellent. Good luck with your double challenge.

Whoo-hoo. I did a side-read of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce this week (early prep for Ulysses). I'm feeling pretty smug and less fearful now. Now I have to get back to my YA selection for my 2017 challenge!

I'm thinking of doing the double-down also rather than doing Popsugar.

I read The Secret History, Picnic at Hanging Rock, and Homegoing this year and like them all. I loved the writing of Donna Tarrt in The Secret History.

I also have on my list Pillars of the Earth, White Teeth, and Summer by Edith Wharton.

Kathy wrote: "I'm thinking of doing the double-down also rather than doing Popsugar.

I read The Secret History, Picnic at Hanging Rock, and Homegoing this year and like them all. I loved the writing of Donna T..."
You have so many good books to choose from, Kathy, that you could do three books for every category. I haven't done popsugar before. One challenge is probably enough for me and if I double it, then it is definitely enough! I've read The Goldfinch by Tart and am looking forward to The Secret History.

Nice list, Tammy. I’ve got Absalom, Absalom! on my list, too. Think you’ll love A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Burial Rites, Night, We. And I didn’t know Nell Zink has a new one! Loved Mislaid. Must add Nicotine to the old TBR.

Also see you have Tampa listed. You’ll have to let me know what you think of THAT one. Yowza.

Stacey wrote: "Also see you have Tampa listed. You’ll have to let me know what you think of THAT one. Yowza."

I don't know how much of a review I'll be able to give on that one, Stacey. Subject matter, as you seem to know could be a little bit sketchy.😱

Nice list! You have an interesting variety there. I would highly recommend Stiff, The Secret History and Burial Rites - all great reads :)

I saw your comment about someone else's list and I knew I needed to see your list!

Great list! We have quite an overlap in our TBR I think. And you have several that are in my 2018 challenge(s).
I added "See What I Have Done" to my ATY challenge.

I tried for several years to read Bulgakov's Master, and finally forced my way through. I had such high expectations but it just didn't hold my attention to the end. This isn't stopping me from wanting to read Heart of A Dog... AND I found a collection of Russian gothic short stories called Red Spectres ... which has a short story by him. The fact that it is Gothic AND Russian? Can't wait.

Good luck with your double challenge! I'll be looking forward to your thoughts on your reads.

MJ...so glad something I said made you want to check out my challenge. I hope that The Master and Margarita will be a little better for me than it was for you (your 2 stars makes me nervous). I am looking forward to checking out your challenge to see what goodies you have in store for next year. Best of luck to you. I'll be sharing my progress and checking in on yours!

I still have 5 categories that I haven't come up with a second book! I'm trying to hunt those down and am taking recommendations.

I'm very ready to start my reading for 2018. I can't wait to see how this turns out. I'm doing two other challenges and this will be my first full year of doing them, as I didn't start goofing around in the groups until October this year. Sooooo excited!

Tammy- Are you tracking your double challenges in 2 separate threads or 2 per category in this thread? Which 5 do you need a 2nd choice?

Tammy wrote: "MJ...so glad something I said made you want to check out my challenge. I hope that The Master and Margarita will be a little better for me than it was for you (your 2 stars makes me nervous). I am ..."

I struggled with it, too, and had to push my way through to finish it. I know others love it. It helps if you have an edition with notes. I feel like a lot is lost in translation for non-Russian readers. I wouldn't discourage you from reading it, though!

This is one challenge. I HAve a classics bingo challenge, and a personal crazy 88 challenge. The other two are in the Catching up on classics group.

Let's see...I need a book featuring a murder, an edgar award nominee, a book with a map, a legal thriller and one to do with my birth year. 72 was not a good year for words that inspire Book Titles.

Tammy wrote: "This is one challenge. I HAve a classics bingo challenge, and a personal crazy 88 challenge. The other two are in the Catching up on classics group.

Let's see...I need a book featuring a murder, a..."

I must have been on the GR app because I couldn't see your double selections but I see them now! For a map, here's a few suggestions: The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett, The Map That Changed the World, On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Albert of Adelaide (an odd one on my shelf, by a NM (where I live) author but set in Australia.

I think you have some good words for 1972, like Latina, blended-family, media event, feel-good and page turner. Page turner is pretty generic and could apply to any book that you like! Have you read American Pastoral? That is the perfect book for media event and it's very good.

I read American Pastoral this year and enjoyed it very much. I liked it so much that I read three more Roth books. I will check out your map suggestions. Thanks so much for the help!

Well...I totally failed at reading in order. I'm not going to worry about it because I just have to deal with what I can get from the library when I can get it! I started the year with Bossypants (a book that will make you laugh). It did make me laugh, but not as much as I'd hoped.

Moved on to an "own voice" book called Lucy & Linh. This wasn't awful but I don't think own voice books are my bag.

I just started Catch-22 (Amazon's 100 books to read in a lifetime). I'm only about 60 pages in, but this is what I should have picked to make me laugh. I'm doing this one on audio, but I also have a paperback to refer back to.

While I listen to Catch-22 on my commute, I'm reading Going After Cacciato (a book rated 5 Stars by a friend). I hope to have 5 books completed the first week. This could be a stretch but I'll do my best.

Tammy wrote: "Well...I totally failed at reading in order. I'm not going to worry about it because I just have to deal with what I can get from the library when I can get it! I started the year with Bossypants (..."

I see you have The Violent Bear It Away on your list. I've just finished reading it and have some conflicting thoughts... I've added it to the V folder. I'd love to hear what you think when you get to reading it!

Karen wrote: "Tammy wrote: "Well...I totally failed at reading in order. I'm not going to worry about it because I just have to deal with what I can get from the library when I can get it! I started the year wit..."

Karen, I will definitely check out your thoughts on The Violent Bear it Away when I read it and I'll write back to you. I am at the mercy of the library and when they can have my holds ready! I will say that I loved her wildly weird and creepy Wise Blood.

I just finished 2 more books. I read Going After Cacciato (a book that a friend gave 5 stars) and it was great. I also completed Mrs. Fletcher (a book published within the last 3 years) and I thought it was pretty poor. I waited for three months to get that on hold from the library and man, they can have it back.

I've finished 6 out of the 104 now. I completed an award winning book of short stories (Jesus' Son) which was worth the time and Catch-22. If any of you are audio book lovers...Catch-22 should be on your list. I ended up reading the last 150 pages, but the audio version was wonderful and I highly recommend it.