Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

The entire Around the Year challenge list is generated by the group members. We enjoyed the process so much in the past three years that we are creating another list for 2019.

How it will work:
The topics for the 2019 RC list will be determined through around 13 mini-polls. Each user will vote for their favorite 4 topics in each mini-poll, which will then add up to the 52 topics (13 polls x 4 topics/poll=52 weekly topics). Suggestions for each poll will be opened until 15-20 suggestions are received+seconded. Then a poll will be opened for voting for one week so you can select your 4 favorite suggestions. This timeframe allows for a completed list in October-November.

Rules:
- One suggestion per poll per user OR one "second" per user
- If you suggested or seconded a topic in the 12th mini-poll then you must wait 24 hours before doing so in this one (3am EST on Wednesday 26 September)
- Suggestions close after 15 total seconded suggestions
- The number of seconded suggestions can vary and will be announced in the topic
- If the categories are not balanced at some point, the mods will add rules to encourage variety
- We are now allowing linked prompts within the regular polls (2-3 total prompts). We are slightly behind in the total number of prompts due to some polls resulting in fewer than 4 results. So do not worry about the effect that linked prompts will have on our timeframe.
- Since we have passed the 10th mini-poll, all suggestions are now free to be re-submitted. Mods will discuss further restrictions if needed.

A link to the poll will be posted in a new thread once 15 seconded suggestions are received.

Poll Entries:
1. a book about or inspired by an ancient civilisation
2. a book related to one of the elements on the periodic table of elements
3. a book that was nominated for or won an award in a genre you enjoy
4. a Victorian or neo-Victorian related book
5. a book in which faith or religion play a role in a main character's life or decision making
6. a book you were assigned to read (for school, Book Club, by a friend/family member) that you either didn’t read, didn’t finish, or didn’t like but which you think deserves a second chance
7. a book featuring a character with a job or profession you aspired to when you were a child
8. a book about or related to a conspiracy theory
9. a book that involves another world or planet or realm
10. a book from the Costa Awards - winner or short list from any year
11. a book about a person, place or topic that you have a negative opinion of
12. a book with a theme of gender or gender issues
13. two books related to the same topic, genre, or theme
14. two books - one inspired by the word high and one inspired by the word low (eg title, author, setting, # of pages, highbrow/lowbrow)
15. a book with a cover where the author's name is as large or larger than the title

Available to be seconded:
1. a book by a prolific author (wrote at least 12 books) you haven't read before
2. a book involving an escape

A book about or inspired by an ancient civilisation

A book about or related to a conspiracy theory.

So, the waiting commences... (I´m on the 24 hr restriction)

Will it still be 24 hour waiting period? Or did we change it to 12, per the Wild Discussion thread?

It says 24 on the rules above :(

I second a book about or inspired by an ancient civilisation.

Ellie I'm glad to see "ancient civilization" make a come back!! That was one on my list to suggest again :-). Sadly I cannot second since I'm on the 24 hr time out. I'm sure someone else will!

Done! ;-)

Haha great minds :-)

A book related to one of the elements on the periodic table of elements.

Steve I like that idea! (I can´t second yet).

A book that was nominated for or won an award in a genre you enjoy.

For example:
Science Fiction/Fantasy: Hugo Award, Nebula Awards
Mystery: Edgar Award
Children's Lit: Newbery Medal, Caldecott Medal
Romance: RITA Award

Here's a wikipedia page that lists a bunch of types of literary categories & their awards:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categor...

And for the nonfiction lovers out there:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categor...

Ooh, I second the Periodic Table prompt. I don’t think I’m locked out ... I think I seconded the poll before last.

Katie wrote: "A book that was nominated for or won an award in a genre you enjoy."

For those interested in award nominees for fantasy, sci-fi, and/or horror, Worlds Without End has complete listings for about 25 prizes.

Katie wrote: "A book that was nominated for or won an award in a genre you enjoy.

For example:
Science Fiction/Fantasy: Hugo Award, Nebula Awards
Mystery: Edgar Award
Children's Lit: Newbery Medal, Caldecott Me..."

I second this one

Yep Jody, you didn't participate last time, so your second is legit.

The first post is updated with the poll entries and suggestions so far.

I know reducing the waiting time to 12 hours was suggested last week, however I don’t think any decision was made about it. I’m going to keep it as 24 hours for this poll as I don’t want to disadvantage anyone who wants to make a suggestion but has already seen the 24 hour waiting time and so won’t check in again until tomorrow.

I voted for this one before so I'll give it another chance and suggest.

A Victorian or neo-Victorian related book

A book in which faith or religion play a role in a main character's life or decision making.

This does not necessarily mean a "religious" book and can be fiction or non-fiction, including memoirs by someone who escaped a fundamentalist or cult situation or who found religion. Lots of sci-fi and fantasy books would work as well. Here are a couple of lists with examples:

https://bookriot.com/2017/10/05/novel...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

I'd like to revive an failed one with a revision:
A book that involves another world or planet or realm.

I figure that includes portal fiction, sci fi about visiting other planets, or nonfiction books about space, or about parallel universes (there's both fiction and nonfiction discussing the theories of that). It could include any fantasy or sci fi that clearly isn't the world we live in (such as Westeros), or where a character discovers an unknown part of this world (such as Harry Potter discovering the magical world). I'd probably even think something like nonfiction involving the microscopic world, the darkest parts of the ocean, something like that would count.

Oh, I can't suggest or second for 24 hours, but I would really like to second the faith/religion playing a part in a main character's life/decision-making. I hope that gets seconded!

I am a Christian, but I don't often enjoy "religious" or "Christian" books, just because I feel a lot of them can be pushy and preachy, and that's not what I think religion should be. However, I absolutely think the suggestion is open enough to encompass all kinds of faith & religion, and I think everyone could find something to enjoy. As well as the suggestions by Rachelnyc, here is a list of some specific faiths & religions that shows you how broad this topic can really be:
http://www.humanreligions.info/religi...

That is a great list Rachel (the Book riot one). Also, I've wanted to read Dante's Divine Comedy for ages.

Yikes. This poll is becoming quite the list of repeats!

Thanks Nicole and Johanne and I agree so many good books in that list.

I don't mind that there are repeat suggestions since there have been so many good ones that haven't yet made it on the list. I was excited to see the ancient civilizations return especially.

I’m glad to see some repeats coming back again. There have been so many great previous nominations that I would love to see get through to the final.

Johanne wrote: "That is a great list Rachel (the Book riot one). Also, I've wanted to read Dante's Divine Comedy for ages."

I agree with you about the Book Riot list! There are a couple that I already had on my TBR, but I just added many more! I haven't looked at the GR list yet, but that's next.

These are repeats but I like all of them so far!

Love the Book Riot list of books where faith plays a part in a person's life. So many good books and not books I think of as "religious."

Jillian wrote: "I voted for this one before so I'll give it another chance and suggest.

A Victorian or neo-Victorian related book"

If I may, I'd like to second this one.

New suggestion (at least I haven’t noticed it before).

A book you were assigned to read (for school, Book Club, by a friend/family member) that you either didn’t read, didn’t finish, or didn’t like but which you think deserves a second chance (because you have changed, grown, or just never gave it a fair shake).

I second "A book in which faith or religion play a role in a main character's life or decision making"

Matthias wrote: "New suggestion (at least I haven’t noticed it before).

A book you were assigned to read (for school, Book Club, by a friend/family member) that you either didn’t read, didn’t finish, or didn’t li..."

I'll second this one.

Vanessa wrote: "I second "A book in which faith or religion play a role in a main character's life or decision making""

Hooray!!!

I'd like to suggest a book featuring a character with a job or profession you aspired to when you were a child (or just younger if you are still a child!).

This could be on the sillier end of the spectrum (superman, animal, etc.), something unrealistic in your actual life (president, ballerina, astronaut) or more rooted in reality (parent, your current job, something you are still working toward).

For myself, I think finding a book with a marine biologist would be fun!

Chrissy wrote: "I'd like to suggest a book featuring a character with a job or profession you aspired to when you were a child (or just younger if you are still a child!).

This could be on the sillier end of the..."

I'll second this! (Jedi princess is a career right?)

Matthias wrote: "New suggestion (at least I haven’t noticed it before).

A book you were assigned to read (for school, Book Club, by a friend/family member) that you either didn’t read, didn’t finish, or didn’t li..."

Or maybe didn´t remember? I have had assigned books that I am pretty sure I have read, but I somehow don´t remember them.

Sarah wrote: "Chrissy wrote: "I'd like to suggest a book featuring a character with a job or profession you aspired to when you were a child (or just younger if you are still a child!).

This could be on the si..."

And dragonrider too, right? Invisibility, teleportation and being able to fly (without airplanes and such) are sadly not professions but abilitites. But there are characters who uses these abilities in their profession...

Oh, and I also wanted to be a shapeshifter - a lot to choose from there :)

So how about a book from the Costa Awards - winner or short list from any year. These are awards for books written by UK authors or Ireland authors.

Here are some links:

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...

https://www.costa.co.uk/media/499001/...

There are categories for first novel, novel, biography, poetry and children's book awards.

Suggestion: A book involving an escape

(character(s) escape from captivity, from the antagonist, the clutches of death, get away from someone pursuing them, mentally escape from reality, etc)

Chrissy wrote: "I'd like to suggest a book featuring a character with a job or profession you aspired to when you were a child (or just younger if you are still a child!).

This could be on the sillier end of the..."

Oh Chrissy.... If you're interested in this try The Fragile Edge: Diving and Other Adventures in the South Pacific by Julia Whitty :-)

Sorry I can't link, I still haven't figured out whats wrong with my Mac, waiting for the new power cord to come today. But, I wanted to be a marine biologist when I was younger and am still obsessed with snorkeling, diving, aquariums and all things ocean. This book was fabulous!!

I second conspiracy theories.

Joan wrote: "So how about a book from the Costa Awards - winner or short list from any year. These are awards for books written by UK authors or Ireland authors.

Here are some links:

https://www.goodreads.com..."

Oh, great great books on that Costa website list...

Lots of interesting ideas this week. The first post is now updated with all the poll entries and suggestions waiting to be seconded.

Peter, I’m sorry but as you seconded a suggestion in the last mini poll you’ll have to wait 24 hours (until 3am EST on Wednesday) to submit your suggestion.

Sheri wrote: "I'd like to revive an failed one with a revision:
A book that involves another world or planet or realm.

I figure that includes portal fiction, sci fi about visiting other planets, or nonfiction..."

I second this.

Bryony wrote: "Lots of interesting ideas this week. The first post is now updated with all the poll entries and suggestions waiting to be seconded.

Peter, I’m sorry but as you seconded a suggestion in the last m..."
oops I'm sorry. My bad. I completely forgot I seconded last round.

I'm sorry, but I don't understand the rules or whether I'm allowed to vote or whatever, but I like the following:

1. a book about or inspired by an ancient civilization
2. a book related to one of the elements on the periodic table of elements
4. a Victorian or neo-Victorian related book
6. a book you were assigned to read (for school, Book Club, by a friend/family member) that you either didn’t read, didn’t finish, or didn’t like but which you think deserves a second chance
7. a book featuring a character with a job or profession you aspired to when you were a child
8. a book about or related to a conspiracy theory

So, whatever the rules are just take what I like and apply it. Sorry.

Di, it looks like the only prompt that still needs to be seconded is the Costa Awards. Since that's not on your list, your choices are all already entered on the poll. A link to that poll will be posted once we reach 15 suggestions. It will be titled "Voting for 13th Mini-Poll". You'll be able to vote for 4 choices so you'll have to narrow your picks down a bit :)

Di, this thread is for people to make suggestions to be included in the next poll. Once we have 15 seconded suggestions I’ll post a new thread with a link to the poll which everyone is welcome to vote in.

You’re also welcome to suggest a prompt to be included in the poll, or second one of the suggestions that haven’t yet been seconded (as shown in the first post of the thread).

Tracy wrote: "Chrissy wrote: "

Thanks for the rec, Tracy!