Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

This is a multi-week prompt that covers prompts 18, 19, and 20: 3 books, 1 thread.

There are innumerable ways to approach this set of prompts and I can't wait to see how everybody tackles it. Will you go with one book each for past, present, and future? Will you find books that cover all three? Will you tie your books together with a theme or just go with the theme of "I wanted to read this book"? The possibilities are endless.

We have four listopias to help people sort out the options.

Past: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Present: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Future: https://www.goodreads.com/list/edit/1...
And one that features books that cover the past, present, *and* future:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Optional Questions:
1. What are you reading?
2. Are your book choices connected in any way?
3. How did you decide what to read?

I'm excited about these three - using an activist theme to tie them together:

Past: Fight of the Century: Writers Reflect on 100 Years of Landmark ACLU Cases

Present: Youth to Power: Your Voice and How to Use It

Future: Resist: Tales from a Future Worth Fighting Against

My plan right now is to read The Birth House (our birth is the past), Life (our life is the present), and Little Deaths (our death is the future).

I'm going with time travel for this one, figuring each book will cover all three periods. At least I hope they will!

The books I have picked out are:

This Is How You Lose the Time War
Replay
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August

dalex I just finished The Birth House (I used it for one of the binary opposites) and I loved it.

Nancy wrote: "I'm going with time travel for this one, figuring each book will cover all three periods. At least I hope they will!"

This Is How You Lose the Time War and Replay are both excellent. (Though to be honest it's been ages since I read Replay; I don't know how well it has stood the test of time.) And Harry August was quite good, also.

I'm glad you enjoyed The Birth House. I'm really looking forward to it! It's one of those books I've been putting off for awhile, though I don't know why.

I'm going to go with a super literal interpretation of this: one book set in the past, one in the present, and one in the future. Tentatively planning:

The Paying Guests (historical fiction, set in 1922)
Pansies (contemporary romance)
Record of a Spaceborn Few (far-future scifi)

And I just realized all three of these are tagged LGBT, so I guess they do have a unifying theme!

I'm going with The Birth House
Still Life and A Death to Record

It's kind of funny, I did birth/death for my binary opposites.

I'm going to try to tie them all together by a theme as well, so i'm excited to see how everyone else is tying them together.

I belive it was Nancy's idea, a book about books/libraries, and that's my current inspiration for these:

Past - The Library of Legends
Present - Real Murders (not sure if this counts)
Future - Ink and Bone

I'm being boring and turning this into a genre prompt; historical fiction, contemporary fiction and science fiction. I like the idea of linking them but also might just use it as an opportunity to read some new books.

I was just contemplating the same, Ellie :D
Any ideas of how to link them?

Johanne wrote: "I was just contemplating the same, Ellie :D
Any ideas of how to link them?"

I was thinking about all those articles about writers dealing with the pandemic in their contemporary fiction, so if I feel like reading one of them I might try a disease link, though I can imagine not many others would want to do that!

Otherwise maybe a scientific link. I do have A History of What Comes Next on my 2021 wishlist, and did wonder if I could do three science fiction books in past, present and future but I would have to find a present day one which might be tricky.

Alicia wrote: "I'm going to try to tie them all together by a theme as well, so i'm excited to see how everyone else is tying them together.

I belive it was Nancy's idea, a book about books/libraries, and that'..."

That was mine! I love that you're using it for this one. I love books about book stores and libraries.

Alicia wrote: "Past - The Library of Legends
Present - Real Murders (not sure if this counts)
Future - Ink and Bone"

I think Ink and Bone is alt history, not future. I could be wrong, though.

I love those ideas Ellie. Reminds me, around 5 years ago a Danish author wrote a dystopia 'The Danish Civil War 2018-2025'. So a past, present and future dystopia.

I've a couple ideas for this:

Historical love story:
Atomic Love - Jennie Fields
Contemporary love story:
Little Beach Street Bakery - Jenny Colgan
Future love story:
In Five Years - Rebecca Serle

Travel in the past:
Travels with Charley: In Search of America - John Steinbeck
Travel in the present:
The Wangs vs. the World - Jade Chang
Travel in the future:
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet - Becky Chambers

Historical fiction by indigenous author:
Ceremony - Leslie Marmon Silko
Contempory fiction by indigenous author:
Tales of Burning Love- Louise Erdrich
Futuristic fiction by indigenous author:
The Marrow Thieves - Cherie Dimaline

I’m trying to tie mine together thematically too. I’m interested in Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age for “past”, and will find present and future books about the lives of cities or the impact of climate change on civilizations for the theme. Any suggestions for a “future city” book? If I go that route, The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design might be for “present”.

dalex wrote: "Alicia wrote: "Past - The Library of Legends
Present - Real Murders (not sure if this counts)
Future - Ink and Bone"

I think Ink and Bone is alt history, not future. I could be wrong, though."

oooh good to know! I'll research some more. I also love books about books, so I have an abnormal amount on my TBR.

Kathy wrote: "I've a couple ideas for this:

Historical love story:
Atomic Love - Jennie Fields
Contemporary love story:
Little Beach Street Bakery - Jenny Colgan
Future love sto..."

These ideas are great, Kathy!

I think I'm going to just randomly fill in with a book set in the past, present, and future. There's a lot on my TBR to get to so need to have some wiggle room! I'm looking at:

Sea of Poppies for Past - have always wanted to read this series!

Acts of Desperation for Present - seems to be very focused on an inner monologue so very present-centered to the character

and either Migrations or Project Hail Mary for Future - have ARC of the latter so might be easier but I'd really like to get to Migrations at some point next year.

I'm pretty set on the idea of using books that in some way incorporate past, present, and future, though perhaps I'll pick three books that explore that in different ways, which could be fun to compare. Some possible categories would be
1. a time travel book, where people travel between the past, present and future
2. a book with three timelines, following one character in the past, one in the present, and one in the future
3. A book that traces one person's life chronologically (or follows one family), beginning in the past and ending in the future.
4. A book where a character in the future is reflecting back on their past, which includes the present day.

Some ideas:
The Many-Coloured Land is a science fiction book where characters from the future time travel to 6 million B.C.
The History of Bees follows three beekeepers, one in 1852, one in 2007, and one in 2098.
Greenwood is a multigenerational family saga, which seems to feature characters throughout the 20th century and into the 2030s, plus is about trees, which I'm always into.
Light from Other Stars is definitely partly set in the future and partly in the 1980s, when the protagonist is a young girl. Might skip the present, though.
I've already read it, but Cloud Atlas would be amazing for this, as it follows characters in historical, present day, and future timelines who never meet but are connected in certain ways.
Doomsday Book is also a time travel future to a faraway past book.

I'll be looking for more!

I'm thinking about using 3 books that have Past, Present, and Future in the title/subtitle/series name (e.g. Spying on Whales: The Past, Present, and Future of Earth's Most Awesome Creatures) or at least one of the words in each book. Some of the books I'm considering: The Dark Forest Remembrance of Earth’s Past #2, You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment, The Late American Novel: Writers on the Future of Books.

I would like to connect the 3 books in some manner but chances are I won't. Since I'm focusing on Russian authors next year, 3 Russian books - a classic or history, a contemporary novel, and sci-fi is an idea.

Past: The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
Present: Girl, Woman, Other by Bernandine Evaristo
Future: Parable of the Sower by Octavia E Butler

I love seeing everyone's ideas.
I'm going with a theme of mode of transportation.

Past: A Transcontinental Affair - train, 1870
Present: The Wangs vs. the World - car, 2010s
Future: An Unkindness of Ghosts - spaceship, future

Kristina- I love your idea! So creative!

Alicia wrote: "I'm going to try to tie them all together by a theme as well, so i'm excited to see how everyone else is tying them together.

I belive it was Nancy's idea, a book about books/libraries, and that'..."

Real Murders definitely involves books/libraries. The main character is a librarian and the mystery involves the true crime club she is in.

Chrissy wrote: "I’m trying to tie mine together thematically too. I’m interested in Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age for “past”, and will find present and future books about the ..."

For future city, maybe The Water Will Come: Rising Seas, Sinking Cities, and the Remaking of the Civilized World? I haven't read it yet but it sounds like it'd fit that theme.

Jackie wrote: "Chrissy wrote: "I’m trying to tie mine together thematically too. I’m interested in Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age for “past”, and will find present and future ..."

Thanks, that’s a good option!

I think I'll just keep it simple and go with a historical fiction, contemporary fiction and futuristic sci-fi, but I haven't exactly decided on which books I'll read yet.

Past:
The Queen's Bastard by Robin Maxwell
The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff
Whichever book I'm up to in Philippa Gregory's Plantagenet and Tudor series

Present:
I could read any contemporary fiction for this, but I like the idea of reading something with today in the title!
Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple

Future:
Artemis by Andy Weir
Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

Thomas wrote: "so ITS COMPLICATED
my past prompt will be A Darker Domain which flashes between the early 2000s and the 1980s miners strike so past in that it flashes between two timelines one in t..."

I think 2025 would count as future: (1) because it is in fact in the future and (2) because at the time it was written it was intended as a futuristic dystopian.

Thomas wrote: "so ITS COMPLICATED
my past prompt will be A Darker Domain which flashes between the early 2000s and the 1980s miners strike so past in that it flashes between two timelines one in t..."

I think 2025 would count as future: (1) because it is in fact in the future and (2) because at the time it was written it was intended as a futuristic dystopian.

A book that encompasses past, present and future is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, although I'm keen to hold this for "the end" prompt as I like to read this book in December :)

Ellie wrote: "I'm being boring and turning this into a genre prompt; historical fiction, contemporary fiction and science fiction. I like the idea of linking them but also might just use it as an opportunity to ..."

this is definitely what i'm doing as well! i know it's the simplest way to interpret the prompt but i think it'll be a great way to get three standalones off my physical tbr.

@Thomas, I'd also count a futuristic book as future, nomatter what year it takes place in. And as Alicia said 2025 is the future.
The youth book club I run and I, just had a laugh the other day, at how 1984 is a book about the future (published in 1949). If you only had to read one book for this prompt that would be perfect: It's a book about the future, set in a year that is now the past, and a lot of people see parallels to the present day in the society depicted.

Continuing my theme of trying to slot a few Women’s Prize winners in I see The Song of Achilles works for past and The Tiger’s Wife for present. The only candidate for future would be Th Power which I’ve already read. What’s the likelihood the 2021 judges will pick a book set in the future?

Hannah wrote: "I'm pretty set on the idea of using books that in some way incorporate past, present, and future, though perhaps I'll pick three books that explore that in different ways, which could be fun to com..."

I can't miss an opportunity to recommend I Still Dream, one of my favourite under the radar books. It starts in the 90s, going through each decade and ends in the future.

I plan to go with three works of gay fiction:

Past: Olivia (only just fictional)
Present: The Last Romeo
Future: The Future Won't Be Long

Ellie wrote: "Hannah wrote: "I'm pretty set on the idea of using books that in some way incorporate past, present, and future, though perhaps I'll pick three books that explore that in different ways, which coul..."

I just had "a look" on Amazon, it looks intriguing, it's now on my wishlist :)

One of my theme ideas is Science Fiction.

An author from the past Robert A. Heinlein, Ray Bradbury, or Issac Asimov

An author from the present that represents how science fiction has changed because of the women who wrote it. eg Andre Norton, Anne McCaffrey.

An author from the future, the up and coming authors who are changing the genre for the better again. eg. Kameron Hurley, Ann Leckie, Martha Wells, Nnedi Okorafor

Ellie wrote: "Hannah wrote: "I'm pretty set on the idea of using books that in some way incorporate past, present, and future, though perhaps I'll pick three books that explore that in different ways, which coul..."

Thanks for the recommendation! That looks excellent, it's added to my TBR :)

Shannon wrote: "A book that encompasses past, present and future is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, although I'm keen to hold this for "the end" prompt as I like to read this book in December :)"

Shannon, that is such a perfect suggestion, I can't believe I didn't think of it!

Chrissy wrote: "I’m trying to tie mine together thematically too. I’m interested in Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age for “past”, and will find present and future books about the ..."

Perfect City: An Urban Fixer's Global Search for Magic in the Modern Metropolis is good. You could use it for present or future.

I'm going with a Native American theme for this one, though I haven't narrowed it down to just three books yet. I'm considering:

Past:
Tracks, Black Elk Speaks: The Complete Edition, Fools Crow

Present:
The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, Bury My Heart at Chuck E. Cheese's, Indian Horse, The Antelope Wife

Future:
Moon of the Crusted Snow, Future Home of the Living God, The Marrow Thieves, Trail of Lightning

I have The Big Sheep n audio and just found out it is set in the future.

Maybe I could go with alternate worlds. For instance, a historical fiction where things happen differently than in history, (The Water Dancer, a book set in the present but different (like The Power, and a book set in an alternate future (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

@ Wendy, Indian Horse, Moon of the Crusted Snow, and Trail of Lightning are all really good.

I like the theme you have chosen.

Wendy, I was going to go with that theme but decided to do Indigenous for beginning and end.

I'm really excited to read Trail of Lightning, so let me know what you think. I'm excited that Anastasia really liked it

Hannah wrote: "Ellie wrote: "Hannah wrote: "I'm pretty set on the idea of using books that in some way incorporate past, present, and future, though perhaps I'll pick three books that explore that in different wa..interesting,

Kathy wrote: "I've a couple ideas for this:

Historical love story:
Atomic Love - Jennie Fields
Contemporary love story:
Little Beach Street Bakery - Jenny Colgan
Future love sto..."


This is what I was thinking too - I read a lot of romance, and it might be fun to read a historical, a contemporary, and a SF romance. I've got so many on my TBR that I don't even know what I'd read!

maybe ...
historical:
Beauty Like the Night by Joanna Bourne
The Songbird's Seduction by Connie Brockway
To Love a Thief by Julie Anne Long
Moonlight on My Mind by Jennifer McQuiston

contemporary:
Wild at Whiskey Creek by Julie Anne Long (too bad Long doesn't write SF romance also or I could to a trio from the same author!)
Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis
The Best Man by Kristan Higgins
Party Lines by Emma Barry

future:
Aurora Blazing by Jessie Mihalik
Nightchaser by Amanda Bouchet
Grimspace by Ann Aguirre
Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach

I want to do 3 books that all have a story that spans a long period of time, like One Day by David Nicholls which is one of my all time faves, or The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. I think these 3 may work but would love some suggestions:

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
A Little Life
Cloud Atlas

Anastasia wrote: "@ Wendy, Indian Horse, Moon of the Crusted Snow, and Trail of Lightning are all really good.

I like the theme you have chosen."

Thanks! Yeah, I'm excited to read these, and I may slot some in other categories just to fit in more (like new-to-me BIPOC author)

Rebecca Roanhorse was the keynote speaker at a conference I went to last year, and I've been wanting to get around to Trail of Lightning ever since then. I'm actually tempted to just read it at the end of the year between challenges just so I finally get to it

Robin P wrote: "I have The Big Sheep n audio and just found out it is set in the future.

Maybe I could go with alternate worlds. For instance, a historical fiction where things happen differently ..."

I really like this idea! A way to fit in alternate history for anyone sad that that prompt didn't make it in.