Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

A book that takes place over the course of 24 hours.


I put it off last year, but it's finally time for me to re-read Mrs. Dalloway.


Here's our Listopia from last year:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...


2024 Listopia list is Here: A Book That Takes Place Over the Course of 24 Hours

I was adding Orbital to the space listopia when I saw it was set over one day, so I'm definitely putting it aside for next year for this prompt.

I didn't see this one on the Listopia: Untold Night and Day by Bae Suah

I haven't read it yet, but it's possible this one might take place over the course of one night (it also seems to work for set in the snow):
Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra

Time to look for those NF books. I'm sure I can find some with events that take place in a day.

I'm also going to try Orbital.

Ron wrote: "Time to look for those NF books. I'm sure I can find some with events that take place in a day."


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

Thanks, Dubhease.

I'll probably go with one of my 9/11 books. That makes it easy.

Fall and Rise: The Story of 9/11

Malibu Rising and Amazing Grace Adams both take place over the course of one day.

I think I'll read A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy.

I swear I will FINALLY read Mrs. Dalloway! Also, there is One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich.

And, after looking at the Listopia, I had no idea Blackout would qualify! I've been wanting to read that one badly!

I have a 'single day' shelf and here are the books currently on it:

Read:

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day - 5 stars
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - 5 stars - just because he repeats the same day 7 times... it's still a single day.
Cheerful Weather for the Wedding - 5 stars
Cold Snap - a children's picture book - 5 star
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk - 4 stars
Album of Dr. Moreau - 5 stars - SFF/crime fiction
The Guest List - 2 stars - I really disliked it but many many really loved it. Suspense/crime fiction.

TBR

Run by Ann Patchett
Under the Volcano
Small Hours
The House in Paris - probably the one I will read.

J
ETA: just read a books set in 24 hour period!

The Paris Diversion - financial thriller in a great setting.

Which reminds me - there is a classic Christmas story where the family has to repeat celebrating Christmas every single day -- I will look for it - I want to say it was written by James Joyce but I could be wrong. I know I have it in one of my Christmas story collections.

Last year's prompt was worded "takes place entirely in one day" vs this year's "takes place over the course of 24 hours".

It got me thinking, does it have to take a full 24 hours, the way this year's prompt is worded? That seems too strict to me.

I still need to read Mrs Dalloway too. There's also Jason Reynolds's Long Way Down for another short option!

I've seen Franny and Zooey on a list of 15 novels that take place in a single day, can someone please verify? I have it on my TBR list :)

Today on bookbub “paper money” is on sale and takes place over one day according to the summary.

I’ve just found “The Hours of You” by Fiona Collins on Amazon first reads (UK). It’s set over 24 hours so snapped it up! Hope this helps someone else. And just in case anyone isn’t aware, because I wasn’t for a long time, if you’ve got Amazon prime you get a free kindle book every month for keeps.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/firstreads

I've been counting the letters in just about every title I add to my TBR, and as I was looking up a book that takes place in a day, I found that Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk, is exactly 24 letters long!

So, for anyone who is double-dipping on the prompts, that this one would fit the 24 letters prompt, and the 24 hour prompt. (I cross-posted this in the other thread).

Denise wrote: "I'm also going to try Orbital."

That looks great, Denise! I always like to see what you're reading. I think I'm going to read that one, too! (And Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk for my 24 letter title).

Happy New Year! Happy New Books!

Jen wrote: "Last year's prompt was worded "takes place entirely in one day" vs this year's "takes place over the course of 24 hours".

It got me thinking, does it have to take a full 24 hours, the way this ye..."

Interesting... I never thought of that. I assumed it was just chosen for the 24 aspect. I guess it can be taken more literally.

I read, Nicholson Baker's, The Mezzanine for my "takes place in a day", because I loved that it took place pretty much on one escalator ride to the Mezzanine (not even a whole floor!), and I would have recommended people read, Long Way Down, which takes place on one elevator ride to the street. And one book (which my friend didn't like, so I won't recommend), took place between two couples over the course of one dinner!

I guess we can't know how long a period the rest of the books on the Listopia list(s) take place, until we read them and report back here? If it's even close to a day, I'll take it!

Jen wrote: "Last year's prompt was worded "takes place entirely in one day" vs this year's "takes place over the course of 24 hours".

It got me thinking, does it have to take a full 24 hours, the way this ye..."

I can't imagine it means it has to be exactly 24 hours. I just assumed it meant it the "up to" 24 hours could span two days, vs having to be in the same day. So 6 pm Jan 3 to 6 pm Jan 4, vs everything having to happen on say January 4.

The majority of Petrified Women takes place within a few hours. It's a short thriller.

And also Run on Red which is about 2 friends who are stalked on an isolated road.

I read Sous Chef: 24 Hours on the Line last year and it was a quick, exhilarating read.

Nick wrote: "I read Sous Chef: 24 Hours on the Line last year and it was a quick, exhilarating read."

This looks like a fun read! I think I'll choose it for this prompt. Thank you!

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Survive the Night.
This was a really good mystery thriller

I actually read what I said I'd read, Orbital is set over exactly 24 hours, as each chapter is an orbit of the Earth by the space station and there are 16 orbits in a day. It's a not-much-happens book but beautifully written and I liked the descriptions of the passing Earth below. It seems relatively well researched too.

The Deja Glitch by Holly James

I highly recommend One Day: The Extraordinary Story of an Ordinary 24 hours by Gene Weingarten. He chose a random day and combed through the news to see what happened in "ordinary" peoples' lives that day. I've been waiting for him to write another version since I read this one.

I will read either Mrs. Dalloway or Evelyn Hardcastle

Five Survive

The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare

Embers by Sándor Márai

Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan

I managed to find a few that seem to use up the whole 24 hrs.

24 Hours in Paris and 24 Hours in Italy.

I wound up going with with 24 Hours in Nowhere.

I read Today Will Be Different.

It grew on me and I was enjoying it by the end. It does take place within one day but there is quite a bit of a back story as well.

Hi! I'm currently reading Plato's The Symposium. The book starts of with a reminiscence of a dinner party that happened in the past. But the core of the book itself is the discussion that happens within that dinner party. So this book would technically fit the prompt, right...?

Stevia wrote: "Hi! I'm currently reading Plato's The Symposium. The book starts of with a reminiscence of a dinner party that happened in the past. But the core of the book itself is the discussion t..."


I think so, yes

Has anyone read Notes on an Execution? Would it fit this prompt?

After all my possible choices for this one (and eventually, I know I will read them all), I went with the audiobook of, 24 Hours in Nowhere. It definitely takes place in a 24 hour period. Each chapter is an hour of the day. (I also like that it has the number, 24 in the title, because I've added some "4's and 24's" themed Bonus Prompts to my challenge, but I'll read another book for that, probably Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore).

I read Anxious People for this one!

I read Orbital for this prompt. Literary fiction isn't my thing, but the book was good. I rated it 3 stars, and I would recommend it to someone who enjoys literary fiction. It's a fairly short book and just the right length.

We've seen this prompt 3 (?) times now, and I never have much luck with it. I wouldn't be sad if this is the last time we see this prompt.

If any of you read long modern series, there may be vinaigrettes or at least novellas for them that are within one day. It's a good time to quickly mark off a challenge.

My hold for A Death at the Party just came in. It takes place in 24 hours and looks interesting.

I'm Not Dying with You Tonight BY Kimberly Jones

I read:
20 Minutes Behind Bars by Daniel Hurst

Actually takes place over 20 minutes. #16 in series.

Last year I went with Hogfather for this category.

This year I read Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. enjoyed it for the most part, but there were a couple of "jokes" about domestic violence that were really jarring for an otherwise fluffy read:
http://www.lauraruthloomis.com/whats-...

Heather wrote: "We've seen this prompt 3 (?) times now, and I never have much luck with it. I wouldn't be sad if this is the last time we see this prompt."

Yeah, it's a pretty narrow category, and it kind of feels played out to me.

No Exit takes place overnight

I chose Malibu Rising for this one!

I used The Ballad of Darcy and Russell by Morgan Matson. Technically it covers like 36 hours-ish and has some sections that don't take place within the 36 hours but... meh.... if you are willing to bend the rules slightly... I think it works. :)