The 52 Book Club: 2025 / 2026 Challenge discussion

OPENING CEREMONIES: Gold

3) Go for gold — For this prompt, choose a book that is somehow related to gold or to the expression, “Going for gold.”

“Going for Gold” is an English idiom about setting and attempting to achieve goals, particularly trying to attain the highest possible reward or outcome. The book may feature a very goal-oriented character or someone striving to achieve a difficult or sought-after goal.

You may also choose a book with gold on the cover or featured within the plot. Gold may be a part of the cover design (graphics, color choice, word in the title, part of the author’s last name, etc.) It could also be an important part of the plot, setting, or theme. Other examples include books set during the gold rush, a bank heist, a greedy character, pirates, treasure hunters, etc. Get creative!

Goodreads list: Going for gold!

How are you interpreting "going for gold?"

I am reading Treasure Hunter: A Memoir of Caches, Curses, and Confrontations by W.C. Jameson

I am trying to overlap the books with the regular challenges I'm in.

I'm reading Born To Run for "lyrics to a song", and since Springsteen has many gold records I think it counts.

But I also need a Newberry Award winner for another challenge, so it might be These Happy Golden Years

It will be one of these

I've been meaning to read Godshot by Chelsea Bieker for awhile now. The cover is entirely gold confetti.

In City of Lost Dreams by Magnus Flyte, the protagonists were looking for the alchemical book The Golden Fleece, and that was the name of the opera one of the characters wrote.

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I read When Among Crows by Veronica Roth. The cover is drab with details picked out in gold, it's very eye-catching.

Done!

Ngaio Marsh – Hand in Glove

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
The main character is “going for gold” to make her wish come true.

I read “A Botanical Daughter” by Noah Medlock. Gregor, one of the main characters wants to become the best in his field, botany.

I have a few other options, but I'm reading The Outsiders for a different challenging. And well, . . . "Stay gold, Ponyboy." Makes me giggle every time I think of using it. Also, my 10-year-old self would so approve.

I'm interpreting the prompt "Going for gold" literally by choosing the book Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of Pillage of a Continent by Eduardo Galeano. The first section, "Lust for Gold, Lust for Silver" recounts "how European lust for gold and silver brought Spanish and Portuguese colonists to the Americas under the cloak of propagating Christianity.  Entire indigenous populations were exterminated through indentured slavery in gold and silver mines or from their lack of resistance to the bacteria and viruses carried by their conquerors.".

I loved reading Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedman. I was laughing throughout the book and even had tears in other spaces. Look forward to reading more of hers... this was my first discovery of her thanks to the list of "Gold" books.

I have used Mrs England by Stacey Halls for this one. The cover of my book has gold writing and gold leaves designed on it

I read The Comeback Summer. The sisters are both working towards a goal.

I read Starling House by Alix E Harrow.

Gold on the cover, plus the MCs work together toward the goal of, well, you'll have to read the book to find out. :)

I read Gold Spun by Brandie June, 3 Stars

I will be reading Olive Kitteridge

I read Hornet's Nest by Patricia Cornwell ~ Two of the female main characters work daily to be the best in a male dominated work place and the title & hornet on the cover are GOLD!!

I read Straw into Gold by Carol Beth Anderson

Keeping the sports theme going, I listened to The Racket: On Tour with Tennis’s Golden Generation – and the other 99% by Conor Niland Loved every moment of it.
Thoroughly recommended if you're a tennis fan.

I read Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen (trying for gold records). I thought the writing was a little purple, which works great in his fantastic songs, but not so much for an autobiography.

Listened to the audiobook of The Hunger Games for this prompt. Enjoyed the book so much! The suspense, the romance, the politics. Started in Catching Fire immediately after finishing this one.

I listened to I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer. Loved it

Listen to The Lost Order by Steve Berry. This audio worked perfect with the theme of the Olympics for it is about the hunt for Confederate gold from the Civil War.

Old Yeller by Fred Gipson