The 52 Book Club: 2025 Challenge discussion

WEEKLY CHECK-IN
August 26, 2024 -- Week 35

One of the things we love about this challenge is that it can force us to read outside our regular "comfort zones" and try new books that we might not have otherwise picked up off the shelf.

So, for today's discussion, we'd love to hear what some of those "I only tried this because of the challenge" books were for you this year! AND, did you end up enjoying it? Why or why not?

I'm glad to have the intentionality of going outside my traditional reading style for 2024. However, I've DNF'd more books this year than ever before, usually guilt free, because no one has time to read "bad" books.

I rarely read nonfiction, but I read The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales by Oliver Sacks for Prompt #39 Nonfiction Recommended by a Friend. I gave it 3 stars.
My review:
This book was originally published in 1970; the edition I read was last revised in 1985, nearly 40 years ago. Neurology, psychiatry, and education have all changed dramatically in that time. The case studies recounted by famed neurologist Oliver Sacks are unusual, fascinating, and heartbreaking, but they are also emphatically historical accounts, reflecting thinking and practices that are, in many cases, outdated. Dr. Sacks is not afraid to express some frustration with the shortcomings of “modern” medicine, and he willingly contemplates the mysteries of the human brain and mind. At times a bit too clinical and/or philosophical for my taste, the narratives did always bring out the humanity of the patients/clients.

I read The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer for this challenge. It wasn't, and the only reason I finished it was because I was listening to it on audio. I tend to stick with those more than print books.

Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica - Prompt #10: Non-Chronological Order - I haven't read it yet so I can't say.

What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn - Prompt #17: Nominated for the Booker Prize - Absolutely hated it. I struggled to find a book for this prompt and went with this one because it was one of the very few that sounded interesting and was fairly short. I listened to it in my car for a week and it just felt to long.

An Amish Cinderella by Shelley Shepard Gray - Prompt #19: A Buddy Read - It was okay itself, but not my style. It was my first Amish book and I agreed to read it with my mom since she likes Amish books and I like anything that adapts something from an original fairytale. My mom said in comparison, it wasn't a good Amish book and now wants me to read a "good" one.

Assassin's Mark by Ella Sheridan - Prompt #30 - Pick Without Reading the Blurb - It was okay. There are sequels so I was interested enough to want to read them later on.

Don't Move by James S. Murray - Prompt #31 - Phobia - I HATED this book. My review of it speaks for itself. It was so bad. I work at a library and my manager and I thought the book sounded odd, but considered possibly reading it in the far, far, FAR future, but honestly the challenge was why I read it now. Aside from just hating the book, it just made my phobia worse.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - Prompt #32 - Timespan less than a Week - I haven't read it yet so I can't say.

The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu and Their Race to Save the World’s Most Precious Manuscripts by Joshua Hammer - Prompt #34 - Landlocked Country - Just finished it on Aug. 26, and I didn't care for it. It read too much like a text book, focused on so many different time periods and people that it was hard to keep up with, and I felt the book itself didn't focus on the librarians that much, especially since that's who the book was supposed to be about.

Who Was Steve Irwin? by Dina Anastasio - Prompt #39 - Nonfiction Recommended by a Friend - I liked it and learned a lot, but there was one thing about Steve Irwin's death I was curious about that the book didn't get into. Maybe because it was a children's nonfiction. Oh well.

I've had mixed success so far this year in stepping out of my comfort zone of reading.

Starting off with the first dud of the year, it filled prompt #2: a "stinky/smelly" book. I read The Sacketts: Sackett's Land; Sackett; Galloway; Mustang Man; Lando by Louis L'amour. It had been sitting on my shelves for over a year, given to me by my dad who has wanted me to read his favorite book series for a while. It was not for me.

For prompt #19: a buddy read, I was felt like this was a perfect opportunity to join the One County One Book bookclub for Los Angeles County. We read L.A. Weather by Maria Amparo Escandon. I don't do buddy reads very often because I often just like to sit and think about the book I'm reading on my own. This is also a litfic book, which just isn't my cup of tea generally. And this book wasn't for me. I was able to appreciate the story, but it was a little too drama heavy for me.

On the plus side, I've started stretching further into litfic and women's fiction this year. I haven't really read in this category since I was younger. This year, I found myself reading very heavy topic books and needed something lighter. I read two books by author Andrea J. Severson that were just fun little popcorn reads. Very light and easy.

Prompt #27: By a neurodivergent author, led to me reading The Toaster Oven Mocks Me: Living with Synesthesia which was such a fascinating memoir of a man living his whole life heavily affected by synesthesia. I experience very mild synesthesia myself, and reading how much it affects his day to day life and tasks was so interesting and informative. I would highly recommend to anyone who still needs to complete this prompt, or simply wants to read a memoir. The author is also quite funny, so that was an added bonus.

And finally, I've always liked the themes of dark academia, but having Prompt #13: Academic Thriller, pushed me to finally read one of those books I've had sitting on my shelf for some time. I read Ninth House and while it wasn't my favorite book of the year, it has definitely sparked my interest in picking up some other books like it that have been on my TBR for some time.

I don't think I strayed very far from my comfort zone, but this challenge so far has definitely caused me to branch out a bit more. I'm even reading more nonfiction this year as I know it will fit a prompt, like Prompt 43: Finding identity, I was able to fulfill with Yeonmi Park's memoir In Order to Live which tells her life so far, having grown up and then escaping from North Korea.

It is difficult to find a book outside my comfort zone, but I would say mysteries and sci-fi are my least favorite genres.

That being said, I would not be reading so much Agatha Christie if not for the challenge. I have enjoyed most of the books I've tried so far even though I always solve them by the end.

For a different challenge I discovered 2 great books and one ok one I would not have found without the challenge, but would have read them if I discovered them:
X Saves the World: How Generation X Got the Shape But Can still keep Everything From Sucking by Jeff Gordinier: as a GenXer i found this book to be hilarious and an entirely accurate portrayal of my cynicism, sarcasm, and get s*it done attitude. Loved his test of "are you GenX?"

The Chaos Machine: How Social Media Rewired our Minds and Our World by Max Fisher: It turns out that social media violence is a world wide phenomenon, even worse in some countries than here, with social media posts encouraging ethnic violence, fueled by social media algorithms.

K-Pop Confidential by Stephan Lee: The story was just ok (it is young adult) but a fascinating look into the K-Pop machine

The Scent Keeper is the book I used for Prompt #2 (A Smelly Book). I had never heard of it before and only noticed the spine in the library whilst browsing. With no other knowledge on the book other than it had to do with scent, I went in blind.

It is a beautiful coming-of-age story with magical-realism, grief, and found family. It is cozy and vivid and truly has a way with evoking the senses. 4 ★★★★

Oh i have done many of these lol
I can’t find my original post to update the list but under reading for the challenge only….
Eleanor & Park with lower letters on the spine and I will likely never forget this book
Normal People. Rave reviews and Booker prize.

I read more outside of my traditional genres/comfort zone in 2023 which has made it easier to explore new titles and authors for this year's challenge.

Prompts that pushed me this year:
#17-Nominated for the Booker Prize. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders, I have not read this yet.

#35-Title matches lyrics from a song. The most challenging prompt overall. I Wanna Be Where You Are by Kristina Forest. A charming, coming-of-age story was a great option while traveling.

#40-Set during a holiday I don't celebrate. The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff. I have not read yet.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette was a book I picked for the apostrophe in the title but used for 4 points of view. A strange book, but I loved it.

The First to Die at the End & They Both Die at the End - for time span less than a week & futuristic technology. These were both very good.

I think the two Readalongs that I read were 2 books that were not on my radar before.

I read more nonfiction, and discovered that nonfiction is a better stress reliever than light fantasy, probably because it demands so much focus.

I rediscovered P.G. Wodehouse.

I had been intimidated by Barbara Kingsolver, but after reading The Poisonwood Bible and Demon Copperhead for prompts, I will probably read more of her.

Same for Louise Erdrich. She's a favorite author of one of my best friends, after reading The Night Watchman for a prompt, I get why.

I would probably never have read The Firekeeper’s Daughter, by Angeline Boulley, if it weren't for a prompt (a grieving character). I read the sequel unprompted.

I would never have read Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun, or The Guncle by Steven Rowley, if it weren't for prompts in the Summer challenge, and they are two of my favorite books this year.

I still read more fantasy and science fiction than anything else this year - some for prompts, most not. But I certainly did widen my reading range.