Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

It's time for our next round of suggestions!

Just a reminder that you can find a full list of prompts already on the 2025 list in the third post on this thread.

How Suggestions Work:
- The topics for the 2025 reading challenge list will be determined by a series of mini-polls, the number of which depends on the number of prompts winning in each mini-polls
- Suggestions for each poll will be opened until 15 suggestions are received and “seconded”.
- The voting thread will open the day after suggestions go live. You can find the schedule here.

Rules:
- Each member can only suggest OR second one prompt
- Suggestions close after 15 total seconded prompts

When suggesting and seconding, feel free to provide examples and descriptions that may help other members understand the prompt better. These descriptions and examples will be copied over to the voting thread for further discussion.

As always, please express any and all feedback (respectfully, of course), either here or in The Wild Discussion.


Moving on to Voting:
1. A book that breaks the fourth wall
2. A book with an indefinite article in the title
3. A book set underground, under sea or in an underworld
4. A book with a main character who is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal
5. A book that features a moral dilemma
6. A prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list
7. A book related to theft or stealing
8. A book about libraries or library workers
9. A collection of short stories or novellas, essays, poetry, or a mix of various brief writings
10. A book with food as a major theme or plot device
11. A biography or memoir
12. A book that had a 10th anniversary edition published
13. A book related to wheels
14. A book involving science
15. A book whose cover, title, or author’s name relates to SANDWICHES

To Be Seconded:
- A book with a plot similar to a TV show or movie
- A book set during a revolution
- A book by or about a comedian

Also, a reminder that our close calls poll will be taking the place of Poll 16. You can strategize how you'd like - maybe bringing your favorite close calls to this poll so they have a better chance, or maybe throwing out new prompts so they can maybe make the close calls poll as well (assuming they don't get in)!

I suggest a book that breaks the fourth wall.

This could be interpreted as a book that addresses the reader directly via second-person narration, or a book that is written in epistolary form via letters, a diary, or similar.

I've started a Listopia full of examples, & meant to fill it out more before suggestions started, but Emily opened early & I have an appointment to get to! I will add more later! There are way more examples beyond this, but I kept this list focused on more contemporary titles specifically for adult readers. If you want to get into some more classic titles & don't mind reading books for a more YA audience, there are even more options (The Hobbit, A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Princess Bride, Catcher in the Rye, etc).

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

I will second breaking the fourth wall!

I suggest:
A book with an indefinite article in the title (i.e. a/an)

This year's challenge had a prompt for "The ...." titles, so how about some love for the indefinite article in 2025?
Here are some listopias for books that start with the indefinite article "A", but you could also have a title with it in the middle (like "Anatomy of a Murder" or "The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet").

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Isabel wrote: "I suggest:
A book with an indefinite article in the title (i.e. a/an)

This year's challenge had a prompt for "The ...." titles, so how about some love for the indefinite article in 2025?
Here are ..."

I'll second that.

Suggestion:

A book about libraries or library workers.

https://www.nypl.org/blog/2024/04/08/...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...

a book with a main character who is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal.

This prompt is inspired by the movie The Breakfast Club (1985), which turns 40 in 2025! Here are some ideas:
Brain: a character who is smart, nerdy, or a high-achiever
Athlete: a character who practices a sport, a jock
Basket Case: a character who has a hard time functioning in society, maybe they're a nervous wreck, or overwhelmed or struggling with their mental health. Can also be a socially withdrawn or alienated character.
Princess: can be a literal princess in a fantasy or memoir or a character who is popular, spoiled, or from a privileged background
Criminal: a rebellious character or one who engages in criminal activity

A book set underground, under sea or in an underworld.

Underground: Could be nature, caving, and other exploration, books set on underground transport systems, resistance groups, underground railroad

Undersea: Climate emergency, wrecks, fantasy worlds, submarines.

Underworld: Myth and legend, fairy worlds, or completely different, the criminal underworld, or the underworld of poverty.

i second the unders!

A book related to theft or stealing:

Bank heists, fraud, identity theft, impersonation, kidnapping, kleptomania, stolen heart, cultural appropriation

Heists and robberies :
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...
Stolen Identity :
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Counterfeiting and Fraud
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
Kidnapping:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
Kleptomania:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
Stolen heart/memories:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...

I will second the breakfast club prompt

Since we could be close to an ending, I'm re-nominating my favorite that didn't make it last round. It's a good one that offers a great diversity of choices and is quite creative

A book with food as a major theme or plot device
Fiction or nonfiction!

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

A book with a plot similar to a TV show or movie

A few examples:
1. Lowdown Road by Scott Von Doviak is similar to both "Smokey and the Bandit" and "The Dukes of Hazzard"
2. Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero is based on the "Scooby-Doo" cartoons
3. Not the Girl You Marry by Andie J. Christopher is based on "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days"
4. Not That Kind of Guy by Andie J. Christopher is similar to "The Proposal"
5. One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus is based on "The Breakfast Club"
6. Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb is similar to "Pleasantville" and "Dawson's Creek"
7. The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C.M. Waggoner is a mix of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Murder, She Wrote"

A prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list.

This is my favorite prompt to fill each year since we always have some great prompt suggestions that don't make it onto the final list.

This year's, so far:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

A book that features a moral dilemma.

Moral Dilemmas: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...


Trolleyology: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Fiction and nonfiction dealing with trolley problems (broadly understood as moral dilemmas in which the only way to prevent some horrible event involves causing another).

I’ll second moral dilemma.

a brain
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

an athlete
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...

a basket case,
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...

a princess
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...

a criminal
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...

10 spots left

I'll second A prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list.

I second:
A book related to theft or stealing

I suggest:
A collection of short stories or novellas, essays, poetry, or a mix of various brief writings.

I second:
- A book about libraries or library workers

I second Vicki's collection topic.

Pamela wrote: "Since we could be close to an ending, I'm re-nominating my favorite that didn't make it last round. It's a good one that offers a great diversity of choices and is quite creative

A book with food ..."

I will second food!

A book set during a revolution

As a nod to this group's 10th anniversary, I will nominate:

A book that had a 10th anniversary edition published.

I went to Amazon and search in Books, Kindle Store, and Audibles and Originals for "tenth anniversary edition" and "10th anniversary edition:. The links are below.

You could KISS it with any anniversary edition rather than a 10th anniversary edition..


Books:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=%2210th+an...

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=%22tenth+a...


Kindle Store:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=%2210th+an...

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=%22tenth+a...


Audibles and Originals:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=%2210th+an...

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=%22tenth+a...

Underground
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...

Undersea
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

Underworld
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
https://crimereads.com/new-york-under...
https://explorethearchive.com/organiz...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

I will second the food prompt.

A book involving science

This could include:
A book that touches on any field of physical, natural, medical or social sciences.
A book about a person who works in a scientific field -
a biologist, physician, nurse, lab tech, psychologist, naturalist, technologist, physicist, environmentalist, sociologist, veterinarian, chemist, researcher, or other STEM fields. Grad students or researchers in a science field.
A book about nature, plants, trees, mushrooms, ecosystems
A book about human biology, or medical science
A book about the environment, climate change, geology
A book about neuroscience, psychology, neurology, sociology,
Science fiction that touches on real science
Fiction or non fiction
STEM, STEM romance

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

I suggest:
A book related to wheels (in the title, content, cover or author's name). E.g. (and not limited to): cars, toys, wheelchair, wheel of Fortune, bicycle, golf carts, etc.!

Martha, food was already seconded. Feel free to suggest or second something else!

Andrea wrote: "a book with a main character who is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal.

This prompt is inspired by the movie The Breakfast Club (1985), which turns 40 in 2025! Here are ..."

There is a really great book (Swedish, but I'm sure it's translated into English) where the MC is actually a brain. It's in a laboratory somewhere and he lives in a aquarium and if I remember accurately he's got an eye left. Or they've aloud an eye to grow out from a stemlike thing. The whole book is his thoughts about life as a brain. So fascinating!
A Living Soul by P.C. Jersild

5 spots remaining

a biography or memoir

I'll second that, Tina

I’ll second the 10th anniversary edition prompt.

Gloria wrote: "I suggest:
A book related to wheels (in the title, content, cover or author's name). E.g. (and not limited to): cars, toys, wheelchair, wheel of Fortune, bicycle, golf carts, etc.!"

I second Wheels

I second a book involving science

Resubmitting!!
A book whose cover, title, or author’s name relates to SANDWICHES

Bread: Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Sourdough Creek by Caroline Fyffe
Meat: The Death of Francis Bacon by Max Porter, Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
Cheese: Big Swiss by Jen Beagin, Cheddar Off Dead by Korina Moss
Vegetables: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Café by Fannie Flagg
Condiments: Peanut Butter Fudge & Murder by Lori Woods, Knife Edge by Simon Mayo, A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley
Sandwiches: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton, Pastrami Murder by Patti Benning, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne (submarine), The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, A Beautiful Cage by Alyson Reuben

A book by or about a comedian/comedienne

ONE SPOT LEFT

Did you start early or did it just go that fast?

I thought it was noon CDT

Can I second sandwiches please

CLOSED

Robin, my day took an unexpected turn and I had to open it a bit earlier than planned, sorry about that!

I second a book about a revolution.

Oops.

I'll suggest:


NEVERMIND ... I see the final spot 15 was seconded just not updated in the first post yet.

Gail W wrote: "I second a book about a revolution."


I really like that prompt!