Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

It's now time to get ready to vote for our next set of prompts! The thread will be open for at least 24 hours before the poll gets posted. This is a good opportunity to ask any question you may have regarding the prompts, do some research, or ask for recommendations.

Voting will open in the morning of Saturday, October 12 and results will be posted in the morning of Wednesday, October 16 (CST time).

How it works:
- When the voting opens, follow the link to the mini-poll that will be added at the end of this post
- You have a total of 8 votes this poll to spread across your favorite and least favorite prompts (you can also use less than 8 votes)
- You can find examples of acceptable voting practices on the Introduction thread.
- The prompts with the more favorable votes (comparing top votes to bottom votes, and looking at the overall number of votes it received) will be added to the final list

We are asking people to include their Goodreads profile address when they vote. To find this, just go to your own profile and then copy the URL/web address. If for some reason you can't link to your Goodreads profile, please post your full Goodreads name with enough identifiable information that we'll be able to access your profile.

Poll Prompts:
1. A book that fits three other prompts on this list
2. A monster book
3. A book with any connection to a song
4. A book with a lucky or unlucky symbol on the cover
5. A book connected in some way to a game show
6. A book at least 25 years old
7. A book that involves migration
8. A book written by an author who is at least 65 years old at time of publication
9. A book with a Y connection
10. A book with illustrations
11. A book with a character who works in law enforcement
12. A book with a protagonist who is a different gender than the author
13. A book involving science
14. A history or historical fiction book set prior to 1925
15. A book with yellow on the cover

Feel free to discuss the prompts below, but please remember to be respectful to the other group members.

VOTE HERE: https://forms.gle/q4tTy6AV4tVJiLAm6
NOTE: There are only two slots left on our 2025 list! Only the top two prompts from this poll will make it in.

THOUGHTS & IDEAS FROM THE SUGGESTIONS THREAD

1. A book that fits three other prompts on this list
A KIS option is to count ""Reader’s choice"" from the 2016 list and only fit your book to two other prompts.

Examples:
Translated novel from Asia, coastal setting, fantasy or sci-fi by a woman Kiki's Delivery Service
Art, music, etc., Irish author, secrets, lies, or deception The Picture of Dorian Gray
Best book of the month thread 2024, waves on the cover, reader’s choice from 2016 Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Related to fire, title with ten or fewer letters, suggestion that didn’t make the list (set before 1900) Jane Eyre

2. A monster book
Either a chunky tome or a book about a monster (human or imaginary)
I liked that the Oxford dictionary definition of monster uses this as an example:
"this is a monster of a book, almost 500 pages"

Long books (an ATY list): https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Serial killers: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Human monsters: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Best monster books: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
Monster heroines: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

3. A book with any connection to a song
This can be a personal connection, such as a favorite song, or a song related to an important date, person, or event in your life. Or it can just be a connection you like between a book and a song.

Top Ten songs by year since 1950: http://www.aandadj.com/Top-Ten-Songs-...
Same Titles: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Songs based on Books: https://www.buzzfeed.com/katherinepic...
Songs that retell stories: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
Songs inspired by books: https://www.toledolibrary.org/blog/so...
https://www.librarything.com/topic/14...

4. A book with a lucky or unlucky symbol on the cover
Lucky: 4 leaf clover, horseshoe, penny, ladybug
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...

Unlucky: black cat, broken mirror, the number 13
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...

5. A book connected in some way to a game show
Game shows: Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, The Price is Right , Deal or No Deal, The Dating Game, Tattletales, Match Game, Mad Dash, $ 25,000 Pyramid, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Family Feud, Press Your Luck

https://www.goldderby.com/gallery/bes...

KIS Option: Include reality shows

Reality Shows: The Amazing Race, The Bachelor or The Bachelorette, Survivor, Hell's Kitchen, Nailed It, (Country's) Got Talent

https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?ti...

Although the examples above are typically American, game shows from any country count.
Also, books relating to the concept of game shows also apply: Game, race, challenge, competition, excitement, audience, contender, player, hopeful, favourite, finalist, applause, prize, win or lose

7. A book that involves migration
Examples: animal/bird migration, migrant workers, asylum seekers, historical migration from any period, interplanetary travel, someone relocating for reasons of work/romance/crime

9. A book with a Y connection
It could be:
- a book by a Generation Y (millennial author)
- a book about a fork in the road (a Y junction)
- a book related to science or math (solving for Y or the Y-axis)
- a book about a double life (Y is both a consonant and a vowel)

or any other Y connection you want

11. A book with a character who works in law enforcement
These types of jobs include (not a full list, and may not include terms used in countries outside the US. List is just to give you the range of possibilities to consider):


- Correctional Officer

- Border Patrol Agent

- Deputy Sheriff

- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

- Federal Air Marshall Service

- Paralegal

- Court Reporter

- Forensic Science Technician

- Police Officer (incl. Deputy, Chief of Police, etc.)

- Criminal Investigator

- FBI Agent

- Detective (Homicide or otherwise)

- Bailiff

- State Trooper

- Crime Analyst

- Fraud Investigator

- Probation Officer

- Intelligence Analyst

- Secret Service

- Private Investigator

- Crime Scene Investigator

- Attorney

- Fish and Game Warden

- Emergency Services Dispatcher (911 or 999, etc., operator)

- Campus Safety Officer

- Park Ranger

- Airport Public Safety Officer

- Animal Control

- District Attorney Investigator

- Attorney General

- Hostage Negotiator

- Parking Enforcement Officer (previously known as “meter maid”)


Of course these characters primarily lend themselves to Mystery, Suspense, True Crime and Thriller books, but I could see them sneak into Romance, Memoir, or even General Fiction (where a crime is not the main focus and just happens to be the job of a character).


Listopias to help: https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8...

13. A book involving science
A book with a science topic or character.
Any science fields - physical, natural or social sciences -
Biology, neuroscience, medicine, physics, psychology,
Topics such as genetics, evolution, extinction, climate change, ecology, ecosystems, trees, plants, fungi, etc.
Fiction, nonfiction, memoir

I have some links I can add for migrations

https://www.goodreads.com/genres/migr...
https://www.goodreads.com/genres/migr...
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901
The Grapes of Wrath
Season of Migration to the North

https://www.goodreads.com/genres/migr...
Esperanza Rising
Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens (Australia)
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
The Beekeeper of Aleppo
https://www.goodreads.com/genres/refu...
What Strange Paradise
Go, Went, Gone

https://www.goodreads.com/genres/butt...
Bicycling with Butterflies: My 10,201-Mile Journey Following the Monarch Migration
Flight Behavior Kingsolver
The Sound of Butterflies

https://www.goodreads.com/genres/birds
Migrations
Flight Behavior
Sparrow Migrations
Reddy's Migration Adventure

Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration
The Homing Instinct: Meaning and Mystery in Animal Migration

https://www.goodreads.com/genres/immi...
Shanghai Girls
Front Desk

Misc
Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss
Wandering in Strange Lands: A Daughter of the Great Migration Reclaims Her Roots
The Next Great Migration: The Beauty and Terror of Life on the Move
The Annual Migration of Clouds
https://www.goodreads.com/genres/science
The Great Displacement: Climate Change and the Next American Migration
My Fourth Time, We Drowned: Seeking Refuge on the World’s Deadliest Migration Route
A Good Provider Is One Who Leaves: One Family and Migration in the 21st Century
Crystal Soldier
Somewhere We Are Human: Authentic Voices on Migration, Survival, and New Beginnings
Exodus: How Migration is Changing Our World
The Great Spiritual Migration: How the World's Largest Religion Is Seeking a Better Way to Be Christian
Crystal Dragon
How Migration Really Works: A Factful Guide to the Most Divisive Issue in Politics
Homelands: Four Friends, Two Countries, and the Fate of the Great Mexican-American Migration
A Book of Migrations: Some Passages in Ireland
Storming the Wall: Climate Change, Migration, and Homeland Security

That was quick!

I didn't vote for it before, but I'm enthused about Fits Three Other Prompts now as it can be as challenging as you make it.

Rosalind wrote: "I didn't vote for it before, but I'm enthused about Fits Three Other Prompts now as it can be as challenging as you make it."

If it gets in, I'm using it for another prompt this didn't make the list. Because we had so many good ones that got cut this year.

Gen Y (Millennial) authors

1981
Sarah Crossan, Irish young-adult writer; Lili Wilkinson, Australian young-adult writer; Kiera Cass, American young-adult writer; Ottessa Moshfegh, American novelist; Juno Dawson, born James Dawson, English young-adult LGBT writer; Karen Russell, American novelist; Dan Jones, British historian and TV presenter; Cecelia Ahern, Irish novelist; Leïla Slimani, Franco-Moroccan novelist; NoViolet Bulawayo (Elizabeth Zandile Tshele), Zimbabwe-born novelist; Irina Denezhkina, Russian writer; Hamish Blake, Australian comedian, actor and author; Mathis Bailey, American-Canadian novelist and fiction writer; Amy Sackville, English novelist; Sunjeev Sahota, English novelist; Saud Alsanousi, Kuwaiti novelist; Olesya Mamchich, Ukrainian poet and children's writer[

1982
Joe Dunthorne, Welsh novelist and poet; Luke Wright, English performance poet; Patricia Lockwood, American poet; Paul-Henri Campbell, German American poet; Roger Robinson, British dub poet; Chris Tse, New Zealand poet and short story writer

1983
Christopher Paolini, American fantasy novelist; Jason Reynolds, African American children's novelist and poet; Sarah Howe, Hong Kong-born poet writing in English

1984
Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh, Irish-language poet; Legna Rodríguez Iglesias, Cuban poet

1985
Justina Ireland, American science-fiction and fantasy author of young-adult fiction; Alexander Zeldin, British playwright and director; Eleanor Catton, New Zealand novelist; Téa Obreht, Yugoslav-born American novelist writing in English

1986
Aimee Carter, American young-adult fiction writer; Rachelle Dekker, American science-fiction writer; Chris Bush, English playwright, artistic director and comedian; Caroline Bird, English poet and dramatist; Chigozie Obioma, Nigerian novelist

1987
Julio Torres, Salvadoran writer, comedian, and actor; Alexandra Bracken, American young-adult novelist; Ilana Glazer, American comedian, director, producer, writer, and actress; Mayra Dias Gomes, Brazilian journalist and columnist; Mina Adampour, Norwegian journalist, politician and activist of Iranian origin; Katherine Rundell, English children's writer and academic brought up in Zimbabwe and Belgium

1988
Pierce Brown, American science-fiction writer; Luu Quang Minh, Vietnamese writer and singer; Veronica Roth, American young-adult novelist and short story writer; Dominika Słowik, Polish writer; Ocean Vuong, Vietnamese-American poet; Tahereh Mafi, American young-adult novelist; Fiona Mozley, English novelist and medievalist

1989
Sara Raasch, American young-adult fiction writer

1990
Kiran Millwood Hargrave, English poet, playwright and novelist; Victoria Aveyard, American young-adult novelist;; Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, Senegalese francophone fiction writer

1991
Jonahmae Panen Pacala (known as Jonaxx), Filipino Wattpad author; Kat Zhang, American young-adult and middle-grade fiction writer; Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, Dutch novelist and poet; Gabriel Bergmoser, Australian author, playwright and screenwriter; Chibundu Onuzo, Nigerian novelist; Sally Rooney, Irish fiction writer

1992
Gaurav Sharma, Indian author; Naoise Dolan, Irish novelist; Naoki Higashida, Japanese autistic author; Jidanun Lueangpiansamut, Thai writer; Rupi Kaur, Indian-born Canadian poet, illustrator, photographer, and author; Édouard Louis, French writer; Aya Mansour, Iraqi poet, writer, and journalist

1993
Hayeon Lim, South Korean author ;Leah Johnson, American author; Tomi Adeyemi, Nigerian–American novelist; Nancy Yi Fan, Chinese American author; Leema Dhar, Indian poet and novelist; Idza Luhumyo, Kenyan short story writer

1994
Alexandra Adornetto, Australian children's novelist; Robbie Coburn, Australian poet; Alice Oseman, English author of young adult fiction

1995
eth Reekles, Welsh author of young adult fiction; S. C. Megale, American novelist and screenwriter

1996
R. F. Kuang, American fantasy and contemporary fiction writer; Emrecan Doğan, Turkish fantasy, horror, science fiction and speculative fiction writer; Zeki Majed, Kurdish filmmaker and poet; Elvira Natali, Indonesian author and actress

I've read and enjoyed two nonfiction books that would fit the monster prompt: The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick and Monster, She Wrote: The Women Who Pioneered Horror and Speculative Fiction.

If the game show gets in I'll use The Crystal Maze as my show, as I've always wanted to suggest it as a prompt but don't think any one else will know what it is! I always wanted to go on it, though I probably would have been useless at the puzzles.

I'm going to have a hard time picking my favorite two here.

I love, love, love the monster book prompt. It's exactly the kind of prompt I do challenges for. MAYBE it can motivate me to read a certain chonkster on my TBR, but if I whiff out on that I can just read a book about monsters of my choosing. Absolutely voting for this one.

I love three other prompts because the puzzle nature of challenges is the other thing I love most about doing them. I love un/lucky symbols and I've been hoping this one gets in every time. I am partial to the game show prompt. I love the book with illustrations. So I'm trying to decide from those.

Book with illustrations can go a lot of ways - kids' picture book, graphic novel, classic with woodcuts, non-fiction with photo inserts...

Of the game shows mentioned I only know two - Jeopardy and Who wants to be a Millionaire. Maybe I'd recognise a few of the others under different names. I can't understand how to think of a book connected to a quiz game? I loved Jeopardy years ago but how to think when it comes to choose a book? I was one of the competitors in Who wants to be a millionaire but never made it up to the centre. It was fun but I still can't think of books connected to that experience.
And what are the other game shows about? When I hear the word game show I just think of Japanese game shows that's about making people fall into water or getting messy somehow.

The only exciting thing I can think about is the series Squid games. That has actually become a real game after the series. Can I use the Squid games as something to be inspired from? Or only the game shows listed?

Y for science and math
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Y for a fork in the road
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

After a quick glance, I like fits three other prompts, a game show, and really dislike an author who is 65.

I had the last prompt this year. It had to be a debut by an author over 65. It was very difficult to fill and I don't want to look for an authors age ever again.

@Nike, I am going to read a book that has a game setting. Most game shows are based on games we play at home anyway, like mazes, card games, word games, etc. There are a few books that have those as major plot points or settings. A book set in a casino may work as well.

An easy game show connection would be to read something by Richard Osman, one of his non-author jobs is quiz show presenting.

Nike wrote: "Of the game shows mentioned I only know two - Jeopardy and Who wants to be a Millionaire. Maybe I'd recognise a few of the others under different names. I can't understand how to think of a book connected to a quiz game? I loved Jeopardy years ago but how to think when it comes to choose a book? I was one of the competitors in Who wants to be a millionaire but never made it up to the centre. It was fun but I still can't think of books connected to that experience."

For that in particular, there's always Slumdog Millionaire, which was previously published as Q & A. The movie is based on it - about a boy who competes on the Indian version of the show.

For Jeopardy! taken literally, you could use any book where a character is in danger, so crime or mystery novels.

Nike wrote: "Can I use the Squid games as something to be inspired from? Or only the game shows listed?"

The actual prompt doesn't mention the list, so I would just take them as examples. I personally would do something like Squid Game, too.

Anastasia wrote: "@Nike, I am going to read a book that has a game setting. Most game shows are based on games we play at home anyway, like mazes, card games, word games, etc. There are a few books that have those a..."

Ok, thank you!

Marie wrote: "An easy game show connection would be to read something by Richard Osman, one of his non-author jobs is quiz show presenting."

Well, I've read his first Thursday club and it was okay but not my cup of tea. Thanks anyway, fun fact!

Joanna wrote: "Nike wrote: "Of the game shows mentioned I only know two - Jeopardy and Who wants to be a Millionaire. Maybe I'd recognise a few of the others under different names. I can't understand how to think..."

I loved the movie, didn't know it was based on a book. (Won't read it though).

Amy (Other Amy) wrote: "Nike wrote: "Can I use the Squid games as something to be inspired from? Or only the game shows listed?"

The actual prompt doesn't mention the list, so I would just take them as examples. I person..."

Yes! 🐙🦑

Dubhease wrote: "Y for science and math
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/167..."

What does Y for science and math mean? Is that a new thing in schools? We always solved for X

There's some really good, some I pray don't get in, What philosophy are people using to vote- given the top couple get in, are you focusing on ups or only voting for 2 you like and down the others?

Looove monster, It's punny!

Anastasia wrote: "After a quick glance, I like fits three other prompts, a game show, and really dislike an author who is 65.

I had the last prompt this year. It had to be a debut by an author over 65. It was very..."

Delia Owens made her fiction debut with Where the Crawdads Sing when she was over 70.

Joanna wrote: "Nike wrote: "Of the game shows mentioned I only know two - Jeopardy and Who wants to be a Millionaire. Maybe I'd recognise a few of the others under different names. I can't understand how to think..."

For Slumdogs, they changed the name of the show in the movie to make it match the American game show. I would read Q&A if it fits.

NancyJ wrote: "Dubhease wrote: "Y for science and math
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads...."

Solve for Y or the Y-axis. My kid in Physics says Descartes made X and Y into math/science concepts.

Only two will get in so I think it makes sense to vote for the two you want and nothing else. There is one I most definitely do not want, otherwise I am fairly meh about this list.

Pamela wrote: "There's some really good, some I pray don't get in, What philosophy are people using to vote- given the top couple get in, are you focusing on ups or only voting for 2 you like and down the others?..."

It will be two up and six down for me. I thought about voting an alternate, but either I will be in step with the group or way out for what I really love, so I think I'll just go with the two. (Every down is an up for everything else, so I always downvote my least favorites.)

Pamela wrote: "There's some really good, some I pray don't get in, What philosophy are people using to vote- given the top couple get in, are you focusing on ups or only voting for 2 you like and down the others?..."

Before the suggestion thread I was going to vote 2/6, but there is only 1 suggestion I really don’t want. So, I’ll probably vote 4/4.

Graham Norton is an author who is also a game show presenter. He currently hosts the UK version of Wheel of Fortune.

Oh and Stephen Fry presents the UK version of Jeopardy!

Another great round of possibilities! I could do 8 upvotes, but I have two favourites.

I am still up to my ears in the 2024 challenge. It’s going to be hard to ignore a new list of prompts. Next year is going to be really different for me: I’m going to be moving to a small, remote community in December that has a crappy library. I am really going to miss my current city’s excellent library system!

Nike wrote: "I can't understand how to think of a book connected to a quiz game?

My way of thinking about this is to not focus on the minutiae of the game show but rather the overall concept. So, for example, for shows that are focused on providing correct answers to questions like Jeopardy, you could do a book with a character who is well educated or an expert in a specific field or has to use their intelligence to solve a problem.

When this prompt came up in the Wild Discussion, I first thought of an old game show called “Beat the Clock” where contestants have to complete tasks before the time limit expires. This would work for several types of books - trying to solve a murder before the killer strikes again, attempting to complete a quest before the enemy attacks the kingdom, etc.

Some game shows, like Pyramid and Hollywood Squares, rely on teamwork so you could use a book that focuses on people collaborating to accomplish a goal. Name That Tune would obviously work for any book with a musician. And The Dating Game would work for pretty much any kind of book focused on romance. And there are game shows where you have to "gamble" - keep your current winnings or keep going? - so a book set in Vegas would fit.

dalex wrote: "Nike wrote: "I can't understand how to think of a book connected to a quiz game?

My way of thinking about this is to not focus on the minutiae of the game show but rather the overall concept. So,..."

Thank you! That gave me some ideas.

Pamela wrote: "What philosophy are people using to vote- given the top couple get in, are you focusing on ups or only voting for 2 you like and down the others?"

I'm going to focus my votes on prompts that would enable me to most easily add the remaining books on my "Want to Read in 2025 List" to my plan for the year.

My rejects list stands at 73 prompts. So if I upvote two that don't make it in, that would bring me to a solid (and daunting) 75.

Of course, I can vote for more if they make it in / it's repeating something I already voted for. But if I vote for something I already voted for and it makes it in, that drops my rejects list. This will be a puzzle, to land on 75 exactly. Assuming of course, I haven't miscounted, or didn't miss any doubles already on my list.

RE: Game shows

Here's a few vintage suggestions to add to the list:
--What's My Line
--The Newlywed Game
--To Tell The Truth
--Concentration
--Password
--Let's Make A Deal
--The Gong Show
--Hollywood Squares
--Name That Tune

For Game Shows you could also read Alex Trebec’s memoir (past long time Jeopardy host), any Ken Jennings book (current Jeopardy host) or any Betty White books (her husband, Allen Ludden, was the host of Password).

^Betty doesn't need any help from Allen. She was one of the most frequent Panel Members on The Match Game (a forerunner to both Family Feud and The Price is Right), as was one of my current favorite authors Fannie Flagg.

Any book by Fannie Flagg would fit that prompt.

British game show Countdown could be great for prompts. The dictionary corner host Susie Dent has written some books. The entire show is about words so non-fiction on etymology. There have been many author guests that could be used. Plus the name itself could be used for a book that takes place within a limited time.

Robin H-R wrote: "RE: Game shows

Here's a few vintage suggestions to add to the list:
--What's My Line"
What's My Line basically opens up any book with a profession in the title.

I would probably go with Jeopardy and read a book with a title in the form of a question. :)

Jennifer W wrote: "I would probably go with Jeopardy and read a book with a title in the form of a question. :)"

Oooh, I love that interpretation!

J wrote: "^Betty doesn't need any help from Allen. She was one of the most frequent Panel Members on The Match Game (a forerunner to both Family Feud and The Price is Right), as was one of my current favorit..."

I had forgotten that Betty White had been on Match Game — and my stepmom had even been a contestant on Match Game (and Price is Right — and I recently found out 3 other game shows, — all in 1 year!). I do remember Fanny Flagg on Match Game, but her books slipped my mind earlier.

Thanks for the reminder J!

oh I just rememberd I went on a game show! It was called Pass the Buck and was hosted by Eamonn Holmes. Not sure what use that is to anyone but I got some BBC soap out of it.

My brother was on an American game show called Tic Tac Dough around 1960.

Joanna wrote: "My rejects list stands at 73 prompts. So if I upvote two that don't make it in, that would bring me to a solid (and daunting) 75.

Of course, I can vote for more if they make it in / it's repeating..."

Haha many repeated suggestions are changed just a little, so you could justify it however you want to reach 75. I’m working on my rejects now, but I don’t have a target number. I’m reading a lot of extras for prompts I love.

@Rosalind: maybe you could use the show “Pass the Buck” to refer to the idea of“The Buck Stops Here” and read a book with a character who is a leader or who takes charge?

There are several books that I've moved around to different prompts as I've been planning for next year's challenge. One of those is The Garden of Evening Mists. For fun I decided to see how many prompts it could fit. Shockingly - 20 (nearly half)! If "fits three prompts" doesn't it make it this round, I'm definitely using it for the reject prompt.

Tracy wrote: "@Rosalind: maybe you could use the show “Pass the Buck” to refer to the idea of“The Buck Stops Here” and read a book with a character who is a leader or who takes charge?"

Yes, or a presidential bio for those of us who like nonfiction mixed in.