The 52 Book Club: 2025 / 2026 Challenge discussion

WEEKLY CHECK-IN
January 15, 2025 -- Week 3

We're starting week three! Today, we'd love to know which of the 2025 prompts feels like the biggest stretch for you personally? Why?

And if you need help finding a book to pair with that prompt, let us know in the comments too. We can all pitch in and come up with some ideas or book recommendations to help, or you can check the discussion thread for that prompt.

There are a few prompts that I know are going to be difficult to fill, but the two I'm the most worried about so far are 11- a prequel and 14- climate fiction

I'm not really looking forward to #17 (told in verse), simply because I don't like poetry. I have a couple of titles picked out, so I'll see.

For me it's #37 - a genre chosen for me by someone else. I read widely already, and I feel like I'm going to get some crazy recommendation.

#14 - climate fiction will be a stretch for me, probably. I naturally migrate toward historical fiction and children's lit, so it's just not a genre I'd naturally pick up.

Probably the toughest for me will be:
15. Includes Latin American history
40. Stream of consciousness narrative
44. A celebrity on the cover

#25 break the fourth
#28&29 the crossovers
#40 stream of consciousness

Those are probably my top that are going to be the most challenging for me.

I've been able to finish a couple prompts this past week so definitely getting a good head start as I know I will slow down later in the year.

The prompts I think I will have the hardest time with are:
• the 4 set in different seasons & each in different genres: I read a lot of the same like 3 genres so it'll be a challenge to branch out.
• stream of consciousness narrative: I don't know if this type of book is even something that has even been on my radar or a staple in the types of genres I read. I will probably have to do some digging & list diving on this one.

I can find at least one book for each prompt.

Honestly I didn’t have too much of a problem finding books that fit the prompts, but I am worried about if I’ll like some of the prompts.

Because I'm doing the challenge all in Fantasy novels this year, Stream of Consciousness and Told in Verse will be trickiest.

I feel like prompt 17-Told In Verse will be hard (like someone else said, I don’t really like poetry so I wouldn’t know where to begin on picking a book) and also 36-Final Sentence is less the 6 words will be hard. I feel as if I would have to kind of spoil myself by looking at the final sentence.

Prompt 15 - includes Latin American History, Prompt 17 - told in verse, and Prompt 40 - stream of consciousness narrator. I like history, but it's always primarily been more toward Revolutionary, Civil, WW1, WW2, Korea, and Vietnam. I like studying culture, but I didn't find many books that I could get into. I found some with Latin American characters, but the stories didn't necessarily feature history so much as it was just a Latin American character.😑

Told from verse was just hard. I like poetry but not for such an extended period of time.

As for stream of consciousness narration - I read Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury in college. I have never liked the idea of steam of consciousness ever since. I've been told there are some good ones, but the idea of picking one up again - intentionally - makes me crazy. At least I'm doing One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I enjoyed the movie and had debated reading the book last year. Didn't know it was stream of consciousness narrative at the time.

I used Skyshade by Alex Aster for climate fiction…. Wasn’t what I had planned but feel it totally meets the prompt
Now most worried about the verse one. Have Clap When You Land going but really not my thing 😳 May have resort to Dr Suess 😆
They were only ones I worried about and about 10 in so far.
Also doing the A-Z with women authors this year so 🤞but have already read a Kate Quinn for the that troublesome Q

There are several prompts I haven't assigned books to yet. I think the hardest for me, though, will be the prequel prompt. Published in 2025 may also be difficult, because the vast majority of the books I read come from my library, so I'm often facing long wait times on the newest books.

I don't have anything picked out for "character who can fly", I'm not sure of book with a pun in the title (Will Hitch-22 work), and a prequel. I have a book chosen for climate fiction but I'm not sure I'll like it. Also an Adventure story

I am going to be most challenged by the crossover - shared universe prompts. Seems like most of the books are sci-fi or fantasy which is not my favorite. I think it's extra intimidating because it will be two books.

#17 told in verse. I don't like poetry and couldn't find anything that looked good so I "phoned it in" and read a quick children's picture book to fulfill the prompt.

Adrienne wrote: "I am going to be most challenged by the crossover - shared universe prompts. Seems like most of the books are sci-fi or fantasy which is not my favorite. I think it's extra intimidating because it ..."

@Adrienne - I am not sure if Romance is more your thing but Elle Kennedy has a few different series that are definitely set in the same universe but they aren't sci-fi or fantasy. Off-Campus and Briar U are set in the same universe with a little bit of character cross over (the first of Briar U is a relative of one of the guys in Off-Campus). There is also the Campus Diaries series that I believe are the children from Off-Campus. There is definitely some spice in the Off-Campus series and Briar U but not sure about Campus Diaries.

For me personally....the prompts I am really struggling with are PROMPTS 6-9 about setting in each of the four seasons and a different genre for each prompt.

I am struggling with these prompts for the simple fact that sometimes you don't always know what season a book is set in until you start reading the book. So, I haven't actually picked books for these 4 prompts yet. I will most likely choose these books after I have read them.

Any suggestions would be great!! Thank you in advance!!

HAPPY READING!!

Haley wrote: "Prompt 15 - includes Latin American History, Prompt 17 - told in verse, and Prompt 40 - stream of consciousness narrator. I like history, but it's always primarily been more toward Revolutionary, C..."

Same!! I think prompt 15 is gonna be little difficult for me.

17. Told in Verse
40. Stream of consciousness narrative

I think this will be the hardest for me!

#14 - climate fiction & #40 - Steam of consciousness narrative seems will be somewhat hard for me.

I've done two prompts so far - #1 A book with a pun in the title: I picked 'Dry Hard' by Nick Spalding, which I really enjoyed - plenty of giggles in that one. For #10 An author with a last name is also a first name, I chose 'The Nightingale' by Kristen Hannah. Fantastic! My first 5* of 2025. I'm now reading 'Fourth Wing' by Rebecca Yarros, which is my #18 character that can fly prompt.

Thanks for this thread. It was helpful reading through the struggles and suggestions. I found a few ideas for my challenging prompts, which I believe will be 14. climate fiction and 28 & 29. crossover universe.

Adrienne wrote: "I am going to be most challenged by the crossover - shared universe prompts. Seems like most of the books are sci-fi or fantasy which is not my favorite. I think it's extra intimidating because it ..."

Frederik Backman has books where characters share a universe:
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry and Britt-Marie Was HereAlso Taylor Jenkins Reid:
Malibu Rising and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Elizabeth Strout:
Olive, Again and Amy and Isabelle

Thanks for the ideas, Brianna and Denise!

Really, the only one I’m dreading is #40, Stream of Consciousness. I like an author that has a plan and direction.

I have found books for several prompts, and since I read more Non-fiction than fiction, Prompts 3, 4, 10, 14, 15, 16, 18, 24, 32, 34, 36, 39, 41, 44, 48, 49, 51 & 52 are all non-fiction.

Even thought I have a climate fiction, I also have a non-fiction book from the library to read this month.

Climate fiction - Flood by Stephen Baxter

One of my favourite series growing up got a prequel last year,

www.goodreads.com/series/45642-sagaen...

Solens sønn by Hilde Susan Jægtnes

#20 - a fairy tale retelling. I’ve started a couple of books on the list which were dnf’s. Might look at graphic novels section in my library, or check out a few of the suggestions posted by others on the topic.

Im new to reading prompts. As I read large amounts of books a year, my biggest challenge is finding a new book I haven't read. It appears my biggest struggle is 28 &29. Therefore, I have delved into comics. I have never read a comic. I chose Neil Gaiman's Marvel 1602 and Marvels because realistically, they were the first recommended as like-universe reads.
I was curious if Anne Jacobson's books counted as shared-universe, but shes the same author, so maybe not.

Like many others, the one I am not looking forward to is #40. Stream of consciousness narrative. I would welcome suggestions!

Denise wrote: "Adrienne wrote: "I am going to be most challenged by the crossover - shared universe prompts. Seems like most of the books are sci-fi or fantasy which is not my favorite. I think it's extra intimid..."

Beth wrote: "Thanks for this thread. It was helpful reading through the struggles and suggestions. I found a few ideas for my challenging prompts, which I believe will be 14. climate fiction and 28 & 29. crosso..."

Denise wrote: "Adrienne wrote: "I am going to be most challenged by the crossover - shared universe prompts. Seems like most of the books are sci-fi or fantasy which is not my favorite. I think it's extra intimid..."

Love the Frederick Backman shared universe suggestion! If you are into kidlit, and are a Backman fan most books by Gary Schmidt are in a shared universe with easter eggs for other stand alone books

I think that Prompts 28 and 29 (shared universe) are the most difficult for me. I may do a historical fiction and non-fiction pairing. I think that would work with 2 books on my shelf where Lincoln is a “character”.

For me, l think the stream of consciousness and the fourth wall.

#40, Stream of Consciousness, is the one I am having the most difficulty with.

I added the extra challenge of not spending money on books this year. I have looked at my public library, and quite a few on the list are unavailable. Does anyone have any suggestions.

I’m an audiobook book girl but I really want to go to a bookstore to choose a painted edge book. I’ll probably still listen to it but I’d like to see some cool edge artwork.

I think #17 will be my biggest challenge. I do love Beowulf though, particularly the Seamus Heaney version, so I might read that again.

Ashtyn wrote: "There are a few prompts that I know are going to be difficult to fill, but the two I'm the most worried about so far are 11- a prequel and 14- climate fiction"

Before Green Gables - by Budge Wilson, is one I’ve read.

Adrienne wrote: "I am going to be most challenged by the crossover - shared universe prompts. Seems like most of the books are sci-fi or fantasy which is not my favorite. I think it's extra intimidating because it ..."

I’m finding this difficult too . There are lists in good reads and story graph for prompt 29 and 29 but they are not connected. I don’t know what book goes with what book.
I understand the prompt but I don’t know what to choose and I don’t want fantasy. I want mystery / thriller or horror.
I wish there was a big list with 2 books that have cross over.

Denise wrote: "Adrienne wrote: "I am going to be most challenged by the crossover - shared universe prompts. Seems like most of the books are sci-fi or fantasy which is not my favorite. I think it's extra intimid..."

Thanks for the suggestions, Denise. I'm also most challenged by this prompt as well. The books you listed seem doable.

M wrote: "#40, Stream of Consciousness, is the one I am having the most difficulty with.

I added the extra challenge of not spending money on books this year. I have looked at my public library, and quite a..."

If you are open to ebooks you might try Project Gutenberg which offers thousands of titles online for free.

Prompt 16- Author has won an Edgard Award. I tend to mostly read Romance and Romantasy so def out of my comfort zone.

I almost added #17- Told in verse for this one but then realized I can just read a children story, and that's def something I don't read but it's not out of my comfort zone.

Michele wrote: "I'm not really looking forward to #17 (told in verse), simply because I don't like poetry. I have a couple of titles picked out, so I'll see."

I know it's a shorter book for middle grade but I read Odder for the verse prompt. I also don't like poetry.

Holly wrote: "#14 - climate fiction will be a stretch for me, probably. I naturally migrate toward historical fiction and children's lit, so it's just not a genre I'd naturally pick up."

I chose The Road for this prompt and found it oddly enjoyable. BTW, the same doesn't apply to the movie!

Ashtyn wrote: "There are a few prompts that I know are going to be difficult to fill, but the two I'm the most worried about so far are 11- a prequel and 14- climate fiction"

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

Ashtyn wrote: "There are a few prompts that I know are going to be difficult to fill, but the two I'm the most worried about so far are 11- a prequel and 14- climate fiction"

for climate fiction, try Fire in the Canyon by Daniel Gumbiner

Kathi wrote: "Probably the toughest for me will be:
15. Includes Latin American history
40. Stream of consciousness narrative
44. A celebrity on the cover"

for Latin American History - The Disappeared by Rebecca J. Sanford

for stream of consciousness. - All the Pretty Horses - Cormac McCarthy

Celebrity on the cover. - Unsinkable : A memoir- Debbie Reynolds

M wrote: "#40, Stream of Consciousness, is the one I am having the most difficulty with.

I added the extra challenge of not spending money on books this year. I have looked at my public library, and quite a..."

#40 - All the Pretty Horses - Cormac McCarthy also House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

Martha wrote: "Michele wrote: "I'm not really looking forward to #17 (told in verse), simply because I don't like poetry. I have a couple of titles picked out, so I'll see."

I know it's a shorter book for middle..."

I remembered I have some Roald Dahl books I haven't read yet, and one of them is in verse - Rhyme Stew