Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Only one winner this poll, though we do get our second member-chosen poll of the list as well!

Top:
A book that includes a science topic

Bottom:
A book with a First Responder as a featured character
A book with a character with one of the jobs in the song 40 Hour Week (for a livin') by Alabama

Close Call:
A book that takes place in a country/place along the path of totality for the 2026 solar eclipse

Polarizing:
An epistolary novel

The next round of suggestions will open on Tuesday, September 23 around 11 am EST.

Individual Read-a-Thon Winner
Congrats to Other Amy, who won our Individual Read-a-Thon challenge!

A book related to a resistance, rebellion, or revolution

Thanks to Other Amy for the suggestion! I know there was a lot of support for it already. In my mind, teenage rebellions could work just as well as political ones.

I don't remember if this was the impetus for it, but there will probably lots of books published in the US in 2026 for the "seminquincentennial" of the US Revolution. (literally means half of 500, Lesser used terms are sestercentennial or bisesquicentennial.)

Although I would have liked more TOPS (both so that we’d have more prompts, and because there were others that I really liked), I’m happy with these results.

Great choice Other Amy!

Only one???

The close call and polarizing were two of my upvotes.

Glad the Alabama song was bottomed and delighted that the science prompt got in.

I going to plan to read something about Louis Riel and Metis people for the resistance/rebellion prompt.

MJ - I'd never heard of Louis Riel OR the Metis people. But my mother and her parents (and probably at least one generation further) were born in Manitoba. Do you have any recommended books for this?

This one is going to be a tough one for me.

I'm delighted with both new prompts, but disappointed that the close call and one or two others didn't get in as well. I hope the close call gets resubmitted.

Thanks again for hosting the read-a-thon. I know they're a lot of work to organize, but they're so much fun. And hat tip to Pearl for the original suggestion of the revolution prompt, and everyone in the Wild Discussion who made suggestions for improving it.

Dang the top was my bottom and I liked a lot of the others

I'm really really happy science got in and revolution too. Congratulations Amy other Amy. Excellent pick.

I'm sorry about the totality.

I going to do a mini challenge for science, with 5 different fields.

No idea what I'm reading for the resistance, rebellion, or revolution prompt, but below is the Five Books link on the subject, and it has some great options.

https://fivebooks.com/books/resistanc...

Another good link for this prompt.

https://www.tckpublishing.com/books-a...

I'm disappointed about priates, puppies, parrots, penguins, or pachyderms as it was one of my two upvotes. Science was the other, so I'm okay with that.

The polarizing/close call were both downvotes for me.

Charlsa wrote: "No idea what I'm reading for the resistance, rebellion, or revolution prompt, but below is the Five Books link on the subject, and it has some great options.

https://fivebooks.com/books/resistance..."

OMG- I love the idea of Boudica for this!!!

I will say as a person who watches the votes from behind the scenes, this was an exciting one. I think every prompt had a time at the top and bottom. Most of the other rounds, you all are "these are our prompts" and the leaders come out and stay that way. Not true this round. I was surprised when Emily told us the winners--- every vote really mattered this time.

I will also read muliple books for resistance rebellion and revolution, plus activism. The activism and resitance lists have a lot of interesting books dealing with individual or group actions rather than war. Were starting to see warning signs of trouble ahead. My son want s us to buy a house in italy lol

Tracy wrote: "MJ - I'd never heard of Louis Riel OR the Metis people. But my mother and her parents (and probably at least one generation further) were born in Manitoba. Do you have any recommended books for this?"

I haven’t read much about him except a chapter or two in a school text book. I will probably read Extraordinary Canadians: Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont. I really enjoy Joseph Boyden’s other books, but have never read something by him that’s nonfiction. I’m also interested in Embedded: Two Journalists, a Burlesque Star, and the Expedition to Oust Louis Riel, but perhaps the premise will be more interesting than the book itself.

MJ wrote: "Tracy wrote: "MJ - I'd never heard of Louis Riel OR the Metis people. But my mother and her parents (and probably at least one generation further) were born in Manitoba. Do you have any recommended..."

Thanks for the recommendations MJ (and the idea in general)!

Clare wrote: "This one is going to be a tough one for me."

Clare ive read a lot of fiction with light s ience in it,so ill be happy to help.

Typing on my phone i cant see what im doing so.. later

Pamela wrote: "Charlsa wrote: "No idea what I'm reading for the resistance, rebellion, or revolution prompt, but below is the Five Books link on the subject, and it has some great options.

https://fivebooks.com/..."

Wow. Therr was a lot of discussion this time and it really influenced my votes

Clare and Brittany — Right there with you. I upvoted both bottom prompts, and downvoted both winning prompts (in their respective polls).

Tracy wrote: "MJ - I'd never heard of Louis Riel OR the Metis people. But my mother and her parents (and probably at least one generation further) were born in Manitoba. Do you have any recommended books for this?"

I can recommend Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography by Chester Brown.

NancyJ wrote: "Clare wrote: "This one is going to be a tough one for me."

Clare ive read a lot of fiction with light s ience in it,so ill be happy to help.

Typing on my phone i cant see what im doing so.. later"

Thanks, I’m definitely going to need suggestions for both of these.

Daniel wrote: "Tracy wrote: "MJ - I'd never heard of Louis Riel OR the Metis people. But my mother and her parents (and probably at least one generation further) were born in Manitoba. Do you have any recommended..."

The high school I worked at last year used this one as a textbook. I did not think to recommend it.

Daniel - Thanks for the extra resource on Riel!

Clare wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Clare wrote: "This one is going to be a tough one for me."

Clare ive read a lot of fiction with light s ience in it,so ill be happy to help.

Typing on my phone i cant see what im d..."

I see that you liked Still Alice. Anything by Lisa Genova would work. Neurology and psychology are science, and I think all of her books will have science tags. There is another neurologist author who writes thrillers about a psychiatric intern who solves mysteries using her knowledge.

Tracy wrote: "MJ wrote: "Tracy wrote: "MJ - I'd never heard of Louis Riel OR the Metis people. But my mother and her parents (and probably at least one generation further) were born in Manitoba. Do you have any ..."

Tracy, one Metis author from Manitoba that I highly recommend is Katherena Vermette. I first read her this year with her book, The Break. It's more contemporary fiction but addresses a number of "still-problems".

Another author I just recently finished, who is Métis and Stó:lō from the Vancouver region is Lee Maracle. I read her nonfiction My Conversations with Canadians, which was quite an eye opener. Learned quite a lot from that one.

Heather L wrote: "Clare and Brittany — Right there with you. I upvoted both bottom prompts, and downvoted both winning prompts (in their respective polls)."

Me too- I love the First Responder idea! Oh well.

Pamela wrote: "Heather L wrote: "Clare and Brittany — Right there with you. I upvoted both bottom prompts, and downvoted both winning prompts (in their respective polls)."

Me too- I love the First Responder idea..."

If you do suggest the bottoms prompt and it gets in, people will get another chance to use that one. GailW just put a complete list of them in the Wild Discussion message #1862 and it's such an interesting group of ideas.

GailW wrote: "Tracy wrote: "MJ wrote: "Tracy wrote: "MJ - I'd never heard of Louis Riel OR the Metis people. But my mother and her parents (and probably at least one generation further) were born in Manitoba. Do..."

Thanks GailW! I can't believe how many options I'm being offered about people I've never even heard of (isolated American here, having grown up in a US-centric world).

I'm sad Iron and the eclipse ones didn't get in because they only work as prompts for 2026.

I really liked Lynn's prompt and was going to re-read Mr. Popper's Penguins since I remember liking it as a kid.

I have no idea what to read for the winners, but I'll get creative.

Hey MJ! From someone in Winnipeg who gets her books from the Louis Riel Library and whose kids were in the Louis Riel School Division. And someone who grew up in SK and is still peeved she missed the field trip to Batoche in oh about 1985.

Dixie wrote: "f you do suggest the bottoms prompt and it gets in, people will get another chance to use that one. GailW just put a complete list of them in the Wild Discussion message #1862 and it's such an interesting group of idea"

But since there's a prompt that didn't make it, it's repetitive

Chrissie wrote: "Hey MJ! From someone in Winnipeg who gets her books from the Louis Riel Library and whose kids were in the Louis Riel School Division. And someone who grew up in SK and is still peeved she missed t..."

I’d say, “Hey fellow Winnipegger!” but I moved up north this spring. I’d forgotten that there were two of us in this group! I’m pretty sure it has come up before. I visited Batoche in my early twenties before I had any appreciation for the history of the place. It’s high time I read an adult book about Riel.

I second reading Katherena Vermett.

Louis Riel’s trial is re-enacted every year so you can probably find it as a play to read.

I read the A Girl Called Echo series. Which is about a high school student who memory walks into Métis history, mostly in Manitoba. There’s four comics but you can find them altogether. I’d recommend them.

Pamela wrote: "Charlsa wrote: "No idea what I'm reading for the resistance, rebellion, or revolution prompt, but below is the Five Books link on the subject, and it has some great options.

https://fivebooks.com/..."

I am leaning towards something about her as well. If you like Ariel Lawhon's books, her next one is out next year. It is about Grace O'Malley and is title The Pirate Queen. I already have it slated for the history or historical fiction prompt.

I have recently read The Bear by Ruby Weibe that would fit th rebellion prompt. The chief was accused as part of the rebellion with Louis Reil, but that is not the true story. It is part of The Extraordinary Canadians series as well.

I'm happy that science got in, very surprised only one got in and a bit disappointed that pirates and iron didn't get in.

And who is this Louis Riel that everyone seems to know who it is?

Nike wrote: "And who is this Louis Riel that everyone seems to know who it is?"

Nike, check this out. louis riel rebellion https://www.google.com/search?q=louis...

Have to add some of this history to my list

GailW wrote: "Nike wrote: "And who is this Louis Riel that everyone seems to know who it is?"

Nike, check this out. louis riel rebellion https://www.google.com/search?q=louis......"

Thanks no had no idea either

GailW wrote: "Nike wrote: "And who is this Louis Riel that everyone seems to know who it is?"

Nike, check this out. louis riel rebellion https://www.google.com/search?q=louis......"

Thank you!

Nike wrote: "And who is this Louis Riel that everyone seems to know who it is?"

It's how you spot all the Canadians in the group.

Louis Riel Day is a stat holiday in Manitoba. From being hanged for treason to having his own holiday.

Anastasia wrote: "I have recently read The Bear by Ruby Weibe that would fit th rebellion prompt. The chief was accused as part of the rebellion with Louis Reil, but that is not the true story. It is part of The Ext..."

I reckon the rebellion one might finally "prompt" me to read William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope

Do it. Read the whole series. I'm reading William Shakespeare's The Phantom of Menace right now.

Dubhease wrote: "Nike wrote: "And who is this Louis Riel that everyone seems to know who it is?"

It's how you spot all the Canadians in the group.

Louis Riel Day is a stat holiday in Manitoba. From being hanged f..."

Oh, hello all Canadians. It's a pity really that when one studied anything about North American history in school the subject focused only on the US. Thank you for enlightening me!

Trish wrote: "Anastasia wrote: "I have recently read The Bear by Ruby Weibe that would fit th rebellion prompt. The chief was accused as part of the rebellion with Louis Reil, but that is not the true story. It ..."

My niece just strongly recommended that to me. Sounds so fun

NancyJ wrote: "Clare wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Clare wrote: "This one is going to be a tough one for me."

Clare ive read a lot of fiction with light s ience in it,so ill be happy to help.

Typing on my phone i cant..."

Thanks, I see I have a couple of 'want to reads' on both lists so hopefully i'll find something to fill these prompts.

Nike wrote: "Dubhease wrote: "Nike wrote: "And who is this Louis Riel that everyone seems to know who it is?"

It's how you spot all the Canadians in the group.

Louis Riel Day is a stat holiday in Manitoba. Fr..."

In the US we never learn about him either, I only know about it because of a Great Courses seminar about Famous Law Cases in Histoyr.

The resistance prompt comes at a perfect time. I want to know what I can do to resist fascism or a dictatorship in my country. I can’t say it’s not my problem anymore.

Katie wrote: "The resistance prompt comes at a perfect time. I want to know what I can do to resist fascism or a dictatorship in my country. I can’t say it’s not my problem anymore."

Agreed. A lot of us are facing this for the first time.

Wildcarding. These topics don't leave a lot of wiggle room for interpretation, and that means checking out or buying new books. And I prefer to whittle down my TBR.