Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

If you're new around here, you may have missed out on voting for our 2026 list. For those of us who participated in the voting, we all had our favorite prompts that didn't get quite enough votes to make it to the final list.

This is the week to read a book for that favorite prompt. You can choose a prompt ahead of time and read a book for it, or you can use this week to read a book that you've wanted to read and squeeze into a prompt. With over 200 prompts that didn't make the cut, you're sure to find something you'll enjoy!

The Suggestions That Didn't Make It: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
ATY Listopia: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

What prompt did you choose to use? Are you choosing the prompt ahead of time?

I am using "A book related to iron or steel". Iron is element 26, and I want to use a prompt for 2026.

I am going to use "A book that would fit the 26th prompt from any ATY52 year" and then chose "2021: A short book (<210 pages) by a new to you author". Many of the international books that I read are shorter books and this will work perfectly.

There are two reject challenges started for 2026 that anyone can join, to do as few or as many as you like. There are posted in the outside challenges folder.

List 1 is a mix of science, social issues, and a sense of place .

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

1. A book that includes a “forbidden” topic in polite conversation, such as sex, money, religion, politics, or personal issues. (Poll 13)
2. A book featuring a feat of engineering (Poll 15)
3. A book that takes place in a country/place along the path of totality for the 2026 solar eclipse: Spain, Portugal, Greenland, Iceland, the Arctic, and the Atlantic Ocean (Poll 14)
4. A book related to observation, experimentation, or inquiry (Poll 13)
5. A book that relates to a river (Poll 12)
6. A book about wildlife or nature conservation (Poll 9)
7. A book related to medical science or health, or a medical memoir (Polls 8 and 11)
8. A fiction or non-fiction book that could be considered a microhistory (Poll 10)
9. A book about women crossing borders, boundaries, or barriers (Poll 10)
10. A book related to psychology, mental health, or neuroscience (Poll 10)
11. A book set in a country bordering the Indian Ocean (Poll 7)
12. A book with a “green” topic or character (Poll 2)
13. A book connected to the Middle East in some way (Poll 2)
14. A book nominated for an award that values peace, cultural understanding, and related social issues (Poll 6)
15 A book related to a planet other than earth (Poll 7)
16. A book about perceptions of reality or alternate realities (Poll 12)


List 2 is for awards and lists.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
1. A book nominated for an award that values peace, cultural understanding, and related social issues - Dayton, Orwell, pulitzer.
2. A book shortlisted for a Dublin Literary Award
3. A book that won an international literary award -Booker, Dublin, Pen, others
4. A book that was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award in any year
5. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2025 or 2026
6. A book from the NPR “Books We Love” lists .
7. A book on one of Obama’s reading lists
8. A book listed in any ‘Best Books’ list of 2024 or 2025.
9. A book that has been long-listed for the Tournament of Books in any year.
10. A book from any widely recognized list of your choice.

So many rejects, it was hard to choose. I'm limiting myself to one round of books just from my local branch library, which was a bit of help. My current plan is: Venus and Aphrodite: A Biography of Desire [book with a star or planet in the title] and Stone Yard Devotional [book with a fork in the road or life-changing decision].

Like LeahS, I'm torn between many of the great reject ideas. I think for this prompt, I'll choose one that I suggested myself, A book with a desert setting, and read Jim Henson's Tale of Sand.

I am also participating in both of the reject challenges NancyJ mentions in Message 4.

And I have a few "just for fun" rejects that I'm doing as well. They are
A book related to the name (or nickname) of a professional sports team
Two books, where the second book's title provides a response to or continuation of the first book's title
A book that fits 3 other prompts
and
A book that is related to one of the group’s moderators (though my plan is to read one for each mod).

My options (without books):

A book written in or set in the eighteenth century
A mystery without a murder or death
A book set primarily somewhere creepy or scary
A book with a musician character or author
A book with an intriguing first line

Angie wrote: "My options (without books):

A book written in or set in the eighteenth century
A mystery without a murder or death
A book set primarily somewhere creepy or scary
A book with a musician character o..."

Ooh, I wonder if you could find a book that fits all of these? They feel thematic, somehow...

Dixie wrote: "Ooh, I wonder if you could find a book that fits all of these? They feel thematic, somehow..."

That would be a cool and interesting challenge!

Angie wrote: "My options (without books):

A book written in or set in the eighteenth century
A mystery without a murder or death
A book set primarily somewhere creepy or scary
A book with a musician character o..."

Thanks for listing 18th century - it's my favourite period to read about, so I have plenty of options! I'm probably going with Chocolate House Treason

I plan to go with one that I suggested - a book exploring personal or cultural identities.