I had such fun (and success!) doing the Popsugar Reading Challenge this year. I’ve decided to add the Around the Year in 52 Books (AtY) to my schedule for 2019. The challenge is hosted on Goodreads and the list has been compiled through a series of polls, complete with debates and enthusiasm.

The final list is now complete:

1. A book that was nominated for or won an award in a genre you enjoy
2. A book with one of the 5 W’s in the title (Who, what, where, when, why)
3. A book where the author’s name contains A, T, and Y
4. A book with a criminal character
5. A book by Shakespeare or inspired by Shakespeare
6. A book with a dual timeline
7. 2 books related to the same topic, genre, or theme: Book
8. 2 books related to the same topic, genre, or theme: Book #2
9. A book from one of the top 5 money making genres
10. A book featuring a historical figure
11. A book related to one of the 12 Zodiac Chinese Animals
12. A book about reading, books or an author/writer
13. A book that is included on a New York Public Library Staff Picks list
14. A book with a title, subtitle or cover relating to an astronomical term
15. A book by an author from a Mediterranean country or set in a Mediterranean country
16. A book told from multiple perspectives
17. A speculative fiction
18. A book related to one of the elements on the periodic table of elements
19. A book by an author who has more than one book on your TBR
20. A book featuring indigenous people of a country
21. A book from one of the polarizing or close call votes
22. A book with a number in the title or on the cover
23. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book Something Old
24. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #2 Something New
25. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #3 Something Borrowed
26. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book Something Blue
27. A book off of the 1001 books to read before you die list
28. A book related to something cold
29. A book published before 1950
30. A book featuring an elderly character
31. A children’s classic you’ve never read
32. A book with more than 500 pages
33. A book you have owned for at least a year, but have not read yet
34. A book with a person’s name in the title
35. A psychological thriller
36. A book featured on an NPR Best Books of the Year list
37. A book set in a school or university
38. A book not written in traditional novel format
39. A book with a strong sense of place or where the author brings the location/setting to life
40. A book you stumbled upon
41. A book from the 2018 GR Choice Awards
42. A book with a monster or “monstrous” character
43. A book related to STEM
44. A book related in some way to a tv show/series or movie you enjoyed
45. A multi-generational saga
46. A book with a (mostly) black cover
47. A book related to food
48. A book that was a finalist or winner for the National Book Award for any year
49. A book written by a Far East Asian author or set in a Far East Asian country
50. A book that includes a journey
51. A book published in 2019
52. A book with a weird or intriguing title

The group is super friendly and flexible. You can read in order or fly by the seat of your pants. If 52 books is too much, you can select your favourite prompts and pledge to do just those. Join the group to declare your intent!

Stretch Goals!

I’ve been lured into the idea of the rejects challenge. So I have a bunch of extra prompts picked from those that didn’t make it through the rounds of voting. These are my stretch goals so I’ll just get to them if I get to them.

Portal fiction
Climate and/or climate change
Meteorological phenomena in the title
About a dog
Originally written in a language you haven’t read a translation from before
Elements from at least two genres
Immortality
By, or about, a current or former journalist
4 books, one for each of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: pestilence, famine, war, and death
4 books related to the four seasons of the year: spring, summer, autumn, winter
Spans a week or less
Connected to health or medicine
Related to a deck of playing cards
Featuring a person with a disability
About a cult
About or inspired by an ancient civilisation
Related to Monopoly
Title with literary allusion or quote
Dark fairy tale
Up-Lit
Romantic element
Circus/carnival/amusement park setting

Note, I’ve re-worded these slightly, so if you want to make your own list, check out the group for the originals. Here’s the link to my planning thread.