Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
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June1. National Ballpoint Pen Day
b. A book written under a pen name - Call for the Dead (George Smiley, #1) by John le Carré le Carré is the pen name of David John Moore Cornwell
2. National Prune Day
a. A book written by someone over the age of 60 - The Virgin in the Ice (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #6) by Ellis Peters Ellis Peters was born in 1913; book was published in 1982
3. Let's Catch a Movie
b. A book that has been adapted into a movie or series - The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder
4. Happy Birthday Paul Gauguin
c. A book with a seven in the page count - Murder on Crete by M Juan-Stanley 172
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July1. Happy Birthday Satchel Paige
a. A book whose author's initials appear in CURVEBALL - Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Ray Bradbury
2. The Apollo Moon Landing
c. A book published in the 1960s - A Personal Matter by Kenzaburō Ōe - published 1964
3. Let's Go on a Hike
c. A book with an element of survival - It Was Always You by Sarah K. Stephens includes children surviving the foster care system and a woman surviving a murder plot
4. Dog Days of Summer
c. An author's first book - Black Beauty by Anna Sewell - this is, in fact, Sewell’s only published novel
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August1. The Destruction of Pompeii
b. A book with red on the cover - Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez
2. Vacation Time
a. A book you've been meaning to read - Black Summer (Washington Poe, #2) by M.W. Craven I've had this on my TBR for over a month and have been very eager to read it!
3. Let's Play a Game
a. A book with multiple points of view - The Housemaid (The Housemaid, #1) by Freida McFadden POVs are Millie's and Nina's
4. Back to School Sales
a. A book borrowed from the library - The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett borrowed from Fairfax Co Public Library via Libby
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Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Martian (other topics)In the Shadow of the Bull (other topics)
Chronicle of a Death Foretold (other topics)
The Housemaid (other topics)
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Andy Weir (other topics)Eleanor Kuhns (other topics)
Freida McFadden (other topics)
Allison Hoover Bartlett (other topics)
Gabriel García Márquez (other topics)
More...
Completions: /topic/show/...
Column in spreadsheet:
June
☀� 1. National Ballpoint Pen Day: June 10th, the anniversary of the patent filing. Fun fact: the world's most popular ball point is the Bic Crystal, which sells on average 57 pens per second.
(view spoiler)[� a. A book with a writing utensil on the cover - To Sir Phillip, With Love (Bridgertons, #5) by Julia Quinn pen on cover
� b. A book written under a pen name - Call for the Dead (George Smiley, #1) by John le Carré le Carré is the pen name of David John Moore Cornwell
� c. A book about a writer, bookseller, or librarian - The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer Jack Masterson is the author if the Clock Island series of books. (hide spoiler)]
☀� 2. National Prune Day: June 15th. Fun fact: prunes, the dried version of plums, were originally from China.
(view spoiler)[� a. A book written by someone over the age of 60 - The Virgin in the Ice (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #6) by Ellis Peters Ellis Peters was born in 1913; book was published in 1982
� b. A book with more than 400 pages - Shōgun (Asian Saga, #1 Part #1) by James Clavell 699 pp.
� c. A book with purple on the cover - Waiting for Wednesday (Frieda Klein, #3) by Nicci French (hide spoiler)]
☀� 3. Let's Catch a Movie: The term 'blockbuster' was originally used to describe especially destructive bombs, and then came to mean shocking news stories. It's current use as a movie with huge box office returns is often attributed to producer Max Youngstein
(view spoiler)[� a. Author's initials can be found in BLOCKBUSTER FILM - The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements by Sam Kean blocKbuSter
� b. A book that has been adapted into a movie or series - The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder
� c. A book published in the last two years - The Last Devil to Die (Thursday Murder Club, #4) by Richard Osman pub year: 2023 (hide spoiler)]
☀� 4. Happy Birthday Paul Gauguin: Born on June 7th 1848 Gauguin was a French artist most known for his contributions to the Post-Impressionist and Symbolist movements. He lived in France, Peru, Martinique, Tahiti, and the Marquesas Islands.
(view spoiler)[� a. A book with at least 4 colors on the cover - Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
� b. A translated book - Beartown (Beartown, #1) by Fredrik Backman language of origin: Swedish
� c. A book with a seven in the page count - Murder on Crete by M Juan-Stanley 172 (hide spoiler)]
July
☀� 1. Happy Birthday Satchel Paige: Baseball pitcher Leroy R. (Satchel) Paige (1906-1982) was the first African American pitcher in the American League. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.
(view spoiler)[� a. A book whose author's initials appear in CURVEBALL - Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Ray Bradbury
� b. A book featuring a sport - Path Lit by Lightning: The Life of Jim Thorpe by David Maraniss features track and field, football, baseball
� c. A book with a black main character - Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark The MCs are all Black. (hide spoiler)]
☀� 2. The Apollo Moon Landing: Apollo 11, the first manned landing on Earth's moon, touched down on the surface on July 20, 1969.
(view spoiler)[� a. A book set in space - The Martian (The Martian, #1) by Andy Weir set on Mars
� b. A book with the moon on the cover - Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology by Shane Hawk
� c. A book published in the 1960s - A Personal Matter by Kenzaburō Ōe - published 1964 (hide spoiler)]
☀� 3. Let's Go on a Hike: Fun fact: Yellowstone National Park averages 1 bear attack per year, and there have only been 8 bear-caused fatalities in park history. For perspective that is 1 bear attack per 26.2 million park visits.
(view spoiler)[� a. A book with a cover of a nature scene without people - The Deep Dark Descending (Detective Max Rupert, #4) by Allen Eskens
� b. A book set in a rural area - The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen (The Doomsday Books, #1) by K.J. Charles set in Romney Marsh, Ken, UK
� c. A book with an element of survival - It Was Always You by Sarah K. Stephens includes children surviving the foster care system and a woman surviving a murder plot (hide spoiler)]
☀� 4. Dog Days of Summer - Fun fact: this phrase refers to the time when Sirius the dog star is visible in the sky.
(view spoiler)[� a. A book with a dog on the cover - The Trouble with Turkeys (Zoe Donovan Mystery #2) by Kathi Daley -
� b. A book with a hot setting - Tongues of Serpents (Temeraire, #6) by Naomi Novik - set in the Australian Outback in summer
� c. An author's first book - Black Beauty by Anna Sewell - this is, in fact, Sewell’s only published work (hide spoiler)]
August
☀� 1. The Destruction of Pompeii: Pompeii was a Roman city that was buried under volcanic ash and pumice during the eruption of Mt Vesuvius on August 24, 79 CE. Because of the particular method of its destruction it is extremely well preserved and offers a unique look at life in the ancient Roman Empire.
(view spoiler)[� a. A book featuring an ancient civilization - In the Shadow of the Bull (Ancient Crete Mystery, #1) by Eleanor Kuhns - set in Ancient Crete
� b. A book with red on the cover - Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez
� c. A book set in a city - An Offer From a Gentleman (Bridgertons, #3) by Julia Quinn set in London (hide spoiler)]
☀� 2. Vacation Time - Fun fact: 60% of the Earth's lakes are located in Canada. Something to think about next time you're by a lake.
(view spoiler)[� a. A book you've been meaning to read - Black Summer (Washington Poe, #2) by M.W. Craven I've had this on my TBR for over a month and have been very eager to read it!
� b. A book by a favorite author - The Shadows We Hide (Joe Talbert, #2; Max Rupert #5) by Allen Eskens Eskens is a new favorite of mine.
� c. A book set somewhere you would like to visit - The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier by Thad Carhart - set in Paris! (hide spoiler)]
☀� 3. Let's Play a Game - Fun fact: In Chile the Clue character Mr. Green is named Chef Lettuce.
(view spoiler)[� a. A book with multiple points of view - The Housemaid (The Housemaid, #1) by Freida McFadden POVs are Millie's and Nina's
� b. A book by an author whose initials appear in SCRABBLE - Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2) by Suzanne Collins SCrabble
� c. A book in a series - Nowhere Safe (Harley Cole, #1) by Kate Bold First in a 12-book series. (hide spoiler)]
☀� 4. Back to School Sales: Fun fact: in 2023 the average American household spent $890 on back to school shopping, according to an online survey. Ok, that one's not actually that fun.
(view spoiler)[� a. A book borrowed from the library - The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett borrowed from Fairfax Co Public Library via Libby
� b. A nonfiction book - What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe
� c. A book with a character in an educational setting - Xoe: or Vampires, and Werewolves, and Demons, Oh My! (Xoe Meyers, #1) by Sara C. Roethle The main characters are teenager in high school and much of the story takes place at school. (hide spoiler)]