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The 52 Book Club: 2025 Challenge discussion

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Summer 2024 Reading Challenge > 15) Butterfly: Plot featuring the "butterfly effect"

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message 1: by Liz (last edited Jun 02, 2024 12:18PM) (new)

Liz Mannegren | 123 comments Mod
WATER SPORTS: Gold

15) Butterfly: Plot featuring the "butterfly effect"

It’s the final of the 100m butterfly, the buzzer has sounded, and the swimmers are off! This third prompt in the water event is for a plot featuring the “butterfly effect.� The butterfly effect is the idea that a small, trivial choice can ultimately result in something with much bigger consequences. This could be something on a personal scale or a larger global scale (For example: The assassination of Franz Ferdinand triggering WWI.)

No need to dive too deep into chaos theory, though! Interpretations will widely vary for this prompt, so if you think a book fits � it does! Examples may include books that show multiple realities for a character based on different choices they make, a decision that sets off a chain reaction, a character who can pinpoint a specific action that brought them to where they are now in life, time travelers changing history, etc.

The book does not have to specifically mention the “butterfly effect,� but it may be featured in the title, description, or the book itself.

You can find the ŷ list for this prompt, here!

What book will you be reading for this prompt? Any suggestions for others who are stuck?


message 2: by DaNae (new)

DaNae | 80 comments I have been wanting an excuse to reread, TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG. So that will most likely be mine.


message 3: by Denise (new)

Denise | 538 comments I may read Stories of Your Life and Others (Ted Chiang), or perhaps a nonfiction about WW1

I highly recommend Life After Life. I'd choose it but I've read it 3 times already!


message 4: by Hilde (new)

Hilde Helseth | 203 comments DaNae wrote: "I have been wanting an excuse to reread, TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG. So that will most likely be mine."

I got a copy of this book too, at least then I know a have one to fit this prompt.


message 5: by Linda (new)

Linda Sadler | 25 comments Just finished The Housemaid’s Secret this morning. I’m 3 books in on the challenge and thanks to the Summer Journal, I have all by prompt 20 all over planned out. At least one book planned out for each one so far.


message 6: by Rachel (new)

Rachel Foxton (fivetwofoxton) | 86 comments I'm going to read Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister


message 7: by Aquaria (new)

Aquaria | 286 comments Done!

Jack London � The Call of the Wild


message 8: by Denise (new)

Denise | 538 comments I read a non-fiction book, The Chaos Machine by Max Fisher. It definitely shows chain reactions, such as one scene in Sri Lanka when one person posted falsehood about a restaurant that was then resent/posted to other people who believed it, who then assaulted the restaurant owner and then burned the business and drove innocent people into poverty and exile.

Definitely illustrated the chain of consequences resulting from a single decision to post a lie


message 9: by Lindsey (new)

Lindsey Rojem (lrojem) | 1835 comments Mod
I read Recursion by Blake Crouch, 4.5 Stars

Recursion by Blake Crouch


message 10: by Anna (new)

Anna (annafrommontana) | 389 comments I read Wrong Place Wrong Time and really enjoyed it.


message 11: by Renee (new)

Renee Hoile | 78 comments I read Rise of the Fourth Reich: Confronting Covid Fascism with a New Nuremberg Trial, so This Never Happens Again by Steve Deace and Daniel Horowitz. It is non-fiction.


message 12: by Tina (new)

Tina Boudreau | 39 comments Oh I somehow missed this prompt., now to investigate I feel like I’ve already read a book that would fit


message 13: by Beth (new)

Beth | 132 comments I read The Housemaid by Freida McFadden. All I'll say is that the instigating event isn't what you think!


message 15: by Melissa (new)

Melissa | 79 comments I read At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities by Heather Webber A little different take on the butterfly effect.


message 16: by Sibylle (new)

Sibylle | 12 comments Renee wrote: "I read Rise of the Fourth Reich: Confronting Covid Fascism with a New Nuremberg Trial, so This Never Happens Again by Steve Deace and Daniel Horowitz. It is non-fiction."

As a German, I just don't have words for this title... The comparison is painful.


message 17: by Jenn (new)

Jenn (jennandy4) | 2 comments Anyone read Swift River by Essie Chambers? would that one fit this prompt?


message 18: by Tina (new)

Tina Boudreau | 39 comments The Perfect Sister meets this. There are quite a few “butterfly� moments in 2 generations. Interesting book and a new author for me


message 19: by Jen (new)

Jen | 80 comments I listened to The Butterfly Effect by Jon Ronson, narrated by the author.

I'm a big fan of his work & his narration style, so dived straight into this without reading the blurb. Luckily I was wearing headphones - this book has adult themes & won't be a comfortable listen for some. The butterfly effect of one man's decision is thought provoking, fascinating & heartbreaking. Well worth listening to, but do read the blurb first. Definitely not one for little ears.


message 21: by Lucilla (new)

Lucilla | 144 comments I reread Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh. It's still one of my favorite books, if you're a fan of sci-fi I highly recommend it.


message 22: by Shonna (new)

Shonna Froebel | 255 comments I real Tove Alsterdal's We Know You Remember. The main character's memory of the past gives her insight into present day crimes.


message 23: by Eric (new)

Eric Daams | 13 comments I'm reading Midnight’s Children and I think it works nicely for this prompt.


message 24: by Devika (new)

Devika (youactlikeicare) | 148 comments I read The Butterfly Project by Emma Scott. This was a book I only found because I needed one for this prompt, and I am happy I did. I really enjoyed this book - 4.25 Stars.


message 25: by Leonore (new)

Leonore | 173 comments Life After Life by Kate Atkinson


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