Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
2025 Reading List Creation
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[2025] What Goes Where
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A science fiction or fantasy novel written by a woman
- March for Women's History Month
A book that involves art, music, dancing or acting
- February (awards season)
- June (Tony awards)
A book with a cover that has an image of something that starts with A, T, or Y
A book with a serpentine element on the cover
- Year of the Snake - January 29th
A book published in 2025
- End of year
A book whose title has ten or fewer letters
- October, the 10th month
A book by an author with a common noun in their name
- March - the only month name that is also a noun (yes, it's also a verb, but still used as a noun)
A book that fits a prompt from the 2016 ATY list
- January, since this was the very START of the functioning ATY52
A mystery or true crime book
- October
Two books with a connection from different genres
- Straddling May and June (Connection: both used as women’s names, Different Genres: different seasons (Spring and Summer))
Two books with a pair of opposites in their titles
- Opposites Day January 25
A book with waves on the cover
- Summer
A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2024 or 2025
- End of year
A haunting book
- October
A book of secrets, lies, or deception
- April Fools Day
A book set in a fictional location
- March - March 4, 1881 � Sherlock Holmes gets his first (Watson-recorded) case, A Study in Scarlet, Arthur Conan Doyle
- May - May 4 � Alice goes down the rabbit hole (this is also the real Alice’s birthday), Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
- July - July 20, 1866 � The steamer Governor Higginson encounters a mysterious sea creature, one of a run of such encounters, Twenty Thousand Years Under the Sea, Jules Verne
- July - July 31, 1990 (or 1991, depending on who you trust) � Hagrid arrives to tell Harry Potter he’s a wizard, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, J.K. Rowling
- September - September 9, 1958 � Where the portal takes you (at 11:58 am), 11/22/63, Stephen King
- September - September 29, 1935 � Josef attempts his first daring escape at the Charles Bridge, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Michael Chabon
A book by an author that uses 3 names
- March 3rd (3/3)
A book involving a "group" with at least 4 members that's not a family
- November for Friendsgiving
A book title that could be a country song
- Summer
A book that deals with time travel, alternate universes, or alternate timelines
- Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day December 8th
A book by an author you enjoyed but haven't gotten around to reading again for some time
A book about witches, goddesses, or nuns
- International Women's Day March 8
- summer solstice maybe
- May 1 = Beltane
- February - St. Brigid's Day. Said to be have been a Celtic abbess, but many think that Christianity adopted the festivals surrounding the Irish goddess Brigid.
A book with an animal, vegetable (plant), or mineral in the title
- Week 20 for 20 Questions
A book with a coastal setting
A book with a sunset vibes on the cover
- End of year (sunset of the year)
A book with a cover that has a building or cityscape
- Winter
A book with a character dealing with death
- Dia De Los Muertos Nov 1-2
- October
- Summer so as not too depressing lol
A book connected in some way to any collective noun for animals
- October - October 4th is World Animal Day
- April - April 8th is National Zoo Day and
- August - August 31st is National Zoo Awareness Day
A book set in a manor, mansion, or estate
- October for haunted mansion
A book set primarily in nature
- Earth Day?
A book featuring adult friendships
- September - International Women's Friendship Month
- August - National Friendship Day
A book relating to fire
- May for Beltane
- November 5 Bonfire Night
A book connected to something mentioned in the Do Re Mi song
- March in connection to when The Sound of Music came out
A book from the NPR “Books We Love� lists
- Beginning of list (2024 list released in November)
A translated novel from Asia
- Spring for cherry blossoms
- January 29th for Lunar New Year
- May for AAPI Month
A book set in the winter
- Winter, obviously
A book that involves digging up the past
- July: Feast day of Saint Phocas: The patron saint of gardeners and gravediggers, Saint Phocas's feast day is July 23.
- October: Feast day of Saint Callistus I: The patron saint of cemetery workers, Saint Callistus I was a pope and martyr, and his feast day is October 14
A book by an Irish author
- St. Patrick's Day
A book set underground, under sea or in an underworld
A book with a main character who is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal
A prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list
A collection of short stories or novellas, essays, poetry, or a mix of various brief writings
- February for the shortest month
A book that has been long-listed for the Tournament of Books in any year
- End of Feb/Beginning of March for the ToB
A book by an author whose publishing career spans at least ten years
A book with a weird or intriguing title
Other than having the "book published in 2025" nearer to the end of the year, I don't have a great preference.I do like to have things mixed up a bit, so not a lot of samey-samey prompts in one month. For example:
1 with a list
1 with a cover
1 with an author
1 with a title or character
I won't be much help here. I jump all over the place on my reads, so whatever you come up with works for me!
I tend to group my books by mood. So for example, I may read a mystery or true crime book in the same month as a haunting book or a book about witches, goddesses or nuns.
I’m guessing ATY Best Book prompt will be near the end. Can NPR be in either the beginning/middle?I like the order this year so similar format next year sounds good to me.
I was going to say that wave, coastal setting, and sunset vibes should be in the summer months, but then I remembered that some of us have opposite summer months! I think character dealing with death should fall the week of Dia De Los Muertos, November 1-2.
Fire should be in May for Beltane. Asia should be in spring months for cherry blossoms
Cityscape feels wintry.
Witches and any other 'spooky' should be in october.
And maybe the mansion prompt the last week of October since so many Halloween stories are in “haunted� mansions?
Mandy wrote: "Fire should be in May for Beltane. Asia should be in spring months for cherry blossoms
Cityscape feels wintry.
Witches and any other 'spooky' should be in october."
Or Asia might go in February, for lunar new year.
Waves seems summeryI think October should be dealing with death and mystery/true crime.
I always hope for some prompts that are likely to fit new literary fiction in January and February, to help me get my ToB books read in time! In particular, since the 2024 Books We Love will be out this November, that would be great to start the year off with.
Mod
A book with an animal, vegetable (plant), or mineral in the title - Week 20 for 20 Questions?A book whose title has ten or fewer letters - Week 10?
A book that deals with time travel, alternate universes, or alternate timelines - This just feels like a January new year prompt for some reason!
A book with a cover that has an image of something that starts with A, T, or Y - first prompt of the year to commemorate ATY!
Some great suggestions here and I'm fine with whatever way the prompts are listed. I read based on my mood so I don't read the books in order.
I associate the do-re-mi song with The Sound of Music, which was released on March 2, 1965 so March for that one. Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Is in May so translated Asian book in May.
National Friendship Day is in August so that seems like a good place for that prompt.
I don’t like the witch prompt in October because it feels like stereotyping. Haunting and mystery in October, though.
Avery! I love your connection between Animal, Vegetable or Mineral and Week 20 � very creative 👏🏼
Liz wrote: "Some great suggestions here and I'm fine with whatever way the prompts are listed. I read based on my mood so I don't read the books in order."Agreed. Any order is fine with me. I don't remember us being involved in this last year, but I might have just missed it.
Dixie, Emily gets member’s input though I only add requests when I plan on completing the challenge in order.
I don't read in order until late in the year, and I know I will start with Asian book in translation since I have a long Muraki book to lose from my shelf. However, I wonder if the prompt 'a character dealing with death' should be in the summer months so as not to be too depressing in the winter (apologies to any southern hemisphere people).
The Country Music Awards will be held on 8th May 2025.The Edinburgh Fringe is the world's largest performance arts festival and runs every August so that could work for art, music, dancing, acting.
I like the ATY prompt being early in the year.
Year of the Snake starts on 29th January.
Opposites Day is 25th January.
3 names could be 3rd March (3/3)
Pretend to be a time traveller day is 8th December.
Earth Day is 22nd April which could work for nature.
Vicki wrote: "Mandy wrote: "Fire should be in May for Beltane. Asia should be in spring months for cherry blossoms
Cityscape feels wintry.
Witches and any other 'spooky' should be in october."
Or Asia might go..."
True. Or January. Depends on where it falls next year.
Interesting discussion! I generally read the list, as much as I can, in order but I can understand some points, such as death in the summer or October. The only recommendation I have which is a common sense response is to place the 2025 in the last quarter of the year.
Kat wrote: "The Country Music Awards will be held on 8th May 2025.The Edinburgh Fringe is the world's largest performance arts festival and runs every August so that could work for art, music, dancing, acting..."
thanks Kat. i was just about too look up Lunar New Year.
So the Serpentine (for the snake) prompt in January for Lunar New Year and Asia in spring.
A science fiction or fantasy novel written by a woman- since it's focused on women authors, maybe March since it's Women's History Month. Mar 8 is International Women's Day.A book that involves art, music, dancing or acting- I'm thinking either February, which is awards season (BAFTAs, Grammys, Oscars, Indie Spirit Awards) or June when the Tony Awards are held (dramas and musicals)
A book with a cover that has an image of something that starts with A, T, or Y- the first prompt of the year
A book with a serpentine element on the cover- maybe have it coincide with the week of Lunar New Year
A book with a sunset vibes on the cover- I'm thinking March as it's when the northern hemisphere starts to experience warmer weather and the southern hemisphere is still in summer
A book set primarily in nature- maybe in April to coincide with Earth Day
A book featuring adult friendships- September is Friendship month. There's also a Friendship Day, but I don't know when that is
A book connected to something mentioned in the Do Re Mi song- This song gives my Spring vibes, so maybe April?
A translated novel from Asia- May to coincide with Asian and Pacific Islanders Month
It looks like some think the death would be fun in October. For me the earlier the better. I really would like the death one out of the way. It’s going to feel like an omen until it’s done.I also like to start the year with ATY.
Vicki wrote: "Or Asia might go in February, for lunar new year."I second this.
I don't read in order so I'm not really picky about this.
I don't either, but I had wondered how the order was chosen.
Mod
I was thinking of treating the set in a mansion and set in nature prompts kind of like a multi-week and putting them back to back? They feel like prompts that get in separately but could be related
Emily wrote: "Ok I think I've got most of the suggestions in the second post."You missed two of mine:
I associate the do-re-mi song with The Sound of Music, which was released on March 2, 1965 so March for that one.
National Friendship Day is in August so that seems like a good place for that prompt.
I think “Secrets Lies and Deceptions� could be connected with April Fools Day, so the week including April 1?A “group of 4 or more that is not a family� could include people attending “Friendsgiving�, the “not a family� version of Thanksgiving, so Thanksgiving week?
Re: Related to Fire � I’m fine with fire being connected to Beltane in May, but should May become too crowded�My first thought about fire is fire season, as I live in a wildfire prone area. Fire season for us is in the fall � things that burn are all dried out from hot dry summers and the rainy season (if we have one) has not started yet. Also, “Bonfire Night� is November 5 � I’m guessing based on the large supply of fallen leaves at that time of year.
Two books with a connection in different genres: I suggest May and June.Connection: both used as women’s names
Different Genres: different seasons (Spring and Summer)
Tracy wrote: "Re: Related to Fire � I’m fine with fire being connected to Beltane in May, but should May become too crowded�My first thought about fire is fire season, as I live in a wildfire prone area. Fire ..."
Where I live fire season is in the summer. We had a terrible fires in May-June that it is going to take years for the community to recover. In June. I started reading a book with an arsonist (a couple of days before the start of two real fires), and I had to stop because it was too much with real fires.
I’d prefer the fire prompt not to coincide with fire season.
I agree that the fire prompt makes the most sense during fire season. According to google’s AI, August is the peak month on average. The 2024 peak is expected to be September - November. Recent fires sparked my interest in reading about wildfires.
Tracy wrote: "Two books with a connection in different genres: I suggest May and June.Connection: both used as women’s names
Different Genres: different seasons (Spring and Summer)"
Super cute idea!
Jillian - even though the fire season idea was mine, I totally agree with you about wanting nothing to do with fire season. I have had to evacuate too many times. And I do not plan on reading anything to do with wildfires or forest fires for the fire prompt.I also don’t read the prompts in order, so this wouldn’t bother that me in that way. It was purely a logic problem to me. If having the Fire prompt during fire season is (understandably) uncomfortable for anyone, please don’t put it there Emily.
Tracy wrote: "Two books with a connection in different genres: I suggest May and June.Connection: both used as women’s names
Different Genres: different seasons (Spring and Summer)"
Actually, May and June are both spring (mostly). Summer doesn't start until June 20/21. The summer months are July, August, and September.
dalex wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Two books with a connection in different genres: I suggest May and June.Connection: both used as women’s names
Different Genres: different seasons (Spring and Summer)"
Actually, Ma..."
Well, unless you just count the last week or so of June...
Honestly, I wasn't thinking scientifically, but more roughly, like an elementary school calendar.
If we are going to be scientific (which normally I would be), and still work with a similar theory for placement of these prompts, then 2 other possibilities might be:
1) April OR May and August:
In Common: names - first names
Different Genres: Spring and Summer (for real this time)
OR
2) May and December:
In Common: part of the phrase "a May/December romance"
Different Genres: Spring and Winter
Both meteorological and astronomical seasons exist and some countries will tend to use one over the other. So it's not automatically wrong to say June is summer and September is autumn if you're using meteorological.
I'll be no help since I don't try to read in order. Also, not all music/theatre/dance, etc awards are given in Feb or June so for some of these I find them a bit too arbitrary. My son has a MM (2024( in trumpet performance and has won his awards in a variety of months, for just one example (I don't stick to just popular entertainment awards in the arts.)
We definitely need the winter prompt in a winter month (November, December, January or February)The Irish author should be close to St. Patrick's Day.
I’d say a book with sunset vibes close to the end of the year as a representation of things coming to an end
Mod
Jessie, I love that idea. My brain was thinking summer (as the sunset covers I think of are all summery rom-coms), but I like that interpretation!
Mod
Being in the Southern Hemisphere, we always get everything in the wrong season, so I vote for the winter prompt in June! And our fire season (Aus) is September-March so it's always going to fall in fire season for someone.I like the idea of the goddesses, witches and nuns being around International Women's Day
Meg wrote: "Being in the Southern Hemisphere, we always get everything in the wrong season, so I vote for the winter prompt in June! And our fire season (Aus) is September-March so it's always going to fall in..."I was just thinking this!
I think this year we should flip all the seasons on their head.
Since so many of us seem to live in the Northern Hemisphere maybe we should do a nod to the Southern Hemisphere and do all the season related things (Summer/Winter) in the opposite of what us Northerner's are used to. Give the Aussie's (and others) a chance to read their summer books in summer.
JessicaMHR wrote: "Meg wrote: "Being in the Southern Hemisphere, we always get everything in the wrong season, so I vote for the winter prompt in June! And our fire season (Aus) is September-March so it's always goin..."I like this idea!
1. A book with a cover that has an image of something that starts with A, T, or Y: April or August? There are no months that start with T or Y2. A book whose title has ten or fewer letters: October, the 10th month
3. A book by an author with a common noun in their name: March - the only month name that is also a noun (yes, it's also a verb, but still used as a noun)
We seem to have a lot of suggestions for March - I feel bad for the neglected months... and for Emily who still needs to make the cut.
4. A book that fits a prompt from the 2016 ATY list: January, since this was the very START of the functioning ATY52.
5. A book set in a fictional location: July - "July" is the name of a fictional city in a book by Howard Engel (A City Called July). This is the only month that I could find that was the same as a name of a month (not that there aren't other lists out there). There are other fictional locations that have month names as part of the name: MAYberry, JUNEbug, MiddleMARCH though.
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The City of Ember (other topics)A City Called July (other topics)
But even if you're not reading in order, it still may be fun to see how creative we can get in placing our prompts within the list. I'll keep a running list of ideas in the messages below, and I'd love your input before we finalize the order!