One of the challenges I completed in 2019 was the Around the Year in 52 Books challenge on Goodreads. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to complete it again in 2020. Why do I like the challenge? Well, not only does it make me venture out of my comfort zone and read books I would otherwise not pick up, but the prompts are also selected and voted on by the members of the group! Members can suggest prompts, then they are included in mini polls, and the members vote on their top and bottom picks. This is repeated until there are 52 prompts. Well, technically, there are also prompts that are filled by members who won one of the mini challenges ATY hosts throughout the year. The admins host quarterly challenges and in some of those a winner is picked who can then create a prompt that goes straight to the prompt list for the next year. The group also has monthly book discussions. You can participate in as many challenges and finish as many prompts as you want/can handle. No pressure, no obligations! It's all about finding great books and having fun reading them! If you are interested, you can find the group here!
Now, let's look at my selection of books I read for the challenge. This is a list of all books I read for the annual challenge. Scroll down if you would like to see my Top 10 of the best books on that list and my Top 5 of the worst books on that list, as well as some statistics (star rating, genre, format)!
Now, let's look at my selection of books I read for the challenge. This is a list of all books I read for the annual challenge. Scroll down if you would like to see my Top 10 of the best books on that list and my Top 5 of the worst books on that list, as well as some statistics (star rating, genre, format)!
These 52 books fill the following 52 prompts and when I finished the book for each prompt:
Now, let's take a look at my Top 10 of the best books read for the challenge. Please note that this list is in no particular order. This is just a list of the ten books I loved the most.
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 |  | Genres: Horror: 2x Fantasy: 2x Sci-Fi: 3x Mystery/suspense 1x Contemporary: x Nonfiction: 1x | Format: Audio: 8x Ebook: 2x |
How about the worst books I read during the challenge? Here is the Top 5. Once again, they are not in any particular order!
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I had such high hopes for Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater and Queens of the Resistance: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Unfortunately, both books were a disappointment. I think I have a love-hate relationship with Maggie Stiefvater. There are books that I really like, but the Raven Boys series is just not on that list. Maybe I read these books at the wrong time in my life, I don't know! I might give them another try in the future. You can find my review of the book about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the reasons why this book was such a disappointment here!
I also found that I have a hard time with the old classics. The new classics are mostly interesting to read, but the old classics seem to be too far out of my comfort zone. For example, I did like the idea and plot of Le Morte d'Arthur, but the language of that time is just not my cup of tea. I know a lot of English natives have difficulties with the old English language, now put yourself in my shoes...English is not my native language. I think that explains the difficulties I was facing reading this book.
I also found that I have a hard time with the old classics. The new classics are mostly interesting to read, but the old classics seem to be too far out of my comfort zone. For example, I did like the idea and plot of Le Morte d'Arthur, but the language of that time is just not my cup of tea. I know a lot of English natives have difficulties with the old English language, now put yourself in my shoes...English is not my native language. I think that explains the difficulties I was facing reading this book.
Side note:
I'm always interested in finding out which format I read the most and which genres. Here are a few statistics related to the list of 52 prompts:
I'm always interested in finding out which format I read the most and which genres. Here are a few statistics related to the list of 52 prompts:
| Format: Audio: 40x Ebook: 12x Print: 0x | Type of book: Novel: 36x Graphic novel: 4x Nonfiction: 10x | Genres: I selected the genre based on Goodreads main page genres! Fantasy: 8x Thriller: 1x Horror: 2x Sci-Fi: 9x Contemporary: 8x Mystery/suspense: 3x Autobiography/memoir: 9x Anthology: 2x Historical fiction: 8x Other nonfiction: 2x | Star rating: 5 stars: 28x 4 stars: 21x 3 stars: 2x 2 stars: 1x 1 star: 0x Average rating: 4.47 stars |
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