A list like this came down on Facebook, so I thought I’d try it. I’ve changed up the items to make them less inane —more meaningful, diverse, and hopefully interesting. I’ll update it as I go along; if you want to play, please do so as well, in the comments, to give others (well, me) some recommendations for good books. Do note whether or not you actually consider your choice a good book.
The Challenge
At some point in 2021, read a book that falls into each category. One book can not be used for two categories. Books for any audience, in any language, read on any platform, are acceptable. It can be a book you have read before, but you have to read it again in its entirety.
If you want to share this as you go, I suspect your friends will appreciate the recommendations. I would at least.
Having finished a book last night, I’ll start, and update as the year goes on.
Read a book…
1 set in a school.
2 featuring the medical profession.
3 with dual universes.
4 by an author who is deceased.
5 strongly advocating or illustrating a particular ideology.
6 with a protagonist with the same name as a family member.—The Cybernetic Tea Shop (2016), by Meredith Katz; short, simple story with interesting world-building that deserves a deeper exploration by an author with a more sophisticated writing style; also a tad derivative from Philip K. Dick’s We Can Build You; protagonist Clara is an AI and robotics specialist
7 by an author with only one published book.
8 in the 900s of the Dewey Decimal System.
9 set in a Mediterranean country.
10 with a title related to the word “fire”.
11 set in Canada.
12 that teaches you a new skill.
13 incorporates a cultural mythology.—Wildfire at Midnight (1953), by Mary Stewart; I really did enjoy this one, although the relationship between protagonists is rather dated; ; set on the Isle of Skye, the mystery revolves around Celtic mythology
14 set in Australia.
15 mentioned in another book.
16 set before the 18th century.
17 with a character on the run.
18 with steampunk elements.
19 with a deckled edge.
20 made into a TV series or movie.
21 by a Canadian author not set in Canada.
22 set in space.
23 with an unexpected ending.
24 that you think should be read in schools.
25 with multiple character POV.
26 with an author of colour.
27 set in Africa.—The Story of an African Farm (1883), by Olive Schreiner; I remember liking this book as a grad student; that being said, the second time I read it (PhD), I had forgotten I had read it earlier (MA), until I got almost to the end. So obviously it didn’t create that strong an impression on the first reading. There’s a fitting quotation near the end of the book: “I must have been very foolish when I thought that book good.”
28 that includes a historical event you know little about.
29 featuring the environment.
30 Watch out for dragons!
31 set in India.
32 with an unsympathetic protagonist or an anti-hero.
33 that features adoption.
34 that you’d rate 5 stars.
35 that includes magic.—Elatsoe (2020), by Darcie Little Badger; fabulous magic-realism mystery incorporating the beliefs of the Apache Nation, with great characters and a touch of humour
36 with a nameless narrator.
37 by two authors.—Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares (2010), by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan; sweet, somewhat predictable YA novel
38 recommended by your local library.
39 that is an alternate-history novel.
40 that you like, recommended by a friend.
41 with an endorsement by a famous author on the cover.
42 that is historical biographical fiction.
43 with an animal protagonist.—Fifteen Dogs (2015), by André Alexis; It’s really about a poodle. I cried, but only because it made me miss Charley. It’s a disturbing book, but I still might recommend it.
44 that features a garden.
46 that is a bildungsroman (coming of age novel).
46 that won a National Book Award—any nation, any year.
47 with a significant character with a disability.
48 intended for a teen audience.
49 with a flavour, colour, or scent in the title.
50 that focuses on environmental issues.
51 published in 2021.
52 that repeats one of the previous 51 categories.
Here are my and others’ recommendations (the list is in italics so that I don’t get confuse while scrolling!):
Read a book…
1 set in a school.—The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B (2013), by Teresa Toten; Ender’s Game
2 featuring the medical profession.
3 with dual universes.—The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde
4 by an author who is deceased.—Lord of the Rings
5 strongly advocating or illustrating a particular ideology.—A Wizard of Earthsea (1968), by Ursula K. Le Guin (the narrative is an allegory of the Jungian process of individuation—I’m thinking that counts… )
6 with a protagonist with the same name as a family member.—This will depend, of course, on your family…
7 by an author with only one published book.
8 in the 900s of the Dewey Decimal System.
9 set in a Mediterranean country.—Moira recommends My Family and Other Animals, by Gerald Durrell
10 with a title related to the word “fire”.—Fire, by Kristin Cashore
11 set in Canada.
12 that teaches you a new skill.
13 that incorporates a cultural mythology.
14 set in Australia.
15 mentioned in another book.
16 set before the 18th century.
17 with a character on the run.
18 with steampunk elements.
19 with a deckled edge.
20 made into a TV series or movie.—Lord of the Rings
21 by a Canadian author not set in Canada.—Anil’s Ghost, by Michael Ondaatje
22 set in space.—Ender’s Game
23 with an unexpected ending.—The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner
24 that you think should be read in schools.—Moira recommends Indian Horse
25 with multiple character POV.
26 with an author of colour.
27 set in Africa.
28 that includes a historical event you know little about.
29 featuring the environment.
30 Watch out for dragons!
31 set in India.
32 with an unsympathetic protagonist or an anti-hero.
33 that features adoption.
34 that you’d rate 5 stars.—Moira recommends The Goldfinch, by Donna Tarte
35 that includes magic.—Lord of the Rings
36 with a nameless narrator.
37 by two authors.
38 recommended by your local library.
39 that is an alternate-history novel.
40 that you like, recommended by a friend.
41 with an endorsement by a famous author on the cover.
42 that is historical biographical fiction.—Remarkable Creatures, by Tracey Chevalier
43 with an animal protagonist.—Watership Down
44 that features a garden.
46 that is a bildungsroman (coming of age novel).
46 that won a National Book Award—any nation, any year.—The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B (2013), by Teresa Toten
47 with a significant character with a disability.—The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B (2013), by Teresa Toten
48 intended for a teen audience.
49 with a flavour, colour, or scent in the title.
50 that focuses on environmental issues.
51 published in 2021.
52 that repeats one of the previous 51 categories.
There Will Be Books 