Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

For those of you new to KIS/BIO, here's what it is all about:

We started this list in 2019 due to a lot of comments about the prompts being "too easy" or "WAY too difficult" to fill. We've all felt that way about a prompt (or 20) at different times so this board was set up to brainstorm ideas to make every prompt accessible to EVERYONE. On this list you will find options and ideas to make every prompt easier, or harder depending on your preference. Personally, I jump around depending on my mood. Sometimes I am feeling like I want to spend hours researching a possible book, and sometimes I just want to grab something as quick as possible. However you do it, just have fun!

Here are the terms we use on this page:

BASELINE: This is what the prompt "means", a definition if you will, before we make any changes to it. (This doesn't always get filled in if the prompt is pretty straight forward)

KIS: The "Keep It Simple" option is for times when you feel a topic is just too difficult to find a good book for. For topics you might want to make a tad bit easier on yourself, go for these options. You've probably got a couple of good choices on your bookshelf already!

BIO: The "Bring It On" option is for when you really, really want to challenge yourself. These might require more research, which can be a lot of fun, when you are in the mood. You might have to go hunt down a book, you might have to steal one from a friend (don't do that, friends get cranky when you steal their books but you might have to ask nicely to borrow a book), or you might have to visit your library to find something to fit.....basically, BIO is meant to make things a bit more challenging then just grabbing the next book off the top of your tbr pile.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel to post them below. The first 4 comment boxes are reserved for our list as it grows, and grows and GROWS!

Pre-Poll Winners:
1. A science fiction or fantasy novel written by a woman
Baseline:

KIS:
- include magical realism (Emily)
- books where women are scientists (Emily)
- include Picture books with anthropomorphism, animals with human qualities (Jillian)

BIO:
- limiting it to "high fantasy" or "hardcore science fiction" (Emily)
- limit to award winning books or nominees only (Amy)

2. A book that involves art, music, dancing, or acting
Baseline:

KIS:
- a book that has a cover image or title related to art, music, dancing or acting (Amy)

BIO:
- A book that involves more that one of the categories (Jillian)
- A (auto) biography of someone involved in one of these fields (Dubhease)

Poll 1 Winners:
1. A book with a cover that has an image of something that starts with A, T, or Y
Baseline:

KIS:

BIO:

2. A book with a serpentine element on the cover
Baseline: To celebrate the Chinese Year of the Snake. Could be a snake, winding path or river, folded ribbon design, or an abstract design element that curves back on itself

KIS:
- Element is a snake (Robin H-R)

BIO:
- Element is NOT a snake 😝(Robin H-R)

3. A book published in 2025
Baseline:

KIS:
- A book that was published earlier but has an edition published in 2025, for instance the audiobook, paperback, mass market paperback or special edition hardcover that is published months or years after the original hardcover or e-book edition (or vice-versa) (Amy)

BIO:

Poll 2 Winners:
1. A book whose title has ten or fewer letters
Baseline: In honor of ten years, "a book whose title has ten or fewer letters."

KIS:

BIO:

2. A book by an author with a common noun in their name
Baseline: Sacks, Lord, River, Queen, Rose, etc.

KIS:
-noun is found within the name:
Sarah Winman (man)
Barbara Kingsolver (bar or king)
Naomi Alderman (alder or man)
William Egginton (egg)
Dave Eggers (egg)
Michael Ende (end)
Beatrix Potter (pot)
John Kennedy Toole (tool) (Jillian)

- nicknames:
Authors named John (toilet) (Jillian)

- occupational last names
Smith, Alderman, Potter, Octavia E. Butler, R.C. Sherriff, Neil Postman (Jillian)

BIO:
-first and last full name is a noun (Mark Twain, Mark Frost, Robin Lane Fox, Lily King) (Jillian)


Poll 3 Winners:

1. A book that fits a prompt from the 2016 ATY list
Baseline: /topic/show/...

KIS:
- use 2016's #13. Reader's Choice (Tracy)

BIO:
- Book must have been available in 2016 (Published during or prior to 2016) (Tracy)

2. A mystery or true crime book
Baseline: Fiction or Non-Fiction

KIS:

BIO:

.

.

.

I'm so excited that this list has returned, and I'm hoping to make more of a contribution to it this year (even if I'm not great at being creative haha)

BIO for SFF by a woman can be limiting it to "high fantasy" or "hardcore science fiction" (idk what the equivalent of high fantasy is to sci-fi, but I'm sure there is one lol). Alternatively, KIS could be allowing magical realism, books where women are scientists (a la Lessons in Chemistry), easier genres to fill.

KIS Sci-Fi and Fantasy- Picture books with anthropomorphism, animals with human qualities (I think, a large majority of children's books fit this).

BIO-A book that involves art, music, dancing, or acting

A book that involves more that one of the categories.

(Thank you, Amy for running this thread).

KIS - art, music, dancing, or acting

A (auto) biography of someone involved in one of these fields.

A book with a serpentine element on the cover:
KIS: Element is a snake
BIO: Element is not a snake (I hate snakes!)


A book that involves art, music, dancing, or acting
BIO: A book which resulted in an Academy Award

FINALLY Up to date! Thank you everyone!

I've decided to add the name of the person who makes each suggestion to each item on the list. I thought it might be fun to look back at the end to see who our most creative contributor was!

Keep your ideas rolling in!

BIO for ATY 2016 Prompt List: Book must have been available in 2016.

No idea for KIS, other than maybe to use 2016's #13. Reader's Choice: basically, you just REALLY want to read a book and even though there are technically 102 prompts to choose from (because the 2016 prompt becomes 52 other prompts, and then not counting #13) it just DOESN'T FIT ANYWHERE!

Oh, good ones Tracy!

2. A mystery or true crime book

KIS:
--A book about "Jack the Ripper"
--A book by Agatha Christie

BIO:
--An historical mystery
--A "locked room" mystery
--A true crime that took place during your lifetime
--A true crime that took place before you were born
--A mystery written before 1900

A book that involves art, music, dancing, or acting

BIO: A book which resulted in an Academy Award

OK, so I think my brain needed something a little creative to chew on today. I have another suggestion:

1. A book with a cover that has an image of something that starts with A, T, or Y
Baseline: One image on the cover starts with A, T or Y

KIS: The A, T or Y is just the color of the background (aqua, amber, amethyst, apricot, army green, avocado green, azure, tan, tangerine, taupe, teal, terra cotta, topaz, turquoise, yellow, yellow-green)

BIO: There must be images for EACH of the letters A, T and Y: e.g., "an Apple on a Tree in a Yard", "an Armchair with a cup of Tea nearby and a ball of Yarn"

Oh, loving all these ideas.

Tracy - if I spend all day tomorrow going through books looking for covers with an A, a T AND a Y item.... I blame you! 😂

1-3. A book published in 2025
BIO: The book was released the same week that you started it.

2-1. A book whose title has ten or fewer letters

BIO: The book title has exactly ten letters.
BIO: The book title has one or fewer letters.

e.g. 1Q84

3-1. A book that fits a prompt from the 2016 ATY list
The book is from someone's 2016 ATY List

°~Amy~° wrote: "Oh, loving all these ideas.

Tracy - if I spend all day tomorrow going through books looking for covers with an A, a T AND a Y item.... I blame you! 😂"

haha, sorry °~Amy~°!

I made a comment in Poll 3 Results that Jillian suggested could be a BIO:

2. A mystery or true crime book
Baseline: Fiction or Non-Fiction

BIO: a mystery or true crime that is NOT centered on a murder:

     Books I can think of (there are SO many more I'm assuming):

     Fiction:
     Unseen City
     Where the Forest Meets the Stars

     Non-Fiction/True Crime:
     The Truffle Underground: A Tale of Mystery, Mayhem, and Manipulation in the Shadowy Market of the World's Most Expensive Fungus
     The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century

KIS: "Mystery" or "True Crime" is IN the title
(Series name does NOT count for this, i.e., if the title does NOT have the prompt words in it, but the series name DOES, this would not be a KIS — the Actual Book Title must have the words in it.)

BIO: a (fictional) mystery about a true crime

ex: Bright Young Women, which is based on the crimes of Ted Bundy

Murder on the Orient Express, which takes some inspiration from the kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh's baby

THE ANNIVERSARY LIST

2017: A book whose title doesn't contain the letter "E"

KIS:
--A book with a one-word title
--"The" doesn't count

BIO:
--A book with five or more words in the title
--"The" counts

For author with 3 names BIO: author with at least 3 pseudonyms, at least one of which is a triple-barreled name.

I.e. Jayne Ann Krentz, who also writes as Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle.

KIS for three names - Count initials as a name (Sarah J. Maas for example)

Starting to work on the weekly threads, and I'd love to see more thoughts and ideas in this thread!

@ °~Amy~° :

I made a couple of suggestions above (messages 16 and 19) that didn't make it into your compiled list yet. Not sure if you missed them or have just been busy.

I'm bad at judging whether it's a KIS or a BIO or just one way of interpreting, but here are some more ideas.

Poll 8:
A book title that could be a country song
BIO: A book title that *IS* a country song

Poll 10:
A book about witches, goddesses, or nuns
BIO: A book with witches, goddesses *AND* nuns

Poll 11:
A book with sunset vibes on the cover
KIS: Sunset colours on the cover

Poll 12:
A book with a character dealing with death
KIS: A murder mystery
KIS: Main character is grieving/recently lost someone
BIO: Main character's profession is in death care

Poll 13:
A book relating to fire
KIS: Fire in the title
KIS: A book with a fiery character
BIO: A book about a wildfire
BIO: A book about djinn

A book connected to something mentioned in the Do Re Mi song
KIS: Teacup/teapot, sun, deer, musical notes or thread on the cover
KIS: A name in the title
BIO: A book about music/a musician
BIO: A book about textiles/clothing

Poll 14:
A book set in the winter
KIS: A Christmas book (from the northern hemisphere)

A book that involves digging up the past
KIS: A cold case mystery
BIO: A book about archaeology or forensic anthropology

Poll 15:
A book with a main character who is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal
BIO: A retelling of The Breakfast Club

A prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list
BIO: A prompt that was bottomed

Poll 17:
A book with a common household object on the cover
KIS: A book on the cover

A book related to one of the traditional full moon names
KIS: A full moon on the cover
BIO: A related book that is also by an indigenous author

Tracy wrote: "@ °~Amy~° :

I made a couple of suggestions above (messages 16 and 19) that didn't make it into your compiled list yet. Not sure if you missed them or have just been busy."

Me too...

I think Amy's too busy to keep up the list. I totally understand. Takes a lot of time to maintain a list like this.